3 noises!

[boilingbogwo]

Hello, wonder if anyone can help me.

I am dealing with a bout of tinnitus at the moment which seems very odd. As a quick summary

Left ear - constant hissing sound

Right ear noise 1 - low pitched whine

Right ear noise 2 - broken sound like a hard drive being written to (if you have ever heard such like)

What is confusing is these sounds are not always the same, in the morning the hissing is related to my left ear mostly, come 2:30pm ish it intensifies and is louder in both ears. Seems to vary, if I eat something salty it goes worse (possibly). It’s quite hard to make sense of it. I’ve had the hissing since 2020 and had been ok with it, it wasn’t noticeable only in quiet rooms. But the two sounds in my right ear are relatively new, I’ve had them for around a month.

Doctor had checked for earwax and says there is none, so I have been referred to ENT. I’ve had an MRI scan back in 2020 which didn’t show anything, and a hearing test which was ok.

I’ve already posted about this as I am taking a diabetes med - metformin so was concerned that was causing the increase.

I guess my question is should I be hearing different tinnitus sounds or is the variance related to other things wrong with the inner ear?

Any non-scary advice would be great.

Thanks,

Neil.

[Happyrosie]

The non scary advice is - we all experience T in different ways, and those ways can indeed vary. I can’t remember if you’re in the UK - if you are, your doc might be following the pathway recommended by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence ). You can look this up on their website and put ‘tinnitus’ into their search box. See if this fits in with what your doctor is doing for you.

[boilingbogwo in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks! I’m in the uk yeah.

[Mags1417 in reply to boilingbogwo]

Hi

I have different sounds going on. I have a main high frequency tone left ear which I can hear all the time. But I also have a different sound in each ear which I can hear when very quiet or at night or when ears blocked. Depends on level of external noise. I then have another sound again that appears at night - a lower more surround tone. But they can come and go. At moment surround lower tone has been more pronounced at night. Is masked during day. These have developed since my tinnitus started. And as I understand it tinnitus sounds can change or multiply!! I have seen Nhs audiologist and they said ENT would decide if I needed to be seen. I haven’t had referral so again am assuming this is fairly normal in tinnitus terms?

[boilingbogwo in reply to Mags1417]

Very interesting- thanks for sharing.

[rabbits65]

Good morning. boilingbogwo,I too get different sounds.

Humming . Hissing , and head pressure like a balloon blowing up or the noise of an electric fan oven. So we all here a lot of different sounds . It drives me mad really but I try to humour it if I can and thankfully my lively poodles help me survive . So yes in answer to your question . I hear lots of different sounds . Good luck. 😊

[boilingbogwo in reply to rabbits65]

Thanks, I have a labradoodle in my life who is helping me greatly!

[purenostalgia]

Hi Neil

I have taken Metformin maximum dose for about 20 years, many before Tinnitus became a problem, read the enclosed leaflet, I do not think Tinnitus is in the side effects.

The one thing that definitely makes my Tinnitus more noticeable is alcohol.

Mike

[boilingbogwo in reply to purenostalgia]

Thanks, I don’t think it’s met either but having less of it is helping me sleep better I think.

[daverussell]

As Rosie says we experience it in different ways. I have high pitch hissing and Low hum.

As my audiologist explained, in my case at least, the tones and frequencies are indicative of those area of hearing loss and the brain is compensating by filling in the gaps.

[1966366]

Stick a number 3 either side of the 3 that you hear and come and take a seat next to me! And that's a good day. Regarding the salt: I have never used it much but was advised a few years ago to cut the thing out completely. Maybe give it a go? if you find any connection. Moreover, my T always intensifies in activity and loudness around early evening regardless of how the day goes - so I think you'll survive. Best of luck

[boilingbogwo in reply to 1966366]

Solid advice thanks!

[PABLR]

I don’t think the number of different sounds or the fact they change and move is itself a problem. I have one constant sound - what I call a straight line high pitched whine and can currently count three others including pulsatile tinnitus in the same ear. Mine vary. The pulsatile is usually worse later in the day. One is a hum that sounds almost outside my head and that changes. I have got used to so much going on helped by the fact that most of the time the level of each sound is tolerable.

[boilingbogwo in reply to PABLR]

Would you say you have habituated to the sounds or is it something you are working toward?