Doctor Using the Flush System Irrigation / Syringing to Remove My Excess Ear Wax — Is It Safe?

[Ab4477]

Hey so a doctor said I have wax build up in my ears and wants to use the flush system irrigation to get rid of it.

I only started putting baby oil twice today and he wants to do it on this upcoming Monday.

I'm scared it could make it worse.

 

[Autumnly]

Did a quick search on the forum and found this:

It is very important that you apply olive oil ear drops 3 times a day to each ear for 7 to 10 days before you get the earwax removed. Please do not allow anyone to do microsuction, ear-irrigation or manual removal of the earwax before using the olive oil for 7 to 10 days, as your tinnitus could become worse.

I cannot advise on this although I have used Almond oil also recommend to me by my doctor. If your Audiologist suggest mineral oil or baby oil I suppose it must be okay. If I were you I'd ask a pharmacist first. Whatever you use make sure you apply the oil 3 to 4 drops in each ear 3 x a day for 7 to 10 days to soften the wax completely before having it removed.

I also advise you to read my articles in full and don't skim through them. Also, don't use headphones even at low volume.
All the best
Michael

 

[Paulmanlike]

What caused your tinnitus? Is it in the ears or the head? What type of sound? Do you think your tinnitus is from a wax build up?

P.S. I paid privately for a microsuction, quick and painless and no effect on tinnitus. I'm also due to get more removed as my ears are full of it.

 

[Jack Straw]

Try to stick to manual removal of ear wax if you can not irrigation, syringing or micro suction.

 

[Paulmanlike]

Try to stick to manual removal of ear wax if you can not irrigation, syringing or micro suction.

Isn't microsuction the safest though? No way would syringe.... that's by far the most risky

 

[Red]

Isn't microsuction the safest though? No way would syringe.... that's by far the most risky

How is it more safe? I see just as much people in here have worsening from microsuction. I have chronic ear wax problems and prior to T always had irrigation. Never a problem. Post T I do manual. Both are so risky.

 

[Ab4477]

So you don't think I should get it irrigated on Monday flushed with warm water ?

 

[Ab4477]

I'm getting my ears flushed via warm water irrigation tomorrow.

Also if I were to get referred to a specialist (an ENT) it would take 6 months minimum or more in waiting times.

The doctor I saw said I have an ear wax build up and that I needed to put baby oil in my ears twice a day until tomorrow. I've been putting it in my ears since Friday.

Any advice?

 

[Paulmanlike]

1.) let us know if this helps you with your tinnitus - it says unknown and if you haven't had it that long - it may subside completely if wax is the cause.

2.) if you are from U.K. have a look at Specsavers - they say on their website that they do not use syringing or irrigation due to risks of tinnitus. They will be only doing microsuction or manual removal. You'll get different verdicts on this, but microsuction is supposed to be the safest method, along with manual removal using special tools.

Personally I would rather pay for private microsuction than a NHS old method - better safe than sorry although it comes down to the skill of the person carrying it out as well as other things!

 

[Agrajag364]

I'm getting my ears flushed via warm water irrigation tomorrow.

Also if I were to get referred to a specialist (an ENT) it would take 6 months minimum or more in waiting times.

The doctor I saw said I have an ear wax build up and that I needed to put baby oil in my ears twice a day until tomorrow. I've been putting it in my ears since Friday.

Any advice?

Ask them to be gentle. The consensus seems to be manual removal is the safest way to get it removed if the clinician is skilled enough, but this may not hold true if there is wax on the eardrum

 

[Vicki14]

Personally I would rather pay for private microsuction than a NHS old method - better safe than sorry although it comes down to the skill of the person carrying it out as well as other things!

I went down this route and severely regret it. I'm absolutely sure it was due to the incompetence of the Audiologist! I should have legged it when he had to ask his Receptionist to show him how to operate the camera!!!!!!

 

[BobK544]

very risky imo, sounds like a lot of people have gotten T from this procedure, so first make sure its necessary and if so, then make sure they don't have a trainee doing the procedure!

 

[Ab4477]

A doctor is flushing the warm water irrigation. I wouldn't risk a trainee doing it.

 

[Ab4477]

I was supposed to get my ear wax removed via irrigation but reading all of those horror stories scared me and I chickened out of doing it today as I've only been putting in baby oil ear drops in my ear for only 3 days instead of the recommended 7 to 10 so I'm gonna keep doing that and on this upcoming weekend I'll get it done. I'm still scared though but I did have one last year and it hurt a little but it was fine afterwards.

 

[annV]

I was supposed to get my ear wax removed via irrigation but reading all of those horror stories scared me and I chickened out of doing it today as I've only been putting in baby oil ear drops in my ear for only 3 days instead of the recommended 7 to 10 so I'm gonna keep doing that and on this upcoming weekend I'll get it done. I'm still scared though but I did have one last year and it hurt a little but it was fine afterwards.

Maybe you won't need the irrigation if you keep applying the ear drops?