Hi everyone im 46 i have had ringing in my left ear for about 10 days. I have seen 2 gp's who first said i had congestion and then said i prob have a inner ear virus and it will go.
I have worked around machinery for many years and fear it is tinnitus it is so loud and high pitched i cant sleep at night and i feel im going mad.
Please can anyone help?
Hi Darren,
Many things can cause tinnitus although exposure to loud noise is the most common. Typically, it is headphone use listening at high volumes and going to places where loud music is played that causes it. In the early stages of tinnitus the best treatment for it is to do nothing. If you just have straight forward tinnitus without additional problems: ear pain, dizziness, balance problems or deafness then to do nothing is the way to go. Under these circumstances, one shouldn't really see an ENT doctor too early, preferably 4 to 6 months is ideal. Please read the post below.
I have written an article on tinnitus that covers the first stages of the condition and what to expect if you are referred to ENT. Tests and treatments are explained. If you would like a copy, please send my a private message with your email address. Please do not paste it in the forum.
All the best
Michael
New to tinnitus what to do?
The onset of loud intrusive tinnitus can be traumatic for some people. I use the words loud and intrusive, because tinnitus comes in many forms and intensities. When it is mild, moderate or occasionally heard in quiet surroundings it is usually not too bothersome and a person can go about their daily affairs quite happily and unperturbed by this anomaly. This type of tinnitus usually comes on gradually and in some cases it’s associated with hearing loss, as we get older and the usual treatment is the wearing of hearing aid/s.
Tinnitus can be caused by other things: an underlying medical problem, build up of ear wax (cerumen). Jaw problems. Some medications and even irregular blood flow through the body causing Pulsatile tinnitus. The most common cause is exposure to loud noise or music that has been played at high levels that can affect the cochlea in the ear.
This type of tinnitus can be loud, intrusive and very debilitating.
Often leaving a person at a loss and not knowing which way to turn to escape the noise. I fully understand how difficult it can be for someone new to this condition to take this in and believe it to be factual.
If you are having difficulty sleeping you might have been advised to try a night time sedation or an ant-depressant to help cope with the stress and anxiety that often accompanies tinnitus. These medications can be helpful especially in the early stages and they don’t have to be taken long term, so it’s something to consider. They can act as a safety net so you don’t become too down.
A referral to ENT will usually be recommended. In the mean time try to keep occupied with something you like doing, as it helps to distract the brain from focusing on the tinnitus.
Avoiding quiet rooms during the day by playing low level non intrusive music such as classical in the background can be helpful.
At night a sound machine placed by the bedside playing nature sounds or listening to favourite mp3 tracks or Cds are good. Keeping the volume just below the tinnitus is ideal and set to play throughout the night until morning. It takes time to get used to sound therapy so please stay with it. Whilst in a deep sleep it supplies the brain and auditory system with sound enrichment. Over time the tinnitus is pushed further into the background helping to make its perception less noticeable during waking hours.
In the early stages of tinnitus, if one chooses not to use sound enrichment sleeping can sometimes be difficult and there’s also the chance of the tinnitus becoming more intrusive as sleeping in a quiet room can allow the brain to increase it’s own background activity.
In doing so it will also increase the tinnitus making it more intrusive during waking hours.
There is a tendency for newbies to try and cure their tinnitus which is quite understandable. There are many remedies, treatments and concoctions out there. Some affordable others quite expensive. I am not adverse to trying to help myself but want to say, there are charlatans and con artists eager to relieve someone in distress of their money so please be careful. Even tried and tested treatments I wouldn’t recommend a person try until they have been seen at ENT. Often a person after been seen at ENT is advised to wait a while.
The reason being. Many people habituate to tinnitus within six months sometimes a little longer and it has been known to go away.
The ear is a very delicate organ and many Drs prefer to wait before investigating further and then suggesting a treatment. If other problems are experienced such as: pain in the ears, deafness, dizziness or balance problems this is of more concern and a person will usually been seen quicker.
It is best to have a word with your GP if you’re feeling stressed or depressed in any way, as previously mentioned there are treatments available. Leaving things alone until ENT advise you of the next step is the best thing to do in my opinion. Don’t try to fix anything or throw large sums of money at treatments that you have no way of knowing whether you’ll get any relief.
