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Vibration in ears.

(22 Posts)
Ali08 Wed 11-Sept-24 05:32:02

I have fairly recently, this year, noticed an annoying vibration in my ears, though mainly my right ear.
It's like there's a butterfly attempting to play drums in there but it does stop if I move around a bit, and happens more if I'm lying down.
I know it could be linked to tinnitus - oh those annoying little sparrows twittering on and/or hundreds of tiny little bells jingling UGH!! - Or it could be a build up of ear wax, or 4 other things (yes, I Googled).
I'm just wondering if anyone has this or has had it and if so what are you doing about it or did about it, please?
I don't want to bother the Dr about it if I don't have to!
Oh, and the other night I put in my ear bud, I haven't used it for a while but I had to take it out shortly afterwards as it felt too big for my ear and also kind of hurt the outer rim of my ear, weird. Since then my ear has had an occasional twinge of pain on the outer rim and the lobe. But not inside!
I usually use just the one bud if I'm in bed as I lie on my side so the other ear would definitely be very uncomfortable if I wore that bud, too.

Yes, I know I'm strange. 😆

fancythat Wed 11-Sept-24 07:47:59

I dont know the answer but I would see a doctor.

I shudder nowadays whenever anyone says that they dont want to bother a doctor.

Hope it gets better soon.

Redhead56 Wed 11-Sept-24 09:27:19

We are still not physically allowed to see our doctors it is triage then phone calls. I am going to an audiologist next week I have had a problem with my ears for weeks.
I went to the local Walk in clinic and explained there are weird noises echoing and I am hard of hearing. I was told it is wax so they are getting syringed next week. Maybe see if you can have yours examined it might be the same problem. Since making my appointment I have been told that Spec savers also do ear syringing.

keepingquiet Wed 11-Sept-24 09:38:23

Yes, it is probably just ear wax. I'm pretty familiar with what they'll say:
1 Drops in the ears to soften the wax (and it can help)

2 They don't do ear syringing any more on the NHS (not many places anyway) so yes, go private if it really bothers you. Mine gets worse in winter but haven't needed syringing for three years. Specsavers may have a waiting list but other places may do it for around £50.

3 In future use drops occasionally but don't put anything else in your ears and keep them as dry as possible when washing your hair or in the shower.

flappergirl Wed 11-Sept-24 09:45:10

I've had the "butterfly in my ear" sensation now and then over the years. It's very disconcerting and, like you, it eases up at times. In my case it's always been ear wax which syringing has sorted out. I don't know the drill for seeing a doctor in your area or if indeed that's even possible but you shouldn't worry about "bothering" them.

henetha Wed 11-Sept-24 09:51:00

I don't want to hijack this thread as it's about different problems to mine, and I have huge sympathy from anyone
suffering from the above. My mother was a tinnitus sufferer and it's no joke. But I hope nobody minds if I mention this, -

My problem is that I have huge itching in both ears It drives me mad. Sometimes one ear, sometimes both. I've tried everything (except telling a doctor). Does anyone else have this problem?

henetha Wed 11-Sept-24 09:51:52

typo.. huge sympathy FOR anyone suffering.....

keepingquiet Wed 11-Sept-24 15:51:28

My daughter had excema in her ears. She was given some steroid cream- I would go to your GP.

Shelflife Wed 11-Sept-24 16:59:21

Please try and see your GP.

Treebee Wed 11-Sept-24 19:10:09

henetha I also had itchy inner ears which turned out to be excema. My GP referred me to our hospital where I had them ‘hoovered’ out, a strange sensation. I had to learn to stop scratching!

henetha Thu 12-Sept-24 10:46:32

That's amazing Treebee. Thanks so much for that info.
I will definitely mention it when I next see a GP.
Meanwhile I will try not to scratch them. smile

Charleygirl5 Thu 12-Sept-24 10:58:45

Specsavers charge £60 to have one or both ears micro suctioned in London. One has to put drops in for 5 days before but getting an appointment appears to be impossible.

Admittedly I have only tried online, may be better if I ring.

