Tinnitus for one month - struggling with anxiety

[Hla20]

Hello,

I realised I had tinnitus on Sunday 3rd January, I believe I may have had it on/off for some time as I think I was believing the noise to be base on the TV downstairs, or the base on the TV next door.

Started off as a low constant hum in left ear. The noise started changing between two tones. Now I’m getting high pitched tones also - just started today.

I saw my GP mid Jan, he said he thinks I damaged my ear with cotton buds, although there was no visual damage. Said to wait & see if it goes away. Well... it hadn’t & it’s getting worse.

I have been suffering with extreme anxiety as a result, I have been having one sided headaches (right side) which create a sense of fear inside me.

I called 111 on Saturday morning, after a terrible night of headaches & panic. They said they’d wrote to my GP for a referral to ENT. What with everything going on, I’m not hopeful this will happen soon as as I am a parent to a toddler I am extremely worried about my health & my ability to cope.

Has anyone seen private ENT or had private MRI?

I had a hearing test at specsavers which showed no hearing loss.

Thanks all.

[Hidden]

Hello,

The 'T' started for me in October - various sounds in each ear and a static/electrical sound in head. I went to GP who referred me to ENT but the soonest they could see me was June! I decided to pay for private ENT who confirmed everything looked fine including perfect hearing test. To be honest if the GP didn't see anything obvious then chances are the ENT won't either. Check out the BTA website, very helpful.

I've had a hard time with mine, mainly trying to accept that 'this is it' but I'm finding after nearly 4 months I'm tolerating the cacophony a bit easier than I was.

[Hla20 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I will look on BTA website in more depth. I have been doing a bit too much online googling and everything seems to circle back to a brain tumour of some sort which is making me suffer terribly with anxiety & fear. Hence why I am considering an MRI privately.

[Wulie in reply to Hla20]

I have just seen an ENT specialist privately. Sudden hearing loss can be caused by a brain tumour, but not tinnitus. I suffered Sudden Sensory Hearing Loss in early December. I had a brain scan two weeks ago to just check that my hearing loss was not caused by a tumour. My sudden hearing loss was caused by the one artery leading to the ear becoming blocked... The tinnitus kicked in literally the day after I saw the specialist for the brain scan result.

[msspinner in reply to Wulie]

That is good to know (re tinnitus and tumours).

I hope hope your artery block is being treated.

[Happyrosie]

Hello Hla20. You will have read, by now, that T is very common, and that it’s hardly ever caused by anything sinister.

It might even go away!

If you do research on line you will come across ‘cures’. Don’t believe everything you read. Only believe anything from established medical websites or specialist charities.

I wish you well,

[Hla20 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you - I am just worried about having headaches but this could all be anxiety related. As I’m really struggling. Just worry about my little one & the affect I’m having on her x

[Happyrosie in reply to Hla20]

.... and the more you worry the worse it gets! I can’t tell you not to worry, that’s not helpful. Just to repeat that T is common (and so is anxiety)

[Hla20 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you for your kind words x

[bridgeit]

Hello there. I hope you're feeling a bit calmer and better.

Google is good for providing info but it's important to be very selective about which websites to head for. As a starting point, the British Tinnitus Association is reliable, and anything that's posted by the NHS is sound.

If you want to go private to get your issues investigated quickly, an ENT consultation will cost about £250 for a first session to discuss options, then approx £180 for subsequent sessions. You will need a GP referral. The cost of a private MRI scan depends upon its complexity. In my experience, they range from £1000-£1750 per scan, depending on what's being included. They must be ordered by a specialist.

My understanding (not being a medic) is that brain tumours are a) rare and b) come with a range of symptoms that don't necessarily involve headache. Your GP will know the signs indicating big trouble and their advice to you to wait to see if things calm down suggests they didn't see or hear them.

So, bottom line, I suggest you go back to your GP and push for the NHS referral (ENT and possibly Neurology for the headaches). I don't think you'll have a problem getting referred; your GP was most likely thinking that you have a short-term issue from an aggravated ear that's sore from prodding and poking, which should be avoided! Chances are they'll assume you'll contact them again if the problem hasn't resolved.

[msspinner]

Hello Hla20,

How are things now?

Looking after a small child can be stressful and tiring, which in turn can provoke anxiety or make it worse. It can also cause headaches.