Tinnitus Started during bad chest infection

[Squarkyboy]

My T started during a bad chest infection which eventually made me go to the doctor for some Penicillin. Just lately my left ear popped and my T changed tone and stopped for a moment. I investigated and found a YouTube video about draining your Eustachian tubes, it worked after pulling my ears around and swallowing to encourage the ears to pop. I was amazed at all the yellow brown gunk that drained into my throat which I spat out. The T subsided for quite awhile after that, but it build up again as the tubes fill up again. Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience. Thanks

[rabbits65]

Yes I am sure that my Eustachian tubes block up. In the beginning when I first experienced tinnitus I did a lot of research on these tubes . I’ve not had the yellow stuff you mentioned . Also when I asked ENT to check my Eustachian tubes they seemed to overlook that fact. I’ve always been convinced that I have more going on than just tinnitus . Like I’ve said before we have to do our own research . Also blocked sinuses don’t help matters either.

[Squarkyboy in reply to rabbits65]

Hi rabbits65 Thanks for the reply. I think all the yellow/ brown gunk was a left over from my chest infection. I know when I first started with the T my ears felt like they were blocked but the Doc and ENT said there was no wax in the outer ear, but I guess it was the Eustachian tubes that were clogged up.

[ks1966]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Do you mind sharing the YouTube link with us? Thanks

[Squarkyboy in reply to ks1966]

This is the video I followed a bit cheesy but it worked for me. youtu.be/Xi73GVJSMmI(Not working as expected?)

[Mille23]

Almost my story. I had a throat infection and a lot of ear wax in my ears. I went to the ENT to have my ears syringed. And thought that I would ask the ENT to have a look in my throat at the same time. Bad idea, as I got a terribly ear pain after the syringe. The next morning I woke up with tinnitus. Could not pop my ears, and still have problems with that. It is 6 years ago and the tinnitus has gotten worse. After the 3 covid injections and the covid infection I had in february this year, tinnitus has become much, much worse. 🥺 almost driving me crazy, as it runs 24/7. Hope you will cope better 😊

[oldskir in reply to Mille23]

ENT usually use micro suction to remove ear wax, not syringing/water irrigation.

Are you sure they didn't use micro suction?

I had micro suction at an audiologist last July. Big regrets, it made my existing tinnitus worse,

[Mille23 in reply to oldskir]

Yes it was syringing. It was an ENT who retired half a year later. I wish my problems had started later on, as her clinic was passed on to a much younger and modern doctor. I know from other visits to other ENT that they dont use syringing, as it is too hard for the ears.

[Akrin]

Hello! I've had T for 18 years, but last year my right ear clogged right up while I had a bad cold. It lasted a week, i could not do the vasalva maneuver at all to make my ears pop. But then the clogg vanished and I was left with a broken feeling in my ear and a T that was worse than ever. Went to see a GP and they couldnt see my full eardrum because of wax. I got rid of the wax with an at home remedy because I couldnt handle the suction thing they have to remove wax. Went back to GP a few days later and got diagnosed with othosalpingitis, which is basically a blocked eustacian tube that makes liquid build up behind the eardrum. I was so worried that because i didnt feel the ear being clogged up anymore that this was a new level of T, They said it should go away within 1 week to 3 months. The new noise disappeared after another few days but my eardrum was sore fore another few months, couldnt dive while swimming at all last summer. Now I got the exact same thing again, went to see the gp today to rule out ear infection because Im very sore this time around, as well as a broken feeling in my ear, and a T thats so much worse than usual.

I hope this is what happened to you too and the reason to your T. It should clear within days/weeks if thats so. Interesting that you managed to drain your tubes by pulling your ears, will look into that!

[oldskir in reply to Akrin]

There are quite a few videos on youtube with exercises to help the Eustachian tubes empty.

I found the one below quite useful, but only the pulling the ears quickly to the side bit, and massaging the bone in the skull just above the top of the ear. Also just opening and closing your jaw quickly 5 or 6 times as if you were chewing something can also help.

youtu.be/9S7dukWIn7k(Not working as expected?)

[Squarkyboy in reply to Akrin]

This is the video I followed a bit cheesy but it worked for me. youtu.be/Xi73GVJSMmI(Not working as expected?)

[Squarkyboy in reply to Akrin]

Thanks for your reply Akrin. I went to the Doctors yesterday and she prescribed another round of antibiotics as the ear looked sore. I have the same feeling now that I had before I managed to get my Eustachian tube to drain but can’t get it to drain this time. Very frustrating.

[Squarkyboy in reply to Akrin]

Update :- just managed to get my left ear to pop using the toynbee maneuver. With my tongue on the roof of my mouth I managed to get out some more yellow/ brown crap out of my Eustachian tube and the T subsided. I tried to do this last night but it just wouldn’t work so had a bad nights sleep with noisy T. Hope the antibiotics sorts out the perceived infection and it all settles down.