The Dangers of Microsuction

[annV]

Thanks. I think this is the one.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1749-4486.2008.01841.x

The statement that they found no changes in hearing thresholds after the microsuction is unclear. In my case, my hearing was subjectively better because the wax was now removed, so you would hope it was better, not worse.

They seem to be saying that they were allowing for the improved hearing due to wax removal, but they didn't actually say it. I don't have access to the full paper. In a proper scientific test, the only variable is the one under test, in this case the microsuction. All other factors need to be controlled for.

So when they stated they found no evidence of changed thresholds after microsuction, I think the question to ask is "compared to what?"

Here is the full paper.

 

[GregCA]

I read a research paper stating no hearing losses were measured after microsuction. But to make that measurement they would need to have conducted a baseline hearing test before the microsuction was performed. Such a test would only be valid on ears clear of wax and dirt. But how do you do that when the ears are compromised with wax? They would need to use as reference a hearing test made before the wax buildup, which may have been made years or decades earlier. It's a chicken and egg situation.

They use bone conduction testing, which bypasses wax/dirt/etc... It just measures the sensorineural part of hearing.

 

[Gman]

Microsuction is needlessly dangerous and, in my view, shouldn't be done to people with tinnitus, hyperacusis, middle ear issues (or anyone really).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22218937
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22740154

 

[121casa]

Microsuction is needlessly dangerous and, in my view, shouldn't be done to people with tinnitus, hyperacusis, middle ear issues (or anyone really).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22218937
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22740154

Hi,

I'm in the U.K. and went from microsuction in my left ear.
As per the Dr's instruction I put the ear drops in my ear over 5 days.

When I arrived at the ENT, the *specialist* checked my right ear first and said, well this one is full of wax also.

Have you put the ear drops in this one also; I said no, because the Dr had sent me for the left ear only.

He said, I can put the drops in now if you like and when I've finished with the left ear I can do the right one.

I said o.k.

Bearing in mind I had no hearing issues whatsoever and had hearing test done last October (sent through the workplace as its a requirement to have normal hearing for the work I do).

Right ear (no ear drops, no problem)
Left ear (ear drops over 5 days), loss of hearing (fullness) to an extent where I feel great discomfort.

I am sure to fail my hearing test in 6 months time at my workplace now.
Only God can help me now.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Blue28]

Hi,

I'm in the U.K. and went from microsuction in my left ear.
As per the Dr's instruction I put the ear drops in my ear over 5 days.

When I arrived at the ENT, the *specialist* checked my right ear first and said, well this one is full of wax also.

Have you put the ear drops in this one also; I said no, because the Dr had sent me for the left ear only.

He said, I can put the drops in now if you like and when I've finished with the left ear I can do the right one.

I said o.k.

Bearing in mind I had no hearing issues whatsoever and had hearing test done last October (sent through the workplace as its a requirement to have normal hearing for the work I do).

Right ear (no ear drops, no problem)
Left ear (ear drops over 5 days), loss of hearing (fullness) to an extent where I feel great discomfort.

I am sure to fail my hearing test in 6 months time at my workplace now.
Only God can help me now.

Thanks for reading.

I'm so sorry to read you're yet another victim of this horrific procedure. Like you I suffered (and still am) needlessly because of this supposed 'safe' wax removal procedure. As far as I can see it, the only thing that's safe about it are the people carrying out these procedures as it seems that they can destroy people's hearing yet are untouchable and not answerable to their mistakes!

 

[RonnieThailand]

I was exposed to a loud sound 3 weeks ago in one earbud in right ear. I went to the doctor 4 days later because I worried about the aching I had and the possibility of hearing loss (no tinnitus at the time). In order to check my eardrum and do an audiogram, they said I needed to have wax removed. They used irrigation and microsuction. I woke up the next morning with ringing in my right ear and waited it out 2 days at which point I couldn't stand it and went back to them. They prescribed 30mg of Prednisolone, which turned it into a hiss the next day and some other more tolerable sounds, but over the next week it seemed to be working less and less as the sounds were getting louder. I went back and they prescribed 60mg of Prednisolone, which was last week. It hasn't been working well and I'm now tapering off.

While I did have the acoustic trauma 4 days earlier, I'm convinced the microsuction or irrigation caused it. This was in a private hospital where they're supposed to have good ENT doctors. I now have hisses, electrical sounds, and all kinds of other sounds 24/7 that I feel will be intolerable over time once I lose any little hope I have.

Sometimes I still have ringing that breaks through, and the sounds are in both ears or in my head, and the crickets/cicadas sound I often hear is pulsatile and loud. I'm so sorry to anybody who has to deal with this. I wish I had known and I didn't feel comfortable about the microsuction so should have gone with my intuition, but I trusted the doctor knew what she was doing and I didn't even know about tinnitus.

