Well It's Over

This had to be the worst Christmas I spent in my life. I slept through most of it . I had to go to the hospital to get one of my ears flushed out of wax. It was driving me crazy and I couldn't wait till January 8th when my family doctor said that was the soonest he could do it. Anyway I went in at 2:00am Christmas day and the doctor had an attitude . She stuck in a huge stainless steel syringe full of ice cold water and **** did it hurt. A few small chunks of wax came out and she asked me if I could hear. I said yes that's much better , thanks. Knowing that it wasn't much better but I wasn't going to let her continue her torture. The next day I called to see if my family doctor was working in the emergency department or when he would be next. She yelled "WE DO NOT GIVE OUT THAT INFORMATION".
Click , goodbye , nice knowing ya. I called a cab and went back to the hospital anyway. I told the admitting nurse what had happened the night before and she said the doctors USUALLY use warm water to flush out wax. I sat patiently with one other patient for 3 1/2 hours . The lady doctor that did me the night before was just arriving to start her shift.
**** , just my luck. Should I just get up and leave? No. I stayed.
When I was called in the admitting nurse said she would make sure she used warm water this time.(Never even got used). She came in and the nurse passed her a light that is held on your forehead by a belt. She fumbled around with it for a few minutes and couldn't figure out how to put it on her head. By this time I'm getting anxious . She graps this 7" plastic stick and drives it in about 3 inches till the pain is unbearable and scoops out a small piece of wax. This went on for about 7 or 8 times when I was getting dizzy and she said YOU WON'T LET ME FINISH. I said that stick your using to gouge out the wax HURTS. Give me a break.
I had enough and said I can't do this anymore. I'll have to come back.
As I sat there to catch my breath I grabbed the 60cc syringe she was going to use , took it home and tried it in the shower. No luck . I forgot the small IV attachment. I still can't hear out of my ear.
I also am very depressed.

Wow, that sounds horrible - so sorry to hear you're having this problem. Is there a clinic open in the morning in your area? Do you have pain in your ear or just blocked hearing? I don't think you should try to flush it out yourself. I know it's awful waiting for treatment in the ER especially at Christmas time. Sorry to hear you're more depressed than usual.

Aww Babysteps, Sorry to hear that! I have had probs sometimes too like that with my ears in the past and its so uncomfortable! Hoping you get better soon, Hugs!

Hope you find someone who knows what he or she is doing. I have had wax efficiently removed many times without pain.

Good luck.

Sorry things are so rough and that you had such a horrible experience with the doctor.

Christmas Horror!

Well, Christmas may be over, but your ear problem and depression continue. Babysteps, do you have the strength-focus-will to complain about your treatment by the doctor?

May these days running up to New Year's be much kinder to you!

OOOWwww! Ow owow!!!!!!! I know that if I stick anything too far in my ear it hurts worse than anything else I can think of. And then to have a dumb doctor start that nonsense, grrrrrr! I am sorry about how ad the holiday was, my friend. I agree to see if there is some kind of clinic open, it is easier to really mess up the era canal than you would think. we have kids with both major ear wax and infections, so yep, we have gotten the lecture about them jamming stuff into their ears to get at the pain.

I really hope you can fnd someone to help with the ear. It doens't make things easier when one is depressed. Huggs, and i was thinking of you this Xmas. hang in there.

(((((((((((((((( Babysteps )))))))))))))))))

What a bastard! You have been way too patient. Is there another ER available? Possibly there may be some device sold in pharmacies for self medication? I saw something similar years ago, for cleaning ear wax.

Chris~

There is this home remedy that has proven wonderful that I've personally practiced on my step kids and daughter when they've had issues with wax build up. This may prove a bit clumsy for you to do alone, so have patience IF you decide to give it a try.

Warm some hydrogen peroxide (I usually just place the entire bottle in a sink of hot water until the entire contents of bottle becomes luke warm). Have a towel or two handy (make certain they're white or towels that you wont mind bleaching out from the peroxide).
Lay down with problem ear facing upward.
Wrap a towel around the neck n base of the ear that requires attendance. And if you can....slowly pour the warmed peroxide into the ear. Leave in to do its job.
You'll hear all sorts of activity going on in there...but that's how it's supposed to be. ...lol. The peroxide loosens up the wax....and quite wonderfully, actually.
Then, after a few mins & with towel held against the treated ear, slowly sit up and tilt head to allow peroxide drainage.

If you have one of those dealies for flushing out the wax (those balloon looking whatchamadoflingies....fill that with luke warm water n flush out ear after peroxide treatment....that helps loads too). If not, repeat peroxide treatement a few times....

With any luck, this may provide you relief.....I'm sure hoping. It's safe...so long as you don't over apply pressure when flushing ear out...I can only imagine that can prove to be painful on the eardrum.

I've had my share of nightmares with hospitals in the middle of night...regarding toothache. I can relate to your experience. Sorry you had to go through that.

Good luck. Hope it works for you.

Shangrala

Thanks Everyone. There is no walk-in clinics and the only other emergency is an hours drive. Thanks Mary............it's worth a try.

The only other thing is using a drop you get from the pharmacy for wax. In the US it's called Debrox (not sure if it's the same in Canada, though I would doubt it). It's basically a misture of hydrogen peroxide and oil and it loosens the wax so it flushes out. Typically if you try o flush an ear without some sort of wax softening drops it's not very successful. I tell all my patients to use the drops first for a week before they even come to the office to have the ear flushed.

Oh Babysteps, I cringed when I read your post. How horrible!!!

I had the same problem in both ears and went straight to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist.

He had both ears flushed out in less than 5 minutes. He even had a chair specially made to make it easier for him to do it.

How are you doing with your depression as the day progresses?

Wishing you some relief and here are some comforting hugs

I had it done in Ontario about 10 years ago and the doctor layed me on my side and flushed them with no pain in 5 minutes . An experienced doctor. Thanks for the hugs Berries.

The doctor or the incident. lol

Actually there was a horror movie called Black Christmas.
This was much worse.

I tried the peroxide Mary....lots of fizzling going on but nothing came out. Oh well , I tried . Thanks again.

Babysteps, you might have severely compacted wax, which the above treatment might not help at this point. Still, I think this is good advice. It also helps as a preventative if this is a constant problem. I've known some people to use these drops once a week, daily, or for a week out of every month. See what a (good) doctor says. And seriously, who tries to flush wax out with cold water? That doc makes me angry.

How's it going now, Babysteps?

It's going.Thanks

Yeah, I know. I', dancing as fast as I can. I think I'm crashing, though. Hang in there. somthings got to make a dent in the wax, at least. HUGGGSS