Low buzzing in right ear

[Sborn]

About a week ago, I started having a very low almost vibrating buzzing sound in my right ear only at night while lying in bed. I have lived with high pitched tinnitus for as long as I can remember, but this is on a whole new level. I made the mistake and googled. Meniere's Disease popped up and now I'm terrified. Anyone else have this and not have Meniere's?

[Momoko79]

I have similar T to you, I have low humming, high pitch ringing and a very loud hum that switches on and off if no sound or not enough sound goes into my ear. I’m still trying to get answers for mine as I have some swelling and fullness in my left ear. Menieres usually has vertigo with it, so unless the room is spinning for you then I wouldn’t start panicking that it’s menieres just yet.

[Sborn in reply to Momoko79]

Thanks for your reply. Trying to get in today to see an ENT.

[Momoko79 in reply to Sborn]

How can you see a ent so quickly?? I’ve been waiting weeks and my appointment isn’t till next month 😩

[Sborn in reply to Momoko79]

Are you in the U.S? Here, if you have private health insurance you don't have to wait. Best of luck to you. I'll update after my visit.

[Momoko79 in reply to Sborn]

Ah no I’m in the U.K. so have to rely on our struggling and under funded NHS, which means we have long waits, to see my GP I have to wait 3 weeks before I can see a DR!! private healthcare here is far too expensive

[Sborn in reply to Momoko79]

Well I had my ENT appointment yesterday. He first examined my ear and it looked fine. He then sent me for a hearing test. Everything came back normal except I had asymmetry in one of the low frequency sounds. My affected ear missed the sound while my good ear heard it. He diagnosed me with sudden hearing loss and prescribed two weeks worth of prednisone.

Strange thing... my buzzing has decreased. I only heard it at night in the first place, but for the past 2 nights I haven't heard it and I haven't started the prednisone yet. The weird thing is, I was mildly nauseas today and feeling a little "off" not dizzy, just a little lightheaded. I don't know if this has anything to do with my ear, or my anxiety about obsessing over my ear. I have anxiety, especially about health. I'm so confused.

[Momoko79 in reply to Sborn]

Excellent news about the decrease in your humming, let’s hope it stays that way, I understand about your health anxiety, as I suffer badly with that too, which I know makes it worse, but it’s hard to snap out of it.

[MattyP101 in reply to Sborn]

Hi Sborn - I’m on a similar journey to you. Have and always had high pitch tinnitus in my right ear which I’m learning to cope with again after a flare up recently but then a week ago also started getting a different low level tinnintus in my left ear (which until now has always been fine) - my symptoms are also a feeling of bunged up ear plus an odd vibration sometimes when sound hits the ear.

Unlike my right ear, it comes and goes worse in morning then almost gone by night - odd as this is usually when T strikes worst!

I also saw ENT specialist who diagnosed slight hearing loss in my left ear so also on some low level steroids to see if it fixes the problem, fingers crossed it works as something is not right!

[Sborn in reply to MattyP101]

Hi MattyP101. I just received an email notification, and wanted to be sure to reply to you. I couldn't finish my 2 week round of prednisone due to the side effects it gave me (no sleep, hyper).

I just wanted to come on here to let you know that the low sound, which was just like an idling car engine sound, only lasted for 2 months. I no longer have it and haven't heard it in a little over a year and a half. It just gradually decreased over a few days and then stopped completely. Thank God. I have no explanation as to why it started or stopped.

Just wanted to give you reassurance that mine stopped and I'm sure yours will too. I was actually learning to just deal with it and it became less bothersome and stressful over the 2 month period. But then it just disappeared. Hope this helps you. God Bless. 😊

[MattyP101 in reply to Sborn]

Thanks Sborn - I was told there were side effects to the meds so it’s a shame you couldn’t finish them. My low hum comes and goes which is strange (wish my other ear was the same!) but glad to here this one might not linger and last forever! Thanks for your reassuring words, fingers crossed!

[NicTinnitus]

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 not medically qualified, and even if I was, couldn't/wouldn't diagnose at a distance, but what I can say is that Meniere's Disease 1. is very rare and 2. is more than tinnitus - you would also be experiencing hearing loss and vertigo/dizziness

Hopefully your appointment has put your mind at rest. For others reading, I'd like to say that tinnitus can change in terms of sounds - it's completely normal and not generally a sign of anything (new) amiss.

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

tinnitus.org.uk

takeontinnitus.co.uk

The Menieres Society has a website at menieres.org.uk

Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call [phone])

Warmest wishes

Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)

[Owley]

Hi iam suffering with the same right now. It started in oct as hissing but now its a vibration like someone has put a tuning fork in my ear. The good news is i had it in 2007 for a few months so iam hoping it will go away again. It's like a rumbling/ vibrating. My ENT says it's intrinsic noise in my body and i have to try and ignore it... Easier said than done! Since October i have had hissing and pulsing. Now the vibrating which is much harder to cope with. It seems many tinnitus sufferers get this. I wish i had an answer

[Wringing1212]

Hi, I stumbled on your older posts while posting my own related question. Now wondering how you are doing regarding the low humming problem.

Thanks D

[Sborn in reply to Wringing1212]

The low humming just stopped one day after 2 months. I have no clue why it started or stopped. I'm sure yours will too. I haven't heard the noise since December 2018. I always like to respond because I remember trying to find information about the low hum and never had any luck. Best wishes to you.

[Wringing1212 in reply to Sborn]

It dose seem to relent more than the high pitched T. I thought maybe ear wax or my daily commute up and down in altitude, or the strength of my morning French press cup of Joe. Might be circulatory related.

Thanks for replying.