 

[Blue28]

I wish I had known and I didn't feel comfortable about the microsuction so should have gone with my intuition, but I trusted the doctor knew what she was doing and I didn't even know about tinnitus.

I'm so sorry to read that you've also suffered at the hands of so called doctors. I just don't understand how they are so naive to the dangers that this procedure brings. Something needs to be done as people are needlessly and carelessly being caused harm as medical professionals seem to not know (or care) that this procedure is potentially dangerous. It sickens me to read that over 5 years after my trauma from microsuction, nothing has changed.

I hope you're feeling a bit better.

 

[RonnieThailand]

I'm so sorry to read that you've also suffered at the hands of so called doctors. I just don't understand how they are so naive to the dangers that this procedure brings. Something needs to be done as people are needlessly and carelessly being caused harm as medical professionals seem to not know (or care) that this procedure is potentially dangerous. It sickens me to read that over 5 years after my trauma from microsuction, nothing has changed.

I hope you're feeling a bit better.

Completely agree. Microsuction needs to be banned. I've had a few milder days this week but it's very reactive with pain hyperacusis to sounds like water from the faucet.

I'm not in a functional state yet, just hibernating in my apartment and burning through savings. Life is on hold for now. Thanks and I'm sorry you had to experience this as well.

 

[Rali]

@Blue28 , how do you feel now? I found this forum looking for what is going on with me and I am so desperate. I had microsuction on right ear done on 01.06.2021, not beacuse of ear wax removal, but I had a small wound that was bleeding every time I cleared my ears. I have never had problems with my hearing. The doctor said he had to clean the dead skin from the wound and did the suction. It was sooo loud that it hurt. I didn't have any problems right after rhe procedure. How did it start for you? I felt a very strong pain inside ears at the night after the procedure. And not only in the treated ear, but both. Then the pain became weaker. I thought everithing was ok. That it was a reaction of the ears. But after some time, probably 2 weeks after, I became so dizzy, I couldn't stand up and had nausea. This continued about a week and after that I felt fullness in my left ear (not the treated one) and the louder sounds were painful to hear. Now, after a month, I have pain in both ears, fullness and pressure, every loud sound hurts, the both ears are constantly popping (that makes me crazy) and I can't hear clearly when someone speaks quietly. Slight Tinnitus appeared in the right ear (I think) and can not explain it, since the other ear was microsuct. I have read that this will never go away and I am in tears. How can someone live with that?!? I didn't even need the damn procedure!
Have someone experienced the same symptoms? And will it get better with the time?

 

[Rali]

It hurts so much, that constant pressure, the endless popping, hearing pain...How should we live with that?
And nobody believes me that microsuction can do this.

 

[Blue28]

@Rali, hi, sorry I haven't replied sooner to your comments, I don't check in on Tinnitus Talk so often now as I find it fuels my negative emotions of this wretched procedure they call 'microsuction'. I'm truly sorry to hear that you too have suffered damage because of this medical procedure. Like you, many people (and especially doctors) don't believe that microsuction caused damage to my hearing. It saddens and angers me that not only have we suffered irreversible damage from microsuction but also that we are not believed.

It's been over 5 years since i went to see the ent who performed microsuction in both of my ears. I didn't ask for this method and I wasn't advised on any choice, he just went ahead and did it. No possible side effects were explained or pointed out. Like you the procedure was very loud, and I had some sharp pains in one of my ears during the procedure. The fullness started almost immediately and the pain and tinnitus began in the following days.

So where am I at with all of this 5 years on? Well not in a good place unfortunately. Although the pain is slowly improving, the tinnitus and fullness are not. I also have hearing loss. I am struggling to sleep too due to the severity of the pressure and noise in my ears and head. I am trying to cope best I can, I keep busy, but its so draining and makes me feel sick. I'm exhausted all the time and I have frequent headaches. It has killed my soul, I feel so sad. Like you, I had no hearing issues before having the microsuction.

I'm absolutely raging how ENTs and audiologists carry out this procedure without a second thought, it's absolutely reckless and should not be done. I would welcome any ENT/audiologist that reads this to think twice about what they are doing, and at the very least they should warn patients about the possibility of damage the procedure can cause. Most don't even acknowledge microsuction can cause harm which is a disgrace.

 

[Felix LXX]

Hello all,

Thanks for making this forum - I've used it a lot over the last couple of years.

I think I have tinnitus in my right ear from microsuction. There are a lot of other possible causes but in my case I found each time I had a microsuction procedure the tinnitus increased immediately. And as others have said the ENTs didn't warn about the possible risks, seemed pretty blase about the procedure, and one of them was noticeably clumsier and more painful.

I'm in the UK and had been suffering from cholesteatoma, otitis media and otitis externa for about 4 years.

