Depression,anxiety and struggling to sleep - Tinnitus UK

Tinnitus UK

9,668 members5,073 posts

Depression,anxiety and struggling to sleep

ashbcbg profile image
8 Replies

Hi everybody.Newbie here.I experienced a clogged ear a week ago whilst in the kitchen and sudden high pitch noise in my right ear.I thought it would pass but after reading these forums i've noticed that it just doesnt correct itself easily.My Gp says i have no wax build up but the right ear is reddish inside so did a hearing test and suspects its ear infection.I've been put on antibiotics for 5 days and he says i should give it 3 weeks.

Today i began to notice some amplified hearing ,especially high pitches and this wasnt there before.The voices will be coming from the right side even if the person is on my left.My biggest worry is i cant sleep.I've tried white noise etc but can get an hour at most.When outside the house i can manage with the muffled ears but indoor its killing me.I've not had an hour a night since this all started and feels like i have to bang my head onto something.HELP please i dont know what to do.Its the clogged ears thats driving me nuts,i wish they could just pop.My head is heavy now due to no sleep.Im constantly having to swallow inorder to try and relieve pressure or get some comfort but then i have always breathed through my mouth by default since .This is where my problem is,mouth breath then have to be swallowing again to ease tension.Whenever i fall asleep i just find myself awake.Please help

Written by
ashbcbg profile image
ashbcbg
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
8 Replies
Woodentop99 profile image
Woodentop99

Sounds like you need an urgent referral to your local hospital e.n.t. Dept followed by a hearing test at audiology, can identify with your “no sleeping “ I went two weeks with a grand total of 30mins back in oct, I was seen on urgent referral from Gp and now life is much much better , having gone through , no sleep, anxiety and depression the latter two are still there to a degree but sleep now back to normal incredibly, as I thought it never would, ask your Gp to refer you as they are the specialists who can help you best, though I guess your gp is waiting till you finish course of antibiotics before he/she makes the next move if so ask for something to help you sleep in the meantime . Good luck let us know how you get on.

ashbcbg profile image
ashbcbg in reply to Woodentop99

Thank you.I'll surely press my GP to make an urgent referral next week.Do you still feel pressure in your ears on they are back to normal?I find the pressure in ears really bothering me than the ringing.Anyway thanks once again

ShakeelaBTA profile image
ShakeelaBTA

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.

You can read about Tinnitus and sleep disturbance here tinnitus.org.uk/tinnitus-an...

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

tinnitus.org.uk (information and support details)

takeontinnitus.co.uk (free tinnitus management programme)

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

Kind regards

Shakeela

Richmac profile image
Richmac

I’m sorry to hear how awful you are feeling especially not being able to sleep. Sleep deprivation makes everything so much worse. So I agree with others that you need to see your physician to get something to help you sleep. That needs to be your priority.

Once you’ve had a few nights of good sleep, your perspective will change and you will be able to deal with your other health challenges much more effectively as well as being able to distract yourself by having the energy to do other things that bring you joy.

Please see your doctor today. If you cannot, please present yourself to nearest Urgent Care or Emergency Department.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Richard

ashbcbg profile image
ashbcbg in reply to Richmac

Thank you Richmac

I went to my GP today and was prescribed medication to help me sleep.He's also making a referral to an ENT centre.

BlueUke99 profile image
BlueUke99

I've lived with T for about 7 years. Have tried many things to remediate but no luck. Up to now I've adapted well, but in the last year volume has ramped up a lot; about 2 months ago, one "clogged ear" so many mention began for me; sleep has been impacted, very erratic, often interrupted, and averaging 4 hrs per night. The time had come to ramp up my own response. While unable yet to claim victory, let me list the several strategies I am now using in hopes of combatting all this. Maybe something in my experience will help you and other sufferers, or at least encourage you to try things that may help. A couple days ago I watched an ASMR video on youtube (it was titled "Tapps for your napzzz" and it definitely relaxed me and I napped successfully during it, and felt surprisingly relaxed and better afterward. That same night, I watched yet another one, this time featuring a purring cat, and I had what was, for me, a great night's sleep of about 6 hrs. Also, I began taking a new supplement called Bacopa Monnieri a couple weeks ago and it has damped the T volume somewhat. Will keep taking it (it's supposed to have a cumulative affect so maybe I'll get the full benefit somewhere in the coming Spring, I hope). I also take Vit C, D, methyl -B-12 and folate, GABA, Gingko Biloba, Theanine, and MSM, 2 x /day, but have not taken them long enough to make a definitive conclusion. (Although, I will say my overall mood has improved since the Bacopa and GABA, and T volume has damped somewhat). I also laid off my long-term vaping of marijuana, my reasoning being that it wasn't doing anything to help but was perhaps offering hindrance, such as negatively impacting my inner ear/sinuses and blood circulation to the brain etc., perhaps layering successive films of plant resins upon mucus surfaces, interfering with body's normal processes. Another tactic: little or no screen time in the evenings, reading a book instead, playing my musical instruments (besides, more practice can never hurt!). Finally, I find that a 20 minute steam shower has helped unclog the ear. So, it seems to me that fighting T and clogged ears may require doing a battery of different things, and keeping it up long term. I'm going to continue the battle and hope for improvement. I don't think there is one "magic bullet"...at least not yet. Hang in there, friends.

CamperT25 profile image
CamperT25

Hi, I think you may have Eustachian Tube dysfunction otherwise called ETD. Rest assuredthis will ease but can take a while. Mine started suddenly like u. Sudden loud buzzibg and muffled right ear, doctor diagnosed ETD, which I had with cronic sinusitis. Lasted 5 months, had so much fluid behind ear drums that they were bulging. Right ear is now easier, tho still buzzing, left ear is clogged. Swallowing helps, as does tring to yawn. The pressure and clogged feeling does get easier. Try putti g steam in a bowl with 1 drop of Olobus oil and towel over head. Inhale the steam for 10 mins 4 to 5 tines a day. It really helps.

Hxx

surviveT profile image
surviveT

just wondering - how are you doing with your tinnitus nowadays? has it improved

You may also like...

Can’t mask T to sleep

pop the ear. I can’t do this all day long as soon I have to have my little girl home and will have...

sleep

constant high pitched whistle 24/7 no give whatsoever I was giving a masking aid but my tinnitus...

sleep

with a new injury. The high pitch ringing is up, now have high sensitivity to noise, exercise and...

Sleep help with Tinnitus

also so I wear hearing aids in both ears. I cope pretty well during the day and the hearing aids...

New and struggling to cope.

using this I now have a ringing in both ears/ in my head and clicking seems to have stopped or is...