Anonymous
Post 12/15/2025 21:59     Subject: Re:Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
I had earwax buildup earlier this year and went to urgent care. They tried irrigation and only succeeded in pushing the wax even further in and making the problem worse. I then went to an ENT and they quickly fixed the problem via manual extraction. At the ENT they said you would not believe how many people land in their office after urgent care f's up.

My thought about urgent care is this - they're great at diagnosing illnesses or injuries. And they can write you a prescription for certain things if needed.

But if someone has to actually put their hands on you to fix something, you're better off with the real professionals.

Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 21:20     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Well, here's a funny thing: In the last month, I had to go to an ENT for removal of stubborn earwax that was blocking my hearing and I had to go to a podiatrist for removal of an ingrown toe nail. Neither doctor said I was wrong to be there. I needed their help. Both removals hurt like heck but were quick and gave me instant relief.

Getting old is ridiculous.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 20:19     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do people abuse urgent care for earwax removal?


It's not an abuse. If you can't hear or are in a lot of discomfort, you need help immediately. ENT appointments can take weeks if you aren't already a patient, and if your only ear issue has ever been wax buildup, it's likely you don't already have an ENT. You want people to sit around waiting for weeks rather than go to an urgent care where they have special equipment for water irrigation of ears? Why?

Urgent care is basically for medical issues for which it would be best to just go to a doctor's office, but you can't get an appointment. Anything more serious, you should go to the ER (I have twice gone to urgent care for things and been referred to the ER, because they really do not want serious medical issues at urgent care -- they can't take scans, have limited testing ability, and most people who work there are just medical assistants, not even RNs).

Urgent cares also need patients whose problems can be resolved fairly quickly, because they don't have the staff or facility for complex issues or people who need to occupy beds for longer periods of time (ERs are also overloaded in this way but they at least have the option of admitting patients). So the sweet spot for urgent care is quick diagnoses so you can write a scrip, apply a wound dressing, or refer to a specialist pretty quickly. Ear irrigation falls pretty nearly in that category -- it's takes a few minutes, you can refer to an ENT if the issue is more serious, and you can provide some guidance for preventing the issue in the future.


You missed the point entirely. You don't need to go to a doctor for this. You can easily take care of it yourself. It would be like going to the doctor to have them cut your nails.


The OP has a painful earwax blockage. They aren't going to urgent care for regular, periodic earwax cleaning (though it sounds like some people go to ENTs for this, which I *do* think is weird -- if you just flush them more frequently with water at home, you wouldn't need to do this).

This would be similar to someone going to a doctor for an ingrown toenail. Can you treat an ingrown at home? Yes. In fact it's sort of similar to dealing with earwax -- you soak it to soften the nail and use some special tools you can order online to lift the nail in order to trim it. But if you've never had an ingrown before, or if it's very painful, most people would recommend going to a doctor to treat it.

Back before our medical system got very, very stupid, people regularly went to their family doctor for stuff like this -- painful ear wax build up, ingrown toenails, etc. A nurse or assistant would deal with the acute issue (no need for a doctor to do it) and then the doctor would come and talk to you about how to prevent it in the future or how to treat it safely at home, info that people would have no other way of getting before the internet.

Now it's hard to get appointments with GPs and everything gets referred to a specialist. Going to a specialist for something this low level is silly -- ENTs really do not need to be spending their time teaching people how to clean ear wax from their ears. So what's the current solution? Urgent cares. It's actually not a terrible middle ground. It helps people with these minor issues without clogging up ERs or doctors offices, so that the higher paid and often more experienced medical personnel in both those of those places can focus on more complex or potentially dangerous issues.


Except it would be cheaper and faster to go to CVS to get this:
https://www.cvs.com/shop/cvs-latex-free-rectal-syringe-for-gentle-cleansing-prodid-260513

If the name bothers you, you could get a smaller one with "ear" in the name, but this one will work better.

Either way, be sure to fill it up completely. Meaning, suck up water, turn it right-side up, squeeze it until water starts to come out, then suck up some more.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 18:31     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do people abuse urgent care for earwax removal?


It's not an abuse. If you can't hear or are in a lot of discomfort, you need help immediately. ENT appointments can take weeks if you aren't already a patient, and if your only ear issue has ever been wax buildup, it's likely you don't already have an ENT. You want people to sit around waiting for weeks rather than go to an urgent care where they have special equipment for water irrigation of ears? Why?

