A Mundane Health Question

[Jon 1]

Is the procedure for having your ears syringed the same as the UK?

[Val_2]

I had mine done about 20 years ago in the Uk following a really bad cold. My son had his done here about three years back and it was the same proceedure. The doctor even stopped off at our house next morning on his way to the surgery to do it a second time as there was so much muck in there (the result of using cotton buds by the boy who didn't realise he wasn't getting wax out but pushing it further in).

[Jon 1]

Many thanks for replying

[Russethouse]

Jon, I have just been to my UK doctor suspecting that I might need to have my ears syringed, but no - I am to have them 'hoovered' out, so maybe this is a new alternative ? Apparently the advantage is that the 'hoover' operator can see what they are doing better - I'll let you know, of course there is a waiting list

[Bones]

Look into alternative methods and NEVER put Otex into your headspace.

Syringing can be damaging to your health, I forget why: look it up on the net!

Before leaving for France last year a workmate described having used some kind of Oriental  candles that his hippy daughter had suggested. You light them after inserting them in your lugholes (yikes!): he had chronic blockages and said the treatment really worked.

Good luck, oh sorry,  GOOD LUCK! 

[Clair]

a workmate described having used some kind of Oriental candles that his hippy daughter had suggested. You light them after inserting them in your lugholes (yikes!): he had chronic blockages and said the treatment really worked.

These are called Hopi candles and are very safe to use: only the tip is inserted into the earhole and the "candle" gently burns off, pulling all the "yuk" (cerumen actually!) into its hollow centre.

I get mine from the local health shop.

Clair

[Jon 1]

Thanks to all again.

Claire do these candles really work?  If so how do you use them specifically?

What are they called in France?

 

[Clair]

[quote]Thanks to all again. Claire do these candles really work? If so how do you use them specifically? What are they called in France?[/quote]

As far as I know, they're called "Bougies Hopi" in France.

Having "googled" the name, I have come up with this:

Bougies Hopi - Hygiène auriculaire- 5,80 € Expédiés sous 24 h. Paiement sécurisé.

www.naturalforme.fr

but I cannot comment on the site as I have not used it.

The candle looks like a sheet of yellow paper rolled to a thin tube and coated in a scented wax-like substance. You simply insert the tip into the earhole and light the other end. The flame goes out almost immediately and the candle just burns away until there's only the tip left. Gently remove the tip and put the candle out in water.

If you want to see how much has been removed, you can unroll the tip and the earwax (cerumen) will be inside the roll of paper (not a nice sight but one few resist the first time!)

The user must rest his/her head on a level base (cushion on armchair rest for instance) and the sensation is one of pleasant (if unusual) warmth (not heat) inside the ear. It also provoques an almost irrsistable need to close your eye on the side of the ear being treated.

At the end of the treatment, you must rest for a few minutes as you can feel quite light-headed for a short while.

I have never experienced any discomfort or side effects and I have used them many many times over many many years. I simply prefer using them to inserting a cotton bud into my ear.

I hope this helps!

Clair

[Val_2]

LOL. Have just had a vision of you laid out with the dyson next you and the doctor sticking the flexible tube in your ears wiggling it about.

[Jon 1]

I decided that I could not stand being deaf, and having to lip read, any longer, so tramped off to the nearest GP who had a drop in system.  I waited for almost an hour but the GP did not arrive.  Eventually someone stuck a notice on the door to say there was some catastrophe somewhere.  I then went to another GPs surgery but was told that ear syringing could only be done by a specialist and that I would have to go to the hospital.  I find this latter state of affairs quite amusing considering that this function has been passed to nurses in the UK.  Mind you having browsed the web as suggested, and reading about the inherent dangers with ear syringing, maybe a specialist is the safest course of action.

[Jon 1]

Gay,

For your benefit in particular and the others who have participated, here is the progress in this saga.

