New to Tinnitus, doing my best.

[VeronicanPlay]

I felt like I didn't want to write just yet as I still have hope something can be done, and still waiting for my ENT appointment. But I am struggling with this condition now, so I see no reason to wait anymore.

I got tinnitus about 3 months ago after a blockage of wax in my left ear, I thought it was a eustachian tube dysfunction at first as I have had one of them before. The tinnitus started out really quiet and then got louder and louder as time went on. I went to the GP and had ear irrigation in both ears and a big cone of wax came out of my left ear restoring my hearing instantly, it took about a month for the tinnitus to go way down, to now it's nothing more than a quiet hiss I don't notice at all. But as my left ear went down in volume, my right ear went up.

My right ear is loud most days, but it's not ruining my concentration or interfering with other things, I can't hear it when I am out for a walk or when I am watching tv, and it's not interfering with my sleep. The fun thing is the sound my ear is making I have had for many years but it was a very low humming I could only hear when it was really quiet at night.

I can make the sound go away for a few seconds by "pumping" the ear. Where you push the little piece of sinew in front of the ear to close it off and let go quickly to make the ear go pop. The sound comes back slowly after that, sometimes louder, sometimes quieter.

Lately, my ear also feels strangely full and tight, like there is something in my ear but my hearing is fine. I can sometimes after a few "pumpings" hear strange crackling like paper in my ear. At the moment I am treating my ear with olive oil to see if anything comes out. I have a feeling it's excess skin from the irrigation as the practising nurse said there was skin left after the irrigation but no wax.

As it's only 3 months in a lot can still happen, my ENT appointment is not until January next year, so I will carry on as best I can. But as I can regulate the volume of my tinnitus so drastically and it didn't come just suddenly but went up slowly I have hope something can still be done. But I will of course not rely on that and know I have to habituate to this and make the best of it as I can. I am doing ok, but I do have bad days but it's still early.

[Jimac]

Your issue may well be with the middle or inner ear, so no amount of ear cleaning will have any effect. You need a hearing test with a tympanometry test, which checks the condition of the middle ear/eustachian tube.

[VeronicanPlay in reply to Jimac]

Had a hearing test, and my hearing is fine. She also used a machine to create pressure in my ear that was also fine. Hoping the ENT can give me more answers.

[Jimac in reply to VeronicanPlay]

You'd require further tests which some NHS consultants are reluctant to offer, such as a CT or MRI unless it's to rule in/out a possible reason that's causing the tinnitus. Normally (I'm not a Dr) with other associated symptoms, one sided hearing loss, dizziness etc. I went private through my employer to get answers in the end.

[Colleen_The_BTA]

Hello VeronicanPlay 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.

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)

If you’d like to sign up to receive ‘Focus’, our new free monthly e-newsletter, you can sign up at tinnitus.org.uk/forms/conta...

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

We also offer a new web chat service at tinnitus.org.uk/helpline. If you are seeking an online ‘safe space’ to talk about your tinnitus? We're here to offer real time support, exactly when you need it. We listen, advise or direct, whilst engaging with you one to one when you are unable to make a call. We want you to feel you are able to communicate at your own pace in your own space confidentially with one of our Helpline Advisors who are on hand to look after you and answer any questions you may have around tinnitus. Simply click on the icon called 'We are here!' at the bottom right corner of the screen to start your chat.

Kind regards

Colleen

[Outfoxed48]

Hi I had my ear micro suctioned a month ago and developed tinnitus in both ears it’s louder in my right like crickets and high pitched in my left so am new to this and I’m hoping it will become quieter as only been a month but got a quick ENT appointment on the 2nd November but I don’t hold out much luck with it ,I hope yours gets better with time as would give me more hope

[VeronicanPlay in reply to Outfoxed48]

Yeah, I find it amazing that ear cleaning methods that has been deemed "safe" can still cause these things. I too hope it will get better, which is the only thing we can do at the moment.

I do get spikes in my left ear where the hiss becomes really high pitched like a kettle. My right ear is more like a humming that sometimes are continous and other times its fluctuating.

[1Dar]

Hi .. I found your message interesting and hope I can help you. Three years ago I had the same sensation, blocked ear... which would not unblock . I also had the same squishy feeling. I decided to have a grommet ( a tube for Eustachian tube) but that’s when I developed tinnitus. I’ve had a very interesting journey. I had the grommet removed and put back in 3 times, a stapadectomy and I’m now onto my second cochlear implant ... the first one was painful, so I had it taken out. Each time the tinnitus became worse and I had a lot of pain. If you can avoid any operation it may not cause you the discomfort I have had. My ringing is very high, but the cochlear has masked it a bit. Hope this helps. Jenny 🌞

[1Dar]

I have moved forward though and get out a lot more so don’t lose hope!

[kashmir007]

I know what you mean. I had similar issue. And i done almost the same as you. It does sound like estachian tube. Im waiting for my appointment as usually 2 appintments n it goes back to normal.

[kashmir007]

Olive oil also good i think. Soo u wanna meet and talk ?