Could less than 10 seconds of microsuction have caused noise damage?

[Mikkijan]

I've had tinnitus since a family party in a hotel with live music in 2012. That was in October, but by Christmas it had quietened down and no longer caused me any distress.

This summer it has increased slightly just by attending a couple of social events that weren't particularly loud. On 20th July I was invited to a friend's lunch party at her house, 15 people talking, no music. I was a little anxious because of the slight increase, so wore ear plugs, Stoppers, squashy ones you mold to shape.

Straight after that the T was much worse, making me feel quite distressed. I read that I could have compacted my earwax by shoving the earplugs in. I used olive oil ear drops for nine days but it was still the same so I went to an Audiology Clinic for earwax removal. I knew I had a lot of wax as I've always been that way. Hadn't had them cleaned out for years though as scared of noise in my ears.

I explained I wanted a removal without any sound because of the tinnitus. As soon as he started I thought the sound was too loud for me and called out to stop. I think 5 or 6 seconds was the most it lasted.

He referred me to the clinic in the city to get the manual removal I was asking for. I went there 3 days later and that was great. The manual removal was carefully done without going near the eardrum and I agreed to irrigation at the lowest level to dislodge the wax that was close to the eardrum. So with a combination of those two things my ears are now perfectly clear of wax. I was shown before and after photos and the difference was amazing.

That was on 1st August and since then my right ear has felt perfect but the left one has felt full and blocked and my T, which was mostly in the left ear, is still the same. I'm worried that the short spell of microsuction noise has not done me any favours.

I went to the Doctors on 7th and he said both my ears are perfect and clear and no sign of any fluid in the middle ear on the left and told me it should all settle down. He didn't think the brief microsuction was anything to worry about. He gave me Amitriptyline to help me sleep and treat my anxiety, which I admit is off the scale.

I would love someone to reassure me that the 5 or 6 seconds of microsuction couldn't have made things any worse, and that there is a good chance this T will quieten down again like it did in 2012. Thanks very much for listening to my woes.

[sammie888]

Hi Mikkijan I found using ear plugs makes the dreaded "T" seem louder due to reducing the external sound, I have had tinnitus now for 5 years and like most struggle from time to time with it I also have my ears micro suctioned twice a year because of wax build up and it has never caused the tinnitus to increase I think the longer you have it the more you become able to tolerate it.

[Mikkijan in reply to sammie888]

Thank you sammie888, that is very reassuring to hear.

[Mikkijan in reply to sammie888]

sammie, could I ask you, when you have your ears microsuctioned, roughly how long is it in each ear?

[berry76]

I now always have my ear canals microsuctioned and have not noticed an increase in my tinnitus. It's a much more efficient way of removing wax....using Earol spray might also help stop the wax building up. Try not to focus too much on head noise - but I am a specialist at it and know too well how demoralising tinnitus can be. Good luck. Keep happily busy.

[Mikkijan in reply to berry76]

Thanks very much berry76. I have been panicking quite severely about those few seconds of microsuction, especially as it was only in my left ear, which is the one now shrieking. Your reply, and the one from sammie888, are a big help to me. I know I need to shift my focus before I can expect any improvement and the messages from you both are a huge help, more than you know. Thank you!

[berry76 in reply to Mikkijan]

Cheers. Be strong.

[Mikkijan in reply to berry76]

berry, could I also ask you, how long in each ear do you have the microsuction thing?

[Sally07]

When I had microsuction, I was so nervous that the audiologist noticed and asked if I was alright. She told me that the volume of the machine is just under 80db which meant that for noise damage to occur, it would have to be 8 hours of constant exposure. I felt reassured after that and didn't notice an increase in my t afterwards. I guess the machines must be similar, so I think you're good but I totally get the anxiety about noise. Whenever I'm in the street and loud vehicle comes past, or in a bar and a table get rowdy for a bit, I automatically put my fingers in my ears and then have to explain to the people I'm with why I'm so weird 😂 life with t.

Anyway, hope this helped and best wishes!

[Mikkijan in reply to Sally07]

Thanks Sally07, that is so good to hear. Yes I'm like that when out around town, I know I'm very anxious about it all. Hopefully anxiety is the reason for this spike.

[CarolynM61592]

When I first noticed my tinnitus 31 years ago, I nearly drove myself crazy trying to figure out what I had done wrong. As time went by, the T came and went, ebbed and flowed, and I learned that we live in an incredibly noisy world and it was probably just an accumulation of noise events, or my susceptibility to it. This morning I didn't even think about it until I checked my email and came across this question.

I too carry earplugs at all times and put my fingers in my ears at any loud noise, sometimes dropping everything and inviting stares!

I wish I didn't have it and don't understand why there isn't more publicity about how much harm loud sound can do. Why are people in the music industry allowed to assault our ears without warning us first?

Remember that you have lots and lots of company in this condition, that helps me. I guess all I can add at this point is try to make peace with it, avoid loud noise and try not to worry about the ups and downs. Easier said than done, but time helps.

Wishing you the very best!

And, BTW, I use an over the counter ear wax removing product and have never noticed it caused any change in the T.

[Mikkijan in reply to CarolynM61592]

Thank you Carolyn. I know what you mean, I feel that I really want to know why, after seven years of being at a low level, it has now spiked so badly.

I'm sure that the sound of 15 people chatting, whilst I had ear plugs in, could not have caused this spike, so I think it must have been my anxiety about the couple of small rises I'd had in the previous weeks.

Yes, I use over the counter Ceremol Olive Oil drops and they are very good. I wasn't worried about those. The Audiologist said the wax was very compacted in my left ear, but it was all soft and easy to remove thanks to the drops.

Maybe after wax being very compacted it just takes a while to settle down after removal?

[ShakeelaBTA]

Hello and welcome to the British Tinnitus Association forum.

Do feel free to ask any questions, I hope that you find this a helpful and supportive place to help you manage your tinnitus.

We have some resources that you might like to check out in addition to our home here:

tinnitus.org.uk (information and support details)

takeontinnitus.co.uk (free tinnitus management programme)

You can also check decibel levels here tinnitus.org.uk/how-loud-is...

If you’d like to sign up to receive ‘Focus’, our new free monthly e-newsletter, you can sign up at tinnitus.org.uk/forms/conta...

Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call [phone])

Kind regards

Shakeela

[Mikkijan in reply to ShakeelaBTA]

Thank you very much Shakeela

[sammie888]

Hi Mikkijan it takes about 1 to 2 minutes per ear if you have them done on a regular basis if would take longer on impacted wax.

All the best

[Mikkijan in reply to sammie888]

Thank you sammie, that helps to put my worry about the few seconds into perspective. A couple of minutes is quite a long time in comparison and you have that twice a year without any problems, don't you. Thanks very much.