Recent content by Gandalf

  1. Gandalf

    Tinnitus Does Not Get to Me Anymore: My 1-Year Update

    As a recent tinnitus sufferer (2.5 months) and recent member of this forum, I have to say that your story is the most valuable I've come across, and not only because of its positivity. Getting through to the other side and transitioning back to life is the only viable choice we can make. The...
  2. Gandalf

    3 Months In, God Only Knows What Caused My Tinnitus

    Your story is very similar to mine, though I'm coming up to the 2-month mark (I'm many years your senior). My tinnitus is similar to what you describe, and I also have hypertension, though I've been under treatment for it for years and it's been under control. I aso have a clicking in my jaw...
  3. Gandalf

    Six Weeks In — Tinnitus After Ear Wax Removal and Molar Extraction

    Thank you for your wise and kind advice. My hearing loss is mild, and upon seeing the results of my hearing test the ENT exclaimed that my hearing is very good "for my age" (going on 68). My chart shows a modest dip in the higher frequencies, but apparently not below the threshold at which it...
  4. Gandalf

    Unilateral Tinnitus After Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

    Very well-articulated history, thanks for that! There’s a lot of talk about tinnitus being a possible adverse effect (AE) of the COVID-19 vaccine. I had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine and although my longtime career has been in pharmaceutical advertising and have extensively researched AE...
  5. Gandalf

    Six Weeks In — Tinnitus After Ear Wax Removal and Molar Extraction

    I have relatively recent-onset tinnitus (going on 7 weeks since the tonal symptoms began), and I remain confused about the fullness that I feel in my ears (mainly the right) along with the tinnitus sounds. You would think it's related to Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, but my ENT says there's...
  6. Gandalf

    Tinnitus After 2nd Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine — Now Getting Better

    Yep. I'm actually coming around to thinking there's a connection to the vaccine. The same Dr. Poland, I've read, believes the tinnitus in this case is an "off-target inflammatory response" based on the vaccines' high "reactogenicity." His hunch is that over time this effect will dissipate or...
  7. Gandalf

    Unilateral Tinnitus After Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

    You and your doctors have been impressively thorough in exploring different strategies to address your tinnitus. I'm not surprised by your diminishing returns-response to prednisone; it's typically a short-term solution. Did your MRI reveal anything of note? (I postponed getting mine, but I'll...
  8. Gandalf

    Tinnitus After 2nd Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine — Now Getting Better

    I myself received the 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine on the 24th of March. My tinnitus kicked in 2 months later. It's possible that my tinnitus is a delayed response to the vaccine, but how can we know for sure? I'm almost 68 years old, so I know that my age carries a risk of hearing loss and...
  9. Gandalf

    Tinnitus After 2nd Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine — Now Getting Better

    Is there a remote possibility that the COVID-19 vaccine played a part in tinnitus? Sure. Personally, I don’t think it did.
  10. Gandalf

    Poll: What Effect Does Alcohol Have on Your Tinnitus?

    Drinking alcohol has thus far not affected my tinnitus at all; in fact, it tends to improve the symptoms a bit. As someone who doesn't do recreational drugs of any kind, having a drink (one) or a couple of glasses of wine clearly eases the stress related to my recent-onset tinnitus. It's...
  11. Gandalf

    Would My Tinnitus Stop If I Quit My Stressful Job?

    I believe stress can perpetuate or make tinnitus worse, but I don't believe stress, in and of itself, causes tinnitus. Just over a year ago I retired from an extremely stressful line of work. My tinnitus began 6 weeks ago during (what I believe to be) the happiest and most stress-free time in my...
  12. Gandalf

    I Woke Up to Ringing in the Ears — ENT Thinks I Have Stress-Induced Tinnitus

    It's interesting that the physiotherapist helped reduce your tinnitus in that manner. I know that my tinnitus changes in pitch (especially in my right ear) when I contort my jaw. I mentioned this to my ENT but he glossed over it and didn't see the relevance. I've always avoided chiropractors...
  13. Gandalf

    Noise-Induced Tinnitus; Years of Headphone Use

    I've been a headphone ("audiophile" headphones) enthusiast for decades and recently developed tinnitus. I've never listened to them at high volume, at least I never thought so. My audiologist, as she reviewed my hearing test chart, does not believe my mild hearing loss (slight dips in the higher...
  14. Gandalf

    Six Weeks In — Tinnitus After Ear Wax Removal and Molar Extraction

    My tinnitus (apparently) began with an intermittent ticking in my right ear. I used Debrox for about 5 days, at the end of which a clump of wax came out of the ear (gross, I know) and the ticking stopped. Around the same time I had 2 molars extracted from my lower jaw and subsequently got...