New here, ringing keeps getting worse - Tinnitus UK

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New here, ringing keeps getting worse

BambooFighting profile image
6 Replies

Hi, I am new here, and my tinnitus keeps getting worse and I don't have a clue what to do.

I have had a low ringing in my right ear as long as I can remember, it always sounded like a low Wifi router or something. I used to only hear it at night, and originally assumed it was someone doing works on the road at night! But it was fine and pretty easy to cover up with some music or my PC fan for years. In fact, I don't even know if I'd been unknowingly masking it for years at that point.

But in the last year or so it's developed pretty quickly. About 2 months ago my left ear was all bunged up and a pretty loud ringing started. I spoke to a doctor about that and some other issues with my jaw swelling when I eat, who referred me to ENT and made an appointment for a nurse to have a look in my ear. I saw her and she said the ear was completely full of wax, and getting that removed would sort out the ringing! I was very happy. She also recommended I use Earex to soften it up, so I did, and weirdly by the night before my wax removal the ringing and blocked feeling had pretty much gone.

So I got my ear wax removed via microsuction. I'd read this was much safer than syringing so went for that. I think in my left ear there was a bit of stubborn wax, as I heard something kind of roll around and kind of pop off, and the sound was a lot lower after that. Looking back on it I wonder if my eardrum was perforated, though no doctor has mentioned it since and I've seen a few.

I left and my ears were really sore, but I put this down to having an invasive procedure done and assumed it was normal (it wasn't)

That night at dinner my jaw hurt a bit to eat and speak, until eventually there was a sharp draining feeling that made it feel a lot better, as well

That night I stood in the bathroom and closed my eyes and listened, and all I could hear was that Wifi router REALLY LOW. My ears were really sore, but I'd had a pretty invasive procedure so assumed that was normal (it wasn't.)

Within two days, hell had begun. My left ear had begun to ring again, and would often feel like it was moving to the right ear. My left ear also feels frequently blocked, though not all the time. Since then it's gotten worse and worse, and is now a constant fizz in either ear sometimes, or sometimes a buzz, sometimes that Wifi router, sometimes a car engine that actually predates it all but for a few months I had assumed was some idiot parked outside all night.

And I don't know what to do about it. I've seen various doctors who have made half-guesses at it but won't explore them or give me anything for it, just shrug and say to wait for the ENT appointment that has been exhausting to wait for. I have an audiology appointment next week but don't know how much that will help since it feels so physical with the ear blocking and sometimes pain that accompanies the ringing.

I can't tell if this is actually a new thing or not: for a few months there have been strange sounds that I had assumed came from another source - I'd thought my new PC had a whine, but now suspect this was in my head (and has caused a real headache at one point), had assumed for years that my shower fan had a whine that was maybe in my head, had assumed my headset had a whine that is definitely in my head. There were also times I'd take off my headset and find loud noise in my ears, though this always died down for a while. I also sometimes wonder if I hadn't had it for years, but the cacophony of noises kind of cancelled each other out or pulled my focus in so many directions it kind of worked out okay. One night this happened and my first thought was "ah, it's back to normal" which concerned me.

Regardless of when it started, it seems to be getting worse, and I just feel like I've been left to deal with it alone, waiting for an ENT appointment that might come too late if at all (thanks COVID) and getting no help from doctors aside from a shrug. I don't know how to prevent it from continuing to get worse either, or how I might make it better, which frustrates me endlessly.

I also had a hearing test which came back normal, but when I do online ones I struggle to hear low frequencies and can't hear above 10,000Hz or so. (I have been using this to monitor it: youtu.be/H-iCZElJ8m0)

I'm just so annoyed and scared. I'm terrified that I'm going to end up making it worse or going deaf. I'm exhausted by it. I hate it. And I hate my life right now. I just want to get some help while I still can, but it's proving impossible and I have no idea what to do.

EDIT: Well my jaw just cracked ridiculously loud after feeling uncomfortable for an hour and the ringing got super loud, then disappeared and was replaced by birds chirping, now is back to how it was before, so if I had been terrified before I am now staining my pants.

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BambooFighting
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6 Replies
rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65

Hello BambooFightingYour really long post shows

how much anxiety your suffering.

And Stress. Let me just explain

what I decided to do in exactly the same place as you, like you huge wait to see a specialist at the ent clinic. So, I paid for a private specialist , yes it’s expensive but well worth it. He arranged an mri scan , he said to rule out anything structural . I was and to some extent still suffering this dam tinnitus . However this site has been good for me to read how other people are coping. So please calm down (I have) if you calm down you will feel better. Pay for a private specialist to put your mind at rest. There’s quite a bit of reading available on some websites. You like me have got to try and live with it. My head feels like electrical waves like I’m in a fan oven noise . You are not alone, believe me ,

From Penny

rabbits65

BambooFighting profile image
BambooFighting in reply torabbits65

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the positivity a lot.

Unfortunately I also lost my job in March, so paying to go private isn't really an option for me.

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply toBambooFighting

I am sorry to hear that youlost your job, I do hope you get a new job very soon. All this stress and worry won’t be helping your tinnitus . Take care

Guineapiggy profile image
Guineapiggy

Your description sounds more likely that you are hearing "The Hum", which is usually described as a low-frequency sound like an engine running. Go to thehum.info/ and read the description and look at the download

"Am I hearing the Hum or some other sound?" No-one has actually found a definitive answer, only various hypotheses.

I have had this for 2 years and it is around 60Hz , causing a feeling of pressure, and get relief from white noise, especially at night. You can hear and feel this on your video, especially with good speakers or headphones.

If you think this is your problem then there are Facebook support groups

facebook.com/groups/1353854...

facebook.com/groups/4217775...

TinnitusUKPat profile image
TinnitusUKPatPartner

Hi BambooFighting

One thing to be mindful of about online hearing tests is that they are - at best - a rough guestimate of how well you can hear specific frequencies.

A stand alone test in an audiology setting doesn't have to factor in your internet speed, the quality of your headphones or speakers or the other variables which can influence a test result in an informal setting.

As the original poster of this video has provided minimal information for the usage and interpretation of the two videos they've posted, I would be cautious about considering this a reputable source.

You've cited a couple of issues with your jaw and headaches - this can be an explanation of why you are also experiencing tinnitus. You might find it helpful to read a guide to the condition TMJ on our website - tinnitus.org.uk/tinnitus-an... - and talk to your GP about whether your symptoms warrant investigation of your jaw function.

BambooFighting profile image
BambooFighting in reply toTinnitusUKPat

Good points. I have an appointment with an audiologist next week so I will mention it anyway and see if they can test higher and lower frequencies. Would sure love to hear bass guitars, violins, and pianos again. I watched a video yesterday that had one of my favourite pieces of music from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and it sounded so weird, like I'd lost half the keys or they had just gotten really quiet. Hopefully something a hearing aid can fix.

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