:lol: :lol: thanks for all the replies guys. I'm gonna head off to boots today as the problem has got slighty better but still not right..

Its only a problem when i'm trying to sleep but i'll try and get a doctor appointment for Monday if it hasn't gone soon

DO NOT TRY THIS !!

Any ENT specialist will tell you that cotton buds are ok for cleaning the outer ridges of the ear - but that nothing smaller than your elbow should actually be pushed into your ear unless done by a doctor or nurse !!

but my elbow doesn't fit... an it hurts when I try :smt022
ok, I'l get my coat... Taxi!!

I have heard this before too, but can't understand why it is deemed so bad?? you would have to be a right gimp to start 'ramming' the thing down there :D ...

Bearing in mind how forceful syringing is, I don't think it is down to damage ... It is probably more to do with the fact that you can actually end up just pushing the stuff further in ...

I love a bit of Johnson's-baby-bud in the depths of my ears!! 8) :D ... that's one thing I would say, if you do it - use Johnson's, the chepo ones just fall apart!! :shock:

The cotton buds are quite abrasive, and the skin lining the ear canal is delicate (obviously not used to being exposed to any sort of abrasion).

Cotton buds can breach the skin barrier, and as a result may be a sight for infection to take a hold. As also mentioned they do tend to push things (namely wax) further into the canal.

Ear syringeing does this to a certain extent, but because it clears out wax and allows for a better drainage of the ear, the overall risk of infection is significantly reduced.

The other thing about syringeing is that the ear should be inspected both before and after to make sure nothing else is going on.

Dysparunia is right.
Dont go messing about with your ears.
Even if you think you are not going to damage yourself, the act of putting the bud into your ear will be seen as an irritation, your ear will think it needs to make more wax to try and clear the irritation, and then you will just end up with more wax there.

Mmm-hmm. I had lots of wax once, and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned my ears. Eventually, I caused ALOT of damage and ended up deaf for a week or two. I felt like I constantly had wax in my ear, aalthough the nurse said I didnt.

Wasn't very nice, and now I understand well what my girlfreind goes through, and how she gets tired lip-reading people all day.

Matt

Does this mean I have to give up using cotton buds as foreplay?!!? ? :D