Had a blocked ear due to earwax for about 10 days now. Been using drops, but still can't hear. Tin mentioned you can get something to syringe out at home. Looking on amazon there seems to be two types, one that looks like an actual syringe that shoots water out at different angles, and rubber ball ones which would be just one stream straight out. 

They're the same prices, so is one better than the other?

Diluted Dante wrote:

Had a blocked ear due to earwax for about 10 days now. Been using drops, but still can't hear. Tin mentioned you can get something to syringe out at home. Looking on amazon there seems to be two types, one that looks like an actual syringe that shoots water out at different angles, and rubber ball ones which would be just one stream straight out.  They're the same prices, so is one better than the other?

You want a bulb syringe - you're unlikely to use excessive pressure with a bulb syringe, and thus unlikely to do any damage.  (A regular syringe is a Bad Idea).  Don't use it if you've got earache, active infection or a history of a perforated drum. 

Make sure you soften the wax first - get some olive oil drops and ideally use them for a couple of weeks. (Lie on one side, pop 2-3 drops into the affected ear, and then stay on that side for roughly 15 minutes).  Do one ear at a time as you may find it actively worsens the hearing at first. The oil softens the wax and is sometimes enough to clear it completely.  If not, use the bulb syringe following the instructions that come with it.

If the bulb syringe doesn't work, talk to your GP - they'll either offer to syringe it themselves with more powerful equipment or refer you for micro suction.  (Or, as Kaz says, you can pay someone to do it if you'd rather.  Make sure that the person doing it knows what they're doing...  Softening the wax is still a sensible thing to try first.)

As Mr Ears I would advise against putting pressurised water in your lug holes but then again I have had mastoidectomies in both ears, cholesteatomas, titanium implants, and currently have otitis media.

Result!

Speaking of scars … I’ve got one on my arm from a horsefly bite three years ago. And at this time of year, just as my hay fever starts to kick in, it starts itching again. I’m starting to wonder whether I should go see my GP about it. Pretty sure an old bite shouldn’t itch every year like that.

Wouldn’t surprise me with fucking horseflies. Nothing would.

This stuff is the absolute GOAT of insect bite creams 

I’ve seen a horse fly.

Yeah, but the infection thing is more about still itching a couple of months later. Not annually synchronised with the tree pollen season. Think it might actually be some sort of shit superpower bestowed by the radioactive horsefly.

Supposed to be doing a 10k run on Sunday but i hurt my heel last week at footy and still can't put weight on it and also now full of lurgy. Coughing and sniffing non stop.

A fair few years ago it was a really hot summer and the horseflies on Arran were ridic. It was probably 5hrs up the mountain and back and on the trek back to the car we got slaughtered. Yellow puss everywhere for the next week or so.

The Daddy wrote:

I’ve seen a horse fly.

I've seen a house fly

I've had a big Pseudomonas outbreak in my left ear and been at hospital for 2 occasions in the past week. It's miserable.

Moisturiser? Got it. Thanks Tin.

Bloody annoying cough that just won't stop, throat feels like razor blades, nothing really eases it. Whole household has it to different extents. Not had a good night's sleep in about a week. Topped up with a snotty nose too though a minor thing in comparison.
Did manage my 10k on Sunday but last couple of days have been miserable. Good week to take off work to spend with kids when we've all just lay around coughing since Friday