i am booked in to my g p for ear wax removal d... - Tinnitus UK

Tinnitus UK

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i am booked in to my g p for ear wax removal do they have a method that takes tinnitus into account all this is new to me i am trying to gat

tobythedog profile image
24 Replies

i am booked into my g p for ear wax removal do they have a method thst takes into account tinnitus i am trying to gather as much info as poss thanks to you all

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tobythedog
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24 Replies
perlcoder profile image
perlcoder

Hello.

We are all different. In more than 20 years of T, reading these forums and talking to people, I have never encountered two whose experience of anything T-related is the same. This definitely applies to wax removal. So here is my very personal perspective as someone who happened to have wax removed by a nurse at my GP surgery today. Wax has been a problem for me, together with the fact that I have (they all tell me), very narrow ear canals, since my early 20s, which were a disagreeably long time ago. I have been syringed many times, beginning with the old-fashioned hypodermic kind of syringe, and these days with the pulsed variety.

My GPs have only ever offered syringing, I use medical olive oil for at least a week in advance. That is a damned nuisance because it makes the wax swell in my narrow canals. It is uncomfortable, makes my already diminished hearing worse, and increases my T, which is already very loud. The syringing itself is a tiny bit noisy, but a blessed relief. It takes a minute or two for each ear and completely clears the wax. It has never made my T worse - in fact it diminishes it as the blockage clears and my hearing aid + masker can do their job.

I have heard much worse stories of the alternative microsuction devices, but some people swear by them. I don't know if any GPs offer them as an alternative to syringing.

Someone will be along in a moment to tell you the entirely opposite story.

Best wishes. Good Luck. Relax.

tobythedog profile image
tobythedog in reply toperlcoder

hi pericoder thanks for the info i cant think that ear wax removal can affect tinnitus ,i think that tinitus levels are so random that we tend to look for somewhere to lay the blame i am grateful for everyones feedback but no on has convinced me that ear wax removal has a detrimental effect once again thanks to all

Happyrosie profile image
Happyrosie

personally, I used to have the wax removed at the surgery. Now that the surgery either won’t do it at all, or only one nurse will do it and she won’t unless my ears are totally totally blocked, I pay for them to be suctioned. What a relief!

NO change to the T other than it is lessened by the fact that no wax is there.

tobythedog profile image
tobythedog in reply toHappyrosie

thanks for the feedback

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone

Well you are lucky to have a GP who will clear ears of wax….GPs are not obliged to do that any more, & in my area they haven’t done it for years.

Subsequently we have to pay £75 to get our ears suctioned privately.

The good news is I find that method far more effective that syringeing,& it made absolutely no difference to my tinnitus.

Good luck with whatever method your GP surgery uses.

tobythedog profile image
tobythedog in reply toAgedCrone

thanks i will let u know if i get any tin. relief (dont hold your breath)

Ireni profile image
Ireni

Hi Robby,I don't think gpsconsider tinnitus for ear removal, in my case due to really narrow ear canals I have had my wax removed by syringe many times by this method as was the only option in GP surgery, and with this syringe is how my tinnitus started,so no the best experience,finally in a private clinic they did microsuction and was fast and surprisingly painless ..I don't use olive oil as it was blocking more my ear canal but I discovered back in Spain some drops to soften ear wax that work for me really well,name is audispray, you can get them online too.Before i needed to get wax removd every year but with that it is now two years as i use it when i feel any wax and avoided clinic visit.

marigold60 profile image
marigold60 in reply toIreni

Yes, I think my tinnitus was caused originally when I had my ears syringed. Partly my fault though as I just wanted the wax removed even though it started to get uncomfortable if not a bit painful with the treatment. The nurse did ask if it was okay as the wax was particularly stubborn but I just said yes. I hadn't realised it could do any damage

Ireni profile image
Ireni in reply tomarigold60

That was exactly what happened to me ... Nurse keep trying as I felt there was some wax left...then it triggered tinnitus and vertigo after... luckily vertigo has disappeared but sadly tinnitus is here to stay :(

tobythedog profile image
tobythedog in reply tomarigold60

thanks does the medical people accept that t can be caused this way my guess is they wont

tobythedog profile image
tobythedog in reply toIreni

thanks i am going to spain soon wil give it a try

Ireni profile image
Ireni in reply totobythedog

It is great.in the UK they always advised me olive oil ear drops but due to narrow ear canal it made it worst..but audispray is saline water that works great ,softens and you get immediate relief..hope it helps you

Lee_Scoresby profile image
Lee_Scoresby

Hello. I have T too, on top of a condition where my ear canal doesn’t move the wax out from next to the eardrum - so it blocks up. I’ve been like this since age 12.

In my case I get called every 6 months by the local hospital ENT department to have the wax suctioned out (they consider syringeing to be potentially damaging to the interior of the ear - it’s very delicate). The process is very quick, efficient and very helpful (thank you NHS).

See if your GP can refer you to the hospital for similar treatment.

tobythedog profile image
tobythedog in reply toLee_Scoresby

thanks my g p does not think that e n t offers any help to tinnitus sufferers "use white music" is the only advice

Lee_Scoresby profile image
Lee_Scoresby in reply totobythedog

Maybe the ear wax problem and your tinnitus are completely separate issues; I know mine are. But your GP's advice, limited as it is to "use white music" (I presume they mean 'noise' not 'music') doesn't appear to be seriously addressing your T problem.

Linley profile image
Linley

Hi I am going for ear suction in two weeks time at Boots ( cost £60) as like others on here my GP does not offer that service anymore. Suction is better than syringing. Week before I have to use olive olive drops.They always ask if you have any particular probs and I always reply T and narrow canals. You are then asked to sign a disclaimer.

tobythedog profile image
tobythedog in reply toLinley

thanks why the disclaimer?

Linley profile image
Linley in reply totobythedog

I guess in case they hurt the ear I have no comeback

Lee_Scoresby profile image
Lee_Scoresby in reply toLinley

Have you investigated the NHS suction pathway? You don't pay more than you have done in taxes already, and you're not asked to sign a disclaimer first.

Linley profile image
Linley in reply toLee_Scoresby

No I have not, hubby said get it done now and pay

dsh2358 profile image
dsh2358

hi

I’m from The USA

When I came down with tinnitus 7 years ago

I had Micro Suction for the ear wax and it was the biggest mistake ! The tinnitus became so loud for about 2 weeks after I had it done.

Remember it’s nothing wrong with your ears

It’s the brain that causes it, I read about it 2 years ago. So yes ask the question about your tinnitus before the earwax cleaning maybe they have something else rather then micro suction.

Best of health ! And may we all pray for silence one day 😊

Eleanor1989 profile image
Eleanor1989

I just use olive oil and I would never use microsuction as it can cause or worsen tinnitus and cause hyperacusis…. There are many people who’s lives have changed dramatically with microsuction…..

It is far too loud, and dangerous

you are best having wax removed manually with a curette….

Ruud1boy profile image
Ruud1boy

AFAIK most healthcare people will use micr-suctioning these days, which you should be very careful about if you have T. It sends mine crazy.

Best advice from me would be to find a provider who's prepared to undertake manual removal of any wax & then make them aware of your needs.

Tlflom profile image
Tlflom

Sadly, hearing and T are not related. T is mostly from a tiny thread-like nerve running from the inner ear to the brain.

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