Hi, hoping for some reassurance(hope!) that my current situation is not permanent.
I am 63 and retired and have had hearing aids since 2016, day to day they didnt really work for me nor did I need them, so I generally just used them to watch TV in the evening. Late 2019 and things got a bit worse and I had to start wearing them if I needed to speak to anyone i.e. in a shop or the dentist/doctors etc but as they were the basic NHS model I was constantly turning them on and off as I couldn't stand the noise in the car or the kitchen fan or anything really, basically they were as much an anoyance as a help ( I also play the piano and listen to music on and off many times durring the day and the aids were definitely off for these activities) .
So early 2020 and I'm thinking maybe invest in some state of the art aids and get greater control of things. Following a hearing test at Specsavers I was advised I needed wax removed from my right ear so booked in for Micro Suction. I have had my ears done with ear irrigation (the 'old way') a few times with no probelms so was not concerned. However I found the Micro Suction so loud it was painful and it took quite a while compared to the ear irrigation which has always been over in a matter of seconds ( for me anyway).
When I got home from the micro suction I was almost deaf in both ears, I felt like I'd gone up 30,000 feet in a plane but I couldn't pop my ears. The next day it had settled down more or less to normal however when I played the piano the sound was distorted and basically sounded like crud ( sorry its the only word I can come up with). My aids were fitted the the next day and I obviously discussed this , the audiologist put my mind at rest that it would likely pass in a few days. Well it did and it didn't in that it changed in severity but didn't go away, it also affected listening to music and the TV. I had a follow up after two weeks where my ears were checked (but were OK) and was advised to see my GP if it hadnt improved in a couple of weeks, this was a couple of days before we went into full lockdown.
So into lockdown and disaster happening all around and my issue didn't seem urgent and I thought I'd give it a bit longer to see if things improved, I'd picked up some info online that said similar issues had taken upto 3 months to resolve.
So eventually the NHS were saying come back so I contacted my GP. I was given a steroid nose spray which after 5 weeks had no effect , in fact things seemed to get worse. I then managed to see a doctor but had to use ear drops for 2 weeks to clear wax so he could see what was going on. He eventaully diagnosed inflamed ear canal and prescribed Otomise and referred me back to the hospital audiology dept. The Otomise did not improve things.
The current situation is after 2 weeks of waiting to hear from them , the hospital audiolgy dept is closed and they dont know when they will be opening again.
My hearing is the same, piano and music is distorted so much that I can only play or listen for a few minutes, the sound is horrible (crud!). At times my ears feel full like someones stuffed them with cotton wool. The TV and car radio often sound robotic and so distorted I cant understand what is being said, this is all with or without my aids in, its my hearing.
From looking on the web I am thinking Eustachain Tube Disfunction but I am not sure self diagnoses via the internet it really the best thing.
Has anyone had similar issues ? I would love to hear some messages of hope, music is a big part of my life , I don't want to lose it.
Sorry for the length of this post and thanks in advance for any advice.
Written by
chdjazz
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Chdjazz, no need to apologise for the length of your Post! This is clearly a big issue for you. No one’s problems are going to be exactly the same as yours, of course, but there could be similarities.
For me, I started using hearing aids (because of failing hearing) at age 68 six years ago, and was prescribed state of the art aids through the NHS. Whilst phone and normal conversations are a little distorted, as is the radio, music is immeasurably improved.
Throughout my life I’ve had wax problems which were dealt with by syringing at the doctors surgery every few years, with great benefit. My surgery no longer does these so I went to a specialist Audiologist who, for £120, suctioned my ears. What a relief!!
I feel the NHS should be doing more for you. If your surgery can’t help, then contact PALS locally, they should be able to guide you on the next avenue to approach if there’s no audiology.
Sorry. Patient Advisory Liaison Services. They were set up originally, twenty or so years ago, to be supportive to hospital patients and their relatives if things were not going right. I’m unsure whether they deal with audiology issues since, although the audios May be based in hospitals they are not part of the hospital team. But they ought to know where to direct you. They probably keep normal office hours.
Hi chadjazz... had my ears microsuctioned 5 weeks ago.... apart from removing the very bad impacted earwax... my ears haven,t felt the same since🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️... I,ve been left with a ringing in my left ear , which was the worse one, he worked on that one for at least 15 minutes... they creak sometimes when I am drinking... the odd clicking noise and ear feeling warm, had a phone consultation from the doctor, he gave me EarCalm, which really didn,t do much.. wondering if I have some sort of infection,... I really wouldn,t want microsuction again, I was excited to get it done, but it’s caused all this to happen ... ☹️☹️
Sorry to hear that (pardon the pun!). I certainly wouldn’t have it again and there seem to be plenty of people saying similar from this supposedly safe process.
I phoned the doctor who did it, and he said micro suction doesn,t cause tinnitus !! ... I had it tinnitus before it was done, but nothing like I have now, it was more like a fan going in my ear , I could cope with that, but not this ringing ... 🤦🏻♀️
Hi all, I had mine microsuctioned just under 8 weeks ago and to be honest I've had problems since. I have developed hyperclausis since the procedure and have found soon afterwards sounds became very tinny and difficult to hear. I can say that sounds have become better in the last few weeks, they have developed more richeness and bass - however I still have pain now with high frequencies, like cups and plates hitting each other, although I would say this is mild/moderate in level. The hardest part is this high glacial static/hiss sound that has developed; as though my hearing is like a microphone turned up to full volume with a cloth over it - if you touch the cloth that is the sound my ear makes through the speaker. I have also had earache and fullness feeling which seems to have subsided somewhat in the last week a little thankfully. Like you, I was told by various professionals it was a safe procedure so didn't think twice, but I found it loud at the time and now regret it. I am hoping time allows this to subside..
