29-Year-Old Male, Tinnitus Started 4 Days Ago, No Known Cause

[Ciaran88]

Hi guys,

So I think everyone from time to time experiences a little ringing in their ear with maybe some ear pressure and after a few seconds you ignore it and it goes away.

Well I have been very anxious lately and noticed a ringing in my ears a few days ago but rather than ignoring it, I focused on it and began thinking "what if this never goes away" and sure enough here I am 4 days later and my ears are ringing.

It's hard to say if it's left or right sided, tbh it feels like it's just in my brain. It started suddenly with no loud noises in my history nor head trauma or any ear infections or any ears issues ever. I've been told I have pretty small ear canals, that's it.

I've been to the GP who said my right ear was crammed with wax and syringed it out, not too any real benefit, and he said don't worry about it, it's harmless and will go/you'll forget about it. I also went to an audiologist who found no hearing loss in either ear, in fact above average in both for my age.

But as I'm sure many here can relate it's crippling my life right now. It seems to increase in volume to be heard over anything, and might actually be best when the room is silent. If I manage to completely distract myself and calm down (I'm taking diazepam since this started) then it can almost disappear but the moment I think about it even for a split second, it's back.

The only other abnormal thing going on right now besides my anxiety is that I may have a bit of ear pressure and might be a bit more bunged up with mucous than usual, but nothing extreme. I'm trying saline inhalation and a decongestant spray to see if that helps.

Also due to my recent stress I've had daily severe tension headaches for which I've needed lots of paracetamol (but not ibuprofen). I've stopped all meds bar diazepam and the spray since this started though.



Any ideas? I just can't ever imagine getting used to this, I can't think why it has happened, and whilst friends/family tell me of times they're had tinnitus for a few days/week and it went away I feel somehow convinced I'm stuck with this forever...

I'm worried that forums like this self-select people who have permanent and very disruptive tinnitus so I hope I'm doing the right thing coming here so soon and not exposing myself to only one side of what I suppose is a big spectrum, but I'm a very anxious person and any advice would really help at this point I'm off work 3 days now and don't want to make it more.

 

[DebInAustralia]

Hi guys,

So I think everyone from time to time experiences a little ringing in their ear with maybe some ear pressure and after a few seconds you ignore it and it goes away.

Well I have been very anxious lately and noticed a ringing in my ears a few days ago but rather than ignoring it, I focused on it and began thinking "what if this never goes away" and sure enough here I am 4 days later and my ears are ringing.

It's hard to say if it's left or right sided, tbh it feels like it's just in my brain. It started suddenly with no loud noises in my history nor head trauma or any ear infections or any ears issues ever. I've been told I have pretty small ear canals, that's it.

I've been to the GP who said my right ear was crammed with wax and syringed it out, not too any real benefit, and he said don't worry about it, it's harmless and will go/you'll forget about it. I also went to an audiologist who found no hearing loss in either ear, in fact above average in both for my age.

But as I'm sure many here can relate it's crippling my life right now. It seems to increase in volume to be heard over anything, and might actually be best when the room is silent. If I manage to completely distract myself and calm down (I'm taking diazepam since this started) then it can almost disappear but the moment I think about it even for a split second, it's back.

The only other abnormal thing going on right now besides my anxiety is that I may have a bit of ear pressure and might be a bit more bunged up with mucous than usual, but nothing extreme. I'm trying saline inhalation and a decongestant spray to see if that helps.

Also due to my recent stress I've had daily severe tension headaches for which I've needed lots of paracetamol (but not ibuprofen). I've stopped all meds bar diazepam and the spray since this started though.



Any ideas? I just can't ever imagine getting used to this, I can't think why it has happened, and whilst friends/family tell me of times they're had tinnitus for a few days/week and it went away I feel somehow convinced I'm stuck with this forever...

I'm worried that forums like this self-select people who have permanent and very disruptive tinnitus so I hope I'm doing the right thing coming here so soon and not exposing myself to only one side of what I suppose is a big spectrum, but I'm a very anxious person and any advice would really help at this point I'm off work 3 days now and don't want to make it more.

Factors that might have contributed to your t:

. Anxiety
. Focusing on your t
. Wax impaction
. Syringing
. Might have hidden hearing loss
. Contribution of benzo?
. Sinus congestion
. Relationship of headaches to t
. Paracetamol depletes glutathione


But the recurrent theme IMO is your anxiety.

Tinnitus isnt always permanent. Depends on the cause. I cant tell you what caused your t definitively, but i suspect your anxiety is a major player along with the congestion in your sinuses. It is possible, as ive suspected with myself, that youve had very mild, barely audible t without realising what it was until sinus congestion has drawn your attention to your ears, which was then escalated by your preexisting anxiety.

like you said, * rather than ignoring it, i focused on it and began thinking what if this never goes away......*

*the more i think about it even for a split second, it's back...*

You probably know that t has a close relationship with your limbic system, so it makes sense to calm down your cns, work on distracting yourself, and look into cbt mindfulness. Have a look at the back to silence threads and video.

 

[fishbone]

Tinnitus is not a predictable thing. It can go away or stay, we really have no control over it. Everyone at first constantly listened to their tinnitus and monitored it at all times. It takes time and support to manage an ordeal like this. Some even take meds for it. Just know that you are not alone and it is not the end of the world, to have your ears ring.

