3 Weeks of Tinnitus! (Any Advice?)

[tyjkramer]

Hi everyone! I have been posting on here a little bit just to settle my nerves, and sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't, but here's my story! Any advice is very appreciated!

So about 3 weeks ago, I had my college orientation. I was obviously very nervous (especially because the college is 1100 miles away from home). On the flight back home (Florida to Michigan), I was wearing headphones and took some Benadryl to deal with a really bad allergic skin rash I was having (it was bad). I was dozing on and off. When I landed, no problems, no exposure to loud noises or anything.

The next day I woke up and was fine for the whole day, until bed. Literally out of NOWHERE my ears started ringing. I thought it was just something temporary and thought I wouldn't worry about it too much. Woke up the next morning, rash was there as was my new ringing and clicking when I swallowed, needed to be popped all the time, and has occasional pain.. I immediately saw the first doctor I could. He said I had contact dermatitis and that my eardrum was retracted. He prescribed a Prednisone taper (30mg for 3, 20mg for 3, and 10mg for 3) and said everything should clear up.

Well, Prednisone and I are not exactly friends, so I freaked out and decided to see an ENT. He removed some earwax from my left ear and said that it was a very minor retraction if anything, and not to worry. Audiologist there did a few hearing tests as well, pressure was normal, hearing was normal, no damage. ENT gave me some lipoflavonoids and sent me on my way. Well, the ringing did not stop after that. My primary care referred me to another ENT that he knew. She saw nothing wrong with either ear, said all of that was normal, told me to try and habituate, and that in most cases everything will just fade on its own. She also did an ABR to see if there was a neuroma (there wasn't), and sent me on my way. She also said I have TMJ and chronic rhinitis which I never really had complaints about but okay.

So I went to my allergist about the rhinitis and told him about everything that was going on. He was the ONLY doctor to even mention anything about the plane ride, or my Eustachian tubes, or my pain. This was weird because he is an allergist and was more help than either of the ENTs. He put me on a Prednisone taper again (a shorter one just to see if there was any inflammation that could be reduced) and has been keeping notes on me. Two days ago, I was at a graduation party, and it seemed that every time I yawned or swallow I had some auto phony in my ears, which was EXTREMELY annoying. I see my allergist again tomorrow.

I am just looking for any advice that could be given to me about this. I am leaving for school in a couple days and I do not feel stressed or anxious about it (maybe my subconscious is but I don't know). My ringing can be masked by the wind, sitting outside and listening to the cicadas, sometimes the TV, sometimes the fan. It isn't very loud, but when I am sitting on my couch on my phone it is bad, it was bad when I was packing yesterday, I can already see problems in the future. Although every doctor said it usually goes away, after reading some stories on here, I am not convinced...

Any advice? Do you think this is going to fade away soon? (P.S. The past two mornings, it seems like it has not been as noticeable but then hits later, then in the evening around 6 ish it becomes less noticeable and worrisome.) Thank you for anything!!

 

[John CC]

Hi TYJKramer It seems to me like an oxymoron, welcoming someone to a site devoted to Tinnitus, something no one wants, but which we live with. With that said, welcome. I too am new to this forum and I am relieved you have found it. I have found it to be an excellent source of information, and importantly support. Everyone knows what you are going through, and you are not alone, you have support at this site. There are others who regularly read, support and answer your questions. Just realize that this site is a world wide site, so if people do not respond right away, it is because they may be on another continent. So when you look for responses and your thinking, only 1 reply, give it some time. Give it some time, from what I have read 1 - 3 months is the time where it may start to fade, and as it isn't constant, that is good too. BUT you need to take care of your hearing starting now.

I encourage you to read the posts in the Introduce Yourself section, and the Support Section. It may help you gain some insight to issues and aspects of Tinnitus. From what I have started to learn is that loud noise = bad (so at the start listen to your music at a lower volume and movies can be loud so be wary, and so can univiersity parties), ear protection = good, being aware and not letting your guard down, e.g., going into a loud restaurant or coffee shop without ear protection and thinking it will be ok = not good, realizing and having and believing in your future and hope = good. I strongly encourage you to find some good ear plugs (at a store or a number of people have purchased them online, and make sure that they decrease the decible level substantially, min. 15 to 20 bd as a start), and then get used to wearing them for the next little while. You will be faced with a dilema, new at campus, do I really want to wear earplugs. Your mind will make you think everyone is looking at them, but they aren't. I have also read where some people get ear muffs, the orange head phones that construction guys where with the Jackhammer. Relax they are not all bright orange, and some have commented that they just look like regular earphones. I would also avoid listening to music via ear buds, as that could hurt your recovery. Always remember to think of the alternative when you hesitate to put them in, don't protect your ears now, you may be livng with it for a long time. As a number of people have commented you do not always get a second chance at getting rid of tinnitus, so don't be careless. Coffee Girl, Bill B., Fishbone, Micheal L. Glnyis among others who have a lot of good ideas, and more expereience than I do.
Best of luck, I hope this helps.
John CC

 

[Bill Bauer]

Literally out of NOWHERE my ears started ringing.

My ears began ringing 10 days after my acoustic trauma...

I am just looking for any advice that could be given to me about this.

Here you go: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...eone-else-who-has-tinnitus.26850/#post-307822

Do you think this is going to fade away soon?

It is still reasonable to hope that it will fade. Ears take forever to heal, so you might have to wait 3-24 months for it to happen.

he past two mornings, it seems like it has not been as noticeable

The fact that you are feeling better less than a month after onset is an encouraging sign. Good for you.

 

[JonathanWS]

The pressure change from the plane could have done a little damage to your inner ear. As long your hearing is normal, it is more than likely it will go away once the ear settles. Find some eustachian tube exercises on youtube. Stay away from inflammatory foods like sugar and excessive salt. Just couch it as much as you can, don't donstrenuous activity, drink or smoke, and you should be fine in another month or two.

For short term comfort, find therapy sounds on Spotify, YouTube, or this website. You'll find the right white/pink/blue noises to mask the ringing if you try them out. Good luck.