Thanks guys. I'm going to call the doctor this morning for a referral to an ENT because this is just too much. Zero sleep last night and it feels like someone is stabbing me in my ear. That can't be right or normal.

Ugh...so just got back from the Dr. Primary care Dr wanted to see me again to check on it, said there's a lot of wax and he can't see what's going on behind that so he wanted me to get in to see an ENT today. But then the nurse called 4 places and none could get me in so they just called and told me to take advil and it should subside on its own. I'm so frustrated...this pain is not normal. So I guess I need to start making phone calls myself rather than just wait and see. Even if the appt is next week I can always cancel if it does go away. Just one more frustrating situation...

And the first place I called got me in at 3:30 today...so hopefully they will be able to help. But darn...I'm really frustrated by this doctor at my primary care doctor's office (he's not the one I usually see but the one I happened to see at the walk in clinic when I went in for the Kidney stones). I mean seriously...let's get you in to see an ENT today...nurse calls 4 places with no luck...ok just take Advil and it will go away on its own. What?! Thanks for nothing doc.

My appointment with the ENT went well...they were able to remove the blockage (which was HUGE...she said that would not have come out with at home care and ear drops or with irrigation). It was painful getting it removed but I can hear again...yay...and even though it's sore I no longer feel like I'm being stabbed in the ear with a toothpick. I got some ear drops to help it heal because it's really inflamed but...oh my gosh...so much better already.

I think this means tomorrow I will look into finding a specialist to treat me for the kidney stones as I don't like the wait and see plan this doctor has for that. It's been 6 weeks already...at this point there should be something they can do or at least I will feel better knowing someone qualified is treating me so that if I do need intervention they will know the situation.

Thank you guys for listening and encouraging me to follow up and not just accept it.

That is the exact situation that at home care can make the situation worse. Your GP should have known better.

I'm glad you were so proactive and are now doing better!

You might consider trying a homeopathic for dealing with the stones.

Thank goodness you were treated and can hear!

Based on what happened to me with home care ear irrigation I am not surprised by your story. In my case, the wax finally fell out from the Vicks treatment, many weeks after that irrigation bs failed. Why no one would send me to an ENT is beyond me. Do they think we are making up our misery?

For decades I never went to the doctor, so do they think I suddenly developed a fondness for medical intervention. It is wacko!

I guess we have to be very persistent. I only got my xrays that confirmed CRPS in my other extremity by begging, so it is now clear to me what has to happen in the future, never give up.

I honestly don't know what doctors think sometimes. I don't know if they think I'm exaggerating or just impatient or what. Like this Dr when I saw him the next day to say it was worse started out telling me that in his 3 yrs at the practice he's never had any one come back and say it's worse, and that it was just water so nothing the nurse did would have made it worse, etc. I just...grrr...how about you just try LISTENING to me. I didn't say you guys did anything wrong...I'm saying it now hurts worse so what is the next step. I didn't realize I was asking for advice so far out of his wheelhouse...like...why not just send me to the ENT or tell me to make an appointment with an ENT if you guys don't want to do it. I'm sure there are preferred providers you send people do that are part of the same medical group and whatnot but don't expect ME to suffer just because those guys are unavailable. But this Dr actually asked me why I'm not getting better. How the heck would I know my my body hasn't passed these kidney stones yet or why irrigation made my ear worse. I'm not psychic and I'm not a doctor...just someone suffering and asking for help. And did I mention that I'm tired of hurting and really would just like to not hurt anymore? Thanks.

I'm probably being too hard on the Dr because 99% of the time the irrigation helps and 99% of the time the kidney stones would have passed on their own by now...but all I ask if for doctors to take me seriously and address the issues even if they are outside the norm.