Yes, “Ear Wick”.
Doesn’t sound nice, does it?
That’s what I’m currently enjoying – a wick, in my ear, to do some “wicking”.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had quite a nasty ear infection. Strictly speaking, I’ve had two nasty ears infections: one in each ear. Actually, if I’m to be 100% accurate, I’ve probably had about five ear infections as they’ve been bouncing back and forth. Regardless, it’s been unpleasant.
Thanks to a doctor who appears to enjoy a “hands off” approach to curing ear infections – and by this I don’t mean he amputates the bits at the ends of people’s arms – I ended up visiting the local hospital today so that the experts could have a look. The wonderful woman at the Ear, Nose, and Throat clinic at the Royal Infirmary has taken some steps to sort me out.
By which, I mean she inflicted quite a lot of pain on me, and has left me in more discomfort than I was prior to visiting her. But, as they say, no pain; no gain. After inserting some sort of ear-widening device, she proceeded to hoover all the nasty, infection-debris from my ears. This is a weird sensation – you can hear, and more alarmingly feel – bits of icky gubbins being forcibly extracted from your ears. She did this on both ears, using increasingly wider widening tools each time.
But I’d had this done before. It was fine: I knew what was coming, and in all honesty looked forward to it; once they’d been hoovered, I’d feel better, right?
Sadly, this time the infection was sufficiently nasty as to close up my left ear. This explained why I couldn’t hear very well. In order to combat this unhelpful closure, a wick was inserted into my ear. And by inserted, I mean rammed. Hard. And, as I said in an email to my boss following the experience, it hurt like a very hurty thing.
And there’s nothing like applying the prescribed drops into the ear, placing cotton wool neatly inside – as advised by the nice woman at the hospital: this would absorb the drops that I’d put in – and discovering that your ear is now bleeding, thanks to the forced insertion of said wick. Blood from the ears – particularly my blood, from my ears – is something I’m not particularly fond of.
Hopefully, thanks to the power of the wick, ear drops, and the human body’s ability to heal, I’m on the mend. An ear infection is a pretty minor thing to contend with in comparison to more dramatic and life-threatening ailments, but I thought I’d share my current predicament in the hope that someone finds it entertaining. And I’m sure some people will – you sick, sick individuals.
They couldn’t flush it? I’ve been dealing with Volkswagen-sized hunks of wax in my ears all my life: my nurse practitioner’s procedure is always to soften things a bit with a dozen drops of sweet oil (or baby laxative!) and then flush the mess out with a big metal syringe and plenty of warm water. (I once had an ear emergency-cleaned with a wire loop– I woke up “deaf” one morning and panicked– and the doctor doing it managed to punch a very tiny hole in my eardrum! Which has since healed: but still.) Word of advice: make sure the water’s nice and warm, or you’ll experience the cheapest of highs when your inner ear goes cold…. (I can’t believe I’m discussing earwax on a blog–!) Anyway: sorry to hear of your experience. Ears are very touchy animals.
Yes, tremendously amusing, thanks for the laugh…
Seriously though – I’ve only ever had mine syringed, which is peculiar enough. I wouldn’t wish what you’ve gone through on anyone.
That’s horrible to happen to such a decent fellow.
But it’s lso a delightful read and it raises one of those wry smiles.
Avoid syringing as that’s bad for the ears. As are earwigs, sticklebacks and sharp implements.
Ah, but sticklebacks aren’t just bad for the ears, as enny Roman kno.
Thanks for the well wishes gentlemen.
The wick is now no longer a part of me, and I’m slowing getting used to being able to hear in stereo again!
Now, if I could just stop feeling dizzy all the time, I might be feeling better.
Hah! I hear (pun intended) little plugs of raw potato stuck in your ear overnight are supposed to draw out the infection and help cure it. Never tried it myself, but a friend of ours who’s into natural remedies said it worked all the time on his daughter and son, and no, there were no side effects. In other words, infection gone, hearing good.
Hi…I enjoyed reading about your pain! Well..maybe enjoyed isn’t the right word but you had interesting and true speaking points. Ironically I am currently with wick and expecting to have this baby pulled out tomorrow. Your post made me laugh because it is so true how painful and weird the treatment is along the way. I too thought that after the excruciating pain of having whatever was in my left ear sucked out that all of the pain would be gone. Instead I am still deaf and have a slight throbbing noise echoing in my head. I look forward to the upcoming days when I can hear the garbled NYC subway messages again and hear the tremendously loud music the fellow passenger sitting next to me is playing in his or her IPOD. Feel better Dan!
