Advice or perhaps reassurance: Hi folks, Had... - Tinnitus UK

Tinnitus UK

9,492 members5,014 posts

Advice or perhaps reassurance

Shellipops profile image
7 Replies

Hi folks,

Had tinnitus 3 months now from ear syringing. Had initial panic then felt I had accepted it. I was aware of it most of the time but it didnt always bother me....just an underlying sense of sadness at a part of me gone forever?. Around the same time I became aware of a slight brain fog and eye floaters...not enough to bother me tho. 11 days ago I caught a nasty head cold. Im prone to sinus congestion. Since then my head and eye sight has been really hazy and vauge I also feel slightly off balance and want to sleep a lot. Been to opticians...all fine. GP hopeless, blood pressure and temp fine so steroid nose spray....she did say my ear drum was distorted but didnt elaborate further. I have ent (audiologist) appt in 2 weeks, this will be first medical input for tinnitus I have had. Anyone else experience brain fog and eye issues?.....just praying the haziness is congestion related and will go away. Sorry to prattle on but only info I can get is from internet. Ironically since I started paying attention to this my hissing head has taken a back seat.

Thanks for reading

Shell x

Written by
Shellipops profile image
Shellipops
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
7 Replies

Hiya, The problem is that when we are stressed out (even due to the T) our immunity and general well being is vulnerable. Stress is ultimately the biggest thing which affects our health.

You are doing the right thing following the medical track as that will also eliminate any morbid fears. Be wary of getting too drawn into internet forums though. There is a lot of negativity in some.

It’s normal to have a period of feeling loss at the beginning, however the truth is that most people get back to a normal happy life eventually. It no longer appears like a loss as the brain eventually adapts and puts it out of our consciousness.

As soon as we start focussing on the bits which still work rather than the bits which are going wrong, things get better.

Try to build confidence in the short periods you haven’t noticed it. They should get longer and longer as you focus more on positive things.

BTW this advice isn’t about mind games, nearly everyone who has moved on will tell you it works. In fact the glass half full approach also works for other issues like depression. It does take time and a lot of will power to teach the emotional part of our brain that it isn’t a threat.

sites.google.com/site/tinni...

Shellipops profile image
Shellipops in reply to

Thanks Steve,

I have read your story many many times and it really is a beacon of light. My husband even read it and commented on how positive it was. I preach positivity but dont always practice. I was bumbling along just fine...had adopted healthier practices and had resigned to time easing my emotional reaction to the noise....then wap. Since this cold I feel as if my cognitive abilities are slowly breaking down...especially my vision. I know Im panicking but find it hard not to. I tried to discuss stress with my GP but they tend to focus on whatever ailment you mention first and shut shop on anything else. I hate feeling slightly "out of it" but realise the brain is a complex thing. I shall no doubt continue to bumble on until my hospt appt during which I hope my fog clears. Just wondered if it was an initial common tinnitus symptom. Thanks again for your story , Im sure it is appreciated by many.

Regards,

Shell

in reply to Shellipops

Thanks for your kind words Shell. Obviously follow what the professionals say, it should help add to your confidence.

I remember how in the first couple of months I couldn’t even concentrate on Sudoku puzzles. I think it’s because initially we think we must give the T attention. It’s only after being distracted by other things in life that we begin to realise we can still survive without giving it attention.

It really is like someone you don’t like trying to take up all of your time, when all you need to do is to tell them to bugger off... lol.

yogibear62 profile image
yogibear62

Yet another account of tinnitus which developed after ear syringing.Why is this procedure still allowed to continue!? Is anybody doing anything about this procedure in order to avoid the needless suffering which affects every aspect of one's life?

I have had chronic tinnitus now for 16 months immediately after ear irrigation procedure to remove ear wax build up, after I had visited GP with a stuffy ear the week before. (no previous problem with my ears), which I am now stuck with for life. I have made a formal complaint to my GP surgery, as I feel I was not adequately advised about proper ear wax softening prior to syringing, and I feel that the procedure has caused permanent trauma to my ear. I have taken my complaint to the medical ombudsman, whose conclusion it is that there is no medical evidence to suggest that ear irrigation can cause tinnitus. WTF! DONT EVER HAVE YOUR EARS SYRINGED!

NicBTA profile image
NicBTAPartner

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 place to help you manage your tinnitus. I'm sorry I wasn't able to say hello sooner, but I've been away on annual leave.

We have some resources that you might like to check out in addition to our home here:

tinnitus.org.uk

takeontinnitus.co.uk

Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call +44 (0)114 250 9922)

Warmest wishes

Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)

swanie67 profile image
swanie67 in reply to NicBTA

Hello. i had a nasty pain in my left ear last Thursday after my swim. I went to my GP and he said it is an ear wax clogging up he gave me an ear drops prescription for five days. He said after five days if it does not work call the reception so that they could give me a list of private clinic to do ear wax removal . I am in terrible pain since Thursday the drops never seems to help and I keep taking ibufropen to ease the pain though i do not want to use it but i can not sleep and it is painful during the day. Today I have to call my GP and he said that I need to have my ear syringe then. My question is will it cause a damage to my ear the syringing. At the moment I have this horrible sound in my left ear hissing like a cricket sound all day long and I have to wait another day to see a private clinic because the NHS no longer funded it. Why does the NHS stop funding it? I asked my GP and he said NHS does not fund it anymore and I asked why does the ringing in our ears /blocking sound etc is no longer a concerned it is a horrible feeling having to hear a hissing sound all day long and throbbing pain in your ear all you can do to ease the pain is to take pain reliever and damaging to our liver. Before they will do it right away with the nurse and it does not take long now I have to wait for five days to put an oil into my ear first then have to put up with the pain and the noise before they will tell you to have it syringing irrigated etc and wait another day to see in a private clinic more pain to bear.

NicBTA profile image
NicBTAPartner in reply to swanie67

Syringing shouldn't damage the ear. The oil is necessary to soften the wax and make it easier to remove. We do have information on the topic at tinnitus.org.uk/ear-wax which you may find helpful, and there's information throughout the site designed to help you manage your tinnitus and make it less intrusive and disturbing.

takeontinnitus.co.uk

is another website of ours you might wish to check out, and our Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call +44 (0)114 250 9922) can also answer questions you may have.

Warmest wishes

Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)

You may also like...

Middle Ear Myoclonus- any advice?

turned up. I've had 3 occasions when its been appalling, like having a helicopter inside my head....

Tinnitus symptoms dismissed by ENT consultant as anxiety

perception of the tinnitus that had worsened the noise in my head not the tinnitus itself that had...

New to tinnitus: any advice?

horrid journey, trying to work out how to live with tinnitus. It's the interruption to sleeping...

advice

my tinnitus worse even with no sleep. So if could of slept I would have stayed on them. I’ve had...

Blocked eustation tube, causing tinnitus spike

I've got a feeling of pressure in my ears. Normally my tinnitus has been in the background. Now I...