Yes, I know it's bad!
Yes,
I recognize that putting a bobby pin in your ear to pull out the wax
goes against conventional wisdom and carries a risk of injury.
That's why I've tried to explain as plainly as possible that this is
what works for me and that you should only do this yourself if you
assume the risk. I can't possibly make a trip to see my ENT
every week and I can't adequately remove the skin and wax without a
bobby pin. This is my personal solution to what would
otherwise be a major problem for me.
Thank you in advance
for your concern, but please don't send me email telling me I
shouldn't be doing this. If you personally consider it too
dangerous, then don't do it--I'm not suggesting you do. I'm
just sharing what works for me.
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Ear
Hints
Many
people with ichthyosis also have trouble with skin and wax build-up
in their ears. When my ears are getting "plugged up", not
only is my hearing effected (I’ve got the TV and the radio turned
up extra loud because I can’t hear, and I’m asking soft-spoken
people to repeat themselves!), I also get headaches that I attribute
to my ears. Two things help me.
- First, I use
Similisan Ear Wax Relief. There are several products available at your average
drugstore for ear wax removal, but Similisan is my personal favorite. I
put a couple of drops in each ear when I get out of the shower each
morning. I leave my
head turned to one side for a minute or two after I put the drops in so they can "sink in."
I can’t hear very well right after I put the drops in, but that
clears within 20 minutes or so. (If I have a headache that I
think is being caused by my ears being plugged up, I’ll go ahead
and do this during the day regardless.) In the shower, I’ll
get plenty of warm water inside my ears to further loosen up
what’s built up inside. Next, I’ll carefully use a bobby pin to
scoop out the wax and skin that the Similisan has loosened up.
(Most doctors would tell you not to do this; it works for me, but
definitely do this at your own risk, not at my advice).
Of course, I'm careful not to stick the bobby pin too far down,
because I could damage the ear canal or my ear drum. But I
find that the aid of a bobby pin is an important part of the process
that keeps my ears their cleanest. With non-homeopathic
products, I found that it was better
not to use them every day, but only when needed (which was usually
twice a week for me). With Similisan, though, I seem to do
best using it every day (except the day described below).
- Also, once a
week I "do my hair" (where I cream the scalp with a lactic
acid cream, and then occlude it overnight). At this time, I’ll
carefully put some of of the lactic acid cream actually down in the
ear canal. I’ll sleep with it
like that (I really can’t hear now—it’s just like having ear
plugs in!), and in the morning, in the shower, use warm water and a
bobby pin to carefully pull out the cream and the skin/wax. This is
more thorough/extreme than what any over-the-counter ear wax drops can do.
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