Hi all,
I'm new here and currently 3 months in, I'm trying to cope and prepare myself for the possibility of having this for the rest of my life. Though I'm still optimistic I'll make a recovery.
A little backstory - in the beginning of May I developed some a toothache/ear pain, I consulted a doctor through the phone (afraid to visit a doctor during the pandemic) who said it sounded like an ear infection and prescribed me antibiotics.
I took that for 2-3 days but I felt extremely nauseous and dizzy and just horrible on it so I was prescribed a different antibiotic. I took that for 5/10 days prescribed (I know I should've finished them but I felt okay so I stopped).
A couple days after that I woke up because I heard ringing in my ears and immediately panicked. I rushed to the ER and waited hours to see a doctor who looked into my ears, said I had some fluid in my left ear, that I didn't require antibiotics and that I have sinusitis. She prescribed me with a medication called mometasone furoate nasal spray to take for 2 weeks. Within those 2 weeks the ringing was on and off, some days yes some days no- but sure enough the ringing returned for good.
I was getting a little more scared at this point, the ringing became unbearable to a point where it kept me up some nights till 6AM.
I called my GP who at that point was only taking phone calls and not in-person visits. Suggested I get tested for COVID-19 (I did and it came back negative) or to seek out another doctor in the ER to check if the fluid in my ear remains.
I did just that, another doctor looked into my ears, said there was indeed fluid in my right ear and it looked infected so she then prescribed me with another antibiotic called clindamycin, I took this 4 times a day for 10 days as per instructions... but the ringing still was there.
I was beginning to panic and had lots of anxiety everyday which didn't help the ringing. It was at this point I also noticed popping/clicking in my ears when I swallow and pressure in my ears.
I finally got an ENT to see me, feeling a little more hopeful. I did a hearing test and an ear pressure test I think is what she called it, which apparently came back normal.
When I finally saw the doctor he was entirely dismissive and cut me off when asking a question about the tinnitus "-the ringing is entirely stress related, everyone is stressed out with everything happening with COVID-19", he said. He told me to do relaxing things and destress. Didn't even seem concerned about not being able to relieve the pressure in my ears. Then sent me on my way.
Here I am now, 2 weeks later still all of the same symptoms, but now my jaw pops and clicks when I open it too wide. The ringing has lowered since it started and I can actually sleep now, so I'm trying to take advantage of this.
But the possibility of this staying forever and the unpredictability of the volume of the ringing really gives me a lot of anxiety. I'm thinking it could either be TMJ or ETD but of course I'm waiting to see another ENT to fully confirm this, but I don't feel optimistic about seeing another one given how rude and dismissive the first one was.
I'm hoping this isn't forever, I know ears take time to heal so I'm trying to stay positive.
For those who've been suffering longer than I have, I fully sympathize with you, tinnitus has really turned my world upside down.
I'm new here and currently 3 months in, I'm trying to cope and prepare myself for the possibility of having this for the rest of my life. Though I'm still optimistic I'll make a recovery.
A little backstory - in the beginning of May I developed some a toothache/ear pain, I consulted a doctor through the phone (afraid to visit a doctor during the pandemic) who said it sounded like an ear infection and prescribed me antibiotics.
I took that for 2-3 days but I felt extremely nauseous and dizzy and just horrible on it so I was prescribed a different antibiotic. I took that for 5/10 days prescribed (I know I should've finished them but I felt okay so I stopped).
A couple days after that I woke up because I heard ringing in my ears and immediately panicked. I rushed to the ER and waited hours to see a doctor who looked into my ears, said I had some fluid in my left ear, that I didn't require antibiotics and that I have sinusitis. She prescribed me with a medication called mometasone furoate nasal spray to take for 2 weeks. Within those 2 weeks the ringing was on and off, some days yes some days no- but sure enough the ringing returned for good.
I was getting a little more scared at this point, the ringing became unbearable to a point where it kept me up some nights till 6AM.
I called my GP who at that point was only taking phone calls and not in-person visits. Suggested I get tested for COVID-19 (I did and it came back negative) or to seek out another doctor in the ER to check if the fluid in my ear remains.
I did just that, another doctor looked into my ears, said there was indeed fluid in my right ear and it looked infected so she then prescribed me with another antibiotic called clindamycin, I took this 4 times a day for 10 days as per instructions... but the ringing still was there.
I was beginning to panic and had lots of anxiety everyday which didn't help the ringing. It was at this point I also noticed popping/clicking in my ears when I swallow and pressure in my ears.
I finally got an ENT to see me, feeling a little more hopeful. I did a hearing test and an ear pressure test I think is what she called it, which apparently came back normal.
When I finally saw the doctor he was entirely dismissive and cut me off when asking a question about the tinnitus "-the ringing is entirely stress related, everyone is stressed out with everything happening with COVID-19", he said. He told me to do relaxing things and destress. Didn't even seem concerned about not being able to relieve the pressure in my ears. Then sent me on my way.
Here I am now, 2 weeks later still all of the same symptoms, but now my jaw pops and clicks when I open it too wide. The ringing has lowered since it started and I can actually sleep now, so I'm trying to take advantage of this.
But the possibility of this staying forever and the unpredictability of the volume of the ringing really gives me a lot of anxiety. I'm thinking it could either be TMJ or ETD but of course I'm waiting to see another ENT to fully confirm this, but I don't feel optimistic about seeing another one given how rude and dismissive the first one was.
I'm hoping this isn't forever, I know ears take time to heal so I'm trying to stay positive.
For those who've been suffering longer than I have, I fully sympathize with you, tinnitus has really turned my world upside down.
I'm 6 weeks in and my symptoms are very similar to yours. Though, I only have tinnitus in my right ear and the doc says there's no fluid. It's most likely ETD. Also, I hate it when doctor's just pass things off as stress. I had a GI doctor tell me one time it was purely stress when I was puking anytime I ate. I demanded they shove a camera down my throat and who woulda known they found gastritis!! So, keep pushing them and don't just listen to them when they overlook your symptoms. It's your health and your body so you know when something is wrong with it. Best of luck with your tinnitus and your ears, I'm sure everything will end up okay <3