Hi.... it’s 6 weeks now since mine was done.... left ear still whistling and hissing🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ Some days are worse than others.... thing is it had to be done, my ear was so impacted with wax nothing would shift it.... he did the right ear as well but that wasn,t bad , it only took him 2or3minutes, but the left ear being so bad it took him about 15 minutes with that continuous noise in my ear.. I had a phone consultation from the doctor a couple of weeks ago and explained, he gave me EarCalm , but to be honest the only thing it stopped was my ear getting hot... like you ,I am hoping in time it will subside 🤞🤞...
Reading your post again, you are very similar to how my ears feel, I had shooting pains going through my ear and fullness , still get the odd pain, and still have the fullness most days ...
Yes same for me. Because I had been told 'it is the wax - the wax is your issue' you become fixated on getting the wax out and then come across this safe procedure called microsuction based upon advice and reviews. Also by avoiding syringing I thought this would be fine. The bottom line for me was that it wasnt the wax and if I had it out it should have been manually. Although I had a ringing issue before the cleaning, i did not have hyperclausis or sensativity to sounds. I have been angry alot in the last 2 months from the misdirection, assurance and guidance I have been given from the GP and person who did the suctioning but I have reached a point now where that ship has sailed - the anger does not turn back time and I just have to hope mother time does her thing as best she can without causing too much colleratal damage to my life. So far, it seems that unless you have tinnitus&hyperclausis you are wasting you time getting professionals to understand the stress of this situation. I imagine its similar to those with asthma. Any decision from now on will be my own with though research.
I wouldn,t have microsuction again, I will try and keep my ears free from wax myself.... I did have tinnitus before having it done, but it wasn,t ringing it was more like a fan on constantly, I could cope with that.... now they click , creak and ring ...🤷♀️🤷♀️
Thanks for all your replies, it seems the micro sucton is not as safe as they say ( I wonder why? )
On my situation, my hearing has improved a bit over the last couple of days , far from perfect but at its worst I was in a world of FUZZ. I am hoping things continue to improve (bit of an understatement there) and I wish you all well with your troubles.
I think the issue is there is no tangible evidence you can go back to them and say 'this is what you have done'. It is all words and subjective. Microsuction seems to have become this sexy way of cleaning ears and its wrong. Nothing about cleaning ears should be sexy or promoted as so. It should be done methodically and with lots of questions asked beforehand imo.
I had micro suction at Specsavers 5 weeks ago in my left ear. The wax was very soft and I had no tinnitus before. My ear had not stopped ringing since and I am really depressed. I can't believe I went into it without researching it more. I thought it wy safe. I just pray it's not permanent.
Hi, I've just joined this group as I've developed tinnitus in my left ear after microsuction at Tunbridge Wells Specsavers 2 days ago. Your post caught my eye as I can relate to your experience. Mine shows no sign of subsiding and I was wondering if you could recommend anything. It's getting me down and I wish I'd paid a bit more now and gone somewhere better.
Hi and sorry the same has happened to you. I can't really recommend anything unfortunately except the things people say on this forum. I really panicked about it for quite a while and beat myself up about it. 2 days is very recent and for me it was at the forefront of my mind all the time. But it's 3 years now and it is still there but less so. I think I have become accustomed to it. I have trouble with my other ear after drops from the doctor so sometimes they both really ring/hurt. It is still uncomfortable at times but other times less. Stress is a definite trigger. Sorry I can't be more help but it is early for you so try and be kind to yourself.
Thanks. Specsavers in Huddersfield were totally unsympathetic when I contacted them. I'm wish I could turn the clock back. Can't believe I was so reckless.
I have the same issue after microsuction at Boots a year ago. My GP had stopped doing irrigation due to Covid risks with aerosols. At low volume it's ok but as the volume increases I get distortion. In the car the rattling is constant. I am sure that during the procedure, because the wax was hard, the suction tugged my eardrum and caused some trauma to the ossicles. I've had CT and MRI scans but the consultant I saw couldn't identify any problem. I've nowhere else to turn.
Hello, did anyone solve what was causing their distorted hearing? I had my ears micro-suctioned a year and a half ago, had to go 5 times to get some very stubborn was removed, ended up with an ear infection, finally came away with distorted hearing. GP not interested but did refer me for an NHS hearing test and I have very slight hearing loss. Finally got referred to ENT & they don't know what it is, have recommended an MRI so waiting for an appointment.
I play the harpsichord, organ, and am with a number of choirs. Since microsuction (ear wax build up) my life has changed - disastrously. The harpsichord, an instrument I've loved since I was in single figures age-wise (I'm now in my 60s) I can no longer listen to - it sounds like a bad distorted recording, even when playing the real thing. Trebles and Sops in choirs distort terribly also. Violin and treble viols 'up top' just make noise now - even my sense of pitch has gone with them.
Since microsuction, my musical life has, not to put too fine a point on it, been destroyed.
I'm shattered by what's happened. (I was treated six or so months ago).
I had micro suction 6 days ago mainly on the right ear. The wax was so impacted that the procedure was stopped after 15 minutes. the noise was really loud and it hurt. The left ear was then suctioned for about a minute but again it was impossible to remove the wax. Since the procedure sounds in the right ear are distorted - it sounds as if tin foil is being scrunched up. The left ear isn't affected. I am due to go back for another go with micro suction tomorrow but am wondering whether to go elsewhere and have irrigation. I too am a musician and listening to music and playing it used to be a great pleasure.
Has the hearing of other people posting here ever returned to what it was before the attempt at wax removal?
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