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Amber Horrox's avatar

Not heard of this symptom being pm related before yet I am noticing it in women in their 40’s!

I’m 45 and have been guided to get my ears syringed for over a year. Didn’t make any links that it could all be related (though I guess everything is connected, it’s a truth I’m still waking up to😆).

Thanks for sharing this insight.

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Thanks, Amber! We're happy to have you as part of the Itching Ear Club. Membership is free.

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Amber Horrox's avatar

😆😂🤣

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Lindsey Smith | Not Normal's avatar

I have heard about the itchy ears and it’s such a head scratcher (literally!). A bit nervous about this as apparently I have extra tiny twisty ear canals, much to the annoyance of my doctor who always is appalled at how much wax gets trapped in there. Good to know there are some things that help!

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

A heads up is always helpful! My fellow Gen Xers hadn't a clue what the heck was going on. I figured out that my itching ears were itchy because of perimenopause around the same time that other women started talking about it online (which was just over a year ago). I'm hoping you have some time before these crazy symptoms start. I was 46 or 47 when the ears began to itch. Thanks for stopping by!

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The Midst's avatar

Interesting! We will share, Shelby.

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Thank you! You've been such a great supporter and I really appreciate it.

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Ryan Gillis's avatar

So I am a male and have always had itchy ears. I discovered it was eczema in my ear canal. The way I discovered this was I bought an ear camera wax remover and it’s all red and itchy just like eczema that I’ve had on my arms and legs my whole life. But let me tell you, that wax remover tool is a LIFESAVER!!! For years and I couldn’t get the itch from rubbing my ear and any time I used a cutip as a kid I’d get an ear infection so I had no way to itch the unbearable itch of eczema. I take antidepressants and they make me sweat a lot more on top of my excessive wax buildup. After I get the layer of wax off the eczema spots it doesn’t itch for at least a few days if not longer. It gets itchier and itchier the longer I let it go so I do it about 1-2x a week. Lifesaver I’m telling you, if you’re dealing with itchy ears that’s my #1 suggestion.

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

You're talking my kind of language, Ryan! Thanks for giving us such great information and tips. I've seen those wax remover cameras and I have been tempted to purchase one. I have a scope that I can look in my kid's ears but of course I can't use it to see my own ears. And they aren't very good at describing what goes on in my ears 🤣.

I'm so happy your ears are better and I appreciate you reading and leaving a comment!

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Alexis Mera Damen's avatar

Well I’m screwed because I already have a minor case or psoriasis IN my ears (among other places). This was informative!

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

That psoriasis! It goes everywhere. Crazy hormones of perimenopause hopefully doesn't make it worse for you. I wish I had had a heads up on this ear itching thing. I thought I was going insane as my ENT looked at me like a deer caught in headlights.

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Maggie Jon's avatar

I swear it looks like you are checking my search history! I just looked this up today 😂😂😂

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Oh, you're in the thick of it now, Maggie! Did you find anything interesting?

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Maggie Jon's avatar

Well basically what you said. Which explains why my ears have been driving me INSANE when that has never been a problem in the past.

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

INSANE is the right word! Between that and the tinnitus my ears are done for.

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Maggie Jon's avatar

Tinnitus I don't have. Have you tried a good neck massage? I had amazing results with a client of mine when I was still a massage therapist.

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

I didn't know you were a massage therapist - that's so cool. That's my favorite healing modality. Unfortunately, I haven't had any luck with anything yet for my tinnitus.

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Maggie Jon's avatar

Have you tried osteopathy yet?

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Devany Amber Wolfe's avatar

I know this is technically a no-no, but I have long fingernails. They scratch that itch. I don’t even care. It feels like the itch is in my brain and I need to get it!!!!

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Hey, we got to do it we got to do. I've been known to use Q-tips. A fingernail comes in handy. You, too, can come up with your own sound when you dig in there!

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Devany Amber Wolfe's avatar

I also really appreciated you talking about how estrogen is sometimes way higher in peri! I read that for the first time a couple of months ago in an article from The Vajenda and it resonated as sometimes I feel like I’m SURGING with hormones not barely scraping by…

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

It's kind of a funny thing how information gets re-crafted on the internet to serve someone's specific narrative or story, then it becomes everyone's story whether it's right or not. The Vajenda and Dr. Gunter is a great source for reliable medical information.

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Susan Campbell's avatar

Fabulous picture - I love your dress and shoes!! 😍

And... my ears itch. All. The. Time. I joke that if I could claw out the ear canal, I would. I have flaky ear wax so it doesn't build up, but the itch is real and drives me crazy!

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Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Thanks, Susan! Oh gosh, yeah, I have that too... flaky ear wax. We need to hear from some menopausal women to know if this all goes away.

True story. I had to switch my ENT because I was known as "the girl with too much ear wax." Well, that and because he looked at me like a deer caught in headlights every time I complained about ear wax and wet, itchy ears. Well, that and because I once left a puddle of sweat on his patient chair. Well, that and because he always looked like he was going to a country club instead of seeing patients. Well, that and he either constantly canceled on me or kept me waiting in his waiting room for hours. My new ENT is a woman.

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