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General health

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Original poster

Has anyone had microsuction or ear syringing?

25 replies

FlipperDipper · 21/11/2015 18:46

Hello,

I have a build up of wax in my ear and in trying to get rid of it myself with drops and a home irrigation kit I have completely glued my ear (painfully) shut (nothing came out). I know I was stupid but they sell them at Sainsburys pharmacy so I didn't know it was stupid at the time.

I saw the GP who gave me anti biotics in case I've introduced infection (I have no fever) and said to use olive oil and come back for syringing. He said he could just see a 'wall of wax' in the ear so couldn't tell if it was infected or not. I'm feeling extremely hesitant to have MORE water put in my ear and have booked a private appointment for microsuction on Tuesday instead. I'm taking the anti bs but they're not making any difference.

My ear is really sore, I think due to the pressure. It especially hurts if I get an air bubble that tries to pop my ear and it doesn't pop just does a horrid spongy feeling and hurts. :(

Has anyone had microsuction or syringing? Can you please share your experiences about the procedure and if it helped? I'm really anxious about messing further with my ear but I have about 15% hearing in it currently and it's affecting my life.

Thank you.

OP posts:

Laquila · 21/11/2015 18:48

I had my ears syringes a while back after I lost a lot of hearing in one ear - at first I thought it was an infection but the doctor couldn't see anything and suggested the olive oil nightly. I did that for about 5 days and then had then syringed - I've never been so grateful!! It was bloody amazing, and the relief was instant. It didn't hurt at all.

dementedma · 21/11/2015 18:51

Ooh I would be so tempted to try and tweeze that out myself. Probably not recommended but I wouldn't be able to resist

Naoko · 21/11/2015 18:51

I've had my ears syringed many a time as a child, and once or twice as an adult. It's such a relief. A nurse who knows what they're doing squirts water into your ear, it feels a bit weird but not usually painful. And then all the gunk comes out and you can hear again.

Fairylea · 21/11/2015 18:58

My dd aged 12 had her ears syringed a few weeks back. She had nearly completely lost the hearing in one side due to wax (and like you we'd tried everything beforehand to shift it). A huge lump came out and she could hear straight away! She said it was amazing and just tickled when they did it.

Original poster

FlipperDipper · 21/11/2015 19:02

I can imagine the relief. I so so so can't wait and I hope it works. It's a horrible feeling - like my ear is filled with blue tack. :(

I am very tempted to stick tweezers in but I will not allow myself as I think the main is from the water impacting the wax and tweezers would make that worse.

Sorry this is all quite gross! The doctor tried to remove some with tweezers and wasn't able (partly as it hurt me too much) so I don't think I'd be able to do it blind.

OP posts:

JimmyCorkhill · 21/11/2015 19:42

I have had mine syringed about 3 times now. It is the most amazing thing ever!!! Your hearing afterwards is unbelievable - you can hear everything. If your ears are itchy the relief is immense.

There is no actual syringe involved. They have a weird machine with tubes attached. You slightly tilt your head to the side (away from the nurse) and hold a disposable cup under your ear. The nurse holds a tube to your ear (with some sort of long, thin attachment) and turns the machine on. Water is pumped into your ear. It sounds really weird, like a thumping noise. The water comes back out into the cup. It might take a few goes but when the wax dislodges - you want to hug the nurse and scream 'that was AMAZING!' When both sides are done you wonder how you ever coped before. Then you walk out into the waiting room and it seems so noisy. The nurse may even show you the contents of the cup if you're lucky!

JimmyCorkhill · 21/11/2015 19:50

Oh, it's ear irrigation, not syringing now remembers snarky receptionist correcting me.

is a very earnest video to show you what I mean. Although I don't remember an earwax scoop or ears being dried. My earwax popped out during the water bit.

Original poster

FlipperDipper · 21/11/2015 20:18

I have microsuction booked for Tuesday and irrigation for Wednesday. Obviously I won't do both! Well I suppose I might if the microsuction fails. I'm drawn to microsuction because I feel like the problem happened due to water + wax in my ears so I think syringing could fail and then make my ear balloon up again like it has been - sooooo painful. At least with the microsuction nothing else is getting introduced into the ear.

OP posts:

austenozzy · 21/11/2015 20:25

I've had all of the above. In the old days it was s big metal syringe that swooshed warm water into your ear under pressure and was v effective but is now deemed dangerous.

The little boxes that pulse water into your ear do a reasonable job if you've not got a v hard blockage and have put olive oil or similar in for a week or so. If the wax is hard or you haven't had enough time to soften it all the way through then it doesn't have the poke of the old syringes and is a waste of time.

I've had micro suction a couple of times, and the same goes wrt sufficient softening beforehand. It does the same job but without the risks of high pressure water. If the blockage is touching the drum it can hurt like hell so make sure you put loads of oil in and don't be tempted to shove anything down as you'll only compact it.

Best of luck!

austenozzy · 21/11/2015 20:27

And as a pp said, the relief and satisfaction when the main blockage pops out into the tray is amazing!

