Tinnitus after microsuctioning

[leoblue007]

Hi there. I'm a recent tinnitus sufferer, having been struggling to cope with it for just over a week. Am REALLY hoping this is a temporary affliction, but the more I read, the more I see it can easily be permanent. Which doesn't help with the stress!

So, the brief history:

Had both my ears microsuctioned around midday on Monday 7th December, removing a decent amount of ear wax. No real problems felt during the afternoon but in the evening while watching TV, the tinnitus kicked in.

Best description: was like the white snow that we used to get on the TV. It's like I've been in a noisy bar or club and exited and there's that high-pitched ringing (though it's more like white noise) and sense of fullness in the ears.

I went back to the hearing centre where I had the microsuctioning and an audiologist performed a tympanometry test and a hearing test (where you sit in the booth and press the button at various frequency tones) all came back fine. Hearing normal. (Audiogram showed readings between 0 and 10 dB) Audiologist suggested I see how it fares over the coming days.

It's now Tuesday 15th December - so it's been over a week - and I've had some pretty horrific nights, esp. last night. Have tried playing white noise through a speaker to mask (has helped some nights but not others) I'm getting fearful and scared. Feel like I'm losing my grip on everything. (Not least as I've been dealing with a urinary tract infection recently)

So, I'd love to get some help and advice.

When I called the audiologist today, he said that any tinnitus experienced after microsuctioning should have gone after a couple of days, but this seems to conflict with many people's experiences. So would be helpful to get other sufferers' experiences, especially from those who have received tinnitus after microsuctioning. Did it go eventually? And how long did it take?

I also notice that when I swallow my inner ears click (like when you pop your ears to recalibrate) and I've read this might be some issue with the eustachian tube?

I also believe I've got some form of hyperacusis where loud noises are more invasive than normal. (I've always been known as the guy with bat hearing, like Spidey Sense!) Not sure if this is related...

If there's anything anyone on here can suggest, I'd be eternally grateful as I am at my wit's end and feel like I don't really know where else to turn.

And obviously owing to my scared state, please bear my nerves in mind. Just negative experiences aren't going to help me at this stage as I am so anxious.

Thanks for reading this far.

[Happyrosie]

I'm so sorry, leoblue007, that your T is affecting you so badly. I don't have hyperacusis but certainly experience T in a similar way to yours.The hope I can offer you is that your brain will become habituated over the next few weeks and months.

This must sound like a long time to you! Try to think of all the positive things in your life at the moment, such as (as it might be) your mainly good health otherwise; your family and friends, where you live .... all the good things in life around you.

Exercise is important for your general health, so when you are out and about (having a walk in the countryside maybe) make a special effort to listen to the birds, the wind in the trees, the rain.

Tinnitus is very common and not the end of the world, though it might seem it at present. I wish you well.

[leoblue007 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you, Rosie. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. Means a lot. Yes, it does fee like a long time. The last week has felt like an eternity - especially at night.

[Bellyboo]

Hi. All I can tell you is you will get to accept it as normal. If you suddenly got diagnosed with cancer you wouldn’t give it another thought. I’ve had chronic T since I was 40 and I’m now 68. I’m just as happy and I will not let it ruin my life. A couple of scotches makes it more acceptable. Hey it can’t kill you but yes it is worrying . It’s just a noise in your head and not your ears.

[Hillman51]

Hi... same experience for me... had both mine micro suctioned in July and it caused tinnitus mainly in my left ear, it’s still there, I am getting more used to it now, and I really think it is here to stay now🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️... my left ear was so impacted with wax he worked on it for about 15 minutes which is a long time , and I think it’s done something to the fine hairs in the ear, my hearing is fine, sometimes get a pressure feeling and a bit of tingling in my ear, and they pop and creak !! I had no choice but to have it done, cos there was no other way of removing the wax... so I would say to anybody think carefully before you have it done, I had none of these problems before.... 😊😊

[Ellan123]

Hi there! I was in exactly your position a month ago, and have had mild continuous tinnitus after microsuctioning since November. It hasn't gone away and I have my ups and downs but as Happy Rosie says, it will get better! I hope you are one of the people for whom it dissipates but if not, over time you will start focusing on other things. I recommend listening to pink noise (slightly different frequency to white) at night and also taking over-the-counter medication such as Night Nurse to help you sleep for a few days. Once you establish a sleeping pattern you should feel better about the overall situation. As my work involves a lot of sitting in silence and writing or researching I was initially scared about not being able to read but am now able to do so where there is a low noise (like a fridge in the kitchen). Finally, I recommend as much time as possible outside, and yoga to help increase your concentration. I've also started taking magnesium supplements 3x daily in the hope that will decrease the severity. Good luck, there are lots of us here in the same boat!

