Tinnitus sufferer with blocked ear

[Kazar]

Hi all,

I have had tinnitus for 30 years and have learned to cope with it, (after initially thinking my world had fallen apart)!

I have been using ear drops for 3 days to soften a build up of wax prior to syringing. I have had to do this twice before and I was dreading doing it again because it made the tinnitus louder.

This time, my ear has blocked totally and the tinnitus is unbelievably loud, much worse than previous occasions.

My question is, should I persevere with the drops (my syringing appointment isn't for another 5 days), or should I go back to my GP and ask for a referral to an ENT department for microscope or hand removal?

I'm worried about permanent damage, even though logically I know this is unlikely.

Thanks,

Karen

[ade-the-pade]

Hello Karen. I had a problem with ear was and they tried to remove in manually. They used a pick and vacuum tube

It was so sore so they had to stop. They give me drops to soften it then had me back in two weeks. It then came out quite easily. Pain was hard stick. When it gets sore tell them to stop poking . Hope this helps.

Ade

[Kazar in reply to ade-the-pade]

Thank you for your reply.

I was going to go back to my doctor tomorrow and ask for a referral, but I think my wax is so impacted I need to stick it out with the drops. I don't want to be told they can't get it out. It's been 4 days so far. A friend of mine had to use drops for 3 weeks before his came out!

[swindonian]

My wife has narrow ear canals so needs to have micro suction and the last time in early 2013 it cost £600 as our local NHS did not provide the service. Luckily this time I found a specialist clinic earwaxclinic.co.uk/ who operate locally who will do the same job for £80 and we have an appointment for tomorrow. Their website states no need to prepare but 2 days of olive oil drops give the best result.

[Kazar in reply to swindonian]

Thanks for replying.

had microsuction a few years ago. Luckily its available on the NHS in London. My GP referred me after using drops which were taking too long to soften the wax. It looks like the same thing is going to happen again.

I just think I shouldn't wait until Friday, only to be told I have to use drops for longer. The tinnitus is really awful now the ear is completely blocked. I can't bear to be in the house unless I'm wearing headphones listening to the radio. It's really getting me down and I keep thinking I'd can't be doing my eardrum much good either, having expanding wax pushing against it. It wasn't this bad last time.

Karen

[Kazar in reply to Kazar]

Sorry for the typos. I thought I'd proof read it thoroughly, (predictive text)!

[sammie888]

Hi Kazar Go for micro suction you should be able to get it done privately within 48 hours from £60 if like you said you have been using drops for a few days it should came out easily the feeling of fullness is horrible, give it a go.

All the best. Sammie.

[Kazar in reply to sammie888]

Thanks Sammie,

It's only because this has happened before that I'm not lying in a foetal heap weeping and wailing, (I was a mess)!

I'm busy tomorrow, so will get to GP on Weds. If he refuses to refer me, (can't see why not as he's done so before), I'll go to a clinic. Microsuction is meant to be safer than syringing or irrigation anyway. I can't believe you can buy kits and do it yourself. My dad had a rubber balloon thingy that he filled with water I think, ugh!

[sammie888]

Hi Kazar there are plenty of do it yourself kits about but they are not recommended see what your G. P. says and hopefully you can get sorted.

Good luck. Sammie

[Ruud1boy]

Microsuction was utterly terrifying for me. It's unbelievably loud as the vacuum is right next to your eardrum - it must surely have an impact on the ear or the auditory nerves contributing to T. Next time I need them clearing out, I'm going to one of the places that will attempt to fish any gunk out manually.

This seems to be an area where no-one, the medical profession included, has much of an idea of how to address the matter safely and efficiently. They say it's dangerous to stick things in your ear - and then they stick things in your ear. They say avoid loud noises - and then stick industrial machinery up against your eardrum. They say stress makes T worse - and then they scare you silly with all this shenanigans.

I've had ear irrigation twice before and microsuctioning twice as well. The first time I had them washed out was quite a pleasant experience and did the trick without any fuss at all. The last one, microsuctioning a week or two ago, cost me £50, left me in tears and made both my hearing and my T worse.

[Kazar in reply to Ruud1boy]

I agree. The methods and approaches vary widely, even within the same GP practice.

I'm sorry to hear about your most recent experience. I've heard it can take a while for your ears to settle after any procedure, but 2 weeks seems excessive.

The thing about help and support forums is they're a double edged sword. For every person who swears by a procedure based on their own experience, there's someone else who has had a bad result. I suppose you have to weigh up all the options and make as informed a decision as you can.

Thanks,

Karen