Help I’m confused

[LunaG]

Hi there I am sure this is a familiar story but new to me so any advice welcome. Started to experience ‘heartbeat sound’ in my right ear so went for a hearing test. Audiologist said my ear was so full of wax that he couldn’t see my eardrum. Advised me to use olive oil spray then see a micro suction specialist. Had appt last Thursday but when he started procedure my ear was so tender he couldn’t do much. He suggested trying sodium bicarbonate drops then to return again. I put the drops in when I got home but my ear clogged and I have been completely muffled and in pain since. Had online chat with doc following day and without looking in my ear suggested a spray in case there was infection. It is now a Monday night and hardly any improvement. Still deaf in right ear and pain on and off. Not sure what to do next. Desperate. Any advice pls.

[Hidden]

Hi I would go back to GP perhaps you need antibiotics?

[LunaG in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your response. The doc on Friday was so disinterested and unhelpful I feel like I am being a pain especially when they are so busy. The pharmacist was much more helpful and kind. He said to finish ear spray and go back to sodium bicarbonate drops. He was against micro suction at all. Think I need a third opinion as I don’t want to make it any worse.

[Hidden in reply to LunaG]

Hi sorry to hear the doctor’s response which can be off putting but if you’re in pain with earache perhaps you could try another doctor in the practice?

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Hi Luna

Sorry to read about the difficulties you've been encountering. GPs are busy, it's true, and there is a limited amount of tinnitus treatment in general which they are resourced to carry out. Ear Wax build-up does fall into that category of issues which they can help with, but it can reach a level which they may feel is best dealt with by specialist practitioners.

Consulting a pharmacist is a great idea, as they are an underrated resource for most general healthcare queries, and the sodium bicarbonate eardrops recommended do work well for some people with problematic wax.

This advisory from patient.info, has a bit more background - patient.info/medicine/sodiu....

[LunaG in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Thank you for your advice. I have one more day left to use Otomize but my ear canal still feels very sore and I have to take strong painkillers at night to sleep. It was after my first use of sodium bicarbonate drops that the blockage started (I had just had one small attempt of micro suction that day too) so am nervous to put anything in my ear now. Not normally such a wuss but earache takes over my every thinking minute. I will get some more advice from pharmacist again before I proceed. Thanks again.

[Happyrosie]

Luna, you remind me of where I was six years ago.

Yes, follow the pharmacist’s advice. But, the earwax may not go away So something may need to be done, either irrigation or suction,

My story was similar to yours and the doctor prescribed bicarbonate soda drops. After five days there was serum and blood seeping from the ear, I was given oral antibiotics and was told the ear had to be suctioned. The waiting list at that time was twelve weeks.

In the meantime, while waiting, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy and started chemotherapy.

The suctioning was painful as the wax , though softened with olive oil, had massed with blood to form a hard lump. Two nurses held me down so that I didn’t move and the third did the suctioning, But it was such a relief to get it done.

Nurses do not now like to perform the irrigation that they used to do because of possible complications so suctioning is recommenced. Pre Covid, I had it done privately as the waiting list just to see the doctor was five weeks.

My GPS surgery now speaks to a patients the same day, instead of a five weeks wait.

[LunaG in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks for your reply Rosie. Wow poor you what a run of health challenges. You are very strong and brave. I did book a private appt for microsuction (last Thursday) but it Is since that attempt (after 30 secs it was too tender in my ear canal so he had to stop) everything has worsened. The ear specialist recommended the sodium bicarbonate drops to further soften the wax (had already tried olive oil spray) but after the session with him and first use of drops I have been deaf in that ear and in so much pain, especially now in the evening. I am scared on how to proceed. Tomorrow is last day of using Otomize which doesn’t seem to have done much but in case I had an infection the doctor prescribed it, without any examination of my ear. I cannot bear the thought of anything in my ear to be honest and I am normally stoical. I just so want to get this sorted. Earache is awful isn’t it. Thanks again. Hope I can post a positive outcome soon.