Please please help me - Tinnitus from ear infection

[avaa23]

Hi guys so I'm 21 and I've been recovering from an ear infection. It wasn't particularly bad but I was on two different antibiotics for it and prednisone. I should say I suffer from OCD and panic attacks and have had severe trouble dealing with sounds since I was little. I started getting ringing in my ears about 5 days after the infection started when the infection was almost gone and it progressively got louder. I think I've had Tinnitus since I was young but I'm not sure I could always slightly hear a little "eeeee" sound in the silence but it never bothered me. Now it's been a few days over a month since the ringing has gotten noticiable and I've had panic attacks everyday. I've seen an audiologist and ENT that said my hearing was normal and the pressure was normal. Ive seen 4 different doctors (I know excessive) and they all have seemed sure it would go away. However I can't stop googling about Tinnitus and reading these forums where people say they got an ear infection and it never went away. I am barley dealing with it day by day and it is not even that loud (id rate it like a 5) but I can't relax and can't stop focusing on the sound and can't stop googling. People say it could take months to go away or for life and I'm so scared. I've spent a lot of money already on doctors, a sinus steamer, vitimins like magnesium, b12, tumeric for inflammation etc. I've watched videos about ear massages and exercises and bought a Eustachi device that is supposed to pop your ears, used olive oil, garlic, vinegar try and make sure the infection stays gone and I can't tell if it's making a difference for the ringing. My ears have been crackling and slightly aching but the doctors have said the infection is gone. I'm hoping it's just left over inflammation in my middle ear or something and hoping with some more time things will be back to the way they were but I could really use some help. I don't know how many people would be on here if they didn't have Tinnitus, but Im hoping that some of you guys have success stories about recovering from it after an ear infection or that I'm really just freaking myself out. Thanks.

[Ruud1boy]

Best advice for you is to try and calm down and try to stop focussing on it. If you focus your attention on the slight noise in your head, you are basically telling your brain 'this noise is really important and I need to be kept constantly updated'.

You run the risk of making it more long-lasting that it otherwise might be, or even possibly 'hard-wiring' your brain to make the noise constant.

It's extremely difficult to disregard the noise, but that's what is required.

[Wringing1212]

Yes, I agree with roud1boy, best to think about other things. It takes time but your brain will retrain itself. Do something that interests you and stop worrying. It will make it worse. Don't play around with home remedies. You might try the wrong thing and hurt your ears. Move on and let it take care of itself. If you feel more pain then for sure, get that treated.

[NicBTA Partner]

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 see you've already had a couple of responses, and I agree with Ruud1boy and Wringing1212.

It's quite common to have tinnitus during/following an ear infection and the tinnitus generally goes as the infection subsides - although there is often a bit of a lag. I'm in that position myself at the moment, but I know it will go. Try not to check in and monitor the condition, and you can stop spending money as well on supplements and the like, as there's no evidence these work.

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 (outside the UK you can call [phone])

- this is generally available Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm but it will be closed on 25,26 December and 1 January.

Warmest wishes

Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)

[djv1985 in reply to NicBTA]

Hi, are you still suffering with the Tinnitus? I am four weeks in and have had my ears cleaned (infection gunk) and have been told that I have good hearing (slightly weaker left ear/infected ear) and am now fearful that the ringing will be stuck. So I'm just asking if you still have yours.