Hi Newbie here, I think I have tinnitus but have not been to the GP as I feel since I’ve hit 50 I seem to have one thing after another so don’t want to bother them again.
I have this high pitched sound in I think just the left side/ear. I can only describe it as Eeeeeee. I was told by the nurse I had a build up of ear wax so had that removed was hoping the sound would go but it hasn’t. I have some dizziness when turning over in bed but out this down to BPPV which I have had in the past.
It is particularly bothersome during the day as so much background noise but when I as in a quiet room I just can’t seem to zone out from it and reading is near impossible.
Do I need to go the GP or will I just get, nothing we can do you have to live with it.
TIA
Written by
Suzie109
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Please go to see your doctor , you need to tell them, the thing is tinnitus is quite stressful in the early stages and they may send you to audiology or to the Ent dept . You will need some support. Stay on this site too as there are some lovely supportive people on here. Let’s hope maybe all this is temporary for you .
It can be tough when you experience a number of health issues and as you point out there can be a tendency to ignore them particularly in the present times when it can be difficult to get appointments. Do you have any hearing loss, do you find yourself having difficulty hearing conversations when there is back ground noise? I would definitely see GP explain about your tinnitus and dizziness which is persisting even after ear wax removal. Ask for a referral to ENT. There is a long waiting list unless you can afford a private consult which I did. I was told I had significant hearing loss, MRI scan normal and was told my tinnitus could be aggravated by hearing loss / distortion. Try and be positive maybe give headphones a go with calming or your favourite music but do see GP you are not bothering them. Let us know how you get on
No hearing loss that I am aware of although my husband does have to turn the tv up more for me. I have booked myself in to have a hearing test on Tuesday so that might tell me more. I suppose like everyone else Google things and a whole lot of worrying scenarios come up and I convince myself I have the worse case scenario. I have a telephone consultation booked in for today.
Tell me about it, my tinnitus was so bad combined with the hearing loss and feeling off balance now and again that I felt sure it was major like a tumour. You are in good company many of us think of the worst case scenario instead of getting checked out. Well done for making your appointments.
It's worth trying. It usually only works when taken very early in the onset of symptoms issue and usually if it's related to a viral condition. Give it a go but persist with an ENT referral if it continues. Feeling stressed can also exacerbate tinnitus, I know it's a double whammy. You originally mentioned other issues, if you are worried about other health issues make a list of ones that concern you most and arrange another consult. With tinnitus there can be peaks and troughs so don't assume it will always be as bad as it is now. Take care and treat yourself if you can.
Suzie109 - please take the Predisalone - they are steroids and will help prevent further damage to your ears if there is something going on. Good that you are getting sorted out.
I would go to your GP. I had an ear infection in January & was almost totally deaf in my left ear until the antibiotics cleared up the infection but I have had continuous tinnitus in my left ear since then.
My GP has referred me to ENT for the tinnitus & reduced hearing .
Hello - I think we are all the same at the moment with the situation of trying to be seen by a GP by ignoring things that bother us in the hope they will go away. Tinnitus is extremely stressful and as you slso suffer from BPPV I would definitely make an appointment. I always took my ears for granted and had mild Tinnitus for years which didn’t bother me unduly, I had moderate hearing loss and wore hearing aids. Christmas 2019 I awoke and thought my right ear was blocked, went to make a drink and within half an hour I had dreadful dizziness and nausea and realised I couldn’t hear anything in that ear. Covid was at its worst so I declined my husbands offer to take me to A and E. I had Labyrinthitis. I never recovered the hearing and within a week my Tinnitus began with a vengeance. I had warning signs months previously in that music didn’t sound quite right and bouts of dizziness but thought it was old age
Sorry for being long winded but my point is please see your GP as I didn’t realise at the time but if I had gone to A and E they would have probably injected steroids into my ear which could have prevented the permanent hearing loss. I did pay to see a consultant and had an MRI which fortunately was clear and am still under the care of a wonderful Audiologist at my local hospital. Ears are complex and delicate organs.
By the way you are still a youngster, wish I was in my fifties again! Best of luck and please let us know how you get on. x
Can only agree with the above - mine got gradually worse but was due to hearing loss and I started to find I couldn't hear people in the same room or TV for instance. Speak to GP, as others have said they won't be able to do much but ask for ENT and audiology referral. If you think hearing loss you can get a test from Specsavers or boots. If you do have hearing loss you'll have to go through the NHS unless you want to pay for hearing aids. But don't ignore it, best to get it checked.
Hi ! As far as I know , because in 2017 a strange sound appeared in my left ear, above my T noises, I had a MRI test .
They were looking for a non-cancerous tumour called Schwanoma,I think. But there was not. The noise disappeared after one year and a half!!! I was given Betaserc or Betahistine.
Since then my “darling” T has worsened but I cope with it.
At the moment, I still take Betaserc2x24mg/per day), Magnesium and Gingko Biloba.
Yes. Go to your GP. I didn't go to mine, as T came at 64 and my on-line research has it as classic T of uncomplicated text book description, and expectedly mild (in comparison with others) with it. Yours, I'm not so sure, and if I had same I'd be over to the surgery.
Yes I have booked a hearing test and am waiting for a telephone consult today. Mine isn’t particularly bothersome unless Iam in a quiet room. When I’m in work I do not notice it at all.
