Tinnitus After Earwax/Microsuction

[Andy23]

Hello,

I'm Andy and I'm new here. Sorry for the longish post.

I had an itch in my ear five weeks ago and stupidly stuck my finger in and scratched it. About an hour later I noticed a loud ringing in that one ear (my right one) that didn't go away. I spoke to my GP and ended up going for microsuction (there was a hard lump of impacted wax that they removed) and they said the tinnitus would go within a few hours. But here I am so you can guess how that went... The tinnitus did reduce quite a bit (before I could hear it over the TV and conversations, now just in quiet or silent rooms/outdoor spaces) but it's stuck with me., although my hearing is so much better now the wax is gone. There are times when the ringing seems to be fading (sometimes when I plug my ear to check it I hear a constant high pitch, sometimes it's like a distant bell flickering in and out) and I've had moments where I can hear what I think is real silence. It's still just affecting the right ear.

I've had it for five weeks now and know it's usually one to watch for three months and see if it fades or becomes permanent. I'd be really grateful if any of you have insights to share on a few questions:

• Is it worth me getting microsuction again in case some wax was left behind? Or is it true that microsuction may have caused this more long-lasting tinnitus?
• I'm really holding out hope it may fade before the 3 month mark, do you know what things I should try or avoid during that time to improve my chances and protect the ear? If anyone's faded after a few weeks I'd love to hear their story for encouragement!
• I get some discomfort in that right ear too (a sense it needs to pop but can't, feeling of pressure, sometimes even pain) - is this normal?
• I have anxiety and read tinnitus could be caused by a tumour, what should I watch out for/do I need to think about an MRI?

Thanks so much,
Andy

 

[Adrian2005]

Microsuction should not be allowed to be carried out, there are too many cases of tinnitus induced by this method.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Microsuction should not be allowed to be carried out, there are too many cases of tinnitus induced by this method.

When earwax is impacted, it can be difficult to remove. Microsuction is the best way to remove it. Problems can occur after having wax removed by microsuction, ear irrigation and manual removal using a curette. One of the most common reasons for this is because the correct procedure prior to wax removal was not carried out. Eardrops/olive oil should be applied 3x a day to each ear for 7 to 10 days to thoroughly soften the wax to make removal easier.

The other reason for problems occurring is due to inexperienced or inept health professional carrying out the procedure. I have had microsuction three times done by an ENT doctor and had no problems. Ear irrigation three times by a nurse at my GP surgery and had no problems. On each occasion I was advised to apply eardrops 3x a day to each ear for 10 days, before having the wax removed.

Michael

 

[DaveFromChicago]

I have to wholeheartedly agree with Adrian2005.

Until I joined this Forum on 02/19 I had never even heard of such a procedure, but within this 2 year 7 month time I must have encountered at least 20 reports from posters who were furious that Microsuction caused irritable, lasting tinnitus.

You can either take Adrian2005's advice or Michael Leigh's, but I would no sooner get into a cage with an 18 foot long Boa Constrictor than I would allow this procedure on me.

I find it indicative of Michael Leigh's insufferable know-it-all attitude that he insists that Microsuction is safe because he had it done with no adverse symptoms whereas (as I mentioned above) there have been a shocking number of quite different outcomes.

(I only use this example of a snake because our Chicago Tribune reported that a man in Cincinnati, Ohio actually raised a Boa to be this long; he opened the cage to feed it and 3 days later the Police found his strangled corpse.)

 

[Andy23]

Hello,

I started with tinnitus six weeks ago in my right ear due to wax/microsuction… It was a loud ringing constantly in just that ear. It's actually been slowly fading and is now only a tiny far off bell sound I can hear if I plug my ear or am in a very quiet room. BUT as it's faded a new thing has started - an occasional musical note kind of sound that fades in and out and I can only hear it for maybe half an hour, then it goes and reappears.

When I plug my right ear, followed by the left ear, the noise doesn't change or get louder, so I think it must be coming from inside my head? Is this tinnitus fading and my brain is just confused that the ringing from my right ear is going and occasionally making sounds up? Or is this a sign of a more serious and permanent tinnitus in my brain rather than my ear?

