Hello, new here looking for guidance

[hollyrain]

Hello

I've lurked for a couple of months, but this is my first post, I've seen that you are a friendly and supportive bunch, and whilst it breaks my heart that I'm joining your "club" at least I feel I won't be judged. I'm a 60yr old woman and I've had a strange sensation for years and years of suddenly hearing something "switch" on in my ear, with a loud but dull noise for around 20 seconds, like I was underwater, and then it would "switch" off. Happened perhaps once or twice a month. Never really gave it a second thought.

FFW to turning 60 and everything started to fall apart.....or so that is how it felt. Just after Christmas I developed headaches I couldn't shift, but worried more about the pain in my head when I bent down or coughed that felt like sinusitis. Without any other sinusitis symptoms, but I took all the various sinus relief medications I could find, even getting pharmacist recommendations, nothing shifted it. My blood pressure was up, then in Feb I got a heavy cold, and thought it will shift with the cold. But it didn't, and then 1 night.....bam, my left ear started to whistle and hasn't stopped, and goes up and down in volume. My right one is very intermittent, not as loud. And the feeling of pressure in my head doesn't shift. When I try to lie on my right side (my left hip stops me lying on my left) I get a dreadful pulsing in that ear, very loud, very worrying, and vague pains in head and temples. Saw the GP and I have an audiology appt for a hearing test on 25th. He didn't tell me anything about it, said he thought the headaches were tension and didn't want to worry about my blood pressure! I don't notice any hearing loss at all.

He didn't tell me what happens afterwards or what I could expect. Do I just go back to GP for a follow up or do Audiology tell me what I need to do? So I'm really quite anxious, and I don't know if that is making the tinnitus more pronounced to me. And the headaches still exist, but I don't know if they are a common feature of Tinnitus or whether I should go back to the GP.

As an aside - my dentist did an xray a couple of days later and said my sinuses were cloudy, gave me antibiotics and a nasal decongestant spray - no change to the headaches so I am assuming they are related to the tinnitus, although I do get that sliding pain feeling when bending down or cough etc.

So sorry to ramble - I just wanted to get it off my chest in the hope that I will be reassured that this is a normal presentation, and also what I can expect going forward.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I wish you all to feel the best you can.

x

[rabbits65]

Hello holly rain,, welcome to this site, and I do hope you find some friendly support here. I am sorry you are suffering so much and as you know there are many people on this forum that have a mixture of issues going on with the subject of tinnitus. We are not medically trained and most of us are battling on with the questions , Why .is this happening and why is that happening….. like you mine started off 3 years ago with funny pains in my head, mainly at the back of my head and also accompanied with head pressure, and then a low tone of noise like a fan oven , occasionally I get some high pitches and mostly it’s low tone. I have learnt to habituate mostly , but because you do have to try to learn to live with it or else you wouldn’t be able to live at all…. I would recommend that you ask your GP to refer you to the ENT department of your nearest hospital to have some scans and checks just to make sure your alright.. Audiology is ok but they are mainly to check your hearing…. In my case my hearing is ok, my scans were ok…. I wish you all the best , we are all here for you, we have all survived and most of us are jogging along ok. I find going for walks with my two bouncy poodles my favourite pastime , chatting to other dog walkers etc , and just generally getting on ok with life..

[hollyrain in reply to rabbits65]

Thank you for your kind reply, and your very positive attitude to dealing with these horrid sensations! I love walking my JRT, but have noticed that his bark sounds really shrill and piercing, I did have a chat with him earlier about trying to lower his voice lol!! I, many years ago had 2 poodles. In fact was born into a family with poodles, and don't remember a day without them until my last one died almost 43yrs since our first one. They are beautiful and intelligent dogs, sensitive, loyal and caring. My dad used to walk my 2, his 2 and my brothers collies, they had huge adventures and walked most peaks in Cumbria and Yorkshire. And always wanted more when our feet were throbbing!! I had a rescue Terrier and now a rescue JRT with huge issues, but he is doing really well with love and hard work. And yes, it takes my mind off lots of things, including the tinnitus. Thank you again, and Best wishes.