Urgent care is basically for medical issues for which it would be best to just go to a doctor's office, but you can't get an appointment. Anything more serious, you should go to the ER (I have twice gone to urgent care for things and been referred to the ER, because they really do not want serious medical issues at urgent care -- they can't take scans, have limited testing ability, and most people who work there are just medical assistants, not even RNs).

Urgent cares also need patients whose problems can be resolved fairly quickly, because they don't have the staff or facility for complex issues or people who need to occupy beds for longer periods of time (ERs are also overloaded in this way but they at least have the option of admitting patients). So the sweet spot for urgent care is quick diagnoses so you can write a scrip, apply a wound dressing, or refer to a specialist pretty quickly. Ear irrigation falls pretty nearly in that category -- it's takes a few minutes, you can refer to an ENT if the issue is more serious, and you can provide some guidance for preventing the issue in the future.


You missed the point entirely. You don't need to go to a doctor for this. You can easily take care of it yourself. It would be like going to the doctor to have them cut your nails.


The OP has a painful earwax blockage. They aren't going to urgent care for regular, periodic earwax cleaning (though it sounds like some people go to ENTs for this, which I *do* think is weird -- if you just flush them more frequently with water at home, you wouldn't need to do this).

This would be similar to someone going to a doctor for an ingrown toenail. Can you treat an ingrown at home? Yes. In fact it's sort of similar to dealing with earwax -- you soak it to soften the nail and use some special tools you can order online to lift the nail in order to trim it. But if you've never had an ingrown before, or if it's very painful, most people would recommend going to a doctor to treat it.

Back before our medical system got very, very stupid, people regularly went to their family doctor for stuff like this -- painful ear wax build up, ingrown toenails, etc. A nurse or assistant would deal with the acute issue (no need for a doctor to do it) and then the doctor would come and talk to you about how to prevent it in the future or how to treat it safely at home, info that people would have no other way of getting before the internet.

Now it's hard to get appointments with GPs and everything gets referred to a specialist. Going to a specialist for something this low level is silly -- ENTs really do not need to be spending their time teaching people how to clean ear wax from their ears. So what's the current solution? Urgent cares. It's actually not a terrible middle ground. It helps people with these minor issues without clogging up ERs or doctors offices, so that the higher paid and often more experienced medical personnel in both those of those places can focus on more complex or potentially dangerous issues.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 18:20     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do people abuse urgent care for earwax removal?


It's not an abuse. If you can't hear or are in a lot of discomfort, you need help immediately. ENT appointments can take weeks if you aren't already a patient, and if your only ear issue has ever been wax buildup, it's likely you don't already have an ENT. You want people to sit around waiting for weeks rather than go to an urgent care where they have special equipment for water irrigation of ears? Why?

Urgent care is basically for medical issues for which it would be best to just go to a doctor's office, but you can't get an appointment. Anything more serious, you should go to the ER (I have twice gone to urgent care for things and been referred to the ER, because they really do not want serious medical issues at urgent care -- they can't take scans, have limited testing ability, and most people who work there are just medical assistants, not even RNs).

Urgent cares also need patients whose problems can be resolved fairly quickly, because they don't have the staff or facility for complex issues or people who need to occupy beds for longer periods of time (ERs are also overloaded in this way but they at least have the option of admitting patients). So the sweet spot for urgent care is quick diagnoses so you can write a scrip, apply a wound dressing, or refer to a specialist pretty quickly. Ear irrigation falls pretty nearly in that category -- it's takes a few minutes, you can refer to an ENT if the issue is more serious, and you can provide some guidance for preventing the issue in the future.


You missed the point entirely. You don't need to go to a doctor for this. You can easily take care of it yourself. It would be like going to the doctor to have them cut your nails.


Nope.


Are you the sort of person that goes to the doctor for trimming nails and removing hangnails?
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 18:19     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do people abuse urgent care for earwax removal?


“Abuse”? There are urgent cares on every block. They want business. This isn’t the ER.


Of course they want the business, but it is wasting $200.


$200? Maybe on your insurance. Not on mine.


It probably is around $200. Maybe more, since this will get billed as a procedure. This is one of the reasons why insurance premiums are so high. Stop wasting money and medical resources!
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 14:16     Subject: Re:Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I bought what my ENT and PCP use so my family and I can do it at home: Debrox drops, followed by this water irrigation kit -- Elephant Ear Washer Bottle System by Doctor Easy.

https://a.co/d/gFmyNxM



This is the way to go. Use warm water.


