I can't hear :(

Sometime during my very short pregnancy, my hearing got very bad, and it has since gotten worse. (I originally thought it was a weird pregnancy symptom).  I mentioned this to my GP around the time I was threatening to miscarry, and she told me that it was probably wax buildup (I have had problems with that before as my ear canal is very tiny, it usually causes mild tinnitus and slight hearing loss, but I have never had the severe hearing loss I have now). She told me to put olive oil in my ear every day, and if it didn't clear up to make an appointment to have a nurse syringe it.

So I made the appointment with the nurse, as things hadn't improved. Now, in the US, I have had my ears thoroughly cleaned out by a doctor more than once, which involved harsh blasts of very warm water and sometimes removing the wax with forceps.  I was quite surprised to find that the nurse here used a syringe device with very mild pressure and lukewarm water. It was equivalent to using those bulb syringe devices that you could buy over the counter in the US, and didn't remove any wax at all.

So after a very short while, the nurse decided that it wasn't doing anything, and she was afraid that because I had a lot of hard wax impacted against my eardrum, she would hurt my eardrum. So she said she would put in a referral for me to see an ear specialist at the hospital where they could suction my ears.

So now I can not hear, and I am having a lot of difficulty functioning. I can only hear bits and pieces of what people say - I am lost if I can't see their lips.  I was at a workshop and a meeting at work today, where I had barely a clue as to what was going on. (I was supposed to be supporting the person who was leading the workshop - I wasn't really any help at all).  I also think that I am talking too loudly sometimes because I can't hear how loud I sound, but I am trying to modulate my voice as best as I can. I can't continue at work like this, and I don't know how long it will be before I can see a doctor.

It's ridiculous because when my ears clogged in the US, it would be cleared up in a short, simple procedure.

I've been putting olive oil in my ear to soften the wax, but it doesn't really help that much.  From experience, it would probably be helpful for me to put peroxide in my ear, but I can't find it in the UK.

I don't know what to do. My company is undergoing a restructure, and decisions are being made about who is staying and who is being made redundant and what people's new roles will be,  and I am really scared about messing up at my job because I can't hear people.  If someone comes to speak to me while I am sat typing at my computer, I don't even hear them and I keep typing away like they aren't even there. It could be construed as my being very rude.

I'm hoping that there is something I can do until I get my hospital appointment. I would even be willing to buy a cheap hearing aid-type device that would amplify sounds. (Is there anything equivalent to those magnifying- glass style eyeglasses you could buy in shops in the US for people who need a little bit of help with seeing what they read?)

I don't have private health insurance, but I would be willing to pay for the service of having my ears cleaned out if I could get it done right away.

I am starting to feel very isolated not being able to hear what people are saying and constantly having to ask people to repeat themselves so I can look at their lips when they are speaking.

I don't know what to do 

This stinks! Isn't there an ear wax removal kit you can use at home? I remember using something when I was younger that bubbled up and melted the wax. It might have been hydrogen peroxide. My nephew twice failed his hearing test at school. He had a huge plug of wax pulled out of his ear by the doctor. They were told to keep up the wax removal at home. Your ear might be too far gone for the home removal remedy, so I hope you get your doctor appointment soon!

I've been putting olive oil in my ear to soften the wax, but it doesn't really help that much.  From experience, it would probably be helpful for me to put peroxide in my ear, but I can't find it in the UK.

I can get peroxide at my local chemist and Boots.  I use it in cleaning so I'm always picking up bottles.  If you can't find it locally, buy it online: http://www.allcures.com/shared/product.asp?id=82133

What about Ear Candling? I go to a lady for acupuncture on my local high street and she does that. Its supposed to be very effective. She charges £25 for an accupuncture session, so it probably isn't that expensive.

I feel for ya! That must be awful!!

Yes, I'm pretty sure you can have it done privately. Ring your GP, tell them you are worried about your job and can't afford to wait a long time for an appt. They will hopefully get you a referral to someone private.

As for your employer, obviously you must tell them what is going on, as well as your colleagues. TBH, they should not be surprised that you are having to wait for an appt. They're British and they know how the NHS works!

I have the same exact problem, so I completely understand what you're going through. Ear candling didn't work well for me. I do the hydrogen peroxide and it helps. If you want me to post you some please let me know. I'm also going to England on the 22nd, so I can always bring some more with me and ship some to you then too.

