Hi everyone. I am new to this forum. I have tinnitus in one ear. I see some posts from people with similar issues and would like to share my story so far. I don't think my tinnitus is severe, relative to what other people here are going through, and my heart goes out to all sufferers. I would like to ask if anyone has any suggestions for what I should do next.
The tinnitus started after I had a peculiar (for me) cold in one side only of my nose for several weeks over the summer. Mid August, the cold went and the Tinnitus started in just the affected side. It is a high-pitched whistle, non-pulsating, sometimes very loud. I fall asleep as usual but wake up to it around 4-5am, most days. After a month of this, and feeling exhausted, I went to the GP and was told to book a hearing test at Specsavers as it would be free of charge, while she booked an audiology referral on the understanding that this could take 10+ months to come through.
I got a Specsavers appointment on the next available day. Turned out that the Specsavers/NHS scheme only applies in England (I'm in Scotland) but the lady did what she could do. The result was identical hearing result on both sides and within normal range for my age despite the continuous high-pitched whistle on one side only. She also noticed that the affected ear felt hot, which the GP had not noticed, and she reported a dark shadow inside, which I saw on her camera screen.
Back to the GP - different doctor this time. He said there was no dark shadow, the darkening was because the affected eardrum was full of liquid. He gave me a steroid spray with instructions to lie on my back with my head over the side of the bed and spray vertically downwards. I did so for a couple of weeks then decided nothing was working - the spray does not function when inverted, like most sprays(!). When held pointing upwards it shoots a good fountain and if I sniff it definitely goes right through my nose.
I got a repeat prescription for the same spray, and have continued daily treatment to no effect. Last week I asked for a follow-up GP appointment, was given a nurse appointment and she took a blood sample. That has come out clear and I am about to go for another GP appointment. There is still no sign of the audiology referral - not even a letter. The nurse and the two GPs have hinted about having to live with it, and the cause being psychological.
I do not believe that the cause of my tinnitus is psychological. If I pinch my nose and blow hard, only the unaffected ear clicks. I believe that the eustachian tube on the affected side is blocked, despite all the spray. I feel some pressure in the affected side of my head and at the back - this is less than it has been. There is some tenderness below the affected ear when I press.
I am concerned about the possible underlying causes that I read about, and the possibility that the tinnitus is now permanent after the eardrum being pressurised for so long.
As I said at the start, my tinnitus is less severe than what many people here are going through. I hope I have reported something here that is helpful to other people. I will share any updates on my situation in the coming weeks.
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MasseyFerguson
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I have exactly the same thing.... exactly. And got all the useless advice and comments too. I sit and listen to the sound of calm rain in the background as white noise to drown out the hissing noise in my one ear, and it helps....and if this is psychological.... they're full of it my friend.
I'm sorry for your situation. For you, did the tinnitus come on following a head cold or some other infection around the ear/nose/throat?
I'm not medically trained, but I work on medical topics for a voluntary role unrelated to tinnitus, so I will dig into the medical literature on tinnitus if I need to.
Mine came after the initial Covid infection, which was a pretty good jolt. Then the subsequent two more variant infections months apart as this thing was mutating. My immune system is compromised, and I have lots of other stuff....but the tinnitus is becoming a bit more apparent over this last year. I know it has something to do with damage to my Eustachian tube...whether it's nerve damage or damage to the canal, I don't know... I do know that when I press on the area behind my ear where the tube is, the sound gets quieter. So that is an interesting indication that maybe it is something to do with nerve damage... not sure. I do have a minor understanding of anatomy...but this one is a mystery. I'd be rich if I could solve this.
Let me know how things progress with you, I'm interested on any kind of info that may solve this problem..best wishes.
OK. Thanks for the extra info! I hope to see the second doctor tomorrow or as soon as I can get an appointment. I will update on progress here. I wish I could promise good news, but we will see.
Firstly, your T is not psychological. Half of the Scottish population are now suffering with T as a result of medically harmful climate changes.Check your elevation above sea level. Avoid the use of medications and adopt the deep breathing habit daily. Your hearing malfunction is likely to be a manifestion of a physical abnormality such as a blocked Eustation tube.
You have accurately described exactly my experience to a t.
Mine came after congestion had built in my sinuses on one side. I won’t get into my disappointing experience with the GP but I did have some luck with an ENT referral (a second one at least) and an MRI.
Clear as crystal is congestion on the right side (no infection, no polyps etc). Along with that was my habit of sniffing as a result, a clenched jaw and tension in my neck and shoulder.
Our working theory is that my eustachian tube is blocked and not clearing due to the back log of congestion pouring in and my tension in that area stopping it from pouring out effectively.
Here’s what I am working on now, and seeing progress (slow but in the right direction).
Firstly, fuck steroid sprays as they end up being counter productive. Steam, saline sprays and netti pot sinus rinsing. Saunas/steam rooms. Nose breathing exercises. These are helping, but are basically like weed whacking. Keep going until they are all gone but be aware they will creep back in, so don’t depend on that alone.
Second, working on the tension in my neck and jaw. Get a physio self referral and describe that tension in and around your ear. Check your jaw, sternocleidomastoid muscle, neck mobility and shoulder alignment. Tight spots in that area. Shoulder alignment and level on both sides. I’m making progress on this and it often gives me relief in my neck, a feeling of post nasal drip and clearance on that side and the tone changing from that pitchy squeal to a seashell/airplane muffle sound. Progress.