Ang – hope you’re feeling better youself!
I’m on the mend now. Occasional twinges in the left ear, but I’m not using the drops any more and I’m really starting to feel good again.
And Raoul – Potatoes? Wow. My parents always used to say when I was little “you’ll be growing spuds in those ears” (thanks to the wax). Maybe I should try that next time…
Went to the doctor 4 days ago for asthma she looked in my ears
and stated that I had a lot of wax and a infection in both
ears well yesterday I went to the hospital because I thought
my ear drum had burst I was in so much pain the whole side
of my face hurt Well long story short no ear drum ok Just
needed a ear wick wow that was painful. But I got relief right
away Im a new woman
I am going through a fun filled ear wick experience. You are correct. It is not a fun experience, my face is puffy on the side and it hurts to chew. I have had a wick when I was younger. Never put anything in your ear bigger than your elbow. Having an ear infection sucks.
This is an odd gather all ear wick together experience. I must concur it does indeed suck. But I take heart that you all seem to have survived (thus far).
Hello, I thought I’d leave my comments about my ear wick experience on this site as it comes up on the first page of a Google search for “ear wick” and it scared the life out of me reading this knowing I was going to have one myself…
I’ve had ear infections for over a year and have had some lax doctors and bad treatment. Syringing and suction have made my infections flare up and I’ve been half deaf and in a lot of pain for months.
So of course, I dreaded the ear wick having read about it here.
BUT – my experience was different, it was amazing!
I went in and had my hydrogen peroxide put in my ear to ‘fizz out’ the debris and this was gently suctioned by the doctor. Then he inserted the wick and I didn’t feel a thing. For a few days I had to administer drops into my ear which would get to the wick and treat my ear. It has felt brilliant ever since. My neck ache has gone, the ear pain has gone, no fever, no cold symptoms, just dulled hearing which I assume is because there is a wick in my ear.
I had it replaced yesterday (again, no pain) and might be having it removed next week.
The point of this comment is to let other people know that yes, there is a chance your wick may hurt but there is also a chance that if a good, gentle health person does the treatment, it might be heavenly!!!
oh thank you, i found someone who has went through what im going through now just be googling ear wick. I am on day 4 with one ear infection and day 1 with a new ear infection it is hell. The first day I was in so much pain by evening I was taken to emergency, day 2 was no better screaming pain every 2 – 4hrs where I had to take a pain killer, day 4 better I went a whole day without pain killers but when to the doctors to have it checked out and got the sringe full of water treatment and not one but both my ears with ear wicks, now its late at night and its driving up the wall with 1. what is an ear wick? and 2. im getting a feaver so its freezing for me while my partner is boiling hot. Tonite is going to be fun debating weather to have the aircon on or off. in the meantime these ear wicks are driving me insane, im to keep up the treatment perscribe on sun and on friday morning see the doctor, one day to go now and ill be counting. The doctor said ill feel a lot better tommrrow I really hope so. my partner just came in and said it was huge she was probably refering to my post, definatly not my dick. Wish me luck im going through hell.
That is the first thing everyone does, Google ear wick when they get it. When the doc said i had to leave the wick in my ear for the next four days and then come back to him to have it removed I said “you gotta be kidding”!!!
It is not a nice feeling, but if it helps me then i will just have to put up with it,….. easy to say on day 1.
It is not painful, but really uncomfortable, and not something i want to have again.
Get well soon Cliff. It’s amazing how many people have to have these things in, I’d never heard of them when I had mine!
You hit the nail on the head though: if it helps to fix the problem, so be it.
Good luck!
It is amazing the dates on the thread for this post… but i would have to say it’s mainly to do with being the in the top ten google results for ‘Ear Wick’. Wouldn’t that be one for blog records… ‘Blog becomes famous for Ear Wick search…’ In any event, i too suffer from frequent ear infections and just recieved my wick a couple days ago… just have to comment that getting your ear irrigated as they say in the states (pumped with water from syringe) is actually rather bad for you…
They did it too me a few months back during one of my outer ear infections and the ENT (Ear Nose Throat) Dr. berated the General Practitioners for doing such a thing, and told me never to let them do it again. That instead I should see him and he would be a good fellow and use his special tools to suck out the gunk.
