27 December 2023 , 18:52
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A mum was shocked to discover what she claims to be a spider's nest inside her ear after using an earbud camera to look inside.
Lucy Wild, 29, made the grim discovery while investigating ear pain, thinking it was a build up of wax. She had pulled a spider from her ear three weeks earlier and thought that was the end of the ordeal, but a "scratchy" pain persisted so the mum-of-three sent the camera - a Smartbud - for another look.
She was shocked to find what she claims to be a spider's nest - which she said was like something out of science fiction. Doctors cleared out her ear but Lucy says she's still emotionally scarred by what happened. Lucy, a part-time teacher and content creator, from Sale, Cheshire, said: "It was like something out of Stranger Things.
"It looked like you were going into the upside down. I don't know what it left in my ear that was black but maybe it cut my ear - I know some spiders have babies on their legs and back. I was very confused as to how it even got in there, how does spider get in your ear and you not know about it - I was petrified thinking there might be another one."
Lucy first noticed an unusual feeling in her ear in mid-October. She says she felt something "crackling" in her ear when she woke up - and assumed it was wax. But when the feeling continued throughout the day, she used her earbud camera to investigate.
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The mum-of-three was shocked to discover a spider had taken up residence in her ear and using olive oil managed to flush it out. She thought the ordeal was over - but weeks later she began to feel pain in her ear again.
And when she used the Smartbud to look again, she found the inside of her ear was covered in a black substance. She visited the doctor who referred her to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department - and when they investigated, she was shocked to hear the ENT specialist suggest it was a spider's nest.
After an excruciatingly painful procedure, the apparent nest was suctioned from her ear - but Lucy says she thinks there's still some left in there. Now she's warning others about the horrifying incident.
She used a Smartbud camera to look inside (Lucy Wild / SWNS)Lucy said: "About three weeks ago I felt crackling in my ear and just thought a bit of ear wax wanted to fall out. I thought I'd have a look when I got home but I didn't press record because you wouldn't expect a spider in your ear. I was flapping around trying to get it out, we called 111 and put warm olive oil in my ear and drew it out.
"It was covered in oil and the size of about my baby fingernail - about 1cm. But the blood concerned me so I went to see a doctor the next day as it was still bleeding, and I couldn't really hear. The doctor gave me antibiotics, I took those for a week and thought that's it - but then I felt pain in my ear again and that's when I recorded it.
"I was completely shocked - I was wondering if a bigger spider had got through my ear drum and my partner was winding me up saying they're nesting in there. At the ENT appointment as soon as he saw the video and looked inside my ear he said he'd never seen it before.
"He said yes, it is a spider's nest, you'll have to deal with the pain because I need to get this out of your ear. I actually vomited while he was doing procedure it was that painful - it was the most excruciating pain I've ever felt.
"I'd rather go through childbirth or a c-section again. When I got home I had another look can still see a bit in there but it's been swabbed so we're waiting to see what comes back in two weeks. People should invest in a Smartbud - you need to know what's going on in your ears."
A spokesperson for the British Arachnological Society said: "Everything is so blurred I really couldn't say. While some structures could be legs that's as far as I am prepared to go."