Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I have had tinnitus for just over a month now. It is mainly in my left ear which constantly whistles, (like morse code) and rings. This started after a home ear syringing (which I shouldn't have done and have regretted ever since). Anyway, I went to my gp and he said my eardrum was inflammed so he gave me antibiotics and sent me on my way. However, three weeks later the noises in my left ear were still there so I went back and he said that my eardrum looked fine and I had some wax which would fall out by itself and was nowhere near the eardrum. Anyway, the ringing is still here and now I don't know what to do next? The gp said I should wait a few months to see if it settles down but I can't sleep very well at night and suffer from anxiety which is made worse by this awful noise in my head! I got shower water/shampoo in my ear last night (to the point where I couldn't hear anything for a few seconds) and am worried now that there's water trapped in my ear- I feel like a bag of nerves...Can anyone offer any tips/comments at all? Thanks so much x
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momo33
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Tinnitus can be distressing especially in the early stages. Your GP is right, the best treatment for tinnitus is to leave things alone as the ear is a very delicate organ. Hopefully things will settle down in time. Try to avoid quiet rooms and surroundings especially at night. During the day try to have some low level background music playing and try to keep the volume lower than the tinnitus and not masking it.
At night using a sound machine or playing cds via portable player at low level, by your bedside, will help your brain not to focus on the tinnitus. I have written an article for people new to tinnitus. It is long, if you would like a copy send me a private message with your email address.
Hi Michael, thanks so much for your kind message. I have some low level music that I plat to help me get to sleep. Every morning I hope that the noise in my ear has gone, and am disappointed that it's still there! I find loud noises very unpleasant- I don't know if this is normal for tinnitus? Yesterday I was walked past the fishmonger van where I live and it honked it's horn right into my ear and I was so upset- the ringing and whistling was awful! Thanks for the offer of your article I will send you a private message later on. Thanks so much
I wouldn't worry at all about getting water in your ear when you shower or go swimming. It's a natural concern early on when you're scared of making things worse but I've never heard of it causing problems for anyone.
Hi John, thanks for that. I was worried so really appreciate your comment! That is true- I guess I am worried about making it worse. Now I wish I had left my ears in peace in the first place!
Hi mono I can heartily recommend reading Michael's document. I wish it had been available when I got tinnitus 2 years ago. Love and best wishes, Angela xx
Hi momo, be strong. When I got T 2 years ago (the day after a major op about which I was stressed) I wanted to give up as I couldn't live with the noises. I found the BTA forum and the posts of other sufferers gave me hope. By following their advice - and a good audiology department at the local NHS hospital - my T settled and my life is to all intents and purposes normal. Of course I have to take care of my ears - no loud concerts, wearing a hat in this cold weather etc etc. Keep posting for support and keep calm. Love Angela xx
Hi Angela, thanks so much. I am glad you have found a way to adjust. I am wearing a hat when I'm out now and this is helping and will definitely be avoiding loud concerts! It's reassuraing to see that you've found a way to live with the noise- this gives me hope!
Thank you Angela you are very kind. It took me a long time to write and on many occasions I felt like giving up.
Like you I have only had T for just over a month. It's incredibly difficult to adjust to. I have good days and bad. Good advice is given above, silence is a no no. Background noise and purchase a noise machine certainly help. I have bought a pillow that has a speaker inside it and that helps me. Sleep was hard for me, I felt at breaking point but I went to see my doctor and at the minute I have some tablets to help me sleep, things will get easier just don't give up.
Hi Dave, poor you- sounds like your tinnitus started around the same time as mine. Do you mind me asking what your gp said? Mine just told me to wait for a couple of months. It is such a shock to the system to never be able to experience silence, something I took for grated before... What are the noises like for you? I have whistling and a ind of constant beeping in my left ear. Hope you are feeling better soon. Thanks so much for your reply.