Also if you prone to outer ear infections you might want to get a certain type of prescribed ear drop. Due to the nature of my ear, the skin in my outer ear that flakes off does so more frequently then most. Mix that with water and it often leads to outer ear infection. So if you find yourself with another nasty outer ear infection talk to your ENT dr. He knows a lot more about ears then the General Practitioners…
and on with fame and fortune from ear wick searches…
(Also note, I usually don’t respond to blog enteries; this is my first time and I just felt compelled)
I also google’d. I have had an ear infection for about a year now, a newlywed, and I ran out of medical money a while ago so I can’t afford to go to another doctor who will waste my time. I’ve been through seven full courses of antibiotics and, thanks to their lazy negligence, I’m not only still sick with what I figured out myself is “swimmer’s ear”, but I am also practically immune to two families of antibiotics. But anyway. I’ve been deaf on my left side for about a week now; I put my finger in my ear because it itched and I pulled out what looked like mayo. Then it hardened, my jaw is locked, and my face is swollen. I can buy these wicks in the store, and I have a nice supply of ear drops…do you think a wick is something I could put in myself?
Needing help here; going through hell.
Paul
fallingblack@gmail.com
Yes, I just had a wick inserted in my ear and it is so very painful. The doctor inserted one, took it out and put another one in. The irony in this is that I went to the doctor to feel better, but now I feel worse.
lol this is the only website that had anything about ear wicks. i just had mine put in today. god its painfull. i went to the doctor because my ear drum exploded and the discharge clogged up my ear. so i went to the doctor to have it cleaned. and then he placed an ear wick covered in cream inside of my ear and closed it with a cotton ball while repeating to me serverl times not to let water in my ear. i have to keep this on for 2days. while taking an anti biotic for 7 days. after the 2 days i remove it and start using ear drops. now let me say one thing. asprin is useless. im having 6-8 a day adn there useless. the pain is unberable i cant even sleep.
Man, good to hear other’s going through the same experience I’m going through.
I got the ear wick done yesterday night and I have to say it’s really uncomfortable. I got it after my infection was mostly treated though, I had been to the ER twice and both times they simply gave me antibiotics instead of drops, the first time amoxicillin (which the infection just got worse on) and the second time Cefprozil which actually helped clear up the infection and a lot of the pain.
I got the wick put in and the drops too and reapplied the drops this morning (boy was that fun holding a mirror up while lying down while trying to get the drops in without touching the sides of my ears. It was like a game of operation without a buzzing red nose.
I made the mistake of doing it before I took my shower though, and I think I have shampoo/conditioner trapped in my middle ear now. I’m really worried this is going to cause another infection and just worsen things. Stupid earwick is actually preventing me from clearing out my ear since I can’t get the water out now and the earwick is so deep in my ear I can’t get a grip on it with my fingers.
If my ear gets worse I’m going to be extremely mad. They didn’t say anything about having to be careful when showering or anything, I just assumed a little water and such from showering would simply flush itself out. However the wick is blocking everything was exiting my ear, it’s like a one way trap door. I’m not even entirely sure that the drops are still doing their job since the shower may have rinsed them all out.
im 11 and i have swimmer’s ear and it is very painful. i went to a walk-in clinic at a hospital because i was on vacation when i got it and he perscribed me drops and the “z-pack” in case i had a middle ear infection. but im pretty sure it is just the swimmers ear. it is so painful that i couldn’t sleep last night at all. im going to the doctors today, and im afraid they will put in the ear wick!!! everyone says it is so painful, but thats why im scared! help!
Yikes, I have had this wick in for 2 days now. Still I’m crying in pain. Now I wonder if the wick is making things worse. How does the wick come out? The doctor led me to believe it will fall out on its own. True? Thanks all, glad to know someone understands this pain. My best friends for the last 2 days have been Vicadin and Percocet. Not easy to take those and act even half on the ball at work!
Hi Debbie,
Mine came out on its own. And it’s one hell of a feeling of relief when it does, I can tell you!
