Warning! Ear thermometers cause blockage and infection.

[slipkid]

For the second time in three months, I have an ear blockage and a low fever.

The first came after a change in techs, whose custom was to jam the ear thermometer into my ear canal.  I cautioned her, and she miitigated how deep she inserted it, but obviously, a small amount of wax was being pushed into the canal.  Three times a week, over a period of a couple of weeks and viola, I had a problem.

My ear doctor removed a wax plug, admistered an antibiotic and I was OK.

Six weeks ago, I changed my schedule.  I am in a new chair, new tech, with the D machine on the other side of my prior chair.  Although this tech was more circumspect about pusing the termometer into my ear, the same problem has occurred and I now have blockage and infection in my other ear.

Although I keep my ears clean, I cannot get wax out that has migrated near the ear drum.

I get freaked out about diminished hearing.

DO NOT LET ANYONE INSERT ANYTHING INTO YOUR EARS.

I am really angry.  It seems I have to stay a step ahead of the clinic regarding every therapy or methodology they use.

[jbeany]

Owwwwwie!  How far are they jamming it in?  I've never had any problem with ear thermometers, even after repeated uses during extended hospital stays.  If it was me, I'd have purchased my own oral digital one and taken my own temp before the tech got near me!

[slipkid]

I agree.

With the new tech, three months ago, it felt like she was pushing it in all the way to the rib around the removable plastic nub.

My latest tech was not as extreme in her insertion of the device, but clearly her technique was problematical for me.

Davita is just going to have to buy disposable or forehead thermometers.  It occurred to me after this latest incident, that neither the doctors I use, nor my recent viisit to the ER, employed anything but disposable or forehead thermometers.

[jeannea]

At my hospital they use the under the tongue with the disposable covers. Some doctors use the forehead ones. Either are cost effective. Until they change at your clinic, can you bring your own thermometer and just show them the result? A regular under the tongue costs less than $10 and you could carry it with you. That's horrible that you get infections.

[slipkid]

Thanks for the suggestion.

After meeting with the doc who flushed my ear, my wife and I stopped at Walgreens and bought a forehead thermometer.  Cost $50.

Issue solved.  I keep it in my carry-on bag.  Tried it out today and it worked just fine.  Just another set of data I am providing to the tech, besides weight and fluid removal goal.

[Cordelia]

UGH!            

Can you ask for them to use the under the tongue ones with the disposable covers? That's what my unit uses.

[slipkid]

The forehead thermometer is working out nicely.

I think I will stay with it, as it minimizes another source of possible infection that handling an oral thermometer might present.