use of olive oil in the ear....

For a week I lost my hearing in my left ear, I thought it was due to me getting water in my ear, when I spoke to the local pharmacist she suggested that it may have been a wax problem also.

I used otex this week, and it didnt appear to help any, (I fully lost all hearing for a day and a half) While I had loss of hearing, the high pitched screeching I usually have (and am able to ignore) was way more prominant.

Yesterday I got annoyed with it, and went to clean it out with cotton budds and loads of stuff was coming out, was very dark brown and gunky. It took about 10 cotton budds (both ends) before it came out clean.

I already had a doctors appointment for today for the problem, so I thought I would get it checked out just to be safe. Mostly because I perforated my ear drum when I was a small child, so wanted to make sure nothing was from that...

The doctor looked in my ear and said I have compacted wax very deep in my ear to the point where he couldnt see my ear drum. He told me to use olive oil in there to try and losen up some of the wax.

The local pharmacies do not seem to have any in stock, am I able to use the general kitchen olive oil? or is the one you buy in a pharmacy different?

Also, do I have to heat it in any way? And how much of it do I put in my ear?

I am not fully looking forward to this as I dont handle liquids in my ears well.

I need to go back if it does not help, and was told that the next step would be syringing, but I hear that you cant use syringing if you have had a perforated ear drum? I am not fully sure how much it healed, I am assuming it healed fully.

I want the screeching to go lol.

[cat33]

I have had both eardrums burst (not at the same time). Also had some kind of blisters around the ear drum all had the same effect I was totally deaf in one ear for at least two weeks. All three were draining something awful it was green and looked like mucus. for a few days, went to 3 different ENT /Dr.s. Initially they gave  me antibiotics. Later had to have wax suctioned out more than once. Now I have quite a bit of hearing loss. I now wear hearing aids. Which cost over 4000. dollars. I am still under warranty so I see the ENT quite often,

Anyway one of them said olive oil " cooking type is fine."  One told me to use baby oil. Just warm to touch lay down pour it in ear , lay there for 20 minutes than let it run out. You have to fill the ear up as much as possible.  That is quite difficult to do your self. So if no one is available I suggest you have a towel or lots of  tissue . The adioalogist said I should just wash with water in the shower?and never use Qtips.

Good luck.    cat33

Hope you g