Thanks to all those who’ve commented on this post btw. Never thought it’d still be acquiring comments after all this time!
add me to the list of googlers. i am in almost the exact predicament, both ears, one is wicked due to extreme inflammation, the sucking thing was unnerving at best but my favorite was the jamming of foreign utensils into my infected, and fragile mind you, ear canal. apparently theres even fluid BEHIND my ear drum. honestly i could have managed without the wick. its causing more pain than before. this is the third and worst case of swimmer's ear ive gotten, and i dont swim. wish me luck gents
No offense to you but im glad i wasnt the only one dealing with the pain of those damn wicks! lol
to be honest that was the most painfully weird thing i've ever experenced. I lost a little hearing in my left ear from my ear infection last year…and unfortunatly for me i have an ear infection as i am writing this….ahhh i hate the smell of my ear drops! 
glorious life.
My very highley recomended ear nose and throat doctor put [unpleasently shoved] them down my ears…..yes the instrument he used looked soooo much like something a dentist would use for a cavity
Dan-
My doctor says that my left canal was completely swollen and infected….I have had an ear wick in my ear for the last two days. I can honestly say the the ear wick was MUCH more painful than the infection itself. The pain was so bad, I could not get much sleep-only a few”cat naps” here and there. Good news though- the infection did not reach my ear drum. My left ear is totally deaf(due to the wick), and I am waiting for the earwick to fall out or I have to wait to see the doctor in three days. Thanks for the blog: misery loves company!
-Eric
wow! I can’t believe it, I too, googled “ear wick” after having mine inserted and was brought to this page.
These things are horrible! I get mine taken out later today and I am praying that the world will be back to normal.
I am deaf in my left ear, hopefully due to this wick, but I can hear everything inside my head amplified and that is the WORST! I hear my pulse pounding, the ringing. I literally think if this is not gone the minute that wick comes out I am going to need some other kind of meds. Something to calm my nerves! I cannot live the rest of my life like this, is there such a thing as an amputated ear drum, because I would rather have it removed than hear like this forever! Seriously!
I've been having ongoing ear infections for quite a while now, so decided finally to see an ENT specialist. He uses a vacuum to clean the ear instead of the syringe flush that my regular doctor did. He put a wick in 2 days ago and I go back tomorrow to get it removed.
He told me to keep using the prescribed eardrops to keep the wick moist – this allows the drops to work continually.
He also told me to avoid, at all costs, getting water in there from showering, etc.
It hasn't been painful, just uncomfortable. I hope this clears things up once and for all.
"It hurt like a very hurty thing". Now THAT is comedy! Anoher Googler here. Just got the wick rammed in today after a week of no success with drops due to the ear canal being 100% closed. He had to inject anethesia because he had to push so hard. Nice!
I have surfer's ear so ear problems are a chronic problem> I probably got some nasties in my ear in the ocean. The last time it closed up from the surfer's ear I had to have a new ear canal drilled. I've had both ears drilled. Not fun, not! I'm only 70% closed now so the rest is inflammation. According to Dr. Pain it could take 2 weeks for the ear to even open up. I'm also a semi-pro musician so I've had to play a number of gigs half-deaf.
Ah well, surfing is worth it.
Just had this done yesterday night, was told it was just a piece of stiff paper, as soon as it was in I was kicking and biting my lips, tossing and turning like a baby, I had to walk home and get my money then go get my prescription of Tylenol-3 and the killers eased the pain. I can take outer pain easily like a baseball bat to the head or falling from a survivable height, but internal pain like from the inside the kind you can't do anything about really brings out the worst in me, I throw tantrums, break stuff, disrespect my family and friends, but I will say if any S.O.B. touches or hits my ear I'll definitely give them a nice long stay at the hospital, btw Im 20 years old and im PISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG, years worth of misery documented. Just to add my 2 bits. Been to the local doc in a box to treat my ear infection and got antibiotic ear drops and pills. After 2 days of no progress he determined I needed ear wicks due to the swelling. No issues getting them in, but now I feel like my head is being pried apart from the inside from these damn things. Vicodin doing for this type of pain. Really considering yanking them out myself. Not even sure they're working, think they're just soaked with drainage from the ear so the medicine probably isn't getting through. Sucks!!!
