Pressure and ringing in my ears

[LewisThomas]

Hi first time posting on here. I was involved in a light car crash eight weeks ago. 4 days later I started to receive dizziness and headaches and pressure & ringing in my ears. As the weeks have went on the ringing in my ears is constantly there over the last couple of weeks I’ve noticed when I’ve been yawning I’ve been getting a clicking noise in my left ear and sometimes in my right ear. The clicking noise is always there now when I yawn

I went to see an audiologist and had some hearing tests done and she did notice that my right ear was not performing that well so she referred me to go and see a ENT doctor. My GP has referred me to go and see a ENT doctor put the waiting list is six months.

Just don’t know what to do

[Happyrosie]

Firstly, your medical team seem confident there’s nothing really nasty going on. We aren’t medical people here, just tinnitus sufferers, so can’t comment from a medical standpoint.

Please be aware there’s no “cure” for tinnitus as such, but there are ways of dealing with it. You could scroll through some posts here to see what people have said, but your best starting point in my view is the charity British Tinnitus Association.

Have a look at their website and maybe give them a ring.

[LewisThomas in reply to Happyrosie]

Cheers

[doglover1973]

Hi LewisThomas Sorry to hear about your accident and subsequent problems with your ears. All you can do is wait I'm afraid - unless you choose to go privately. I waited 16 months for ENT . In the meantime you can find out about tinnitus and the various ways to cope with it. It's a good idea to start with the BTA . They are a mine of information, help & support. Hope you feel better soon.

[purenostalgia]

Hi Lewis, you have made a positive start by sharing things with us on this forum, I was lucky to get help within 3 weeks, I am just about coping with my Tinnitus at the moment.

Like Rosie says, I have accepted that there is no cure for my Tinnitus.

Please keep us informed on how you are coping, it is a great help to members of this forum.

Good Look

Take Care

Mike

[LewisThomas in reply to purenostalgia]

Will do. Cheers

[Mat189]

Hello. I am only talking from my experience and I’m far from being medically trained. I waited a long time for ENT and also went private. Waste of time! From reading this forum I don’t think I have ever seen ENT being of any help.

I get headaches and have mild high pitched T. I have had a few spells of really loud humming which was very depressing.

I am going to an Osteopath next week to look at my C1/C2. He thinks it is coming from upper cervical issues. As you were in a car crash it may help you. It was one of his first questions to me regarding car crash or any neck damage.

Only my thoughts mate. Hope you get sorted as it is so depressing.

[rabbits65]

I am sorry to hear about your accident . I am sure the shock has not done your system any good .So your referral to ENT has at least been done and your at least on their waiting list. If you want and feel the need to be seen quicker you can go down the private route. Get a one off consultation that will cost about 195 pounds then ask to be referred back to NHS after your first visit saying you can’t afford to go private this is what I did , I got seen that way nice and quickly. I had one private appointment and one scan that I paid for, then transferred to the NHS

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear what you're going through, Lewis and hope things improve.

It does sound like it is worth investigating any neck issues? That or the stress of the accident? You've maybe had a bad jolt without being fully aware...

I take cinnarzine for vertigo and tinnitus and it helps ease ear pressure. I've been diagnosed with menieres disease then vestibular migraine then saw a private ENT who agreed vestibular migraine then recently back to menieres disease on my 3rd visit to NHS ENT in the space of 14 months.

I recommend going to ENT with an open mind, lots of questions and remain in the room until you're satisfied. Also, you can ask for an open appointment, allowing you to return within six months. They may try to put you off but you can just insist the situation is so stressful you need to know you can return. I said this and it worked. I was finding the symptoms stressful and even found the ENT appointment overwhelming due to the build up, waiting etc. I have a bit of anxiety too.

My private consultation was £200. I was going through work absences - so the private report was useful as it was more detailed and I gave this to occupational health for my long-term work absence. Medically, the consultant was pretty much the same as NHS - however it did feel good being listened to and not feeling rushed.

My most recent NHS ENT consultant was a different one from the two previously and he was excellent, to be fair. He listened well and clarified that he had my symptoms interpreted correctly. He gave me the open appointment which I'm relieved about. I wish I could give it to you!

Cinnarzine is available over the counter (called Sturgeron) as an anti travel sickness tablet but does a lot more and, as mentioned, may help your ear pressure.

Another thing that helped me was a neurology consultant recommended high strength B2 riboflavin and said this helps with inner ears, the pressure, balance and a panicky feeling I was getting. Said it had to be high strength but couldn't be prescribed by NHS (probably due to cost) - said he was recommending this to many people that didn't want to take anti-depressants or betablockers. After a couple of months on 250 mg B2 (from Amazon) the pain in my ears reduced so I think it helped and I still take B2 along with liquid iron supplement.

I would keep casting around for ideas as you're doing and a chiropractor sounds like a good idea.

If you have good days and bad then make the most of the good ones and try to find ways to relax. Good luck.