I'm really nervous about it all, would massively appreciate any replies. And I recently started on a nasal steroid spray which has been fading the right ear ringing so maybe that's linked too?

Thanks.

 

[Stacken77]

It's actually been slowly fading and is now only a tiny far off bell sound I can hear if I plug my ear or am in a very quiet room.

That's a really good sign.

When I plug my right ear, followed by the left ear, the noise doesn't change or get louder, so I think it must be coming from inside my head?

What usually happens is that, when the ears are enriched with sound, the tinnitus gets harder to hear, i.e. it is perceived as lower in volume relative to the environmental sounds. When we put on hearing protection, and get an almost dead silent environment, we hear the tinnitus much better(louder), but this does not mean the volume of the tinnitus objectively increases. The tinnitus sounds can be perceived to be located in different positions, e.g. far away(low volume), very close to the ear(more intrusive), and if we can't pinpoint a certain tone to a certain ear, than we may call it "brain tinnitus", but in my opinion, it's all just tinnitus.

Or is this a sign of a more serious and permanent tinnitus in my brain rather than my ear?

Now, I don't know anything for certain, but I personally believe tinnitus is a brain problem from the moment the sound can be heard. I don't think the neurons generating the sound begins in the ear, for it to become permanent in the brain later on. Sometimes, after an acoustic trauma, steroids can help regain some lost hearing, and that can reduce the risk of it becoming chronic.

Try to not overthink these things and just remember;

1. Tinnitus can fluctuate and change tones for reasons or no reasons. If anything clearly makes it worse, we should try to avoid the trigger.
2. Nobody can understand tinnitus. Tinnitus is chaos. We (sufferers) shouldn't waste too much time trying to understand it.
3. Protect your hearing, always forever, no compromises, everyday. No more concerts or loud venues, earplugs when out and about. It's the best way to keep this from going downhill.

Do these things and I think you'll be fine.

Wish you well,
Stacken

 

[Andy23]

Hi Stacken.

Thank you so much for your reply, really appreciate it. I will definitely make sure to protect my ears and will try to stop battling so much with the why and how of tinnitus, I obsess over it lately and I think it just makes it worse.

Really got my fingers crossed it might keep fading, thanks again!

 

[Alcot]

From my vocational knowledge, not medical, Micro-suction should never be done. I had it done and it definitely damaged my ears. Twenty minutes later I said to the doctor, 'my hearing is now worse than when I came'.

I was so convinced that I checked up with a medical source, a medical researcher. He recommended that Micro-suction should never be done. He recommended 'Curettes'.

I had discussions with doctors at an ear specialist centre and they, as might be expected, spoke of the 'ratio', my word, of those patients who will be adversely affected by Micro-suction, as opposed to those who may not be.

The majority of people in the world will have a Mobile phone. In every one of the Mobile phone User Manuals I have read, there is a warning about using the phone too close to the ears on too high a volume.

Now, compare the noise, decibels, from Micro-suction equipment to that given off by a phone.

Think of 20 patients in a hospital waiting room for ear wax removal, and split into two groups, one for Micro-suction and one for Curettes. Which group will have the procedure completed first?.

So, manufacturers sell the equipment on that basis, but at what cost to those who suffer from the after-effects?.

I have long felt that those of us who have to endure such loss of hearing should organise a Class Action against the various manufacturers.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I have long felt that those of us who have to endure such loss of hearing should organise a Class Action against the various manufacturers.

People that develop problems after having microsuction, it is usually caused by two main reasons. Not carrying out the correct procedure before having earwax removed. This should be done whether the wax is removed manually by curette or ear irrigation, otherwise problems can occur, resulting in an increase in tinnitus for those that have the condition or developing it in people that don't.

The second reason, the person operating the microsuction is not applying due care and consideration to the patient or they are inept using this piece of equipment.

Before having earwax removed, olive oil/ear drops should be applied 3x a day to each ear for 10 days to thoroughly loosen the wax, to allow easy removal. My tinnitus can reach severe levels. I have had microsuction on three occasions without any problems. I applied ear drops as mentioned above and the wax was removed by ENT doctors.

I would only let an ENT doctor remove wax from my ears using microsuction.

Michael

 

[Brian P]

Why risk it? Just remove it manually.