I got my ear wick in yesterday…it wasn't TERRIBLE my ear was already hurting so bad it really hasn't made a huge difference in the pain. I have infection in both ears but my left ear is the 2nd in the past three weeks. So the ear wick is only in that ear. If not healed this time I will have to go see the ENT. Isn't it funny how everyone just looks at you like your big baby when you say your ear hurts! Oh well I guess I am the BIG baby because my ear HURTS! My question is…can the ear wick get to far in your ear?
I am wondering the same thing, I feel like this thing is falling into my brain… i dont know, i am experiencing everything everyone above is blogging… First doctor gave me CiproHC optic ear drops that were disgusting and made the blockage worse… I had the primary physician do the syringe wth warm water twice! I fnally went to the ER last night and they did the wick, im totally deaf in my Left ear. Going to the ENT on monday… im happy to learn that once this thing falls out it is a relief… My boss says "you look fine"… if he only knew … i cant concentrate and everytime i yawn or burp the pain is truelly ridiculous… GOOD LUCK!
Had an ear wick rammed into my ear yesterday. It brought tears to my eyes. So so painful.
I had been on Anti Biotics and ear drops for 3 weeks which hadn't touched the infection and finally got an appointment at the ENT clinic at my local hospital. Currently taking both paracetamol and ibuprofen together just to get some sleep from this damn ear wick. At least the doctor did warn me it was going to hurt. "This might sting a bit" WHAM….
Never, Ever, let a Doctor (Quack if he uses an ear wick on ANYONE)! Hear me out! I let a little dip shit (he had a gold oak leaf cluster on his lapel) put a stink "Ear Wick" in your ear(s), NEVER! Those damn things should be outlawed forever. There are lots of
ear medication to deal with all ear problems. This dip shit kept changing that damn thing for MONTHS and no let up on pain. I slicked my paper work and went to an ENT clinic elsewhere and told him about the damn ear wick and its torture. He said that will
cease, he discovered a couple of "germs" in there, put in some drops and gave me a small bottle to use for just a short while. I was pain free in just a few days! That first S.O.B. should have had his credentials DESTROYED AND NEVER WORKED AS A DOCTOR AGAIN, EVER, NEVER! Been wanting to say that for long time. NEVER USE EAR WICKS, EVER. NO NEED FOR THE CRAP THINGS! BB
Never, Ever, let a Doctor (Quack if he uses an ear wick on ANYONE)! Hear me out! I let a little dip shit (he had a gold oak leaf cluster on his lapel) put a stink "Ear Wick" in your ear(s), NEVER! Those damn things should be outlawed forever. There are lots of
ear medication to deal with all ear problems. This dip shit kept changing that damn thing for MONTHS and no let up on pain. I slicked my paper work and went to an ENT clinic elsewhere and told him about the damn ear wick and its torture. He said that will
cease, he discovered a couple of "germs" in there, put in some drops and gave me a small bottle to use for just a short while. I was pain free in just a few days! That first S.O.B. should have had his credentials DESTROYED AND NEVER WORKED AS A DOCTOR AGAIN, EVER, NEVER! Been wanting to say that for long time. NEVER USE EAR WICKS, EVER. NO NEED FOR THE CRAP THINGS! BB
Well, Bob, while ear wicks may hurt, they are definitely needed in some cases: I went to my normal doctor after about a week and a half of pain in my ear and was prescribed an antibiotic to take orally and some ear drops. Well, after putting in the drops and using the antibiotic, my ear canal became completely swollen shut and the whole side of my face and jaw ended become tender and swollen. So, I went to an ENT who dilated my ear canal, sucked out all the infected debris, including some fungus (gross), and then inserted a wick to hold my ear open enough so the drops I originally got could even reach my ear drum!
Lots of people seem to be reporting severe pain when they get the wick in, but I've noticed nothing but some slight discomfort, however, it's a fair trade off for the relieved pressure in my ear! Over all, the pain sucks, but the wick allows the medicine to get to where it needs to go! I'm already in a ton of pain, what's a little more to make it end quicker?
Good luck!
Just got my ear wick in today after bringing home some nasties from the south west Florida coast. Here is the strange part, my doctor left the room to get the wick and WENT TO LUNCH! No kidding, HE LEFT FOR LUNCH!!!
