Hi,
O.k. guys - the dizziness is improving, which I'm obviously pleased about, but am really anxious as this last 2 days I can hear ringing in my right ear. Friday/Saturday I had major itching in my ear (which I have had on occasion with this virus), and from Saturday onwards I have had fullness and pressure in my right ear. Had some earache, but it is mostly discomfort rather than sharp pain. Then the high pitched noise started yesterday and hasn't gone away. I am really scared as although I know tinnitus is nothing dangerous, I cannot bear the thought that it will not go away. It is already driving me crazy - am having to keep the radio on to distract myself.
Has anybody had it for a number of days and then it has gone away? I have had it before but it has only lasted a very short time. Do you think the pressure in my ear has caused it? Am really concerned.

Thanks,

Ruth

Hey there Ruth,

It's possible you could have acquired an ear infection alongside your lab, or eustachian tube dysfunction - a build up of fluid in your e tube would cause all the symptoms in the ear you're describing. Probably worth a quick visit to the gp, they can often tell straight off if you have this/or a diff type of ear infection. You might need antibiotics, or decongestants depending on what it is. I'm sure if this is the case the tinnitus could go.

How loud is it - loud enough to hear with other noise around? Do you only hear it in quiet places, at night? Is your hearing at all diminished in the ear that's affected?

Sorry you're going through this.

[This message has been edited by hbep (edited 05-13-2003).]

Thanks hbep,

The last few weeks I have only noticed it at night when I have been reading in bed or lying down to go to sleep (basically when there are no other background sounds) - to be honest, it really didn't bother me that much as a)it wasn't bad enough to stop me getting to sleep, and b)I could not hear it in the daytime at all.
I wouldn't say it is really loud, as I have found this last two days that it seems to diminish when there is background noise - but I really don't want to have background noise on all the time. But it is bothering me.
I, too, am wondering if a possible ear infection is 'amplifying' the very mild ringing that I already had (and only noticed at night). I am seeing my GP tomorrow to check if I have an infection or not - I have to say that although throughout this labyrinthitis I have had a lot of congestion in that ear - crunching and crackling, etc...I haven't had this kind ofpressure since I had the original ear infection at the very beginning back in November. (Although then I had more pain)
Have used decongestant which helps a little with the crackling congestion, but not the pressure. The thing is can you have an ear infection, with no pain as such, just itching, bad pressure, fullness, and discomfort? In a way I hope it is, and that antibiotics will sort it out, which in turn would hopefully reduce the noise in my ear too. Don't think my hearing is diminished but who knows!
I know you have had tinnitus. How has it affected you? Do you still get it? BTW, am really sorry you are having the dizzies again, and I hope that it is a temporary side effect of the medication, and will go soon. Had a dodgy morning at work today and had a bit of a cry - ironically the dizzies are a lot better, yet this right ear is really bothering me.

Ruth
xxx

Hi there Ruth,

If it's your eustachian tube that is blocked I'm guessing it's totally possible just to feel the pressure without any pain - but then again I'm not a doc, so can't say for sure. Although this is what I thought I had to start with, the otologist never asked whether I was feeling a lot of pain, he was much more interested with whether he could see any fluid pressing up against the eardrum (I think that's how they see it anyway) so I guess pain isn't a big part of it.

As for the tinnitus - I got it when I was ten (I think ) no reason known at the time, just woke up with ringing in my ears - not deafening, but totally audible in the quiet. My mum took me to ENT, they did various hearing tests and because there was no obvious cause said I'd have to live with it. I remember it being very shocking when it first happened, and panic inducing, but to be absolutely honest, the ringing tinnitus now doesn't bother me at all. I doubt that you are stuck with this Ruth, but I can honestly say that even if you were, as long as it isn't deafening and external noise drowns it out, you can habituate to it. You won't believe me when I say this, the first few days of experiencing it are really scarey (I still remember them 20 yrs later) but for the longest time I never even thought about it - other than avoiding environments that made it louder - this would unnerve me - clubs and concerts. Even if I did that it always got quieter again. Just to reassure you, I now think this may have been the v. first sign of tmjd, which is why it never went, it's got a bit louder since all this has been going on.

Unfortunately since the tmjd in the last month, when the big hyperacusis incident happened, I have experienced the odd occasion of a whole different thing - a sound like someone drilling on rubber - I think it's a muscle in spasm, (I hope) this scares the hell out of me, seems to come on when I talk to much (who would have thought I'd have to stop chatting so much to get better) and sends me round the bend. So far 2mg of valium will get it under control and it goes away. You don't need to worry about this happening - I'm pretty sure it's tmjd related.

Anyway, hope the doc visit goes well, and you can clear it up with some antibiotics.

B.T.W in the meantime the best thing for drowning out tinnitus at night is white noise, just tune in your radio to btwn stations. Also, in the unlikely event that this should stick around, there are now therapies and stuff that can be done to help someone get used to it, or to find ways to get it under control. There are also certain drugs that can work. I don't think these were available when I was ten.