This is important. Warm water and be sitting down when you do it. Flushing cold water makes you dizzy. I almost fell over the first time because I wasn't expecting the rush.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 14:14     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Anonymous wrote:The Debrox stuff works great and dissolves the wax. I don’t need to go to a doctor about it.


That's maybe true for you, but not true for a lot of people. I have to go to a doctor (ENT or PCP) to get it out after the Debrox.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 14:05     Subject: Re:Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Anonymous wrote:I bought what my ENT and PCP use so my family and I can do it at home: Debrox drops, followed by this water irrigation kit -- Elephant Ear Washer Bottle System by Doctor Easy.

https://a.co/d/gFmyNxM



This is the way to go. Use warm water.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 14:02     Subject: Re:Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
I bought what my ENT and PCP use so my family and I can do it at home: Debrox drops, followed by this water irrigation kit -- Elephant Ear Washer Bottle System by Doctor Easy.

https://a.co/d/gFmyNxM

Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 13:21     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Here’s a reference on the Colace. I didn’t try Debrox because this is what was recommended to me.

https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/advisorforums/liquid-stool-softener-as-an-earwax-removal-agent/
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 13:19     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Go to the urgent care clinic to see how it’s done. Then go to Amazon and buy a kit like “waxBgone” (there are lots of brands). This looks exactly like what the nurse used at urgent care on my kid. I also bought liquid Colace which is what she and the pediatrician recommended to soften it.

It’s not difficult to do at home but I appreciated getting to see someone else do it first. Do use a dedicated kit that will prevent you from sticking anything too far into your ear. I bought the electric one so I can’t speak to the manual. FSA covers it.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 13:17     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do people abuse urgent care for earwax removal?


It's not an abuse. If you can't hear or are in a lot of discomfort, you need help immediately. ENT appointments can take weeks if you aren't already a patient, and if your only ear issue has ever been wax buildup, it's likely you don't already have an ENT. You want people to sit around waiting for weeks rather than go to an urgent care where they have special equipment for water irrigation of ears? Why?

Urgent care is basically for medical issues for which it would be best to just go to a doctor's office, but you can't get an appointment. Anything more serious, you should go to the ER (I have twice gone to urgent care for things and been referred to the ER, because they really do not want serious medical issues at urgent care -- they can't take scans, have limited testing ability, and most people who work there are just medical assistants, not even RNs).

Urgent cares also need patients whose problems can be resolved fairly quickly, because they don't have the staff or facility for complex issues or people who need to occupy beds for longer periods of time (ERs are also overloaded in this way but they at least have the option of admitting patients). So the sweet spot for urgent care is quick diagnoses so you can write a scrip, apply a wound dressing, or refer to a specialist pretty quickly. Ear irrigation falls pretty nearly in that category -- it's takes a few minutes, you can refer to an ENT if the issue is more serious, and you can provide some guidance for preventing the issue in the future.


You missed the point entirely. You don't need to go to a doctor for this. You can easily take care of it yourself. It would be like going to the doctor to have them cut your nails.


Nope.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 13:14     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
You won't need to ask for anything, the doctor will look and decide what to do.

I have tiny ear canals and had a buildup of wax bad enough to cause hearing issues. I used a home ear wax removal kit for a couple of weeks and when I still couldn't hear, went to urgent care. They got it out with what was basically a big water gun. It almost didn't work -- the doctor said "One more try, then I'm sending you to ENT," but then it did work. He said it probably wouldn't have if I hadn't softened it up by doing the home ear wax removal kit.

At any rate, no need to go straight to ent. Minute clinic or urgent care will probably do the trick.
Anonymous
Post 12/14/2025 12:27     Subject: Which Ear Wax Cleaning to Get?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do people abuse urgent care for earwax removal?


“Abuse”? There are urgent cares on every block. They want business. This isn’t the ER.


Of course they want the business, but it is wasting $200.


$200? Maybe on your insurance. Not on mine.


It's $200 on other people's insurance because insurance providers pay big money to urgent cares to do things that people can do at home.

Not saying any particular person shouldn't go. It's just that pushing low skill corrective actions onto an expensive, professionally outfitted clinic is creating a more expensive health care industry.

I just went to an urgent care today. With something that many people would say to go to the ER for. The urgent care thinks I'm okay. I'm glad to have their advice but also not to generate 4x the cost by visiting the ER. And not to wait hours since I'm relatively well compared to ER patients.