I suffer from a very high pitched tone and random clicking. I'll be honest it's driven me to tears and I'm certainly not type of bloke uit it's ever so hard. I spoke with my doctor and just said that I didn't want to get depressed as things just then seem worse but I could feel that was the way I was heading. I just couldn't sleep. He has given me amytrptaline up to 30mg at night. They help sleep but not really anything with the noise, I just seem to have some days easier to cope with than others. He advised me to look an the British tinnitus website and read more about the condition and helping ourselves the best we can. I hope things calm down for you, feel free to keep on touch, I have found this forum helpful and people give us newbies to" T " good advice. Try to keep positive
Hi Dave, that sucks. I sympathise with you about the not sleeping at night...There's nothing worse. I am a bit better at night now but at first I'd lie down and close my eyes and just panic at the noise in my head. It would make me feel so anxious inside- I'd be pacing the room. I am getting used to it but I try not to focus on it. I am glad you can sleep a bit better now, despite the high pitched tone and clicking (sounds awfull). Fingers crossed it will resolve itself soon. I have read on the net about retraining your brain to accept the noise, but right now, I can't imagine that working for me! Thanks for your reply
I hope the wax has fallen out because anything blocking the ear canal is going to prevent 'outside' noises reaching the internal hearing system which will make tinnitus noisier. I want to tell everyone who needs ear wax removal to ask for suctioning NOT syringing - which can be harmful. You can get this done on the NHS and it is so much better. Good luck.
Hi Berry, thanks for that. I actually (stupidly) did my own syringing at home as earwax is a recurring problem for me. It was only afterwards that I noticed the tinnitus and I wondered if some wax was trapped in my ear but the doctor disagreed and said there was no wax blockage. I wonder if there is wax stuck to my eardrum but have no idea. I know the gp offers syringing but have no idea if they do suctioning... wish I had this done in the first place- it sounds much gentler
I think it's more thorough too. The ear care centre in Caterham Surrey is my refuge - but it's costly at £95 but you actually see what is happening on a screen and see the grot being removed ... I have also had suctioning done at Sutton Hospital, NHS, and really would recommend it. I know it's said that syringing doesn't cause tinnitus - I've had plenty of sessions over the years - but maybe everything is louder once the ear canal is unblocked.
Have you tried taking Kalms to ease the panic. Tinnitus is so tied in with our emotions - it's easy to get totally stressed out and on 'red alert'. Breathe deeply - look at the emerging daffodils and get out into the great outdoors!
Thanks Berry76, that's good advice!I will try to chill out a bit and look into the Kalms. I think a nice walk tomorrow would be in order and maybe a bit of cake too! The suctioning sounds much better than syringing... perhaps there is less of a chance of that horrible water in the ear feeling I get after syringing that I hate as well. I will definitely bear suctioning in mind if I get an earwax bloackage. At the moment I have resolved never to touch my ears again with water or anything else!
Re earwax blockage, many people on the forum who suffer excessive wax will tell you that suction is by far the best method, I've had several sessions over the last 3 years or so with no affect on my T, that said though I think its far better to keep on top of the wax if you have a problem by weekly administering olive oil, a couple of drops in each ear should prevent any future problems with wax and it saves the thought of a hospital visit or a trip to the clinic.
After trying several different types of wax softeners I now use sodium bicarbonate ear drops which for me works very well with no problems with wax.
Hi Dave, thanks for this advice. I was thinking about trying olive oil but am cautious about putting anything in my ears now. Do you think a couple of drops a week is a good idea? How do you administer it? I try not to get water in my ears in the shower now. The last time I had an earwax blockage I used Otex drops and my ear just got more and more clogged. It was awful. I know this sounds weird but I worry about anything I put in my ear getting trapped behind the wax!
Can you buy sodium bicarbonate ear drops from the chemistor do you make them yourself? Thanks so much for all your help.
My earwax malarky is well documented on anther forum which unfortunately is no longer available.
Anyway, to cut a long story short the reason I regularly use drops is because I wear two hearing aids and that in its self hampers the natural migration of ear wax, I did try the drops you mention and also olive oil drops but like you they did clog up my ears and for some reason they weren't as effective as the drops I use now .
I note you have an inflamed eardrum so it's best to have a word with your GP first before you try any kind of drops, its best to get the inflammation cleared up first and then go from there.
SB drops can be purchased from the chemist but speak to your GP first
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