Tinnitus for the First Time Ever in Life After Microsuction

[aucklander99]

Hi there

Thanks in advance for your support. I've been reading stuff here and getting super worried. I am 30 years old and never had tinnitus in my life. I went to my GP for a cough and NOTHING related to my ear. He looked at my ears and said they were fully blocked and recommended micro suctioning. Something I had no clue about *and now i am hitting myself about it*. He performed some in December in the right ear and clear it (no issues there). With the left, he felt it was too hard and asked me to come back in Jan after putting some drops for 2 days, which I did.

I got it done on Wednesday and it was horrible. He kept suctioning and adding drops, waiting for 15 min breaks and went back at it. He should have stopped if he felt there were dry bits. Anyway, there was a point where he caused abrasion in the skin and said he's going to stop there. Gave me some antibiotic drops for that and said there's still some wax that the ENT should check out. I am waiting for my ENT appointment next week. But now, it's been two days of hell. I am not worried about the skin abrasion at all or the infection.

But NOW I have developed a fullness of the ear, like I feel better I yawn, burp? And I also have constant ringing in my ears (I've never had tinnitus in my life before). This is horrible, he broke something that was never broken in the first place. Will the ENT people be able to do anything at all? Is this permanent i.e the fullness of hear, reduced hearing, and constant ringing?

 

[Tybs]

Of all the ways to get tinnitus...

Yours could still heal though, this might not be permanent. Just make sure to not let your ears get tortured like that again, especially when you have no complaints to begin with.

And while you're at it, you might consider switching to another GP. Make sure though to inform the old one why you do so, hopefully it will prevent future mess-ups like this one. The ears are not an organ to play around with.

Also, should you ever need to clean out your ears in the future, buy something like this to use at home. I've had mine for like ten years now, it cleans up to 90% of excess ear wax without any risk. The water stream from the rubber bulb is not strong enough to cause any damage, and it prevents the need for power tools. Only use it when your ears gets clogged though, not every day: otherwise your ear's natural cleaning system gets "lazy".

 

[aucklander99]

Thank you so much, @Tybs!

I agree - I am so upset! I need a new GP.

Thanks for the tip on Otowaxol. Let me make an order right away actually. Looks good.

What's the fullness of the ear though? What is the medical term called? I honestly feel like if I burp or yawn, those few seconds I have better hearing? Clearly f-ed up my life..

 

[Dana]

Talk to him (the doctor) and record the conversation, to prove that in the worst case scenario, this does not improve.

 

[JohnAdams]

How many microsuction casualties have we gotten in the last month? Like 3?

Why is this an approved procedure?

 

[Dana]

Syringing causes tinnitus too, @Markku should know, and what would be the other methods, @JohnAdams? Well, actually there are, using utensils, but I do not think that the method is the culprit, but the suction power, the diameter of the tool, and how it is performed.

 

[Gman]

Hi there

Thanks in advance for your support. I've been reading stuff here and getting super worried. I am 30 years old and never had tinnitus in my life. I went to my GP for a cough and NOTHING related to my ear. He looked at my ears and said they were fully blocked and recommended micro suctioning. Something I had no clue about *and now i am hitting myself about it*. He performed some in December in the right ear and clear it (no issues there). With the left, he felt it was too hard and asked me to come back in Jan after putting some drops for 2 days, which I did.

I got it done on Wednesday and it was horrible. He kept suctioning and adding drops, waiting for 15 min breaks and went back at it. He should have stopped if he felt there were dry bits. Anyway, there was a point where he caused abrasion in the skin and said he's going to stop there. Gave me some antibiotic drops for that and said there's still some wax that the ENT should check out. I am waiting for my ENT appointment next week. But now, it's been two days of hell. I am not worried about the skin abrasion at all or the infection.

But NOW I have developed a fullness of the ear, like I feel better I yawn, burp? And I also have constant ringing in my ears (I've never had tinnitus in my life before). This is horrible, he broke something that was never broken in the first place. Will the ENT people be able to do anything at all? Is this permanent i.e the fullness of hear, reduced hearing, and constant ringing?

Unfortunately, ENTs are still using this procedure which research has proven can be dangerous. Your case also sounds a bit unusual as it was so long and complicated.

Microsuction should really be banned. ENTs are often not very good and don't understand the risks (most definitely don't understand tinnitus). I would find another ENT and do not do microsuction or syringing. Ask for the wax to be removed manually with a curette, which like any procedure still has risks, seems to be the safest way. I don't think doing it yourself is advisable either, considering an ENT couldn't even do it.

Also don't use any earwax drops with docusate sodium as the active ingredient, it's what triggered mine and there are studies which prove it is ototoxic, which is scary as it's so widely available otc.

There's a good chance your ringing will go away, but I would be staying away from loud places, do not listen to music via headphones etc.

If it doesn't go away you could look at possible legal action against the ENT for malpractice.

 

[aucklander99]

I am in a horrible situation.

