• over_clox@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    64
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    17 days ago

    I had this happen to me a long time ago. I woke up hearing the thing scratching/chewing at my eardrum, and it’s extremely painful.

    Cockroaches cannot walk backwards, so when in a confined space like that, they’ll naturally try to chew their way forward.

    Advice, should this ever happen to anyone else, as long as you catch it early and don’t have a hole in your eardrum, is to pour rubbing alcohol in your ear, then of course go see a doctor.

    Rubbing alcohol will like immediately kill the little demon, preventing any further chewing, but of course you’ll need to see a doctor to get it out.

    I feel really bad for the woman though, sounds like she didn’t catch it early enough, as apparently more damages were done which prompted surgery. If you catch it early enough, it should be about as simple as killing it and removing it with tweezers.

    Luckily I have absolutely no hearing loss after my experience, largely because I thought quick to kill it with rubbing alcohol.

    I hope her landlord pays up, that’s really messed up.

    • SkyezOpen@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      17 days ago

      Currently in temporary lodging with roaches. They spray regularly so not an infestation. I was worried, but the one I’ve seen so far was way too massive to even fit in my ear, so that makes me feel better… I think.

    • ivanafterall ☑️@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      31
      ·
      17 days ago

      Cockroaches are among my greatest fears. The fact that this has happened to multiple people is among the worst things I’ve ever learned.

      • crusty@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        edit-2
        17 days ago

        I’m very happy to live in a country that only has one tiny unobtrusive species of cockroach that doesn’t even like it indoors. Actually I don’t think I’ve ever seen one.

        Seems only Ectobius lapponicus can survive Norwegian winters

    • AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      11
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      17 days ago

      dude I really wish I hadn’t read this right before bed. holy crap. I can’t even imagine what the sound of a fucking cockroach scratching on my eardrum would sound like. oh my god.

      • over_clox@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        16 days ago

        Think like if you stuck a Q-Tip in your ear, but the tip is more like a miniature toothbrush. Then twist it for a bit.

        That’s the best way I can describe it, very unpleasant and painful.