It is hard, but you can eventually cope and live a life

 

[Ciaran88]

Thanks for the replies guys, I guess tinnitus is one of those things that's too broad to generalise or predict for any one person but you guys are giving some good general advice.

You are very right to pick up on the anxiety element because I have caused myself many somatic symptoms through anxiety in the past. 99% of the year I am fine, but my real world anxiety tends to manifest physically and then I become obsessed with those symptoms. In the past I've had blephospasm (where you eyelid twitches) for 2 weeks straight, benign fasciculation syndrome where your muscles twitch all over, and even about 7-10 days of derealisation.

Yet the rest of the time I am a normally functioning person. I am a doctor so I think I am prone to health anxieties in particular, but tbh us general doctors don't learn much about tinnitus.


Anyway, I have two theories right now, not sure what you guys think:

1) As I say my sinuses are pretty bunged up right now and I seem to detect the tinnitus is worse when I open my jaw wide and also when I breath out hard from my nose (which is blocked) - but I've had blocked sinuses etc. before and never tinnitus

2) If it is anxiety and I am just picking up on tinnitus which is always there (as it perhaps is in all people?) then I am increasingly worried that my anxiety is super-sensitising my brain to the ringing to the point where it can never "tune out" whereas in normal people they can tune out easily?



I don't think the syringing made much difference either way really, but there was a TON of wax in one ear that's for sure.



Btw a lot of people seem to suggest trying to drown out your tinnitus with white noise etc. but I actually find that noice seems to make it worse. The noise of my breathing through my nose for example, a car horn, or some high pitched sound or other seems to spike it.

 

[DebInAustralia]

Thanks for the replies guys, I guess tinnitus is one of those things that's too broad to generalise or predict for any one person but you guys are giving some good general advice.

You are very right to pick up on the anxiety element because I have caused myself many somatic symptoms through anxiety in the past. 99% of the year I am fine, but my real world anxiety tends to manifest physically and then I become obsessed with those symptoms. In the past I've had blephospasm (where you eyelid twitches) for 2 weeks straight, benign fasciculation syndrome where your muscles twitch all over, and even about 7-10 days of derealisation.

Yet the rest of the time I am a normally functioning person. I am a doctor so I think I am prone to health anxieties in particular, but tbh us general doctors don't learn much about tinnitus.


Anyway, I have two theories right now, not sure what you guys think:

1) As I say my sinuses are pretty bunged up right now and I seem to detect the tinnitus is worse when I open my jaw wide and also when I breath out hard from my nose (which is blocked) - but I've had blocked sinuses etc. before and never tinnitus

2) If it is anxiety and I am just picking up on tinnitus which is always there (as it perhaps is in all people?) then I am increasingly worried that my anxiety is super-sensitising my brain to the ringing to the point where it can never "tune out" whereas in normal people they can tune out easily?



I don't think the syringing made much difference either way really, but there was a TON of wax in one ear that's for sure.



Btw a lot of people seem to suggest trying to drown out your tinnitus with white noise etc. but I actually find that noice seems to make it worse. The noise of my breathing through my nose for example, a car horn, or some high pitched sound or other seems to spike it.

tinnitus that is very reactive can be part of having hyperacusis..have you noticed sound sensitivity?

 

[Ciaran88]

tinnitus that is very reactive can be part of having hyperacusis..have you noticed sound sensitivity?

Never before but I notice that this ringing is worse when there are loud sounds around. But prior to this, no issues like that!

I ave to say that my sinuses are becoming more and more blocked as the day goes on but they weren't particularly bad when this started 3-4 days ago. Quite odd.

Its is distinctly worse when I try to breath in through my now almost fully blocked nostrils.

 

[DebInAustralia]

What you are describing is what people here refer to as reactive tinnitus. I am the same, preferring the quiet, as some louder sounds will cause a spike in my t.

I think this is suggestive of hyperacusis.

Blocked sinuses will reduce external input to the brain; dialling up the internal gain so that you perceive your t to be louder and more intrusive.

Definately try to unblock your sinuses. This will contribute to your t loudness.

I can assure you that either way, you are going to be totally fine. Many of us here with severe, unrelenting t and h are living enjoyable and productive lives. It could still resolve. To give it the best chance of going away, id do what i could to keep calm, get plenty of sleep, and stay distracted. Give your brain something else to think about. Try to avoid thinking too far into the future right now. I have anxiety and i find mentally preparing for one day at a time is enough to deal with when i am feeling yuck.

it took me 2 weeks to get back to work. Everyone is different. I had time off due to sleep deprivation. Now i sleep like a baby.

 

[CrazyT]

Its scary going into my 6th week soon, and its still there for me. It's legit torture, hope you will find peace.

 

[Ciaran88]

Maybe it's my anxiety speaking but I just have this horrible feeling that this is it, for whatever reason I instantly acquired tinnitus 3 days ago and I am stuck with it forever and will probably never know why.

I mean.. I can recall the exact moment it started. I had been cleaning up the kitchen on a day off, sat down about to turn on the TV, then looked over back to the kitchen to see if I had left some kind of electrical device on, but no, I stuck my fingers in my ears and yep, it was tinnitus. Out. of. nowhere.

I don't know what I did to deserve this or what will happen now. I have spoken to friends and family who say oh yeah I had it once for a few days or a week or two, after a concert or something or other. I don't feel like that's me, I feel like some damage has been done internally for some obscure reason and there's no going back...

At least, when it's as loud as it is right now, it's just hard to ever imagine it going away.