Just wondering if I'll find somewhere that could do this service for me, here in Pattaya.

I'm swimming everyday, and using earplugs, yet my ears (particularly left ear) feels like it's full of water that just won't come out with any amount of encouragement.

It's now at the point of interfering with my sleep, and I'm also now getting sharp pain around the left side of my face.

I'm figuring syringing is the quickest way to clear the water, but any other ideas welcomed.

Mmmmm ...I would say go to Dr Oliver farang doctor in Jomtien

Any GP can actually do it

But...the question is my dear Watson ..is ...will it come back again after swimming ?

What is causing this is the question

16 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Mmmmm ...I would say go to Dr Oliver farang doctor in Jomtien

Any GP can actually do it

But...the question is my dear Watson ..is ...will it come back again after swimming ?

What is causing this is the question

Thanks.

Have you actually had it done here?

I read sometime ago syringing is not something they do back in the UK anymore, but I'm not even sure if that's true.

That's why I wonder if it's possible here.

I can only assume it's my ear shape causing this as its been a long standing problem for me.

The method used to extract excessive ear wax here is through suction. They prescribe 4% hydrogen peroxide solution to melt/soften first.

Just buy a bottle of 4% hydrogen peroxide from any chemist and use it in the same way you would olive oil back in the UK. That may clear it up, but worst case a 5 minute job at a hospital to fix.

That's a DIY procedure. If really packed in there, a couple drops of mineral oil, a few days, loosen things up, then flush out. Ear water bulbs are easy to find at a pharmacy. Warm water & lots of pressure. Cotton ear buds to get any not playing nice.

And an ENT told me that process. Too bad for him, as I never needed his services again, to power vac my ears.

Once cleared, a weekly ear buds cleaning after a shower, should keep things clean & clear. Working for me, about 20 years running.

There are methods many use and some aren't that safe. I've had trouble at times with the ears. mostly the usual ear wax but sometimes fluid behind the ear drum, otitis media, which usually takes antibiotics, amoxicillin, I dislike taking now because of the gut side effects. What you have is this..Outer ear infections: This is an infection in the ear canal, also known as otitis externa or "swimmer's ear." It causes inflammation of the ear canal, itching in the ear, ear pain, fluid that drains from the ear, and muffled sounds. So you can be prescribed drops for the ears, after a cleaning they can do most anywhere here. Here's a link from a reputable source....https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351688

Dr Apachai, ENT specialist, very good for that, 3rd road clinic, vacuums wax out. See googlemaps, not falang price

31 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

There are methods many use and some aren't that safe. I've had trouble at times with the ears. mostly the usual ear wax but sometimes fluid behind the ear drum, otitis media, which usually takes antibiotics, amoxicillin, I dislike taking now because of the gut side effects. What you have is this..Outer ear infections: This is an infection in the ear canal, also known as otitis externa or "swimmer's ear." It causes inflammation of the ear canal, itching in the ear, ear pain, fluid that drains from the ear, and muffled sounds. So you can be prescribed drops for the ears, after a cleaning they can do most anywhere here. Here's a link from a reputable source....https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351688

@Johnlkuk Fred has the info you need. Apologies, I stopped at your first sentence, along with title, thought you just had wax build up.

Sounds like an ear infection. one way to tell if external or internal, is a drop or 2 of hydrogen peroxide (3%) in ear canal. If it fizzles up, you'll hear & feel it, then it's external. There's drops for that.

In no fizzing / sound, then internal. Oh yea, just rinse out peroxide with shower head.

I'm actually tending to an internal infection myself, w/ amoxycillin. 500mg 3X a day, for 2 weeks. As pointed out, don't like it, as kills the good gut bacteria, but only for 2 weeks. Been upping my water & milk kefir intake to try to keep some probiotics in there. Along with upping my bread (yeast) intake, even had pancakes today, though not sure if they're helpful, but damn tasty.

Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

As its quite painful and it's been going on for probably a week or so, I'm thinking I should just go specialist rather than guessing internal/external or infection or not etc.

As it's a regular issue I suffer I usually have a supply of these drops so I can self medicate as soon as I feel a problem starting, but this time they haven't worked.

54 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Dr Apachai, ENT specialist, very good for that, 3rd road clinic, vacuums wax out. See googlemaps, not falang price

Thanks for that scuba, I've looked him up and he's quite local so I'll drop in tomorrow.

It says the clinic is open 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

I don't think your issues are due to retra8ined water even though it feels like thta. More likaly wax impaction and/or possible infection (since you mention pain).

Either way see an ENT.

I went to the ENT department at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Dr Nikom Mee-in. Amazing to watch all the gunge being sucked out of both ears, on the TV while he did it. Around 2,200 baht.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Dr Apachai, ENT specialist, very good for that, 3rd road clinic, vacuums wax out. See googlemaps, not falang price

Yes but he only opens evenings ...and was full last time I went ,I had to push my way on unfortunately and explained to them I was a VIP before I could get in next

2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I went to the ENT department at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Dr Nikom Mee-in. Amazing to watch all the gunge being sucked out of both ears, on the video while he did it. Around 2,200 baht.

Do you need to have a consultation beforehand or can you see him immediately for this?

Doctor flushed my ear out around five years ago. First time experiencing it and it seemed rather violent. I also had severe pain on the same side of the face from a tooth infection which was the primary reason for the visit. Don't remember the exact timing but it was less than a week later I started having severe bouts of vertigo. The doctors seemed to think it was a coincidence and I didn't find anything searching to suggest otherwise.

