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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel there’s nowhere left to turn due to ear trouble.

39 replies

Frustratedandannoyed81 · 03/04/2023 19:23

I’ve had horrendous itchiness in both ears for over a year now. I went to see GP who referred me to an ENT consultant. It took a year for this appointment. I kept going back to GP as ears were getting itchier and feeling more blocked but he just had a look, saw there was no wax and said, ‘well, I’ve already referred you, I can’t do any more as there is no wax to remove’.
I went to see ENT doctor and explained that it’s now got to the stage where it’s affecting my life.
I feel like killing myself for the pain and irritation to stop. I struggle to get to sleep. Told ENT consultant ALL that of this.
He looked in my ears, sent me for a hearing test which was fine, said he couldn’t see anything and that he’d discharge me. I got upset and said I’ve waited a year to see you, the irritation is horrendous and I feel like jumping off a bridge some days as I’m constantly wanting to scratch inside my ears. He asked me if I’d had counselling as that was a dramatic response!
I told him all that’s wrong is my ears and that being in my 40s, I’d never felt anything like this for how it is affecting my life. He said, ‘well, I can’t see anything so I am discharging you’.
I wrote to PALS and they’ve replied today to say that the consultant in his professional opinion has said there is nothing wrong with my ears.
If I go back to GP again, he will just see I’ve been discharged and nothing will happen.

Does anyone know what’s wrong with my bloody ears?!

OP posts:
userxx · 03/04/2023 19:25

Can you ask to be referred to a dermatologist?

DelilahBucket · 03/04/2023 19:27

Have you tried treating yourself for an allergy by taking a regular antihistamine?

jusdepamplemousse · 03/04/2023 19:30

Go to a dermatologist.

Original poster
Frustratedandannoyed81 · 03/04/2023 19:32

DelilahBucket · 03/04/2023 19:27

Have you tried treating yourself for an allergy by taking a regular antihistamine?

Hi,
Yes, I’ve tried all sorts of antihistamines. No change.

OP posts:
Original poster
Frustratedandannoyed81 · 03/04/2023 19:33

userxx · 03/04/2023 19:25

Can you ask to be referred to a dermatologist?

I asked my GP if it could be skin irritation and he said it was very unlikely but ENT consultant would advise if it was necessary. I asked ENT consultant if it could be eczema inside the ear canal and he said ‘no, I’d see evidence, there is no evidence’

OP posts:
userxx · 03/04/2023 19:35

I'd still want to see a dermatologist to rule it out.

GoodChat · 03/04/2023 19:36

Stupid question, have you used moisturising ear drops?

I had a similar problem to you and GP told me my ear canals are really dry. The ear drops worked wonders until I had to stop using them when I fell pregnant.

KitchenMandarin · 03/04/2023 19:38

I suffer with otisis externa & have done for many years. The itchiness can at times drive me mad. It also then tips over into extremely painful bacterial & fungal infections that have had me sobbing, and in A&E because my GP essentially said 'I've done all I can'.

I now wear ear plugs for bathing/showering/swimming & use an olive oil spray to help keep the eczema inside my ears moisturised. It's a regimen I'm only just starting so it's too early to say it's helping.

Obviously from your OP they may have ruled this out but the symptoms sound similar.

RestingMurderousFace · 03/04/2023 19:39

I had dry, itchy ears. All vanished when I started HRT last year at the age of 48.

LizzieSiddal · 03/04/2023 19:42

I was going to ask if you were perimenopausal. I had terrible itching which drive me mad, it was mainly on arms though. As soon as I started HRT it vanished completely!

L3ThirtySeven · 03/04/2023 19:47

Your GP and consultant said you had “no wax” in your ears? It could be you have dry ears. Not enough wax can cause dry ears that itch. Try a pharmacist for moisturising ear drops. If you’re menopausal, HRT might help.

NamiSwan · 03/04/2023 19:48

I feel your pain - have suffered with itchy ear in the past and its horrendous. I'm hard of hearing and tbh ENT are notoriously rubbish. I've never had a good experience with anyone in ENT at all and always felt fobbed off by condescending ENT doctors.

My one piece of advice would be have you tried ear calm? It's a spray that can be used to treat infections of the ear and is available over the counter. I've used that previously to relieve ear itchiness and pain. I would try that for 7-10 days and if no relief go to your GP and ask for otomize spray, which is only available on prescription.

Caramac555 · 03/04/2023 19:49

Have you been using earex ear drops or similar for wax? They can be irritating however olive oil is OK.

