Ear Wax, Is This the Cause of My Tinnitus?

ok then let's see how you feel in 14 days when your ear canals are unclogged again!

 

I hope that isn't sarcasm (lol) i will say this though, you're probably right about getting it done sooner because i cannot take the noise, it is unbearably loud, it is making me go cross eyed here and loose SO much sleep.

I would rather it be done now (been about 6 days of treatment)I am telling you now if the noise does not go or gets worse then i am not sure what i am going to do but i will not be hanging around in this sort of agony for the rest of my life, but i am trying to remain positive and follow advice thats given to me.

You're contradictory advice has scared the living hell out of me i must admit and I'm feeling lower than ive felt in a long time. I trust my docs but as i say I'm paranoid and starting to think it will never go away or that their advice is now wrong somehow (second guessing myself here now!)

 

The Cerumen Impaction guideline from the American Academy of Otolaryngology: Clinical Practice Guideline: Cerumen Impaction mentions manual removal as a safe procedure (as safe as irrigation). I got it done myself, so you can guess my doctor didn't think it's a last resort. Because you seem in distress I thought it would be a good option. Certainly I'm not a doctor and even if I was, it's your doctor who examined you, not me. Oil or water is indeed safer than solutions with detergent agents, and the longer you use them, the higher is the chance of success. All this, in the opinion of those US folks. Btw, when I mentioned irritation, I was thinking of detergent agents (which I experienced myself), not oil drops.

 

I started to use the Otex ear drops (hydrogen peroxide) in addition to the olive oil, on advice by one of the docs i mentioned (one i chatted to at length on the phone) and now the sound is a fair bit louder, or perhaps its just more noticeable, so that has me worried.

Then i look at the research available online and discover that this can mean the wax is 'melting' or moving somewhat.

OR that its causing something else bad to happen! I do love how vague this area of medical understanding is! remind me what year we live in? 2013 was it? seems like were still using archaic medieval techniques.

Joking aside I'm actually wondering if syrnging or whatever can be done at my local A&E? I am actually starting to feel i cannot trust anyone in regard to this, i think its because I'm seriously tired and feeling very low.

Also what constitutes detergent agents, what chemicals or combination of chemicals causes irritation and what form did the irritation take?

 

no why would I be sarcastic about it? I was totally honest when I asked you to give us an update once you had the wax removed.
It makes sense that the T seems louder after using the eardrops because fluid makes cerumen to macerate and that of course cloggs the ear canals even more, but it should get better very soon.
I don't know if an A&E would syringe your ears, because I'm not from the UK and where I live they probably would send you away because it's not "urgent". But here every ENT removes wax immediately... BTW, I never let them use a syringe or air suction, I only let them remove my ear wax manually because to me it is the safest.
Please don't feel low about it now, probably the T will go away with the wax removal or if an infection is underneath, with medication. just try to find another doctor who will help you sooner in the next days... if you can't, just tell yourself that you only have to wait 13 days more. just think about everybody else on this board - we have to live with the Tinnitus until the end of time - this should make you feel better at least

 

I feel sorry for those that have it permanently, i have to say my pain threshold is fairly high, I've had severe kidney stones and had to be reguarly medicated on morphine for days. That pain is nothing in comparison to this! its not physical, the ringing, its worse than torture! just a damn sound!! no human can cope with this forever, surely? I've got the worst headache from it. Its so loud that i feel that even when its gone (hopefully it DOES go) that I'm going to have diminished hearing because of it, it sounds like screeching and similar to how you feel after being at a rock concert only muuuuch worse.Its effecting my job and my life and its going to take its toll shortly. that much is true. the only relief i find is using a video of a shower at full volume!

 

well the otex was a bad idea, i now have swelling and blistering in the ear! time to sue that doctor, total fu*king joke.How long does it usually take for the swelling to go? i need this ok to be syringed!!