I've only had one doctor offer to clean out my ears for me. The others all want me to try some ear kit that's supposed to help, there's a solution in it that's supposed to break down the wax and make it easier to come out. It takes a few tries for me and it ends up hurting more before it gets better. I'd rather they take the extra few minutes out of their day to do their job and help me!

I can get peroxide at my local chemist and Boots.

You can buy Otex or Boots Dual Action Ear Wax Remover drops over the counter at Boots. They are hydrogen peroxide based (Urea Hydrogen Peroxide 5%), but are specifically formulated to soften and dissolve ear wax, reducing the need for syringing, providing you don't have pain in the ear or suffer from anything like tinnitus.

I would recommend using one of them instead because straight hydrogen peroxide is generally a higher percentage and is for external use only.

http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1046144&classificationid=1046445

I hope you are able to get this resolved soon.  I had issues with my hearing after flying and it took almost month to get back to normal.  It really does affect your daily life.

I think you should say something to your manager, just to let them know what you are going through. 

Good luck

I would recommend using one of them instead because straight hydrogen peroxide is generally a higher percentage and is for external use only.

I'm not sure about sweetpeach's doctor, but mine recommended diluting the hydrogen peroxide with water. When done right, it works like a cheaper version of those kits you and I mentioned before.

MAJOR VENT - I just called my GP's office to see if the referral had been made and how long the waiting list was, and the nurse hasn't even made the referral. I saw her Monday, and she said she would do it that day.  I said that it was extremely urgent  because I can't hear and I can't function at my job, and the receptionist asked if I could come in and see a GP today.  Well, no, I can't because I've got a deadline at work and I can't leave, and besides, I've already seen a GP and a nurse.

The receptionist said she would ask the nurse. I asked if I could get a contact for a private doctor because I can't wait, and gave my mobile number for someone to call me back. I will be calling back in a few hours.

There is no proof that ear candling does anything.  In fact there is hard evidence that it does nothing at all and causes ruptures and burned ears. 

Another favorite website of mine has an article about this very topic.  http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candling.html

As for the OTC stuff they sell here like Otex, I found it to be ineffective.  It was too thick and never really came out of my ear canal. 

I, like Scarlett, was told to dilute hydrogen peroxide.  It is sold as 3% in the U.S. and you can use that in your ears, in the U.K. it is sold 6%.  I just dilute it by half. 

I asked for it at Boots, she said, it is for mouth wash, I said yes and that was that. 

I get this all the time!  The first time I had it, the doctor refused even to syringe my ears saying it would go away with ear drops.  Suffice to say it didn't.  I got it syringed but it didn't clear it, I seriously had it for about 3 months, not being able to hear in one ear.  It cleared up eventually, but I got it again last year when I was in the States.  I went to a drop in centre thing and got a very painful and uncomfortable water blasting thing but it sorted the problem out straight away!  Now I always demand it here. 

I'm really sorry you are struggling with this.  My mom has an ear canal that is not formed correctly or something like that.  She always has difficulty hearing things.  I know she really struggles too.  I hope everything gets resolved soon.   

Thanks everyone for your support/advice.

Update - The receptionist called me back. The nurse who saw me is not in for another week. She said I have to make an appointment to see a GP and be reassessed. I told the receptionist that I had already seen a GP, who told me to see a nurse, who told me she would refer me to a specialist that day. The receptionist said I should come in this afternoon - well, no, I have a job, I can't just pop off and leave (the latest appointment they have is at 5 and I've had to work past 7 all week.)

When I asked the receptionist if I could get contact information for a private specialist, she said that only a GP could do that, so I had to make a GP appointment.She said that otherwise I could look at the phonebook, so I might do that.

Regarding eardrops, the earwax drops I have found are just various types of oil in a dropper format. All they seem to do is make my ears stuffier. I will try to see if I can find the Otex at Boots.  They also don't seem to sell those bulb syringes anywhere.

I had been putting olive oil in my ears and stopped a few days before I saw the nurse because I thought I had been stuffing my ears with oil too much and was making it worse. So the nurse said the reason she couldn't do the syringing was because I had stopped using the olive oil. No, it's because she wasn't using the right tools and wasn't doing it right.  I've had my ears cleaned out in the US and I've never had to "prepare" my ears in advance before.

I can't believe how ridiculously complicated this is getting.

That must be seriously frustrating for you! Sorry you have to go through this.