[leoblue007 in reply to Ellan123]

Thanks Ellan. Not great to hear that it might be here for the long haul. Planning on talking to the Tinnitus Clinic in Marylebone (heard of this place?) and at least visiting an ENT to see if there might be other reasons for it that can be sorted.

I will look for some pink noise for night-time, thanks.

And I have a similar work situation. I work from home on a laptop. I usually wear over-the-ear noise cancelling headphones. As far as you're aware, are these okay still to use? I sometimes play music (not loud, no louder than level 10 on Windows Media Player) but often just wear them with no music playing or even the noise cancelling function on to help me focus.

[Suzysunday in reply to leoblue007]

Yes I got tinnitus in my left ear after micro suction at the end of July this year and it's still the same. I got it in my right ear around the same time from Otomize ear drops given by gp. I was really angry as it could have been prevented. I have learnt to live with it, not much choice really, but stress makes it worse and I am easily stressed. Waiting for ENT appointment for ages now. I really think the risks of micro suction should be fully explained before it's done.

[Ellan123 in reply to leoblue007]

Hey, yes I really hope it dissipates for you. I was really down when I first got it and I worried about my ability to sleep/work/concentrate and enjoy life. There is no doubt that it presents a challenge, especially at first. I've tried to remind myself what a difficult and unusual year this has been for so many people and that I am lucky in so many ways (although I'm aware this is something I am feeling a month in and is not meant to sound preachy as I do know exactly how you feel).

When I tried noise cancelling headphones the tinnitus appeared louder to me, because all background noise was reduced. Everyone is different though, so they may work for you. I find quiet music that isn't overly percussive is helpful, ideally where the tempo is fairly continuous. Haven't heard of that clinic, thanks for letting me know. I have a hearing test on Monday and am planning on trying to explore my ENT options after that. I've been told the NHS waiting times are really long though.

I find anything that strengthens concentration and allows me to become absorbed in something else is helpful. So meditation, excercise and increasingly reading and films. I have read that some people alleviate it by concentrating on the tinnitus itself (because this naturally causes the mind to wander) but I find this makes it sound louder to me. I prefer to try to focus elsewhere.

Fingers crossed!

[ednort]

3 Years ago, I tried getting rid of wax on my own. I used the syringe many times. I have tinnitus in the ear ever since. I've learned to live with it. Luckily it doesn't effect me during the day.

[Sophielynchx]

Hi, I was just wondering if this was any better for you yet? I have every single symptom that you have and I’m only 21. I’m terrified that this will last forever.

[Ellan123 in reply to Sophielynchx]

Hi Sophie,

Hope you're ok!

Mine is still here, over three months in. I'm 28, so not drastically older than you. I would try not to think of it as a forever thing. It does continue to frustrate a small minority of people for a long time but most people either rid themselves of it or they habituate to it. If you're having a bad day, think of it as a 'today' problem, not a forever problem. There is always the possibility that it will be gone, or feel less bad, tomorrow.

It's been a bit worse for me recently but I'm just trying to be grateful for the good things in life.

Wishing you the best of luck!

E

[Ellan123]

Hi all,

I hope you're all doing ok and hanging in there. It occurred to me that there are quite a lot of us out there whose tinnitus was caused by microsuction and that many of us have been met with varying degrees of doubt when we explain this to GPs. I've just discovered that you can review practices which offer microsuction on the NHS website (even private ones so long as they also offer NHS services) and even log complaints. I have just done so for the Specsaver's I went to. I think it's worth doing, if only to give the NHS more data on the numbers of us being affected by microsuction and to (hopefully) call out rogue practitioners. nhs.uk/our-policies/comment...

[ElleMC in reply to Ellan123]

Hi Ellan, how are you doing nowadays? The same thing happened to me.

[Chesters12]

Hey Ellen.

Was scouring the internet and it seems we have similar experiences.

I am 26 and got a micro suction procedure at a specsavers too.

Roughly 3 days later, tinnitus started to appear in my right ear.

Now, tbh I cant actually PROVE it was from the procedure and not me listening to earphones most of my life but it coincidentally only started after this procedure. I'd never had tinnitus before that.

I also had sensitivity to high pitched noises like keys, cutlery etc with ear fullness/slight burning which thankfully subsided till now as I am currently going through a flare up again.

Part of me definitely thinks the micro suction did some kind of damage.