My ear has been blocked for 5 days after removing foam ear plugs from my ears. I've been using DeWax, which I bought form the pharmacy before when I previously had the same problem about 3 months ago after using foam ear plugs. Last time it worked and my ear resolved itself and some wax came out of the ear, but this time it hasn't done so and no wax has come out of the ear.

Hopefully it's just ear wax impaction and nothing serious. I think it may be time to see an ENT doctor as 5 days has passed and DeWax hasn't cleared the ear. Does anyone have any recommendations for ENT doctors in Pattaya for this?

Probably impacted wax, go see Dr Apachai ENT specialist, he has a clinic on 3rd road, see googlemaps,.cheaper than a hospital, 5.30pm 3 days a week. He vacuums the wax out

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Probably impacted wax, go see Dr Apachai ENT specialist, he has a clinic on 3rd road, see googlemaps,.cheaper than a hospital, 5.30pm 3 days a week. He vacuums the wax out

Definitely. And get there a few minutes early if possible, the queue fills fast.

Something I have all the time is wax in my ears. Before you go and see a specialist, put some olive oil in the ears for a few days, which makes removal a lot easier.

Note,7-11 sells small bottles of olive oil, which does the job.

I've seen barbershops advertise ear cleanings before but I never got one. I wonder if that could be an easy first step. Anyone else see this before and is it widespread in Thailand?

In Europe I also had the same problem once. My doctor warmed up some water, I guess around body temp, filled a BIG siringe (no needle) and rinsed my ear in one go.

Surprisingly he didn't even charge my visit - he said spending more time on paperwork than on the job doesen't make sense for him as a one man show.

Try flushing with syringe if warm water after De wax,

Can I ask why did you use ear plugs? I'm also using foam earplugs from 3B and got used to sleeping with them.

I had a severe Inner ear infection and had to take Anti Bios to kill the infection caused by Bacteria entering my ear from a Badly maintained pool in Patts a few years ago. The ENT doctor at my local hospital told me all the fancy stuff you buy under the counter is no good and probably feeds germs and bacteria inside your inner Ear. My Ear Wax was so compacted against my ear drum he literally used a hook to break the wax away from the Ear Drum it was that hard. His advice good old Olive Oil.

On 7/19/2026 at 4:31 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Probably impacted wax, go see Dr Apachai ENT specialist, he has a clinic on 3rd road, see googlemaps,.cheaper than a hospital, 5.30pm 3 days a week. He vacuums the wax out

Thanks for the recommendation. Ear is now unblocked and back to normal.

I went there an hour early to avoid the queues and waited in the heat outside. Around 5pm the receptionist rocks up, set up the place then you can grab a queue number, which enabled me to be to be the 1st in the queue.

Doctor looked in my ear and said my blocked ear was because of wax, so he microsuctioned (vacuumed) out the wax with some metal thing and did so in both ears. It does cause quite a bit of uncomfortable pain sometimes when he does it though. Did you experience the same when you had yours done?

He said there was some infection in the ear and also gave me some antibiotic drops to use for the next 5 days.

All up, cost 700 baht and took only a few mins with the doctor once you walk into the room.

Edited July 20Jul 20 by bbi1

12 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I've seen barbershops advertise ear cleanings before but I never got one. I wonder if that could be an easy first step. Anyone else see this before and is it widespread in Thailand?

Do not do this.

Having an untrained person clean your ears risks infection and also getting the wax more impacted.

Go to a doctor. It is not an expensive procedure.

Yes the metal thing your talking about bbi1 is likely the hook he prised the wax away with. I had the same gave me anti bios as well. inside the inner ear is very very sensitive and anything poking around will cause a little tenderness nothing to worry about.

I had exactly the same experience with Dr Apichai as you. At first I went to a clinic opposite my condo as I didn’t want the inconvenience of visiting his clinic, but they didn’t remove all the wax. Dr Apichai removed all the wax and restored my hearing, and also diagnosed an ear infection for which he gave me antibiotics. Definitely worth the inconvenience.

8 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Thanks for the recommendation. Ear is now unblocked and back to normal.

I went there an hour early to avoid the queues and waited in the heat outside. Around 5pm the receptionist rocks up, set up the place then you can grab a queue number, which enabled me to be to be the 1st in the queue.

Doctor looked in my ear and said my blocked ear was because of wax, so he microsuctioned (vacuumed) out the wax with some metal thing and did so in both ears. It does cause quite a bit of uncomfortable pain sometimes when he does it though. Did you experience the same when you had yours done?

He said there was some infection in the ear and also gave me some antibiotic drops to use for the next 5 days.