After an hour nap I woke cranky went into hallway where his head nurse said she would help me out. IT DIDN'T HURTwondering if it was inserted properly. Can you imagine my surprise when I came home to google the instructions and information on this wick and saw this………Ear Wick…..IS THERE FOOD!!!!! Hope your lunch was good Dr. you know who you are, thanks for the nap time …….glad you don't charge me…..get what you pay for. : )
Thanks for the heads up!!! I am getting one of those wicks in my ear tomorrow. I was thinking positive, but now all i can think about is my soon to be bleeding ears:]!! The only difference is that I have a totally terrible case of swimmers ear. I just came back from vacation in North Carolina and I go to the doctor thinking they will give me drops and I will be on my merry way.WRONG. Turns out the drops weren't getting into my ear so now they need to put a wick in. HELP ME!!!!!!!
omg I also googled "ear wick"…i got TWO put in last night after a horrifically painful swimmer's ear infection. My fiancee rushed me to the ER where they flushed out my ear with peroxide and boy did that hurt…my left ear isn't as bad, but she still put a wick in there for the drops. My right ear, the one with the most discomfort is literally THROBBING right now, I couldn't make it past the night…She gave me some drops to inset every 6 hrs for 7 days and I get these torture cotton sticks out on Monday….ouuuuch!!!
hoping to have my "wick" removed tomorrow,cannot wait,i am fed up having to reply "what" to everyone who speaks to me,didnt realise just how painfull an ear canal infecion could be.My left ear has been infected for over two weeks now and i feel so tired,its so difficult to sleep with buzzing and the pain and the throbbing.I got the infection on a holiday in Greece,and move out there permanantly in a month, i just hope its not a reaccuring problem,otherwise it wont be a "happy move"
I just got an ear wick put in yesterday. I found it gave me relief as my ear canal was pressing in on itself. I get it removed in two days. They gave me drops (topical), an oral anti-biotic and hydrocodone (which does *nothing* for me). I find myself taking copious amounts of ibuprofen and tylenol so I can sleep and make it through the work day. I really hope that this is over soon
(moments prior to ear wick insertion)…DOCTOR (ENT) GRABS MY HAND, LOOKS ME IN THE EYES AND SAYS: " THIS IS GOING TO FEEEEL LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO HELLLLL" That basically sums up MY experience with that! I now see a counsellor for post traumatic stress disorder (ok..thats not true). But really though, WORST PAIN EVER IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!! I have diffuse otitis externa with a sealed, swollen , shut the door ear!!!! So, with no freezing other than a nurse holding my head down, away she went with the insertion of my "wick". I'm pretty sure I lost control and never screamed so loud in public in my life! Followed that up with some crying and she sent me home with some new drops ….wow!! Ill never forget it.. (PS: this was the 4th doc to look at my ear…..all meds were not working) And yes, it does work!!!!!! Thank the LORD!!!!! After 2 days of putting drops in my wick..lol, the percocets are now actually working!!! wow!!!! (This after 4 consecutive nights of rocking and crying in pain on percocets with zero sleep) So, for those who say this didnt hurt…your infection just wasnt bad enough. For those who had it bad enough,I feeeeel your pain …ooohhhhh i feel it!!!.
ear infections had them all my life and surgerys but today friday october 16th 2009 i go to the emergency room over a painful nasty ear infection… he sticks a long fucking q tip in my ear to gather some stuff to send to the lab to make sure the drops are going to work or if its something else but……. he sticks this fucking ear wick into my left ear which is the ear i have always had problems with….. does this shit not itch like crazy?….. i mean i know the pains are rough….. i have had my right arm broken twice my left elbow broken once my wrist sprained and couldnt play guitar…….. my left hip dislocated……. and other things with the knees but……. other than this ear hurting it is itching like so fucking bad and no one will let me pull this ear wick out……. what to do? drops doesnt make it better…. just tickles more…… anyways thats my experience with the whole wick thing….. keep taking the meds and dont scratch your ear and push the wick inside like i think i just did
I am another google searcher of this. I had to wicks put in yesterday as i have been suffering from the worse pain in my life. less then 12 hours later though they both fell out on their own, almost like my body pushed them out. has anyone else had this happen to them? should i put them back in? or go back to emerg to get new ones put in? They were painfull for a bit when they were inserted but the doc his a badly infected part, but once they were in and i had some drop put in my ears the mind numbing pain subsided for a while.