Man, oh man, did I think I was the only freak out there! I've been battling these hellacious things for 10 years! I can't tell you how reassuring it is that it is as common as it seems. Tried the waterpik, and it's too rough. So, if you have any access to such a thing, the disposable instruments that doctors use to remove ear wax build-up (there's like a set of tools...loop-ended probes, scoops about 3mm wide, etc.) are the bomb at removing the little devils. I just disinfect them after each use. My hubby is a doctor, and I have another doctor friend, and neither have heard of this before. Years ago the ENT I went to knew immediately what they were, and prescribed Clindamycin for whatever anaerobic organisms may have been brewing at that time. Like, did an infection cause the crud, or did the crud cause an infection? I sure can sympathize with everyone who wants to get a tonsillectomy....it would make me feel so much more confident when talking to people knowing I don't have putrefying yuck hanging around!