That's encouraging! It took about 5 months for mine to get to the stage of not being noticeable. At times that is. Today is one of them, and no headphones at home (I'm retired) but it was very present on waking. Such is the variable T I have.
I don't know whether it is really improving or whether my experiments with Ginkgo (click on my username for the posts thereon) are behind it. I'm not going to dispense with Ginkgo even for a short time to find out!
Si just spoke to Dr and he has prescribed I think he said prednisone or something like that. Just looked it up and it’s a steroid, anyone got any thoughts on that. 🤔
People taking prednisone can also experience higher blood sugar, which is a special concern for those with diabetes. Because prednisone suppresses the body’s immune system, it can also increase the risk of infection. Therefore, some precautions need to be taken.
Yes I listened to a you tube video last night from an ENT consultant in London, and a lot of what he said just resonates with me and made complete sense. I am going to try his theory first and see what happens
Well it seems the GP has given me Prochlorperazine, which is for dizziness and nausea which is it a bit bizzare as I told him I do not have any nausea. I’m not sure how that will help my tinnitus.
I spoke to my GP 4 weeks ago as I had episodes where it felt like the room was spinning with occasional, very mild nausea if the episode lasted too long. I was diagnosed with BPPV and prescribed Prochloperazine (despite rarely being nauseous) and advised to see them again if no better after a week. Went back again a week and a half later as was now getting episodes of T, sometimes lasting all day. Saw an advanced practitioner who spoke to a GP and advised try another 14 days and to do Brandt Daroff exercises for the dizziness and see how I got on. A week later and I spoke to a GP yesterday as I now have T pretty much all day long which is driving me insane. Now been prescribed Betahistine which I have picked up today and told to try for a month as she now thinks possible Menieres. I'm assuming your GP may think you have BPPV and the T may ease once your balance is restored maybe? I'm just guessing. You have my sympathies on this though, I'm finding it exhausting.
Sounds like we have the same. I have had T constantly for week and a half. Strangely enough I had ear wax build up and BPPV around the same time. I just have dizziness when turning over in bed and it lasts maybe 10 secs very rarely nausea which is why I was surprised at the tablets. During the day I am fine as I hardly notice the T. Then all of a sudden I’ll think, wow it’s gone, as soon as I listen for it I hear it although mine seems to be more in one year, sometimes difficult to know where it’s coming from. Mine is a very high pitched tone. I have done an online hearing test on 2 different sites which say it seems like I have hearing loss so I have booked a private hearing test for next week.
My T is also a high pitched tone. It's been constant for about 3 or 4 days now although I have been working from home most of this week so I have music or a film on in the background so don't notice it plus I'm busy working so that distracts me (although sometimes I also struggle to concentrate) The evenings are annoying (I have one ear bud in with some nature sounds playing to drown the T out) but bed time it takes a while to sleep as the T in so loud. Tonight I will put an Alexa next to my bed and put something on to drown it out and see if that helps. Mine seems to be just in one ear and I have done the free Specsavers online hearing test which indicates some hearing loss so will book a proper hearing test in asap. Dr's seem to want to try and diagnose by trying the meds rather than referring me so I will see how the hearing test goes and then such for a referral. I'm keen for some sort of referral as I was assaulted mid October and punched repeatedly on my right ear with quite severe bruising behind it. It seems too much of a coincidence for me that this is happening now on the same side as my head injury but the GP's seem to think they aren't related.
Thanks , seems like we have the same symptoms but without the head injury. I’m sorry this has happened to you, hope you have recovered ok. I agree it seems like too much of a coincidence. Today I actually thought mine had improved but sat in bed now and it’s so loud. I watched a You Tube video the other night from an ENT consultant “How I cured my Tinnitus” it’s worth a listen. Hope you get some answers too. Take care x
Definitely report it to your GP as you need to be referred to an audiologist who will assess if you have tinnitus or not. That way you’ll get help and maybe be issued with hearing aids especially ones with masking sounds to assist you with distractions to your tinnitus.
Just wanted to say, I really related to your post about 'hitting 50' and it being 'one thing after anonther'. Exactly the same for me and after living with it for a while I've realised a few things.
- the psychologic component is a big factor. If you, like me, have concerns about getting older this creates a focus on health. For me it's my knee, my wrists, tinnitus - lots of things. In actual fact I don't know if these things are particularly any worse than before but I'm just NOTICING THEM more. Are you doing this too perhaps to some degree?
Very best of luck anyway, and what gives me a lot of comfort is the fact I can sit in a quiet room and through focussing my attention, make the tinnitus reduce in volume.
Not focusing on it is a big thing. I recently went away for a week and with so much going I forgot about it most of the time. As soon as I thought it had gone and listened for it, there it was. It’s the same now, as soon as I listen to see if it’s gone I hear it louder than ever. Oh to be able to not listen for it.
I have been referred to and Audiologist on NHS but there’s a 21 week wait. I enquired about going private but am unsure whether I need ENT or audiologist. I’m just hoping a cancellation comes up.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Suddenly, my tinnitus became overbearingly loud in one ear!
Strange Tinnitus 
pulsatile tinnitus diagnosis and treatment after 3+ years
Doxycycline induces tinnitus - or not?
Newbie wanting some information about sleeping!