CPtart · 21/11/2015 20:48

I'm a nurse that syringes ears. If your ears are sore and there is a possibility of infection I would absolutely not have them syringed. It is a risky procedure anyway, the last thing you want is a perforated ear drum. Many GP surgeries refuse to do it now, possibly due to fear of litigation. Soften the wax and stick to micro suction.
FWIW, I have had my ears syringed once, it cleared them beautifully but gave me horrendous vertigo, I'd never have it done again.

Original poster

FlipperDipper · 21/11/2015 20:48

I want that soooo much. The pain, deafness and fullness/pressure are driving me crazy. Even waiting till Tuesday feels so so long.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

OP posts:

Original poster

FlipperDipper · 21/11/2015 20:51

Oh thank you CPtart that's extremely helpful. I'm putting olive oil in every day to soften so it's great to hear that my plan to go for microsuction is the right one.

OP posts:

BrendaandEddie · 21/11/2015 20:52

it is not ' a relief'

ITS THE BEST EARGASM ever

ToysDontWorkNoMore · 21/11/2015 20:57

My DS had his ear "vacuumed" a couple of months ago. He was nervous and said it felt "funny", but it wasn't at all painful. He didn't need any preparation, but his ear wax was soft anyway. It was fascinating to watch!

Original poster

FlipperDipper · 21/11/2015 21:08

Haha! I want an eargasm. Three more days. :(

Went to a birthday party at a soft play centre today and couldn't hear anything anyone was saying. As soon as there is background noise I just can't hear and my own voice sounds like I'm mumbling inside a barrel. It's horrid.

OP posts:

TheChocolateDidIt · 26/11/2015 18:33

How did it go OP?

FlipperDipper2 · 26/11/2015 23:21

Urgh well microsuction failed and hurt like HELL and then I had syringing which didn't hurt to much but also failed. Got to go back and try next week. Am feeling crap - ear hurts like someone is stabbing a screwdriver into it (no infection I assume as oral antibiotics did squat) and I have so little hearing in that ear now. :(

Imfinehowareyou · 28/11/2015 10:37

Oh no, poor you

I had a failed attempt once but on the return visit it worked. Fingers crossed for you.

Cheerfulmarybrown · 01/12/2015 11:12

Have you got it sorted now OP?

ForCh1na · 01/12/2015 12:30

Nope, they tried again and it failed so they said to come back later in the week and try again (plus more olive oil in the meantime). Feeling really upset about it all and not convinced they know what they're doing. The nurse syringing yesterday really hurt me (I leapt away from her). I have so little hearing in that ear. Just not sure what to do really. :(

katavy1 · 20/10/2017 07:41

I have tinnitus in one ear so decided to go for Microsuction as I do believe the water treatment gave me the tinnitus. I was petrified as I didn't like the idea of having a thin suction tube poking down to me ear drum. A little boy aged about 7 came out of the treatment room smiling and I never heard anyone screaming or crying so I thought that was a good thing. A little gadget was put in my ear which didn't seem to go far in, then he put the suction tube through and I couldn't feel the tube going in at all as it passes the plastic gadget he put in first. They say put drops in 2 days before but I did it for 10 days to the point where I was almost deaf. The wax just sucked out immediately and I was in and out of the surgery in 10 minutes and that included filling out a form. I am usually very squeamish but if you have to have this done then don't be afraid. It is quite a nice tickling sensation. It is quite noisy but so is water going in your ear. Just thought I would share my experience to put your minds at rest.

Westside1000687 · 19/07/2020 11:09

My personal experience with micro suction is i found it really really painful. I was surprised as I read prior to this how pain less it was. I will never do this procedure again. Does anyone know if syringing is painful

katavy1 · 18/06/2021 09:27

I have tinnitus which was caused by a nurse who overdid the shringing. I lost my balance for a few days and then the tinnitus started. I find when I get ear wax which makes tinnitus worse I use Earex Express which I have found miraculously makes the wax break up in pieces that you don't see. Stop wearing earplugs or headphones that will reduce tinnitus by half. Don't give tinnitus a room as it will drive you mad, as there is no cure completely - so my doctor tells me! If yours is bad then have the microsuction. I hate anything in my ears (even cotton buds) microsuction is amazing and I would never have water flushed in my ears again.

Purplewithred · 18/06/2021 09:33

Back in early lockdown I had a blocked up ear with pain from pressure and had it microsuctioned. It was just as good as I’d hoped -total eargasm, immediate relief, I could hear again, stopped driving my family mad etc etc. Had both ears done. sadly no video.

However, I did develop an ear infection in one ear afterwards and god did that hurt, I have every sympathy for Babies with ear infections. GP said it does happen and could have been going to happen anyway but it was in high lockdown and maybe the 12 year old at the clinic who did it wasn’t that experienced.

I would have it done again in a heartbeat though. But now strictly absolutely nothing smaller than my elbow goes in my ear except the odd drop of olive oil.

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