COVID made it worse!

[d1unc]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post.

I’ve had a continuous single tone tinnitus in what feels like both ears for as long as I can remember, I believe caused by bad ear infections as a kid. I’ve never had is officially diagnosed but just learnt to live with it.

Despite being double vaccinated, I contracted COVID-19 over a month ago now (early Oct). About 3 days in after testing positive, I was awoken in the early hours by really loud tinnitus mainly on my left hand side. Needless to say my heart sank when I realised what was happening!

It’s now over 4 weeks on and my new flavour of tinnitus, which I now describe as tinnitus on top of tinnitus is no better and it’s starting to get to me now with struggling to sleep and struggling to concentrate.

I keep saying to myself I need to learn to live with it but given is so much louder, it’s hard to block it out.

I plan to go back to the doctor to get it checked but I suspect nothing can be done.

I’ve read quite a few stories of COVID affecting tinnitus now, so I don’t seem alone but it’s not clear if will improve over time or it’s a permanent thing?

Anyway it would be good to know if anyone else has experienced the same issue.

Thanks, Dunc

[rabbits65]

Good evening to you , How are you feeling now getting over Covid , must have been a shock catching that. . It is such a mystery this awful tinnitus condition , try and keep placid and calm and hopefully the Spike your enduring will subside . I wish you well.

[Happyrosie]

There’s some good statistics regarding Covid and tinnitus on the British tinnitus Association website. Lots of posts in this forum on “should I get the vaccine and risk worse tinnitus”. Your story is one piece of evidence that Covid can make T worse,

I haven’t - I’m very glad to say - have Covid so can’t comment specifically on your circumstances from personal experience- maybe some other posters will.

But my thoughts are that you could treat this, as I think you’re suggesting, as if this is a new manifestation and you could go down the doctor route for help. You may have heard of NICE, which gives guidance to doctors on the pathways they could explore when patients visit them. NICE drew up new guidance some 18 months ago with the assistance of the wonderful charity British tinnitus association and you can look at this guidance by going to the NICE website. Put “tinnitus” into their search box. Armed with this information you can approach your doctor with confidence.

[poppyb62]

I was diagnosed with Covid on Saturday and my tinnitus is much louder than usual. I am hoping it will settle down when the covid symptoms pass🤞🤞