The NHS failed several times to diagnose it. I had been to a hearing aid appointment because my hearing was declining (I'm 45) and they had looked in the ear and done scans (U/S I think) with their equipment and they said I had conductive hearing loss and otitis media and I'd need to get that cleared up before they could fit any hearing aid. The nurses and GP at my local clinic kept giving me ear drops for otitis externa. One of these started mild tinnitus - I suspect it went into the middle ear while it was suppurating. Before prescribing it the nurse asked me to hold my nose and shut my mouth and blow, like as a way of checking the ear drum was sound, which really it wasn't. My cholesteatoma was small and they didn't notice it. When I said I had tinnitus in the follow up appointment they told me they would refer to ENT but didn't, basically it was a lie. So I went private.

This cost me a fortune and I was passed back and forth between 2x consultants + 1x surgeon each charging hundreds for repeating the same assessments. An £800+ CT scan found the cholesteatoma. They removed it surgically. All in all this took about 18 months, but they caught it early and didn't have to remove the ear bones, so I figured at least it wouldn't get any worse. Something also I will just mention is the tinnitus vanished for a few hours immediately after surgery, I wonder if that is due to the local anaesthetics. My hopes it would resolve though following removal of the cholesteatoma have been disappointed though, it gradually came back. It's like having a football ref blowing the whistle in my ear forever, but it does vary during the day and I think background noises might help me block it out. It's worst when I first wake up.

IIRC I have had 4 microsuctions and they seemed to be doing them to get a better view of the eardrum rather than to remove the pus/debris/wax in the ear. The ones with the first consultant were much worse than the others, and the volume of the tinnitus seemed to ratchet up each time.

I haven't trusted the eardrops either and this is a current worry. Everything I'm given seems to be either ototoxic or neurotoxic - is there any way I can tell if the eardrum is intact after the surgery? I think surely they wouldn't prescribe this to me if they weren't sure the eardrum was intact - but the incompetence was pretty constant up until the recent surgeon and ENT, and I'm not even 100% sure with them - nobody explains what they are doing or gives the impression they give a damn. They did take pictures of the cholesteatoma, and it did look like the YouTube videos and the suppurating and brown pus has been replaced with yellow pus. So although the surgery hasn't improved my hearing levels or tinnitus a jot, I'm sure I needed it. It is just I had already run out of trust before I met the consultants and have no way of distinguishing them from the quacks and ass-covering liars.

I'm sure I was getting some neurological symptoms from either the cholesteatoma or the ear drops, which have got better since the surgery. It was that whenever I lay down on the bad ear I would get shooting pains in my limbs, tremors, and perceive weird (kind of repetitive) sounds and patterns. A neurologist couldn't find anything, but their assessment seemed to be looking for much more serious symptoms, it was like whether I could remember names and places or walk straight. For now this has cleared up - the cholesteatoma hadn't gone into my brain according to the CT scan or when they opened it up and looked, but something was going on with that.

As to the causes of the tinnitus, there are too many to be sure, and they don't say "this patient reports tinnitus, let's find out what causes it..." or even ask about it, it's like they see it as a non-problem. The NHS because I'm not a dead celebrity or child, and the private hospital I don't know maybe they have the same culture. But there would be:

The years of chronic infections from the cholesteatoma... the saline, mouthwash, Savlon and/or antiseptic cream... I put in the outer ear in desperation when the NHS were fobbing me off (be great if they could put a warning sign on things for ototoxicity), the four different sorts of ear drops, the countless different courses of antibiotics, the microsuction, the surgery itself, my childhood history of glue ear, earwax removal drops, oh and decades of misusing ear buds. I don't think there are lifestyle factors, I went to loud gigs as a teenager (be nice if they cared about the punters' hearing in later life wouldn't it) but the tinnitus is only on one side and started in the last couple of years. I don't smoke or drink...

In real life they are always going to be pretty safe from any legal comeback for the microsuction, but the equipment designers and government regulators need to adjust for the fact that the equipment is often being used by, and the procedures are often being performed by, consultants who make perfectly obvious the second you meet them that non-medics are lower lifeforms, they are too important to spend time on our little lives or deaths, and they are only there to trouser hundreds of pounds every ten minutes. And that's before the possibility that this professional environment might be quite attractive to dangerous sadists.

Currently I'm pretty sure I have antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa that they had identified prior to the surgery, which is now thriving since all the other microbes in the ear have been killed by the antibiotics post-surgery.

What I'd be really grateful - if anyone can offer thoughts - is whether I can do anything to check my eardrum is intact before I put my latest round of antibiotic ear drops in (they say on the sheet not to use them with a perforated eardrum). Holding my nose and blowing is out. Could a hearing aid clinic give me a second opinion on that? The whole eardrum has been taken down and sewn back up again, and such was his bedside manner that it's not obvious to me if the surgeon remembered doing that before prescribing them.