Finally, I use the pressure release nose hold to check progress and have used otovent in the past, but it’s ab indication not route one. Literally could almost feel my ear clear/depressurise yesterday. So, I’m keeping the process going and plan to be very methodical for a few weeks up to Christmas and see if I can get the area to relax, open up and reset to a less tense and narrowed space in my eustachian tube.
If any of that sounds familiar or makes sense let me know. Fingers crossed.
I have high pitched ringing and pressure in left ear and occasionally in my right ear as well. It started the day I started levothyroxine 100mcg for underactive thyroid. April 24. I was over medicated and ended up in A&E with ischaemic irregularity. The hissing is like just before fainting. Endocrinologist says nothing to do with levothyroxine. !?!I've had several otitis media in left ear since Jan 24, 3 lots antibiotics and otomise ear spray. Got tinnitus clinic triage appointment 6/12. (Was referred in May)
Tinnitus is linked to underactive thyroid (recent bloods show I am under medicated at the moment) and vitb12 deficiency- which I think I have. I'm taking very high dose vitb12 sublingual. Will see if that helps together with higher dose of T4/ T3.
I'm seeing an acupuncturist today and I'll ask her if she can help.
The pressure feels like wriggling worm in my ear and I have tender left mastoid bone which I reckon is enlarged on left side. Pain radiating down neck.
10 Months+ This is worse than COVID times and is a real challenge when they really are the experts when it comes to diagnosis, treatment etc.
While waiting for an official diagnosis I would suggest trying to reax your body and mind as much as you can.
If there is an underlying physical cause for your Tinnitus then its possible it may resolve naturally so until diagnosed and if not recommended by a GP or Nurse then I would suggest leaving things be.
I would caution against giving your Tinnitus too much attention (easier said than done I know) but if it is Mild now and you can get it even milder with further anxiety reduction etc then with or without Tinnitus your future looks positive.
"The nurse and the two GPs have hinted about having to live with it, and the cause being psychological."
Its frustrating to read this. I wonder why so many GPs and Health professionals say this!
It would be more accurate to say. In most causes we don't ever identify a specific cause but you can live well with Tinnitus
Or
Tinnitus is often first heard following any number of potential events (including illness/loud noise exposure/periods of anxiety or stress but once people learn to control their anxious response it can be managed well or in some cases disappear all together
Not sure if people would agree with the above but got to be better than what they are saying.
Get used to it is all I can suggest, but that is the bottom line. Some are okay with masking it through hearing aids and phone apps. It does help a little but not much for me. Welcome to the frustration of Tinnitus club, I can honestly say nothing really helps. Good luck.
I have tinnitus and pressure in my head, due to clogged eustacian tubes. It all started with a throat infection , following an Inner Ear infection, after a syringing done by an ENT. The next day after the syringing , I woke up with earpain and tinnitus . I wish she had sent me home, asking me to come back, after the throat infection, had cleared up.
I am still struggling with tinnitus after 8 years, 24/7. Both ears. 🥲
I think saying something is psychological is nothing but a get out for not knowing and not really caring.
I have tinnitus in both ears - different pitches and different ‘extra sounds’ I was referred to ENT following microsuction when the audiologist saw ‘something’ she hadn’t seen before.
Ent consultant when I finally saw him 11 months later wasn’t interested - said he couldn’t see the images clearly enough to see what she meant, said my eardrums were clear, eventually when I asked about hearing aids he gave me one! Just the one. He didn’t actually ask me any questions or I would have told him that side of my face always feels full, ear pain in bone behind ear and I feel dizzy etc.
I have just paid privately to see a different ENT consultant who also says he can see my eardrums and that he doesn’t think I’m dizzy - I had to stand with my feet together and my arms extended - I didn’t fall over so I can’t be dizzy! When I asked him why my left ear feel so bad he agreed to let me pay for an MRI scan.
Hopefully that will show that the discomfort in my ear is not caused by anything sinister. But bottom line - I don’t think some of those doctors are remotely interested. A 5.00pm appointment in a private hospital is just moonlighting reall.
The first consultant looked at me as if he felt why was I bothering him - I should have gone to Specsavers for a hearing test. Same with the one I paid for, I think both thought I was just some dopey old lady whose hearing is going and at 75 what do I expect.
I live in England and although Specsavers do free eye tests you have to be referred by your GP to have NHS hearing aids fitted, some counties can self refer but unfortunately not where I live.
I’m totally not impressed with ENT and their attitude. I’m very cross but I wouldn’t say that is making my tinnitus worse 😉 so many of us with the same grumbles does make you wonder doesn’t it,
Someone posted this on another site about use of language by doctors so true
I have T in my left ear only, luckily I have a great GP, I’ve had an MRI scan and that showed nothing sinister. I take a very low dose of Sertraline and twice a week Amitriptyline to help with sleep (used to be daily). I live with it, and like you it’s not as bad as many who post on here.
Thanks everyone for all the replies. I had another call with the second GP early last week. He prescribed a different nasal spray and I have been applying it since then. I asked the GP if he expected the tinnitus to go away when the tube is open, and he said yes, it should.
In just under a week, there has been no change to the tinnitus sound in the affected ear and the pressure in my head is still there intermittently, but as a positive sign, roughly every second day I have noticed that the affected ear pops when I swallow or blow out hard against a pinched noise. This is new. So there is a glimmer of hope that the tube is clearing and this may ultimately fix the issue. I've certainly slept better than I have done since August, not sure why, as the whistle and pressure are still there.
I will post further updates...
I appreciate that there are many different experiences with tinnitus, and mine is relatively minor compared to much of what I read on this site. I hope that everyone here can find some resolution to their suffering.
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