It is not advisable to listen to audio through headphones even at low volume and keep away from loud sounds. By all means go out but anywhere that plays loud music then wear noise reducing earplugs.
Take things slowly and one day at a time. Read some of the positivity threads and ask other members for advice. Many people eventually habituate to their tinnitus and go on to lead a happy and fulfilling life even though it may take a little time.
I’ve been reading loads on tinnitus, I’m 47 had this for around a year now. Most nights I take painkillers as I have fibromyalgia which helps me to sleep so I don’t go crazy, recently I’ve come across this link b12d.org/ and tinnitus is said to be possibly linked to B12 deficiency. I’ve just had my ear irritated and the tinnitus is worse. Good luck in your search.
B12 helped me a bit.
Hi Darren,first thing to do is get some sleep,ask your doctor for zopiclone tablets or similar,one step at a time mate,regards Jeff
thanks for all your help
Hi Darren,
I have had tinnitus for eleven years this coming June and I remember the shock of waking up to it all. If what you have is tinnitus then a free App called 'Relax Rain' I found to be helpful. Just lie on your bed and choose a rain sound say for twenty minutes. I spent over £200 in the first year on a device from Europe that claimed to direct a healing beam into your ear to heal tinnitus. It didn't work for me.
Eleven years on after ENT consultations, CBT therapy and letting everone know that if I'm not in the mood for social gatherings its because of tinnitus, its nothing personal, I manage the condition reasonably well. I'm sixty eight years old. I normally have one or two days each week which are challenging (known as 'spikes') when the sound becomes more intrusive. This week on Friday and Saturday its spiked but calmed down on Sunday and Monday. Today its moderately uncomfortable.
The NHS do not offer much at all and they will admit that. You may want to check out 'The Tinnitus Clinic' which offers services for tinnitus sufferers but at a high price. I dont know how successful they have been.
Michael's comments are very helpful.
David
Hello and welcome to the British Tinnitus Association forum. Do feel free to ask any questions, I hope that you find this a helpful and supportive.
Tinnitus does generally get better over time. And even if it doesn’t go away completely, it can get to a level where it isn’t intrusive, and it isn't noticeable - in the same way you probably don’t really notice traffic noise when you walk down the street.
The time tinnitus takes to disappear or reduce in intensity varies from person to person, but there are some tips and techniques you can do to help. These are the things we at the BTA generally recommend:
Information - you will probably feel better when you find out more about the condition, that it is very common and that you are not alone.
Counselling - techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be helpful, either as a standalone therapy or combined with sound therapy.
Correcting any hearing loss - if your tinnitus is accompanied by any hearing loss, then trying to correct this loss with hearing aids is often very helpful. Do make sure that these are adjusted correctly, and that they are worn – they do not work if they are kept in a drawer!
Sound therapy - if the noises seem louder at quiet times, particularly during the night, it may help to have some environmental or natural sound from a CD, a sound generator, or even a fan or ticking clock in the background. Some people use in-ear sound generators.
Relaxation - learning to relax is probably one of the most useful things you can do to help yourself. Those who practice relaxation techniques say they reduce the loudness of their tinnitus and helps them become indifferent to it. Yoga and tai chi can also help.
Mindfulness is showing some very promising results after recent clinical trials, so that is something else you might like to try.
I would say that none of these solutions is an "instant" fix - they take time and perseverance. Some people do expect tinnitus to subside after one session of breathing exercises, for example, and that just isn't the case.
There is no drug or medication which directly helps tinnitus, so we do not recommend any.
There’s a lot of good information on our website tinnitus.org.uk - try to avoid sites which promise “tinnitus miracles” or “tinnitus cures” as there’s no such panacea - but with time, you will learn to manage your tinnitus well.
We have a free tinnitus management e-programme as well takeontinnitus.co.uk which you may like to try.
Our Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call +44 (0)114 250 9922) can also answer your questions and give you support.
Warmest wishes
Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)
I hope this is helpful, and we are here to answer any questions you might have, or offer support.
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