Ear wax removal

roddydogs

My gp referred me to a clinic that removed wax by the sucton method. Had to wait a bout 6 weeks. Pay private if you dont want to wait.

mal4mac

My GP, who gave me a five minute phone consulation, and the nurse who actually saw me, didn't give me the option of going to a clinic. It was private or nothing. Maybe I was classified as "OK" as I wasn't totally deaf and the Tinnitus wasn't bothering me that much. Although the nurse said the wax was totally covering my left ear drum, and should be removed, as should the extensive wax in my right ear! Looks like they have a "walking wounded needn't apply policy" these days.

Undervalued

mal4mac wrote: »

This time the nurse said to try the olive oil drops for a week, but added I'd probably need it to be extracted by a private audiologist, and I should look on the internet to find one.

For the reasons we discussed earlier in this thread, I am surprised by that comment.

You clearly feel the chap you found was highly qualified and experienced and maybe he was. However you also advised against the service offered by reputable large firms of chemists and hearing aid department of a major optometrists.

So, how do you reliably find a qualified "expert" in this unregulated field by looking on the internet?

Related, the last time I had an ear irrigated / syringed (maybe 4 years ago) at a large GP practice, the job was delegated to a health care assistant. My late mother (a former senior nursing sister) would have been horrified!

NeilCr

I have to see an audiologist in London following radiotherapy on my ear which resulted in (expected) hearing loss

The appointment letter said I had to have my ears checked for wax before going there. I made an appointment at my GP for syringing (if necessary) by an HCA - unfortunately, their syringe machine broke down and they could not guarantee that it would fixed before my trip to London

They did point me in the direction of (not recommend) a private ear waxing service in the next town. They do do a lot more than just ear wax removal. I went there (£70) where they did micro suction and was suitably impressed. Nice place, half an hour appointment (on time) and rather more gentle than the GPs. I have to go back because of impacted wax - have to use drops - but there is no further charge

Talking to the audiologist I got the impression that they did fairly well out of failings at GPs.

Fire_Fox

suki1964 wrote: »

I got a syringe from amazon along with a bottle of olive oil and a dropper and have done my own

The syringe has an end on it that forces the water backwards . So the oil softens the wax and all the syringe does is flush it out

There is no way the syringe can harm the ear. The end is designed with a bung on it that shoots water backwards, not forwards, and it way to fat to be pushed so far in to do any damage whatsoever

Im not a person who uses cotton buds or fingers in their ears. I have Seb derm which needs flushing out else my ears get sore and itchy.

:eek: Please do not use olive oil (nor almond nor avocado) not even on your 'apparently healthy' skin.

Olive oil is rich in oleic acid which research suggests is the primary skin irritant in seborrhoeic dermatitis (waste product of the Malassezia yeast), and disrupts skin barrier function in eczematous individuals.

I cannot rightly suggest what to use instead; do you have a good pharmacist or GP with an interest in dermatology?

Pennylane

I did my adult son’s ear with a large syringe as described above by someone else. Worked a treat. I have had my ears syringed by nurses many times over the years so know it’s a very simple procedure. Just warm water, shoot it in and hold a small container under the ear and firstly small flecks of wax come out and then the exciting part, a nice big lump! :rotfl:

I often tilt my head under the shower so I get a nice steady stream of water directly into my ear and that does a fair job of loosening too.

Fire_Fox

mal4mac wrote: »

The nurse was actually angrier than me, "I don't know why we don't do it any more," she said. I had to console her by saying the NHS is under funded, I can afford to pay, etc... She shook her head, probably thinking about the patients who can't afford to pay, and everyone being put at risk of cowboys .... And the patients wouldn't have problems due to under-trained chimps vacuuming their ears.

You tried to read the mind of someone who freely admits to having no information, then fell for the fearmongering of someone you are fully aware is desperate to drum up business.

mal4mac wrote: »

What if there is still a blockage after the olive oil drops, do the NHS say what to do on their web site? Not that I can see. They probably don't want to advertise that their actual "solution" is "seek out a private audiologist".?

Emboldened in post 7.

mal4mac wrote: »

GPs are not bound by NICE, find GP's professional magazine (Pulse) online and you will see NICE comes in for a lot of slagging from GPs, many resolutely ignoring their advice.

So what do you do if your GP practice does not remove ear wax? Find another practice? Is there another practice? Insist that your GP refer you to an ENT? What if he resolutely refuses? Go to a private GP (and pay even bigger money!)? Complain to my MP?

Join the Patient Participation Group at your surgery. Complete a comments form at reception/ contact form online. Follow the practice's complaints procedure. Quote NICE guidance at them. Suggest the Practice Manager or one of the Partners communicates with their own nursing staff.

NHS article How to Register with a GP Practice

NHS article Patient Choice of GP Practices