NC4785 · 03/04/2023 19:50

@Frustratedandannoyed81 I could have written this a couple of years ago. The itchiness drove me insane. I woke up scratching at night and crying at the pain and irritation. I would scratch my ears with anything I could find. Did all the tests and GP and ENT said no issue. Literally about ten years of constant GP appts. I was always on drops for infections caused by the scratching. Eventually saw a dermatologist for an unrelated issue and she said she’d take a look and determined it was psoriasis. Gave me a cocktail of steroid creams and it cleared it up in a few weeks. And now when it brews again I use a cream to kick it down immediately.

hennybeans · 03/04/2023 19:53

I am also going to suggest perimenopause. Everything can dry out. I’ve read in MN before, women having terribly itchy ears with peri. I’d be seeing my gp for some kind of HRT.

Newone2021 · 03/04/2023 19:56

KitchenMandarin · 03/04/2023 19:38

I suffer with otisis externa & have done for many years. The itchiness can at times drive me mad. It also then tips over into extremely painful bacterial & fungal infections that have had me sobbing, and in A&E because my GP essentially said 'I've done all I can'.

I now wear ear plugs for bathing/showering/swimming & use an olive oil spray to help keep the eczema inside my ears moisturised. It's a regimen I'm only just starting so it's too early to say it's helping.

Obviously from your OP they may have ruled this out but the symptoms sound similar.

I'd second all this. Honestly, itchy, painful ears are no joke, I feel your pain, OP.

I've had similarly itchy ears, coupled with dry, flaky skin and discharge (sorry, gross) for a few years. Getting passed from pillar to post is no fun either.

I'd also recommend a steroid cream, just a small amount and don't push too far into your ear.

You have my sympathies and you're not alone!

TowerStork · 03/04/2023 20:01

Similar @NNC4785 my problem was eczema in my inner ear. After years of irritation a specialist ETN recommended cortorpin steroid cream. It's OTC. I also use hydrogen peroxide to clean my ears weekly and after a few years now I rarely need the steroid cream

Original poster
Frustratedandannoyed81 · 03/04/2023 20:09

GoodChat · 03/04/2023 19:36

Stupid question, have you used moisturising ear drops?

I had a similar problem to you and GP told me my ear canals are really dry. The ear drops worked wonders until I had to stop using them when I fell pregnant.

Yes, I’ve used moisturising drops but they didn’t help. Just my ears feel more blocked unfortunately.

OP posts:
Stepuptowardsinfinity · 03/04/2023 20:12

I had this. Horrendous itching. It was a fungal infection which doctors didn't recognise for bloody years. You can buy caneston ear drops over the counter. Use those.

thethoughtofgettingout · 03/04/2023 20:13

Things that work for me:

Steroid lotion - the stuff from GP that is designed for scalp eczema. It's watery and you need a drop in each ear. It's gives the most amazing sting and then kills the itchiness dead & works amazingly well. Don't be fobbed off with steroid creams or hydrocortisone cream. It needs to be betnovate but the liquid lotion.

No dairy - if I have dairy I get crazy itchy ears that sends me mad.

Hope this helps & good luck. Itchy ears get so sore & the combination of itch & pain is so awful :(

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 03/04/2023 20:15

OP has your GP swabbed your ears? This is a must do. For some reason they don't do it as a first port of call. It was only when a trainee GP sent my swab off to be tested that the fungal issue was revealed. For ages I was fobbed off.

Original poster
Frustratedandannoyed81 · 03/04/2023 20:15

userxx · 03/04/2023 19:35

I'd still want to see a dermatologist to rule it out.

Unfortunately, the GP will not refer me to one and as my DH has recently been made redundant, I cannot afford the £200 to see one privately.

OP posts:
Original poster
Frustratedandannoyed81 · 03/04/2023 20:19

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 03/04/2023 20:15

OP has your GP swabbed your ears? This is a must do. For some reason they don't do it as a first port of call. It was only when a trainee GP sent my swab off to be tested that the fungal issue was revealed. For ages I was fobbed off.

No, GP won’t do anything else for me as the ENT said I was fine.

OP posts:
L3ThirtySeven · 03/04/2023 20:20

You can contact PALS and ask for a second opinion- as in see a different GP and consultant. It is your right to do so. I’d mention that no swabs or tests were done at all.

PoorlyDS · 03/04/2023 20:28

RestingMurderousFace · 03/04/2023 19:39

I had dry, itchy ears. All vanished when I started HRT last year at the age of 48.

This - don't rule out HRT