[rabbits65 in reply to hollyrain]

that’s really lovely to hear about your poodles, sounds like you have really enjoyed them. One of my poodles has a really screechy voice and it can be deafening at times. Think my head and ears have learnt to adjust to these shrill noises. When I first developed tinnitus I had some hyperacusis as well, thankfully I think I’ve got over that at least. Your revue JRT , what does he look like? Yes rescues can be extra work but worth it in the end.

[hollyrain in reply to rabbits65]

He is a red JRT with a white bib and toes. He has come a log way, but we still have a fair way to go. He is lying by my side as I type, we are under a Vet Behaviourist, and he is slowly making positive steps. It's not been easy, there are days where I have wondered what we were doing, but I'd never be without him. Our own Vet made me cry by thanking us for our perseverance. We're at our caravan now so he is as happy as Larry....Nice and quiet with lots of walks.My poodles...in fact all of them were black. Other than a chocolate one my Mum rescued......and he was the smallest but certainly ruled the roost!

I'm awake because my Tinnitus is particularly loud and annoying tonight, and I have a headache too, and have noticed at bed time these last couple of months an "echo" of my breathing in my nasal passages, which is very strange but again, ramped up a bit tonight. I have no idea if it is related. Ihope you are getting some rest! I'm going to play some scrabble now in the hope I'll nod off again!

Thank you

[rabbits65 in reply to hollyrain]

sorry for late reply, can you tell me what JRT stands for as I’ve never heard of this breed. Dogs are lovely and help us in times of stress, especially coping with tinnitus. I used to have a caravan like you say you have and I know how enjoyable that can be. You say you play scrabble, I play internet scrabble, again a very good thing to take your mind off the tinnitus.

[hollyrain in reply to rabbits65]

A jack Russell terrorist!! 🙂 Yes, I play internet scrabble too.....altho I am convinced most of my opponents are bots!! But I enjoy the challenge.

Thank you, hope you have a nice day.

[Happyrosie]

as rabbits says, we here can’t diagnose what’s wrong with you but we can try and be supportive. You’re clearly feeling under pressure and when that happens you suddenly notice things that, perhaps, you might not have taken any notice of before (and it’s called “getting older” too!).

I’d suggest that you find some calming breathing techniques to be getting on with. Start with the NHS app and put “anxiety” into their search box and work from there. Does your pharmacist offer blood pressure tests? I’m a bit concerned that you say your BP has been up, but has that been followed through? As you might get headaches from high blood pressure.

Many people on here have found audiology to be helpful and some not - the audiologist I’ve seen most recently just happens to be the local lead on tinnitus; others might be less concerned.

Have you looked at the website of Tinnitus UK? A wealth of information and help there, and you could give them a ring.

[hollyrain in reply to Happyrosie]

Hello and thank you for your reply.

No, I know nobody here can diagnose, I hope I didn't suggest otherwise in my post, it really is guidance from those already dealing with this issue of twists, turns, and expectations. I was just giving a little back ground history. How lucky that you have an audiologist who is a Tinnitus lead! I have seen posts on another site where people have suggested that the audiologist is asked to do a referral to ENT, I would have thought that was the GP's role? I didn't put in my post that I had had some double vision too, and took myself off to the Optician to double check - I'd only got a new prescription in November so doubted there would be much going on, which he confirmed.

Today I've had episodes - not of dizziness, but of feeling a lightweight - as if the floor isn't solid, or as if I could be blown over by a puff of wind (believe me, I couldn't lol!!!) and I had noticed over the last few months this strange sensation of an echo by my right nostril when I lay down......and funnily enough there is such a thing related to the eustachian tube, and describes it exactly like I had to my hubs. So I think that I shall ask for an ENT referral - I have no idea if either of these things can be related to Tinnitus - or vice versa. I think it would be prudent to have a proper ENT check.

Thank you again for your kind reply, I very much appreciate it!

Best wishes

[Bellyboo]

hello Holly. Read and do your research with this forum which will enlighten you. Try to keep calm and exercise more as you get older. Try not to dwell on the negatives and be brave. You will have good days and bad where T is concerned. Good luck and don’t worry

[hollyrain]

Thank you. Very wise words and I shall take heed. Thank you x

[karfageniiy]

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