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[SarahLouise84]

Hi I’ve had tinnitus for 18 years I used to be able to cope with it but it’s getting louder each day is a total nightmare I feel I don’t want to walk up anymore I also physically feel a lot of pressure in my ear and get bad vertigo all the time no one helps the doctor just chucks anti depression at me I sit her in tears writing this and not wanting to carry on I pray for a miracle tinnitus has ruined my life 😞

[doglover1973]

Hi SarahLouise. You've come to the right place. What you describe isn't unusual. It happened to me just over a year ago. Mild tinnitus to troublesome tinnitus virtually overnight. I lay on the sofa crying for three months unable to get any help. Then I discovered the BTA, the forum & several other resources . The best thing to do is to ring the BTA helpline on 0800 018 0527 and talk it thru with them. I found talking to someone very, very helpful. There is a wealth of info on the website and lots of support here on the forum. A big hug for you.

[SarahLouise84 in reply to doglover1973]

Thankyou for replying the physical aspects are so bad at the moment I feel like motion sick all the time and dizzy and my tinnitus ear doesn’t pop it never had since tinnitus started and I have no idea why it just feels constant pressure in the ear I used to be able to cope with the noise but with the other physical things it’s a nightmare I’ve had all the blood test and the doctors just say there’s nothing wrong I just wonder if anyone else.gets these sort of symptoms with tinnitus ? Life just feel like living anymore but thankyou for reaching out x

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Hi SarahLouise.

There is always room for your tinnitus to improve. It seems as if you're still at the stage of GP treatment, so you might still benefit from a referral to a hospital department which could investigate the symptoms you're reporting - vertigo, for example, might suggest inner ear problems which can be treated really effectively. Ear pressure is also something measurable, and probably best checked out by specialist clinicians.

Ask your GP to refer you to ENT - don't take the 'there's nothing that can be done about tinnitus' line, because it's a symptom, not a condition. There are lots of things that can be done to help you recover and manage your tinnitus well, if it does persist.

[SarahLouise84 in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Thankyou so much I’ve done it I’ve called my gp and cried down the phone like a baby and they are referring me to ENT I’m guessing I’ll wait awhile for appointment and I have been before 10 years ago !! And was told your ear looks normal !!! It took me basically telling the doctors I don’t want to live anymore before he would refer me but they have I still feel like crap and the noise is just so loud maybe things have moved on from when I went 10 years ago and they can help thankyou for reaching out getting advice from people who understand your woes is actually really lovely thankyou x

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Hi SarahLouise. It's quite possible that your ear will look normal under investigation - unless the main factor prompting your tinnitus was an ear wax obstruction or observable infection/inflammation in the ear. With those causes, it would be understandable to use the expertise of a GP to treat something which is relatively straightforward.

I feel like your tinnitus difficulties at the moment are being driven by how down you seem to feel about things - if you feel like you're in a rut and people are not taking your concerns on board, that will be frustrating. I am concerned that you mention not wanting to live anymore, because in our view at the BTA, tinnitus shouldn't get to the stage where thoughts like that cross your mind.

Try to be positive and read through some of the lovely supportive threads on the forum from our community. Some of the symptoms that you've brought up can be investigated via ENT or vestibular/balance specialists and don't have to be an ongoing source of distress for you.

Take care and thanks for posting your experiences.

[Happyrosie]

Adding to what has been said: Your vertigo could be treated by your doctor prescribing something, such as stemetil. If your doc isn’t listening to you, your pharmacist can advise on something to take.Your doctor might not be aware of the guidance issued to doctors by NICE the National Institute for Clinical Evidence. NICE suggests pathways that GPs could follow, and your GP had not done this at least initially.

[iraymond]

Hi SarahLouise, I have similar symptons. I have what feels like blocked ears, or pressure. It is uncomfortable all the time. And then I have tinnitus too. I'm guessing it is all related but like you I feel I could deal with the tinnitus if I could only resolve this discomfort im my ears!! Also like you it makes me mildly motion sick all the time, and I constantly have a mild headache.I have had one ENT appointment and they diagnised TMJD, which quite frankly I don't believe. I have followed there instructions with no change to my sysmptons. I have another ENT appointment in a couple of weeks and I am going to ask for a MRI scan.

The important message is to try and relax and accept the current situation. Getting stressed and feeling negative doesn't help. I know it is easier said than done, but we have to try. I do CBT, mindfulness and self-care everyday and it does help. Just a little improvement makes me feel so much better metally.

I really sympathise and hope you feel better soon.

[Covenette1]

Hi Sarah - you are obviously in a really bad place at the moment - please hang on in there. You’ve already had lots of good positive advice from fellow sufferers and you’ve taken the first steps in seeking help, which is great. Tinnitus is so stressed driven that your mind set, at the moment is causing it to spike but the vertigo and motion sickness you are experiencing needs sorting out. These are not ‘common’ symptoms to tinnitus and (fingers crossed) you get treated or they should recede on there own. I wish you well and I’m sending lots of positive thoughts your way. Stay safe. K x

[Kellyc]

I s going through it too and I’m also having a hard time. You have to keep going we don’t have a fatal disease. I get nervous every time I go somewhere with loud music am I making it worse?! I have hope because even though I have a small AN and it kicked up worse the T must docs have told me it often lowers after a time and we also ha urinate. I find I have to exercise a lot and keep busy to ignore it. The hardest is when you get still or are woken up from it in the middle of the night. I know you can do this we all can because it won’t stay like this. I also only had low level that did not bother me. Then few months ago after vaccine and a new med it got so loud. Doc said maybe nerve pathway was activated. If I had surgery T might not go away and might cause damage. He said try CBT. He assured me that I can learn to block it out. I like quiet so it’s hard.

[SarahLouise84]

Thankyou for all replies and reading them gives me some comfort that I’m not alone I’ve just got to get myself out of this dark stage I didn’t mention that I’m a type 1 diabetic and have just had eye surgery for a blood vessel leak in my eye my dad has just been diagnosed with bowel cancer , so I’m certainly more stressed than ever so I’m guessing my tinnitus is loving it !!! And wants to see if it can tip me over the edge and it very nearly did but I just want to say thankyou for all the support and advice and I suddenly feel not quite so alone any more thankyou x

[doglover1973 in reply to SarahLouise84]

Sorry to read this SL. It's tough having T on top of health problems or family issues. You've done well to stay afloat! You're deffo not alone. Keep reading & posting 🙂