SpringsEternal Thu 12-Sept-24 11:56:37

I tried Hopi ear candles recently and found it fascinating and helpful.

clairefraser1 Thu 12-Sept-24 12:49:30

henetha

I don't want to hijack this thread as it's about different problems to mine, and I have huge sympathy from anyone
suffering from the above. My mother was a tinnitus sufferer and it's no joke. But I hope nobody minds if I mention this, -

My problem is that I have huge itching in both ears It drives me mad. Sometimes one ear, sometimes both. I've tried everything (except telling a doctor). Does anyone else have this problem?

oh I do, its horrible. I sometimes wake up during the night with it. I mentioned it to the nurse who said it was wax so had my ears vacuumed but its still there.

Jaxjacky Thu 12-Sept-24 13:21:58

My pharmacist does ear microsuction, I’d go there, you may have one locally?

SillyNanny321 Thu 12-Sept-24 13:47:28

Have had noises in my ears for many years after having my Wisdom teeth removed age mid-twenties. Told after that the ringing noise was because he had had to ‘hammer’ them out. Now sounds like a pulse beat most of the time especially when laying down. Years ago was dismissed by a consultant as it was ‘only’ tinnitus & nothing could be done! So have just put up with it! Told a while back at hearing test that it didnt help as I went to lots of loud gigs when younger & fitter!

rowyn Thu 12-Sept-24 15:02:41

Just a thought - if getting to your GP is difficult/impossible, what about going to a pharmacist and explaining, then asking if they could recommend some cream or similar for you to try?

Bluedaisy Thu 12-Sept-24 22:18:20

I’ve had tinnitus noises and popping in my ears for quite a while. I couldn’t hear my mobile phone anymore and thought I was going deaf! I phoned my GP who made an appointment to see an ear nurse at our surgery who confirmed I needed my ears micro suctioned. Apparently the NHS has stopped funding for ear syringing unless you’ve developed tinnitus, ear infections etc. so she referred me to another surgery who does micro suction on the NHS and I had them done today. So much better. I thought I’d have to pay and go privately somewhere but as I said some surgeries do do it if you have certain complaints as above, so I’d ask your surgery if I were you.

henetha Thu 12-Sept-24 23:44:29

A fellow sufferer, clairfraser1. It's horrible isn't it. I'd never get an appointment just for this, but next time I have another reason to see a GP I'm going to mention it.
Meanwhile, rowyn, thanks, that's a good idea. I will do that.

Catterygirl Thu 12-Sept-24 23:52:17

Mum aged around 80 at the time had her ears syringed resulting in her being deaf after that. Put me off totally interfering with my ears. Husband uses cotton buds against my advice. I never touch my ears at all and have no problem.

Ali08 Fri 13-Sept-24 06:17:23

SillyNanny321

Have had noises in my ears for many years after having my Wisdom teeth removed age mid-twenties. Told after that the ringing noise was because he had had to ‘hammer’ them out. Now sounds like a pulse beat most of the time especially when laying down. Years ago was dismissed by a consultant as it was ‘only’ tinnitus & nothing could be done! So have just put up with it! Told a while back at hearing test that it didnt help as I went to lots of loud gigs when younger & fitter!

I was never really one for loud stuff, so I dunno where mine came from.

I will try ear drops, then see my doc if they don't clear. Ours is less than a 5 minute walk away and quite easy to get to see now.

I've wondered about ear candles, but there were some off-putting stories about them a couple of years ago. But I'm still curious about them.

Thank you all. And Henetha, don't worry, if you get your answers that's good!! I get psoriasis in my ears at times, and that itches, too, but I also get random itchy spots, anywhere on my body (sensitive skin), which drives me bonkers!

Frogs Sat 14-Sept-24 11:15:10

Catterygirl

Mum aged around 80 at the time had her ears syringed resulting in her being deaf after that. Put me off totally interfering with my ears. Husband uses cotton buds against my advice. I never touch my ears at all and have no problem.

I’m not surprised that you’ve been put off by your mum’s experience however they don’t use the ear syringing method as much these days - I have heard it can pose a risk to your eardrum because it involves water being sprayed into your ears at pressure to flush the excess wax out.
As others have said the newer method of wax removal is micro suctioning which feels like your ears are being gently hoovered out, there is a camera on the end of the ‘hoover’ which makes it a safer procedure.
I don’t think GPs have this new equipment available so that’s why we have to pay privately now. From personal experience of both procedures, I much prefer the gentler micro suctioning method, as I found ear syringing painful at times.
I don’t think any of us like having our ears ‘messed with’ but sadly have no alternative as wax build up causes pain and hearing loss.