It wasn't an ENT who did it, it was my GP who "recommended" it cause he felt my ears were super blocked. It WAS NOT causing any hearing loss, or any problem really. I was absolutely fine! You go with what the "professional" recommends and I trusted him.

Anyway, here I am with one ear high-pitched in tinnitus, blocked, hearing loss.

He is trying to get an appointment with the ENT next week.

AND... i was made to sign a declaration before the procedure that this may cause bleeding or hearing loss and that I am aware it. What was it thinking at that moment? I blindly trusted my GP.

 

[aucklander99]

I have so much respect, love, and empathy for all of you who have probably had this for years. Just one week in and I feel like my life has been bulldozed.

 

[Winter]

I am in a horrible situation.

It wasn't an ENT who did it, it was my GP who "recommended" it cause he felt my ears were super blocked. It WAS NOT causing any hearing loss, or any problem really. I was absolutely fine! You go with what the "professional" recommends and I trusted him.

Anyway, here I am with one ear high-pitched in tinnitus, blocked, hearing loss.

He is trying to get an appointment with the ENT next week.

AND... i was made to sign a declaration before the procedure that this may cause bleeding or hearing loss and that I am aware it. What was it thinking at that moment? I blindly trusted my GP.

Never trust a doctor with tinnitus issues. My doctor told me to remove wax after my acoustic trauma with water and eardrops, which made my tinnitus go from mild to suicidal level. Then I went back because I had an infection probably caused by the syringing he recommended me, and he gave me ototoxic ear drops, after I asked two times if he is sure they weren't ototoxic. These doctors are absolutely clueless about tinnitus.

 

[Winter]

I have so much respect, love, and empathy for all of you who have probably had this for years. Just one week in and I feel like my life has been bulldozed.

Same here, I'm two months in and my life is over in almost every way. If it doesn't improve soon I'm going to give up. I can't live many more months like this, it's impossible. I really hope things improve for you soon. I have read that things can get better for some.

 

[Dana]

ND... i was made to sign a declaration before the procedure that this may cause bleeding or hearing loss and that I am aware it. What was it thinking at that moment? I blindly trusted my GP.

The declaration is worthless for him. You were not informed and "aware" of the fact that this may (oh, BTW) tinnitus, and... for the rest of your life.

I hope it goes down, the fact that this could have been avoided, that this was caused in a medical office, thanks to a doctor must add to the anguish.

The declaration is rather a prove for you that he performed the procedure.

Declare that you have tinnitus to have a document against somebody who may claim that your tinnitus may have emerged at a later date.

I do not know why I continue in this direction.

Because it is malpractice and it is better, imo, to have it documented than not, better safe than sorry, but that does not mean that I do not wish you complete recovery or that I think that, having tinnitus, suing somebody or even winning counts for something, you want your lost silence, acknowledgement or money would not help in what really matters: the silence, the priceless, invaluable silence, taken for granted by billions, whose value you get to understand and appreciate only when you lost it, and you would give all your possessions to have it again.

Sorry if I write obnoxious posts, this is what I believe and I write my opinion.

But, more important, actually the only important thing, is for the tinnitus to go down, to silence, hopefully. Fingers crossed.

 

[aucklander99]

Thanks Dana. A lot of what you are saying makes sense. I am still in the denial stage at the moment and trying to process this as each day passes.

I can't wait to see the ENT next week. I will keep you all updated.

 

[aucklander99]

Same here, I'm two months in and my life is over in almost every way. If it doesn't improve soon I'm going to give up. I can't live many more months like this, it's impossible. I really hope things improve for you soon. I have read that things can get better for some.

Stay strong, Winter! I hope things get better for you as well.

 

[Gman]

I am in a horrible situation.

It wasn't an ENT who did it, it was my GP who "recommended" it cause he felt my ears were super blocked. It WAS NOT causing any hearing loss, or any problem really. I was absolutely fine! You go with what the "professional" recommends and I trusted him.

Anyway, here I am with one ear high-pitched in tinnitus, blocked, hearing loss.

He is trying to get an appointment with the ENT next week.

AND... i was made to sign a declaration before the procedure that this may cause bleeding or hearing loss and that I am aware it. What was it thinking at that moment? I blindly trusted my GP.

Thanks Dana. A lot of what you are saying makes sense. I am still in the denial stage at the moment and trying to process this as each day passes.

I can't wait to see the ENT next week. I will keep you all updated.

You could consider seeking legal advice if a malpractice lawsuit is an option. There are legal firms who offer free advice and no win no pay scenarios.

 

[Candy]

Give it time but I can tell you that certain ear wax procedures carry a risk. Were you made aware of this? Did you sign a disclaimer? The BTA website mentions some risks (think it's a relatively new info on their site). If the medical establishment is not taking the info on board and the dangers weren't made clear to you, something is not right.

Fingers crossed it will settle over time...

 

[Dana]

During the procedure a bit of wax may have been moved and pressing now against the tympanic membrane, causing the tinnitus, and which, when you will have the procedure completed at the ENT, may be removed completely, stopping the pressure and the tinnitus.

I hope this is your case.