5 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

As its quite painful and it's been going on for probably a week or so, I'm thinking I should just go specialist rather than guessing internal/external or infection or not etc.

As it's a regular issue I suffer I usually have a supply of these drops so I can self medicate as soon as I feel a problem starting, but this time they haven't worked.

Thanks for that scuba, I've looked him up and he's quite local so I'll drop in tomorrow.

It says the clinic is open 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Good luck with doc

Side note, in case didn't notice, DEX OPH, expires like 30 days after opened..

12 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I went to the ENT department at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Dr Nikom Mee-in. Amazing to watch all the gunge being sucked out of both ears, on the TV while he did it. Around 2,200 baht.

If you're in Chiang Mai, the ENT clinic in the Mercure Mini-mall (Chiang Puak Road) opens at 5pm,
I had one of the doctors there vacuum and flush out my ears for 400 baht—another 100 baht for some medicine.

13 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Do you need to have a consultation beforehand or can you see him immediately for this?

I just made an appointment with ENT 2 days before. I guess it could have been any ENT doctor who works there.

14 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I went to the ENT department at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Dr Nikom Mee-in. Amazing to watch all the gunge being sucked out of both ears, on the TV while he did it. Around 2,200 baht.

I was there on a November Sunday morning (!).

One ear was blocked.

Both sucked clean (the other one just a pinhole open,).

Paid 1750 incl some ear drops.

Female doctor. Can't remember the name.

Longer ago I was at a local clinic on Soi Buakhao. They did the wash out procedure with hydrogen peroxide.

Quite lengthy and inconvenient.

But for home use I bought a bottle of the peroxide stuff at the hospital pharmacy.

Occasionally pouring for a minute or two.

9 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Good luck with doc

Side note, in case didn't notice, DEX OPH, expires like 30 days after opened..

Does tt self destruct then or just disappear?

3 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

I had one of the doctors there vacuum and flush out my ears for 400 baht—another 100 baht for some medicine.

That's about the price I pay at an ENT up here. Modern instruments to check and suck out.

But it's 560 km from Pattaya so not useful for the poster 😊

Guess there might be cheaper options in Pattaya too.

But this flushing with peroxide is not that convenient.

15 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I went to the ENT department at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Dr Nikom Mee-in. Amazing to watch all the gunge being sucked out of both ears, on the TV while he did it. Around 2,200 baht.

Had the same done in Bumrungrad. Mine were so clogged that he sent me home with Docusate Sodium to soak for a few days before I came back and he swabbed out the rest of the gunk.

Turns out that home treatment just makes it worse. Isopropyl alcohol dehydrates the wax and makes it like a stone. The Q-tips were coming out clean (yeah... I know)

Fun fact... Docusate sodium is also used as a laxative.

59 minutes ago, impulse said:

Isopropyl alcohol

Of course no good.

Was it our own idea?

11 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Of course no good.

Was it our own idea?

Not at all. It's used to prevent swimmer's ear. The Q-Tips are the bad idea...

https://www.verywellhealth.com/rubbing-alcohol-in-ear-7565324

Get it looked at by a pro doc....a serious ear infection can kill your hearing and once it is gone it is gone.

What if there is nothing wrong with your ears , is it recommended to still have your ears professionally cleaned?

I know the barber in the day night area of Pattaya offers this service

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

What if there is nothing wrong with your ears , is it recommended to still have your ears professionally cleaned?

I know the barber in the day night area of Pattaya offers this service

Don't get them cleaned unless you have symptoms, i have a bebird camera thing you put in your ear for a look and a gentle scrape if you want, available from Shopee

Thanks again to scuba for the recommendation earlier in this thread.

I went along to Dr. Apichai on 3rd Road this evening and learnt I had an infection of the outer ear. He had a bit of a poke around in my ear (and hit a nerve a couple of times) but he wasn't in there vacuuming otherwise I'm sure it would feel less blocked right now.

Some antibiotic eardrops, painkillers, anti-inflammatory pills, and a course of Ciprofloxacin antibiotics, and I was charged 1180 baht, which was well affordable, especially if the treatment does the trick.

If anyone else decides to use this doctor, take heed of the Google reviews and turn up early. There was at least 20 others there, but as I got there an hour before he opened I was number 3 in the queue.

7 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

Thanks again to scuba for the recommendation earlier in this thread.

I went along to Dr. Apichai on 3rd Road this evening and learnt I had an infection of the outer ear. He had a bit of a poke around in my ear (and hit a nerve a couple of times) but he wasn't in there vacuuming otherwise I'm sure it would feel less blocked right now.

Some antibiotic eardrops, painkillers, anti-inflammatory pills, and a course of Ciprofloxacin antibiotics, and I was charged 1180 baht, which was well affordable, especially if the treatment does the trick.

If anyone else decides to use this doctor, take heed of the Google reviews and turn up early. There was at least 20 others there, but as I got there an hour before he opened I was number 3 in the queue.

Yes he is highly recommended, I don't think he would vacuum the ears if there was an infection, too painful

Any Doctors clinic or hospital can do

On 2/8/2026 at 7:53 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Do you need to have a consultation beforehand or can you see him immediately for this?

I've had this done at Bangkok Pattaya hospital as well, a couple of years running. The Doctor checks the ears before doing the 'extraction' & of course there is a 'Doctors Fee'. I think we all know, this hospital ain't cheap but they have the best equipment, in a conducive environment. The procedure is painless & does the job. I'm pretty sure I paid about 3,600 bt almost exactly a year ago.