Tinnitus stops for a few days after flying

[EastMidsMaleAge53]

Hello, I've suffered from tinnitus for seven years and was wondering if anyone has had similar experience in relation to being exposed to changes in pressure.

My T presents as a variable low frequency tone/vibration, it seemed to start after I did Helicopter Underwater Escape Training for work in 2017, in year 1 it was intermittent in my right ear, by year 3 it was constant and very intrusive, in year 6 it started intermittently in my left ear as well and now the left ear is nearly as bad as the right sometimes. When really bad it is accompanied by severe ear ache.

It has stopped eight times after experiencing pressure changes, six after flying and two after repeated journeys up and down mountains. Most recently two weeks ago I flew London to San Diego, experienced acute ear pain in my right ear during descent, and the T stopped completely for 4.5 days then gradually returned. On the return flight (same duration, same altitude) I didn't get much discomfort during descent but still got one day with no T symptoms.

Has anyone else out there experienced anything similar? I've been through the NHS process in two districts, passed the usual tests, been told by multiple ENT consultants there is no cure so learn to live with it and referred into the counselling loop to be quizzed about how suicidal I feel and advised to try masking noises that make no difference to a constantly varying low frequency vibration that feels like something burrowing in your head. The first four years were the worst so far, my brain has adapted to some extent and I can sleep again now around 4-5 hours a night but feel like I am going downhill again since it is ramping up in both ears. The fact that it has stopped multiple times in response to altitude changes suggests something mechanical that could be treated but the response from the NHS has been dismissive to the point where they make me feel like I'm wasting their time.

[Happyrosie]

on reading your post, it sounds logical that some mechanism could be responsible. Or possibly not. But even if it is, this might not be treatable.

The experts (it appears to me on reading posts here over the last few years) can be dismissive and it’s a complete lottery if you get someone sympathetic.

It’s possible that Tinnitus UK might have heard of something like this. Details of how to contact them on their website.

[Pipster25]

This is a very common theme on here that ENT are as much use as a wet blanket in a thunderstorm. I paid them a visit 2 days ago and explained to the consultant that I had recently developed somatic tinnitus that was reactive to my environment. He clearly didn’t know what I was talking about. Advised me to try to ignore it and put some music on to distract myself from it. They think you have something trivial, not what it really is which is a life changing debilitating illness.

[Burntorangeheresy]

Hi EMMA53 you mentioned mountains ? What height ? I am Alps for a while....I will monitor and if any diff....

[EastMidsMaleAge53 in reply to Burntorangeheresy]

Hi BOH, in each case around 2,000-2,500 ft, not quite the Alps, but the change in tinnitus resulted each time from repeated experience of ears blocking/popping/hurting over and over in a short space of time. I worked in Scotland until two years ago and driving up the A9 over the Cairngorms occasionally with ears just popping on the way up and down had no effect unfortunately.

[Fridays_Child_62]

You'd think the ENT specialists would be interested in your experience, as it could be an insight into the mechanism that causes tinnitus for some people and warrant further investigation from an educational point of view as well as your personal health.

[Tal-r789T]

It's very interesting what you find after high altitude - I noticed changes climbing mountains in Cumbria recently. Not tried flying in a number of years, I was never very good at flying, always struggled to get ears to pop and then it would be a lottery if I would have sinus issues for days afterwards!

Regarding public/private health provision - I can only sympathise - my GPs were dismissive, leaving me with an 'oh not you again' feeling when making contact, private ENT (still not seen NHS one!! 90 week lead time for NHS) was dismissive, 'get used to it attitude', NHS counsellor sounds similar experience to yours where after 1 session I wanted to slit my wrists (never went back). I don't wish to 'bash' the NHS and do believe it's a great service - this isn't my statement. It's about the support for Tinnitus sufferers. NHS puts you in the 'sonething physiological' box.

There's limited practical research that's led to effective treatment from all I've read

It seems there may be different causes from reading all the stories - some may be due to other infections, some physiological, some hearing loss etc. I have seen the odd study and donated, but hear little back.

[Burntorangeheresy]

Thanks. I will clamber up and down and post on here. I am also flying a bit and trying and keeping a bit of a diary. I need to look up some acceptable scales....for reporting I mean