Quick question

[Whitburn]

Does tinnitus ever go away? I think I had occasional, low level tinnitus before in my life but I never really noticed it and it never bothered me. But I have had this loud and constant tinnitus for more than 5 weeks now. It is invasive and is accompanied by a fullness in my ear and a muzzy head. I am 62 and have good hearing and great health. I wonder if this is with me forever? 😭

[Cheshire123]

This is a similar situation to mine, I have had low level tinnitus for around 20 years and apart from the earlier days when it worried me I soon got used to it and never considered myself a sufferer, until this past 3 months, when the volume has really increased to the point nothing drowns it out. I can have a couple of good days and sometimes even silence but it never lasts and always comes back. I have all sorts of strange sensations going on in my ears like popping if I move my head, not the kind of pop you would get on a plane but like something is moving. I also cannot pop my ears if I hold my nose and blow. I apparently have very mild hearing loss but nothing significant (also my tinnitus was raging at the time of the test so that would not have helped). I feel in limbo at the moment, very long wait for ENT so doubt I will get to see one and even if I did from what I hear they are not much help. I am sure its eustachian tube disfunction or possibly neck issues but I have no idea how to go about treating it. Sorry I can't be much help but I am starting to think this is the new me and I have not quite at peace with that thought yet. Have you seen anyone about it? Especially the fullness in the ear, it could be something treatable for you I would defintely get it looked at asap, in the meantime you could probably try nasal sprays but I'm no medic so speak to you pharmacist please dont take what I have said as medical advice! Good luck with it all fingers crossed it quietens down for you

[Whitburn in reply to Cheshire123]

Thank you so much for your reply. I have seen a GP twice. My ear canal and ear drum are clear and look healthy. I have an appointment with audiology today and then a follow up GP appointment to decide on a further course of action after the audiology results. I think, like you, my hearing is largely unchanged. I don't suffer with stress and anxiety either so yeah, I don't really know where it has come from but hopefully it will become clearer as we go forward. If it stays like this forever, then I think I can live with it. Many suffer much worse stuff and in the grand scheme of things I think I can be ok with it. But I would like to know what has brought it on and that there is no other sinister underlying issue. I wish you well on your journey. Thank you for answering and your sharing your experience. It means a lot 🥰.

[Cheshire123 in reply to Whitburn]

Do let us know how you get on, I think we find ways of coping. Today is a bad day for me but the beginning of the week was amazing so that helps me tremendously, plus I have lots to do today so can't sit around listening to it 🙂

[Ray200]

Mine came at 63. Brought on by extreme stress. Never gone away but after 2 years, it is not the problem it was. It has subsided. I seem to have forgotten what not having tinnitus is, which helps. Spiked recently but that was from more, thankfully temporary stress, but even then, it took 4 weeks to increase. Back on its way down at the moment. Hope shines eternal.

[ETHEL103]

Hi.if you read my recent posts I'm in the same boat.Im not pleased with the long Ent wait ,mine was 67 week it's now down to 44.I did pay for a private one but all was told ears look healthy drum wise and he put it down to stress.I don't believe that as surely stress wouldn't make you ear feel full and constant muzzy head and for me unbalanced floaty feeling.Prime example yesterday went for a lovely walk in the country with a friend and after lunch in a pretty garden centre.I felt unbalanced and floaty the whole time .Nothing stops me going out but my point is how can a really enjoyable couple of hours cause stress.Im sure it's my ears as my T has been raging now for 8 months but that alone would be bearable it's all the other symptoms making it worse.Im there with you.

[Caradoc1a]

Tinnitus is also a symptom of underactive thyroid and also B12 deficiency. I have both of these conditions. I'm also going back to see cranial osteopath to check physical issues.

[Rossi50]

Just like me. Had a little T but only heard it now and again on a night trying to sleep. Then lost my mum suddenly Jan 24 in quite traumatic circumstances. Then got cold. Told by GP there was no ear infection and to go home steam to help congestion and think positive the ringing was all grief!! Not exactly helpful. Some mild hearing loss but test taken when T was roaring. Told small ear canals and wax build up had that removed. Then an ear care assistant saw a growth in my ear (cholesteoma) but as I didn't have any other symptoms told nothing to worry about that it was benign. Told by a private ent small ear canals and probably tmj with stress. Tried cranialsarcal therapy didn't really do a lot. Medical profession just told me to get on with it not one of them referred me to either tinnitus UK or rnid for support had to do research myself. NHS ent appointment eventually through over 12 months later. Best people I've listened to is Dr Gladys on Instagram and treble health as well as Julian Cowan hill. I've put strategies in place which has got me back to a position where I'm working and living life as I used to. Whether I'm just getting used to it but it's gone from a piercing ring where I could hear it over conversation to what sounds a bit like a toilet cistern and when I'm busy and distracted then it helps. So no idea is this is progress to habilitation as I haven't found an underlying cause 13 months later!

[Martymacfly]

Unfortunately it only gets worse in my experience and I've had it 5 years and counting. I'm interested to hear you get the fuzzy head symptom as that's not often mentioned on this forum.

[Whitburn in reply to Martymacfly]

Oh dear. If it gets much worse, it will be quite debilitating 😭. I guess we can only try to keep as healthy as possible. I have no health issues at all - great blood pressure, good BMI, fit, healthy and active. I do yoga and I walk miles so it has hit me like a ton of bricks. Is the fuzzy head your experience too?

[Martymacfly in reply to Whitburn]

Yes, very much so and lots of headaches especially around the temples. Don't panic though because I think every case is different from what I've read and understand. Keep positive.

[Barclay0803 in reply to Martymacfly]

I’ve lived with tinnitus for years now. I also have hearing aids. I can have really bad days and now and again I get a cricket sound, it comes on suddenly and is awful. I get a fuzzy head and also light headed sometimes. Tinnitus can be debilitating

[Whitburn]

Thank you so much everyone. This forum has been so helpful. I think I would be in a massive state of panic if it weren't for you guys 🥰🙏

[PABLR]

Once you have ruled out treatable causes you are likely stuck with it. The hairs in the ear are no longer functioning properly. Some people have said it seems to get worse over time, but that isn't necessarily so. Mine has been stable for a very long time with times when it changes or gets worse but then goes back to what I'm used to. The occasional off times are scary because you wonder if that's how it's going to stay, but mine has always gone back. I know mine probably relates to Ménière's disease and I also received a Cochlear Implant a little over a year ago and it's still the same.

[Fridays_Child_62]

These things often come out of the blue for no apparent reason. I doubt that the tinnitus will go away but you are likely to habituate to it, so that it seems more in the background and won't bother you so much, and your ears may eventually settle down with the strange ear/head symptoms subsiding. If the tinnitus is only in one ear, it is usual to be referred for an MRI scan, but it is only a precaution and rarely reveals anything sinister. The best approach is to try to accept the tinnitus and try not to be preoccupied with it, as this will help you habituate quicker - easier said than done, I know.