Betsy (Pacific Beach) on 02/03/2023:

I have had terrible headaches as long as I can remember, and for that same amount of time I also like to have clean, clean ears. I’d clean my ears out with 2-3 swabs on each ear thinking ears had nothing to do with the other/headaches. Last few years, headaches have gotten worse. A few years ago I bought a ear microscope like tool to look into ears and gasped when I saw MY clean ears still had wax inside. Then I’d do my best to scrape and remove every little bit of wax that I could (note Don’t do this because your ears need to have a certain amount of ear wax to keep them healthy).

An Ear, nose & throat doctor told my sister across the country to stop having sinus headaches just stop using a-tips, she didn't think one had to do with the other, so didn’t stop using those cotton swabs, kept having the headaches, then he told her the same thing, she finally listened...and The headaches stopped. (Insert heavenly music here).

The last few years, these headaches of mine were unbearable, and I’d pop over the counter pain pills (which didn’t help and I hated taking, but I was in terrible pain), lay down with ice pack after ice pack, during the day and overnight. I’d be writhing in pain, searching online & couldn’t come up with an answer for these terrible headaches. I thought it was lack of humidity, so when it’s dry I try to keep the humidifier going still.

After doubting the connection of headaches to cotton swabs/Qtips, I finally stopped using them..., which was (still is) difficult. After a shower, I only use Kleenex on my finger to swipe out the water; if my ear feels itchy, I just use that.

I won’t lie, it takes an effort to resist using cotton swabs to clean out your ears. It took a few months to feel the results, I think your ears have to grow back a certain amount of healthy ear wax. But, I am still surprised at the result. Maybe I have one headache a month, and nothing like before. I’ve done nothing else different, So it must be the super removal of earwax triggers headaches, or sinus headaches. I never even thought one had to do with the other.

If this helps even one person out there, I’ll be happy & give all glory to His son.

So, try stopping using Qtips. Throw them away (gasp). It’s free, only thing to lose is what you’ve been seeking an answer for.