All up, cost 700 baht and took only a few mins with the doctor once you walk into the room.

I didn't have any pain because no infection, 700 baht was a good price. Touching the eardrum can hurt

Edited July 20Jul 20 by scubascuba3

Hydrogen peroxide 40 baht 7/11 or pharmacy.

a few drips in the ear, wait a few minutes.

repeat if needed.

Works most of the time.

33 minutes ago, rocketboy2 said:

Hydrogen peroxide 40 baht 7/11 or pharmacy.

a few drips in the ear, wait a few minutes.

repeat if needed.

Works most of the time.

When NOT to Use It

Do not put hydrogen peroxide (or any liquid) in your ear if you experience or suspect any of the following:

A perforated (ruptured) eardrum

Ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes) installed

Active ear infection, severe pain, or bleeding/fluid discharge

Recent ear surgery

Note: Pouring liquid into an ear with a perforated eardrum can allow fluid into the middle ear space, leading to severe pain, severe dizziness, or serious infection.

How to Use It Safely

Use the Right Concentration: Use standard 3% hydrogen peroxide (the common household bottle). Never use industrial or hair-bleaching concentrations. You can also mix it 1:1 with plain water or saline to make it gentler.

Warm It Slightly: Make sure the liquid is near body temperature (warm it by holding the bottle in your hands for a minute). Cold liquids poured into the ear canal can trigger rapid dizziness or vertigo (caloric response).

Application:

Tilt your head to the side.

Instill 3 to 5 drops into the ear canal.

Keep your head tilted for 3 to 5 minutes. You will hear a loud fizzing or bubbling sound—this is normal.

Drain & Dry: Tilt your head back over a towel or basin to let it drain completely, then gently dry the outside of your ear with a towel. Never insert cotton swabs, keys, or tools into the canal to scoop out the wax.

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

When NOT to Use It

Do not put hydrogen peroxide (or any liquid) in your ear if you experience or suspect any of the following:

A perforated (ruptured) eardrum

Ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes) installed

Active ear infection, severe pain, or bleeding/fluid discharge

Recent ear surgery

Note: Pouring liquid into an ear with a perforated eardrum can allow fluid into the middle ear space, leading to severe pain, severe dizziness, or serious infection.

How to Use It Safely

Use the Right Concentration: Use standard 3% hydrogen peroxide (the common household bottle). Never use industrial or hair-bleaching concentrations. You can also mix it 1:1 with plain water or saline to make it gentler.

Warm It Slightly: Make sure the liquid is near body temperature (warm it by holding the bottle in your hands for a minute). Cold liquids poured into the ear canal can trigger rapid dizziness or vertigo (caloric response).

Application:

Tilt your head to the side.

Instill 3 to 5 drops into the ear canal.

Keep your head tilted for 3 to 5 minutes. You will hear a loud fizzing or bubbling sound—this is normal.

Drain & Dry: Tilt your head back over a towel or basin to let it drain completely, then gently dry the outside of your ear with a towel. Never insert cotton swabs, keys, or tools into the canal to scoop out the wax.

Yawn.

58 minutes ago, rocketboy2 said:

Yawn.

You don't like knowledge it seems

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

You don't like knowledge it seems

Your just trying to justify spending 700 baht

when you could have fixed it for 40 baht.

7/11, 40 baht bottle of Hydro. then spend your other 660 baht on cool Leo's.

Just to many pedantic pxxxxxx, on this forum.

Edited July 21Jul 21 by rocketboy2

9 minutes ago, rocketboy2 said:

Your just trying to justify spending 700 baht

when you could have fixed it for 40 baht.

7/11, 40 baht bottle of Hydro. then spend your other 660 baht on cool Leo's.

Just to many pedantic pxxxxxx, on this forum.

Depends how problematic someone's ear issues are, for most of us 700 baht isn't alot

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

Depends how problematic someone's ear issues are, for most of us 700 baht isn't alot

You should wind your neck in some days.

10 minutes ago, rocketboy2 said:

You should wind your neck in some days.

You are better when you don't post anything

4 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

You are better when you don't post anything

Oh, booty hurt are we now.

Youtube has plenty of ear cleaning vids.

pretty cool

On 7/20/2026 at 9:24 AM, Schoggibueb said:

In Europe I also had the same problem once. My doctor warmed up some water, I guess around body temp, filled a BIG siringe (no needle) and rinsed my ear in one go.

Surprisingly he didn't even charge my visit - he said spending more time on paperwork than on the job doesen't make sense for him as a one man show.

Back in the 1950s that was the MO when I had my ears syringed, which was a reasonably often occurence!!