I recently visited my doctor for my annual checkup, feeling great overall. My blood pressure was excellent, my vision was clear, and my heart was strong. But then the doctor took a look in my ears.
“Oh my,” he said.
What did that mean?
“Is everything alright?” I asked, feeling a twinge of anxiety.
“You have a significant amount of wax in here, making it difficult to see. We’ll need to clean that out.”
I was embarrassed. Why did this make me feel so unclean? It’s not like I could help it. Still, hearing my doctor say he needed to “clean something out” was unsettling. He brought over a pen-like tool with a light, and as he maneuvered it in my ear, it was not a pleasant experience. It hurt quite a bit as he scraped away. When he finally pulled out the impacted wax, my embarrassment shifted to intrigue. I was shocked by the nasty glob of brownish-orange gunk he extracted. And he kept going back for more!
After several rounds in one ear, he moved to the other side, where similarly disgusting wax kept coming out. How had I managed to hear anything at all? I was astonished. I wish I had taken a photo of the tissue because wow! Once he finished, it was a quick, awkward “Thanks, see you next time,” and I left.
Back home, I couldn’t stop thinking about that wax. Was this common? Would it happen again? Should I be worried? Yes, these were all questions I probably should have asked the doctor, but feeling humiliated, I turned to Dr. Google instead. What a goldmine of information! Apparently, impacted cerumen (the fancy term for a lot of earwax) can lead to various issues like hearing loss, tinnitus, itching, and even vertigo. Fascinating! But what really piqued my interest was how to get it out and if I could do it myself.
Before I knew it, I found myself on TikTok watching earwax removal videos, and I couldn’t look away! Have you seen them? You should! No, you shouldn’t! Yes, yes, you definitely should! They are both fascinating and disgusting. Some people have so much wax that it’s bulging out of their ear canals. How do they not notice? I mean, someone has to have pointed it out, right? If I ever see that, I’m saying something. Nobody should walk around with that kind of blockage!
Once the doctor (assuming it’s a doctor?) begins removing the wax, it’s so captivating. Sometimes it’s a quick scoop with a curette, but other times it’s intense. Some individuals have wax balls stuck like glue to hair in their ears, and the removal process is quite the endeavor. I found myself cheering them on, “Yes! Get that wax! You can do it!” I was both disgusted and satisfied—okay, mainly satisfied.
Others had flaky earwax, which they picked at with tweezers, and that was also oddly enjoyable to watch. But the best part is when they use a suction machine. The doctor inserts it into the ear, and poof, the wax is gone in an instant! I watched for at least an hour before finally heading to bed, thinking I was done. Oh, how wrong I was!
The next day, my feed was flooded with earwax removal videos, sprinkled with pimple popping clips. What is wrong with me? Am I gross? I think I might be. My husband can’t even bear to watch medical shows, so I knew I couldn’t share this newfound passion with him. But what about my kids? Were they like me?
I started with my oldest son, who groaned and walked away. My second son gagged, while my third was indifferent. But my five-year-old daughter? She loved it! Thank goodness I’m not the only weirdo in the house! We grabbed some popcorn and kept watching.
My daughter had delightful commentary, discussing color, texture, and stickiness. She preferred the dark globs removed with tweezers, while I leaned towards suction. We both agreed that flaky earwax was a bit too gross for our tastes. We also shared a fondness for blackheads but weren’t as keen on cysts. I could have continued this bonding session all day, but life beckoned.
Is earwax gross? Absolutely. Am I embarrassed that I enjoy watching these videos? Sort of. Is this going to stop me from watching them again? Definitely not. I feel the same way about pimples. There’s something oddly satisfying about it. I might be tempted to Google toenail fungus, but then again, I fear there just aren’t enough hours in the day… Okay, maybe just one quick search…
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Summary
After an embarrassing earwax removal experience, I became unexpectedly fascinated with earwax extraction videos online. This newfound interest led to amusing family moments as my daughter joined in on the viewing, sharing her thoughts on the various types of earwax. Despite the gross factor, I find satisfaction in these videos, and I’m not alone in this quirky hobby!
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