 

Just spoken to an emergency NHS doc and been told they are stumped and that me being prescribed olive oil is not right or the practise they do. What on earth!? Ive had 4 docs say the opposite to this? i really think the health service is broken over here!Im feeling more low than you can imagine, why are people trying to intentionally damage my ears?

 

Hmmm hope you're feeling better now ?

 

Course not! Blistered my ear! Feel terrible

 

Edit: had rain sounds on all night, slightly better nights sleep and woke up to less of a sound in my head, but still there (back to the level it as before the otex situation) so i guess the blistering has gone down, back though to square one

 

Ive found somewhere doing suctioning and booked in for thursday (2 days), has anyone had experience of this vs syrnging? can it cause damage or go wrong?

 

Zoe, like you i´ve only just got T, and like you i´m from the UK although living in Spain right now, i´m confused and panicking just like you... i haven´t seen any medical professional yet as i don´t have a doctor over here, but i will say this... be careful about your ear wax removal, ask lots and lots of questions before you let anyone touch them, i wouldn´t let anyone syringe them i´ve been reading such bad things about that procedure, i know the T is driving you mad right now and you want the wax out NOW, but from what you say your ears are sore because of the Otex usage etc... so please approach with caution, let us know how it goes. Also the members on here may not be doctors, they don´t claim to be, but they have had years of experience with T and such like, i have learned so much from them in this short time, things i would never have thought of, so now when i do see a doctor or ENT i wont be so much in the dark and just let them poke at my ears, where as i would have before trusting that they know better than me!!! Good luck.

 

Carol: please read my stuff more carefully it could fill a person with poor or scary info that could lead to disaster! Syrnging i have heard is very safe first of all, and i have had it in the past, no problems.Also i didn't say my ear was sore in any capacity, is it not! i said it blistered, that is all, nothing more, no pain or discomfort or anything except a slightly higher sound.I said all this to the EMT specialist I'm seeing on thurs and it seems that suctioning is fine and the way to go.

 

I'd be careful suctioning an ear that just blistered due to a medication.

 

so would i sir, however they EMT is going to assess that on the day.

 

I don't like the suctioning at all, it's much too loud for me ( always gives me loud Tinnitus for a few minutes) and I always feel dizzy for a moment. I never let them use air suction or syringing with water, I always ask for them to do it manually.
but of course for other people it's usually not a problem at all and even better than syringing because it will remove the ear wax better. I'm sure you will be fine... and it's much sooner than the other doctor so that's a good thing.

 

I think I'm going to leave this forum for a while, it has made feel really anxious! my head is swimming with crazy amounts of fear and i think its best i come back after the procedure.Thanks

 

Zoe, my mistake, to me any time i´ve had a blister it has been tender and sometimes sore so i thought your ear blister might have been the same!!! no one is questioning your judgement of what is right or wrong for you we are all different, hearing others stories is just another insight into this problem. Suctioning seems better than syringing to me so i´m glad your opting for that procedure.

 

and before i go apologies if I've offended anyone here, my temper is very short because of this situation and I'm lacking normal control! Im frightened to damage my hearing because if it fails or becomes worse i can only see one solution this and I'm desperately trying not for that to be the path i go down.Thanks again everyone.

 

I understand Zoe, i´ve never said the F word so much since this happened, i´m sure you´ll be ok, take care!!

 

it's ok, here we understand. just try to calm down a little, because now you know -> thursday you will be helped!
please make sure you come back for an update after the procedure though, ok?

 

Ok i am home, some 3 hours after the ear suctioning by a private clinic.

ENT was very nice, didn't feel any real discomfort apart from a little squealing which was loud in my ear from the suction thingy. Sound was in my left ear and went away with the first suction treatment, then i could hear it in my right ear, not loud but it was there. Interesting.

It seemed about 70% better once he had done it, felt pretty good. He said that there may still be noise which will go away after a few hours or so.Went home and its continued to get louder again to the point where its back, however my right ear feels a little sore ish (this is normal for a lot of people after suctioning) and may be causing it, who knows! the left ear is fairly quiet… ish.

