Ds ears - trying not to panic...

[MiscellaneousAssortment]

Please have you got any wise words to calm me down? Just discovered nasty white blobs in Ds (5) ear canal...

He's been dead on & off since September, saw GP who prescribed ear wax softening drops and said he's got wax blocking his ears. Was told it's not an infection as he's got no pain or discharge, and even if it was an infection they don't prescribe antibiotics anymore for them as they are 'self resolving', and basically told me to go away.

I've been using the drops every time he's got more deaf and he's been very upset by them, and they don't seem to help much.

He got much more deaf last week so took him to GP who said again that it's just wax and warned I HAD to get the drops to work - implied it's fault they haven't as Ds screams and kicks when I try and get him down his ears so I've been doing it whilst he's asleep.

She said the drops 'had to work' as referring to an ENT consultant will take too long, and they don't syringe at the GP at his age.

So went to pharmacy who recommended olive oil drops which are much less drying/ irritating than the drops the GP in sept recommended, and yes, olive oil isn't hurting him so I've been able to get them down his ears 3 times a day with no problems.

The wax has receded a bit but still loads in there, and as wax has receded in his left ear it's revealed white blobs which are scaring the hell out of me.

I have a horrible history of ear problems due to untreated ear infections which turned into a bone disease - 20 operations throughout childhood, 3 very serious ones involving drilling through my skull.
So am finding this terrifying and triggering.

The GP in September made me feel so shit and like a time waster I've tried to be sensible and not jump all over it & be a time waster/ hysterical mother, but instead I've left a terrible problem and it's all my fault?????

Maybe time to see another GP. I had glue ear as a child, still can't bare anyone near my ears, so I understand where you're coming from.

Could it be thrush?

If I were you I'd call ENT directly and tell them your issues and I'd also change GP.

Try not to worry thought I can imagine it's hard given your history. It does sound as though the wax is causing a problem so it's good you're treating that. Just thinking could the white blobs be fat build up from the oil?

The initial presentation is similar to bacterial otitis externa but otomycosis is characterised by many long, white, filamentous hyphae growing from the skin surface. Suspicion of fungal infection may arise only when the condition fails to respond to antibiotics. Even if bacteria have been grown, there may be more than one aetiological agent. It is also possible that topical antibiotics have predisposed to the fungal infection.[7]

He hasn't had topical antibiotics, only wax softening drops...

I've managed to take a photo (amazing what iPhones can do these days), can I share it of too gross?

Ok am still awake worrying... I'm going to post a photo on the next post. Look away if not strong of stomach!!!

It's a magnified image of his left ear canal. It's got a 'plug' of dark wax in it as both ears do, but then these 2-3 white granular blobs embedded in the wax.

Oh they aren't greeny in rl, I think it's the flash making them that colour, they're a creamy white colour.

I can't stop looking at it, I want them GONE from my little boy, and it feels uncomfortable to be leaving well alone though I know that's exactly what I need to do...

Here it is...

I'd see if you could get an out of hours appointment.

Got an appointment for tomorrow afternoon.

Weird thing is that he's not in any pain, and hasn't been throughout.

Which is the main reason we keep being sent away I guess.

Ds2 gets waxy ears and has his ears syringed- he certainly was having them syringed at the age of 5, if not 4. He sees the ENT, but as syringing works, they are only monitoring at the moment. I would ask for tem to syringe them, it isn't painful, and may work.

I was surprised at the syringe thing myself, but I'm not keen for a non specialist to have a go without knowing what's behind the wax, all sorts could be hidden - like these white blobs were.

I have had syringing only once at a gps, when I was 4, & I remember it vividly - the agony and the doctor shouting at me, denying that it could hurt... What actually had happened was the GP blundered in blindly and by that time I had no ear drum and a load of raw skin and pus, which he mixed with the water and pushed into my middle ear by his foolish actions with the syringe. I remember the consultant trying to disguise anger when I eventually saw him... Stuck in my head as is never seen someone behave in that way as a wee child! As you can see, I'm finding it very hard to work out how to behave given my own history... Am I being reasonable or unreasonable by being concerned about syringing when they don't know what's happening with the ear? Or am I being unfair and should trust the GP? But then again, I trusted the GP who ignored my concerns and made me feel like I was over reacting - whereas now I think I drastically under reacted

Fair enough OP, I understand your concerns over syringing and think they are very valid. I would ask your GP to refer him to see the ENT, that seems to be the next logical step if the drops are not working.

Your experiences as a child were awful and any half decent GP should be more sympathetic to your worries about your son.
That he has no pain makes it far less likely there is active infection, but 7-8 months of reduced hearing is a concern in itself because of the effect it has on Ds's learning and social development.
Many GP practices in my area no longer do syringing in the surgery, even for adults, and refer intractable wax blockage to ENT for 'Ear Toilet (Cleaning)' with an instrument that 'hoovers' the wax under direct vision i.e. the HCP can see what they are doing while they hoover the wax away. No water used so no risk of it entering through perforated ear drum.
Agree with other posters to seek a different GP to the one who appears so unsympathetic and insist on ENT referral.
Continue with the olive oil, though this will make the wax soften and expand, temporarily worsening the deafness, until the wax is soft enough to come away.
If you get no joy at the GP, then you might try the School Nurse and ask for referral to Community Paediatrician. Or if you can afford it, self-refer to private ENT consultant.
Hope you can get this sorted soon and get some reassurance.

Wish us luck tomorrow, thanks for supportive posts. It's funny but I thought all my ear experience meant id be at an advantage when it came to DS all things ear related... But right now it feels a disadvantage!

Humm, very odd. GP says white bits are just wax.

Well that's what it looked like to me...they're not white at all.

GP conferred with her senior and has phoned to say they don't think its wax after all and are concerned . They have done an emergency referral to an ENT dept.

Fingers crossed it's not too long a wait, as the white blobs are not budging although more being revealed slowly as the nornal wax is receding. Though still a huge plug of normal wax too and he's still deaf as a post poor thing.

Oh poor you and your ds. at least they are doing something now. Hope you get an appointment through quickly .

I'm actually relieved as I wasn't expecting a call or referral. Had been left with no plan and was really concerned.

They said to call if I haven't heard from the hospital in 10 days, so I'm hoping that means they expecting a speedy referral... Though of course I could hear quickly that they'll see him in six months! Hope not though.

He doesn't seem upset at school since he went back on Tuesday, but he won't be learning anything unless it's one on one in a quiet place. And that doesn't describe your average reception class!

you need to make sure the teacher knows.
also contact the local teacher for hearing impaired for advice.