I am currently in London at the beginning of our 2 week European vacation and suffering ear pain due to impacted wax. When I experienced this before in the US, I would seek treatment from my ENT (ear, nose & throat doctor). Who would use a special medical vacuum to resolve the issue and remove the wax.
Where and what can I do here in London to find similar medical treatment? We are staying on Belgrave Road within walking distance of London Victoria Station if this helps.
Thank you
You might ask at a pharmacy. Perhaps they would have a recommendation.
You could go to Urgent Care at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road. The wait time was only about an hour when I visited in June for a knee injury. You won't be charged for the visit which really surprised me. Any prescriptions can be filled across the street at Boots Pharmacy and if you are over 60, they are also free. Our daughter told us to visit this particular hospital because it is in a posher part of London and usually not too busy. Hope the ear gets better soon.
If you are staying in a hotel, ask the management. They normally would have relationships with a doctor or emergency care facility. Here's a link that might be near you. Hope you get the treatment you need so you can enjoy the rest of your trip..
As a young person I had a blockage worsened by water trapped by the blockage. My uncle (an Ear Eye Nose specialist) had my mom pour some hydrogen peroxide into the affected ear. A lot of bubbling and problem resolved.
If your eardrum doesn't contain a tube or have a hole in it, these
self-care measures may help you remove excess earwax that's blocking
your ear canal:Soften the wax. Use an eyedropper to apply a few drops of baby oil,
mineral oil, glycerin or hydrogen peroxide in your ear canal.Use warm water. After a day or two, when the wax is softened, use a
rubber-bulb syringe to gently squirt warm water into your ear canal.
Tilt your head and pull your outer ear up and back to straighten your
ear canal. When finished irrigating, tip your head to the side to let
the water drain out. Dry your ear canal. When finished, gently dry
your outer ear with a towel or hand-held dryer. You may need to repeat
this wax-softening and irrigation procedure a few times before the
excess earwax falls out. However, the softening agents may only loosen
the outer layer of the wax and cause it to lodge deeper in the ear
canal or against the eardrum. If your symptoms don't improve after a
few treatments, see your doctor.Earwax removal kits available in stores also can be effective at
removing wax buildup. Ask your doctor for advice on how to properly
select and use alternative earwax-removal methods.
Don't try to dig it out
Never attempt to dig out excessive or hardened earwax with available
items, such as a paper clip, a cotton swab or a hairpin. You may push
the wax farther into your ear and cause serious damage to the lining
of your ear canal or eardrum.
There is a walk-in/urgent care clinic in Victoria Station. We passed by it yesterday as we were entering from the Victoria Place entrance. As you have had problems in the past that required an ENT for assistance, as a RN, I would urge you to go to a physician rather than trying to fix it on your own.
A typical private charge for ear suction privately is around £75 (for both!); maybe more in London. There are plenty of clinics around that specialise in this (usually as a sideline to hearing aids) as historically NHS ENT hospital departments give this a low priority, although increasingly GP surgeries equip themselves to do this rather than by irrigation.
Isn't it covered by your travel Health Insurance? Then you can ask them. They usually have 24 hour phone support.
You can get a peroxide mixture specifically designed for ear wax removal at any Boots branch.
A quick search turned up these clinics. You might give one of them a call.
Harley Street Hearing, 129 Harley Street. Phone: 020 7486 1053.
http://www.harleysthearing.co.uk/what-we-do/wax-removal/
The Harley Street ENT Clinic, 109 Harley Street. Phone 020-7224-2350.
http://www.harleystreetent.com/
The London Ear Clinic, 107 Harley Street. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7486 7431 or +44 (0) 20 7935 3171.
http://www.londonearclinic.co.uk/
Thank you everyone for the replies.
I looked into and considered each one.
Eventually I sought treatment from an ear wax removal clinic who uses Microsuction.
The cost wasn't too bad (the relief from discomfort well worth it) and once we return stateside I will look into perhaps submitting a claim with our travel insurance.
Again much thanks!
