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This is not for the squeamish.... I once woke up at 3:30 in the AM to the sensation of something crawling on my face. I sat up quickly and attempted to brush i

This is not for the squeamish.... I once woke up at 3:30 in the AM to the sensation of something crawling on my face. I sat up quickly and attempted to brush it off, but missed and the thing dashed into my ear. It went all the way in and nestled up to my ear drum. After getting over the initial uncertainty of not knowing whether it was that kind that bites, I thought I'd hang tight until the urgent care facility opened at 8:30 and have them take it out. But it moved around frequently, which made a significant sound as it rubbed against the tympanum, so there was no way I was going to sleep. Yes, it is as unpleasant as you imagine it would be. I couldn't stand the various maladies I dreamed up that might befall my hearing and after about an hour, I drove myself to the emergency room. Here's where it's relevant to the story. At first, they couldn't see it with their otoscope, so they cleaned my ear out. In order to open space for a better look, they scooped out a disturbingly large amount of ear wax. I was surprised at this, as I do use Q-Tip daily and couldn't imagine that I'd missed that much wax when cleaning (I hadn't, Q-Tip doesn't reach there). And I'd recently had a full audiologist exam that found no issues. I asked the Dr. about it as he was locating the bug and he said that actually, the earwax in the ear canal is part of the body's protections against germs & viruses, and the amount removed was typical. Once the wax was out, he could see the thing. They then 'paralyzed' it by squirting in an anesthetic so it wouldn't cling to my ear canal, then washed the ear out, and the bug came out. $1,850 lighter, I headed home. So. Learning that I could have had an eargasm and saved that small fortune, well, it's good to know for next time I'm in Vietnam with a bug in my ear. For those who absolutely have to know... it was a silverfish. Ick.

IvyMike 6y ago
I still have nightmares about the Ceti Eel scene in Wrath of Khan; your ability to hold out for an hour is admirable. https://youtu.be/3i42Smtbmeg https://youtu.be/3i42Smtbmeg
- recursive 6y ago
  Five hours.
  - Throwaway1771 6y ago
    Incorrect, look again. That's when the clinic opened.
wittyreference 6y ago
1) For a PCP that does ear cleanings, you could have done that for peanuts. I used to know an FM guy who would do it regularly for patients (maybe a touch too regularly). 2) Heh, it's actually a standard board exam question about "homeless guy comes in with scratching in one ear." The official answer is that you /don't/ scope first, because if it's a roach, the sudden light can make them scrabble deeper. Which is actually funny, since different bugs respond differently - there have been case reports where people have reported repeated success with taking the patient to a darkened room, opening the ear as much as possible, and having a light pointed near the outside of the ear - luring the bug to crawl out on its own. Actually, on second thought, I don't know if it's a "standard" board question. Rather, it was something I studied for boards once upon a time. I'm not in EM/FM, so it's not something I've ever had come up again.
acjohnson55 6y ago
An acquaintance of my wife had a similar experience, having a full on cockroach dragged out of her ear. The stuff nightmares are made of...
habitue 6y ago
At least it wasn't an earwig
TheGallopedHigh 6y ago
I’m not a doctor but listening to the Meat Eater podcast with Steve Rinella they mentioned talking to a doctor about this. One simple and effective method for killing the bug is to use a non-toxic oil to drowned the bug. Once dead one can flush out the oil and the bug.
gorkish 6y ago
Never had a bug in the ear, but I remember someone telling me that if it ever happens to dilute some isopropyl or peroxide and pour it in there. I sure wouldnt want to spend $2k; anyone know if this method is the most reliable to use at home?
- convolvatron 6y ago
  I have issues with wax covering my eustachian tube and so I do exactly this - it loosens up the wax and allows whatever process moves it to the outer ear to work better. would certainly try this before anything else. I use 1/4 3% peroxide, 1/4 70% isopropyl, and 1/2 water - if its too strong it will be uncomfortable.

IvyMike 6y ago

I still have nightmares about the Ceti Eel scene in Wrath of Khan; your ability to hold out for an hour is admirable. https://youtu.be/3i42Smtbmeg https://youtu.be/3i42Smtbmeg

recursive 6y ago
Five hours.
- Throwaway1771 6y ago
  Incorrect, look again. That's when the clinic opened.

wittyreference 6y ago

1) For a PCP that does ear cleanings, you could have done that for peanuts. I used to know an FM guy who would do it regularly for patients (maybe a touch too regularly). 2) Heh, it's actually a standard board exam question about "homeless guy comes in with scratching in one ear." The official answer is that you /don't/ scope first, because if it's a roach, the sudden light can make them scrabble deeper. Which is actually funny, since different bugs respond differently - there have been case reports where people have reported repeated success with taking the patient to a darkened room, opening the ear as much as possible, and having a light pointed near the outside of the ear - luring the bug to crawl out on its own. Actually, on second thought, I don't know if it's a "standard" board question. Rather, it was something I studied for boards once upon a time. I'm not in EM/FM, so it's not something I've ever had come up again.

acjohnson55 6y ago

An acquaintance of my wife had a similar experience, having a full on cockroach dragged out of her ear. The stuff nightmares are made of...

habitue 6y ago

At least it wasn't an earwig

TheGallopedHigh 6y ago

I’m not a doctor but listening to the Meat Eater podcast with Steve Rinella they mentioned talking to a doctor about this. One simple and effective method for killing the bug is to use a non-toxic oil to drowned the bug. Once dead one can flush out the oil and the bug.

gorkish 6y ago

Never had a bug in the ear, but I remember someone telling me that if it ever happens to dilute some isopropyl or peroxide and pour it in there. I sure wouldnt want to spend $2k; anyone know if this method is the most reliable to use at home?

convolvatron 6y ago
I have issues with wax covering my eustachian tube and so I do exactly this - it loosens up the wax and allows whatever process moves it to the outer ear to work better. would certainly try this before anything else. I use 1/4 3% peroxide, 1/4 70% isopropyl, and 1/2 water - if its too strong it will be uncomfortable.