Well i know its only been 2 hours or so but I'm pretty bereft, i cannot continue with my job if this is going to be the norm, its just too severe to work with such a thing that causes this much disorientation, discomfort and noise volume, i have sensitive ears anyways, before the 'T' and now its about 30% better than it was at MOST.

One thing i hadn't connected to any of this before was the fact my mother was away in Cyrpus and came home with a virus, a strange one at that which effected sinus' and other things, her boyfriend too got some odd symptoms, ones effecting the sinus' and a little bit with vision too.I wonder if its a virus thats caused it and perhaps produced ear wax in access as result?


Also on examining my ears there appears to be wax again, small amounts, perhaps bits coming out of the ear a little, but obviously not as bad as it was previously.

The ENT at the clinic cleared my ears 100%, no trace of wax or anything of any kind was left. I have called him and explained about the virus but its not likely a possibility when i mentioned the ringing was still present he was surprised though, he said to give it to the weekend.

So, there we are.


Not good.

 

sorry to hear that zeo, but that's basically what I tried to explain to you in the first place.... Tinnitus as strong as you seem to have it usually doesn't ONLY come from ear wax.... but still I hope it will go away for you soon.

 

But the point is nothing else could have caused it, I've eliminated everything else that could do so. It started ONLY when i got the wax, not before and not after. (only when i used the bluetooth in ear device and headed for like 4 sessions and at NORMAL volume levels, nothing loud etc)

The ENT said it was a simple case and has had many cases of strong tinnitus from wax, he is still fairly confident after our last phone chat that it would be gone or at least lessen by the weekend. What i find interesting is that the sound isn't in my left ear anymore, seems to be in my right now, and my right ear is feeling hot and noticeably feels swollen (though i am assured that is impossible as ears inside don't swell in that way) also i wanted to know why it almost went 100% when he cleared it and then its gradually got louder, i thought a virus was to blame however i am told that i would find i have a loss of hearing if that had been the case. (i am starting to loose it a teeny bit in my right ear….)

Also since typing the above reply it seems a little better than it was? it seems to be fluctuating in intensity a fair bit, from not too noticeable to VERY noticeable! weird (and before you ask, not with stress either)

I mean this is 2013, nearly 2014 and there is no cure or magic pill for this? this is not acceptable for any human being. Surely this is bullish*t? the human body is a terrible machine!

Anyways, i guess we will see, though i rarely have luck with my body (stomach ulcer, kidney stones, prostate issue and plenty of other random things that would confuse and perplex you all -and no, no underlying health issues or genetic disorders and I'm only 32!) so i doubt it will be better, perhaps it will be even worse? most likely eh!

 

no actually it will get better, if it does not go away (just in case, for now we hope it will!) you will habituate with time and it will not bother you much anymore. that's what most people with tinnitus experience. it's good that you already found this forum because here we can all learn a lot and support each other.

 

Well i hope so, i do think we need to find a cure for this, not a treatment or temporary relief, a freaking cure for f*ke sake. We are not living in the 13th century!

 

Agree.

However I do think your t will be gone in 3/4 days.

 

Zeo!! calm down... gosh i know you´re angry and shocked, aren´t we all? it sounds to me that you will be fine given some time to gather your thoughts, one minute it´s ear wax, and now it´s a virus perhaps!!! This forum will help you if you only let it, take the advice that is given but don´t carve it in stone, it´s just some one else telling THEIR story... i hope you don´t have what we all have, i really don´t wish it on Jack the Ripper... well maybe him!! but chill out Zeo... you´re probably one of the lucky ones that can kiss this shit goodbye!!!

 

you are not the first who can't believe that there is no cure. but quiet frankly spoken a relief or treatment that actually worked would already mean the world to me. because until now there is zip against Tinnitus