I contacted the specialist and was seen on the same day.  He aspirated both my ears and I found it to be a very efficient process compared to syringing.  He also said that syringing had ceased in France from about 12 years ago due to the potential dangers.  He also offered a hearing test,which I accepted.  I was given a photocopy of the results.  Apparently I have a 40% decline in hearing high pitched tones in my right ear and 30% in the other.  Low and medium tones were satisfactory.  He asked if I had been exposed to loud noise occupationally, through shooting or listening to loud music.  I cannot recall any of these instances.  He then recommended that I start taking a drug that would prevent any further decline in my hearing, eyesight, brain and heart function. Apparently decline is due to vascular change with ageing and this drug allegedly prevents this.  He also said that there were no side effects and that if I did not take it that my hearing would continue to decline with age to the point that I would  eventually require a hearing aid.  I doubt that I will take this drug for three reasons.  I am aware of how ready French doctors are to prescribe medication.  All my life I have avoided medication unless absolutely necessary, and I do not take any medication at the moment.  As far as I am aware I do not have any vascular problems.  If I was to take this drug I would only do so after seeking a second opinion.  I would add that my hearing is now excellent apart from when I occassionally don't hear my wife.  It must be that she sometimes speaks in a high tonal range which is obviously beyond my capability of hearing!!!!!!

I would like to say how impressed I was with the whole process.  I have never experienced this level of speed and professionalism in the UK.  As I said previously this function has now been downgraded to nurse level at my former surgery.  It was also a process of syringing which on one occasion gave me an ear infection then a subsequent yeast infection in the ear due to antibiotic ear drops.  It took months before it all cleared up.  I also found that the syringing was very haphazard and sometimes did not satisfactorily remove the plug.

I blame this problem on a family of heavy smokers which affects the ears of infants and children on into adult life.

[Russethouse]

Thank you Jon, I had a spell of temporary deafness a few years ago, following a similar infection to the one I am recovering from. I found that deafness was treated poorly, no consideration, people speaking with their back to you, hardly believing you couldn't hear them etc. Very frustrating and depressing. I have also heard of people losing a % of their hearing after an infection (have I said that before ?) so am keen to be pro active about this.

I only once had my ears syringed (as a child) and am not keen to repeat the experience so I am keeping my fingers crossed.....

[Russethouse]

Had my procedure today - so about a 3 week wait - not too bad. Very easy, painless and effective. (The gory details are that the grommet from my op several years ago was still there....didn't help)

Tested my hearing which is still in the normal range, gave me a couple of tips on keeping the ENT area healthy and that was that, about 15 minutes including tests. Easy

PS It wasn't a Dyson Val, I'm almost disappointed

[Miki]

Jon said "....He also said that syringing had ceased in France from about 12 years ago due to the potential dangers"

Syringing of ears in by French GP'S is very much around. I know of at least 4 people using different Doctors who have had their ears syringed, a couple of them regularly.

Two weeks ago, I went to the Doctor with wax problems, he duly syringed but on this occasion, the ear was too blocked he said too clear it completely and he didn't want to continue in this way. I also had a touch of "vertige" !

He told me I would need a visit to a specialist for some "aspiration" and duly gave me a list of 5 ear speacialists to call. I asked if I could do it next week as I was due for a few days in the UK. He then rang one for me who gave an hour to get to the clinic.

The nozzle of the aspirateur was introduced in to the ear and within seconds he had cleared one ear and then seconds later the other ear. No pain, no funny feelings, apart from the strange whistling noise afterwards.

30 euros later I was on my way.....The specialist also sent a memo to my Doctor telling him never to use cold water in the syringe, this was the main cause, he said, of my vertige.

Oh the whistling by the way, was from a sparrow 50 metres away and my newly hoovered ears picked it up perfectly !

[Russethouse]

Did you get the recommendation to put a drop of olive oil in your ears each week too ?

[Miki]

No, that would require a visit to another specialist in France to be told that!!

[Val_2]

No word of a lie but my daughter had a blocked ear all day wednesday, called to the nearest surgery in St.Brieuc that evening where the doctor immediately syringed it out for her,she got a good drenching in the process too. She said it actually hurt but the difference and relief of no paid outweighed that inconvenience.