Let us know how the doctors visit goes.

Ruth

I have it(since 1956---it comes and goes---you might have already looked seen this---but just in case--- Dr. Hain at Northwestern Univ has good web site full of info on it---click below:
http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/hearing/tinnitus.htm

Thanks....
I went to the docs this morning and explained the symptoms - he took a look in my right ear and said that I do have an infection - he said it looked dull(?) and a bit swollen. Have got antibiotics plus antibiotic ear drops. He thinks the infection is in the outer ear, just this side of the ear drum. Told him about the ringing which I'm really concerned about - he said it is possible that the infection has caused it, and to go back and see him next week to see how things are going. Have been seriously low and have had severe anxiety today - could not face going into work. Am feeling a bit of a wreck and panicking big time about this not going away. I am not conscious of it outdoors, or with the radio on, but for some reason am still very conscious of it when the T.V is on. Got myself in a right state and feel so pathetic about not coping - but am still scared that the doctor was just trying to reassure me - I have never had ringing when I've had an ear infection in the past. Sorry I'm being so neurotic - just cannot believe after the hell of the last six months, that I finally start feeling much better 'dizzi-wise' and then this happens.
Subs - you say it comes and goes - does that mean you get episodes that last seconds, minutes or days? Is it likely that it could go after days?
Hbep - thanks for your reassurance. The drilling sound sounds absolutely dreadful.

Ruth

.."Subs - you say it comes and goes - does that mean you get episodes that last seconds, minutes or days?"...

All the above really. But when it last days--it is usually---a couple of weeks of it. Then it will disappear for months---then come back---then go away for years. The longest---it has been gone---is about five years....can't figure out what tiggers it---it beats along with my heart.

I think anything(infections, etc...) that involves the right ear(have VN & BPPV--9 months now) sets it off.

Noticed it---after practicing a submarine escape--from a pretty deep depth--back in 1956---Navy had no solution for it---but it was not a disqualifying conditions--since it came and went & when present---did not keep me from performing duties---hardly notice it now---it preceded the VN & BPPV event--by a week---then stayed after the initial week---for a week--then went away.

Hi there Ruth,

Because this is happening alongside an ear infection I'm sure there's a very good chance it'll go.

I realise this is a ridiculous statement and probably not even worth making considering what we all go through, but anxiety could make it worse - I would say try and relax, but I've been told that myself, and quite frankly I'm currently chewing the carpet daily - so anxious I can barely function. Will call the dental hospital tomorrow to find out if it could be the drugs they gave me causing the return of the 24/7 dizzies. Arghhhh.

Sorry, Ruth, you probably want consoling, not me ranting, but to be honest I think sometimes the greatest consolation is to know that you are not alone, and I am out there panicking my £%$$£ off right alongside you.

It's my nine month anniversary of getting ill today - arghhhhhh

Hi,

I have had ringing on and off also. Right now it's mostly a very high pitched thing that comes and goes and isn't too loud. Other sounds cover it up. At night I sleep with a sound machine (spring rain) and that helps, although I've been using this machine for years to cover up my husband's snoring and my cat's licking. (Works great in hotels.)

I have also had on and off on a few occasions, though not recently, the so-called pulse-like whoosh-whoosh noise. Usually for only a a few minutes at a time.

I had fluid in my ear a few weeks back, but it wasn't infected. Glad to hear you are getting the right medication and attention.

My biggest problem today is the wobblies and anxiety/depression. I am constantly fending off the latter. I think we all have that problem. But my sinuses are much better. Things seem to change from day to day. Who knows what tomorrow may bring... Hopefully a really good day. Could be.

I am in my third month. Hope it all ends soon.

dear ruth77
thank u for replying to me ...
the tinnitus will subside as your dizziness has.
i also have tinnitus at the moment. u r doing the right thing by masking it with the radio.
would u please explain to me what your dizziness felt like. especially while u were sitting still
thank u
brina

Thanks all for your replies. Am seriously in a state about it and hope you are right that it will go. Subs, when you got it for maybe 2 weeks at a time, was it constant 24 hour ringing? Did it gradually fade or spontaneously stop?
Have never felt so anxious.
Brina, have you had tinnitus before? How long have you had it this time - am praying that you are right and it will go. My dizziness was pretty much 24/7 with peaks and falls. It varied a lot from hardly being able to move my head to a general feeling of motion. Got rocking, pulling sensations - truly horrible.

Ruth

..."Subs, when you got it for maybe 2 weeks at a time, was it constant 24 hour ringing? Did it gradually fade or spontaneously stop?".....

No Ruth--its not a ringing--its Pulsitile tinnitus: you hear something resembling your heartbeat in your ear(right one for me).

When it starts--it starts out constant 24 hours a day--then gradually fades..some times in a couple of days or weeks, or (whatever)---but it always goes.

Tinnitus is commonly accompanied by hearing loss--which I have

Here is a good medical write up on Tinnitus:
http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/hearing/tinnitus.htm

Later.