Stethoscope Woes

[WhatUpDoc!]

Okay, I don't mean to add to SDN's vault of stethoscope related threads, but I did a search and couldn't find an acceptable answer. I just purchased the Littmann Cardio III and tried to place the earpieces in my ears, but the pressure is so great that it feels like someone's shoving to sticks down my ears. I've tried changing out the size of the earpieces, and even stretching the tubes to reduce tension. Does anyone have any reccomendations on how to alleviate this problem.

Thanks!!!

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[Law2Doc]

Okay, I don't mean to add to SDN's valut of stethoscope related threads, but I did a search and couldn't find an acceptable answer. I just purchased the Littmann Cardio III and tried to place the earpieces in my ears, but the pressure is so great that it feels like someone's shoving to sticks down my ears. I've tried changing out the size of the earpieces, and even stretching the tubes to reduce tension. Does anyone have any reccomendations on how to alleviate this problem.

Thanks!!!

The super cheapo non-name-brand stethoscopes are sometimes more pliable due to their cheaper construct -- they can be "bent" to fit. And if you bend too far and break it, it won't cost much to replace. Probably not the solution you were looking for, but maybe give one of those a shot - it will cost you less then ten bucks to try. It will absolutely not be as good a scope as your Littmann, but if you can mangle it to a comfortable shape, at least you won't be in pain.

 

[deleted87716]

In addition to trying different earpieces until you find something that feels comfortable, having a stethoscope with rotating adjustable binaurals (not found on any of the Littmanns, by the way) will be helpful. Try the Welch-Allyn Harvey Elite. Adjusting the tension in the leaf spring that holds the binaurals together (pull them apart to loosen them) may help, as well. Also, consider trying the DRG stethoscopes, which use a gel-filled eartip and have adjustable binaurals.

Hope this helps,
Kent

 

[Random]

Did you try to widen the binaurals toward the base of the individual eartubes? I've found that if you try to stretch the springs by holding the scope closer to the springs themselves, it tends to be more effective than if you hold the scope near the eartips and try to loosen the springs from there. It may also help to change the type of eartips. The Cardio III (I think) still comes with extra firm eartips to replace the soft-sealing ones so that may help, too.

 

[WhatUpDoc!]

Does anyone know if there is some "breaking in" required to wear a stethscope (i.e. like wearing contacts for the first time). Do your ears have to adjust to having something in them and then it gets more comfortable after that. Or should comfort be there from the get-go?

 

[Syranope2]

Does anyone know if there is some "breaking in" required to wear a stethscope (i.e. like wearing contacts for the first time). Do your ears have to adjust to having something in them and then it gets more comfortable after that. Or should comfort be there from the get-go?

I have a littman cardio III, and I remember it being incredibly uncomfortable when I first got it two years ago. I could only leave it in for like 15 seconds before my ears started protesting in agony. And I knew it was specific to my stethescope because when I tried a friend's that was a different brand, it felt fine. Now, though, my stethoscope is totally comfortable. I don't know how long it took me to break them in since I'd completely forgotten about them hurting until I read this thread. All I know is that they hurt like mad back then and made me worried that I'd have to buy a new pair and now they're 100% fine.

 

[WhatUpDoc!]

I have a littman cardio III, and I remember it being incredibly uncomfortable when I first got it two years ago. I could only leave it in for like 15 seconds before my ears started protesting in agony. And I knew it was specific to my stethescope because when I tried a friend's that was a different brand, it felt fine. Now, though, my stethoscope is totally comfortable. I don't know how long it took me to break them in since I'd completely forgotten about them hurting until I read this thread. All I know is that they hurt like mad back then and made me worried that I'd have to buy a new pair and now they're 100% fine.

Hey thanks, you don't know how much better that makes me feel. I was seriously considering going to a new brand, but I'll stick it out now since I DO know it will get better.

Thanks again 😀

 

[njbmd]

Hey thanks, you don't know how much better that makes me feel. I was seriously considering going to a new brand, but I'll stick it out now since I DO know it will get better.

Thanks again 😀

If you find that it does not get better, get in touch with the company. You may be able to get a refund or have your scope adjusted by the company. I have not had any problem with my Littman Cardio III.

 

[808_Drum]

Did you change the earpieces to the soft ones that should have come with the Cardiology III? They shouldn't hurt your ears like the hard ones do.

 

[WhatUpDoc!]

Did you change the earpieces to the soft ones that should have come with the Cardiology III? They shouldn't hurt your ears like the hard ones do.

Yeah, I tried all the earpieces with the same effect. I guess the cartilage in my ear must has some re-shaping to do.

 

[87138]

Does anyone know if there is some "breaking in" required to wear a stethscope (i.e. like wearing contacts for the first time). Do your ears have to adjust to having something in them and then it gets more comfortable after that. Or should comfort be there from the get-go?

I'm not in med school yet, but I work in a physician's office basically as a Medical Assistant, so I check in patients all the time and take their blood pressure. I have one of those Sprague Rappaport style stethoscopes (which are extremely cheap, and at least to me give much better sound quality than any of the Littmanns up to the Master Classic II). The ear pieces are some sort of clear soft plastic (not soft enough though) and when I first started using them, around the second or third day I noticed them hurting my ears, to where I had to be very careful putting the earpieces in and taking them out. After about another week of this, it totally went away. No problems with it now since.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

In addition to trying different earpieces until you find something that feels comfortable, having a stethoscope with rotating adjustable binaurals (not found on any of the Littmanns, by the way) will be helpful. Try the Welch-Allyn Harvey Elite. Adjusting the tension in the leaf spring that holds the binaurals together (pull them apart to loosen them) may help, as well. Also, consider trying the DRG stethoscopes, which use a gel-filled eartip and have adjustable binaurals.

Hope this helps,
Kent

Hehehe, after reading a lot of your posts and reviewing the details/specs on the various steth models that are out there, I decided to get a Harvey Elite! I got it at a student rate and it was something like ~115$ - Can't wait til it arrives 😀

 

[ThemeV]

When I used stethoscope first time, my ears hurts. But after few times my ears used to that pressure, what stethoscope's "olives" brings to ear. And I don't have had any problems after that.

I hava couple stethoscopes for different situations/jobs. I have:
1 Littmann Cardiology III (For working on cardiology etc. wards)
1 Littmann Master Classic II(For surgical wards and emergency)
1 Heine Gamma C (My old cardiology stethoscope)
2 Littmann Classic S.E. (one is in my car's first aid kit)

 

[logos]

My cardio III hurt like crazy the first time I put it on. I streched out the ear pieces a couple of times and that seemed to make it better the next time I used it. I have a gigantic head.

 

[Milkdud676]

I just got my DRG (or Trimline as they are now known) stethoscope in yesterday and it is way more comfortable to wear than any of the littman or Harvey scopes that I have tried. The Gel Soft earpieces make a huge difference.

 

[Mr. McDuck]

I got a cheapo brand as my first one, and it hurt like HELL the first time I used it--until I realized it was on wrong. 😛