Hello all, I have been lurking off and on since about 4 months ago, when my T began getting worse. Now after another setback, I feel like telling my story will help me cope. I am going to be as detailed as possible without rambling, I apologize if I do ramble, thank you beforehand for taking the time to read my story.
I am a 25 year old man from Texas, USA. I have had some level of T for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid I remember plugging my ears with my fingers and hearing a ringing sound. For the most part, it never bothered me, I always wore ear plugs at concerts, but I would listen to music louder than I should have and used the in ear sealed headphones most of the time, and when I first started riding motorcycles, I wouldn't use ear plugs for just short jaunts around town.
Earlier this year, I bought a new motorcycle, and while on a long ride with my friends, I had my right ear plug slip out. I did not think much of it at the time but after this ride, I noticed my T had increased in the right ear. Still not particularly bothersome, but worse. I noticed overall that I had a hard time keeping earplugs in my right ear, and unless I put them in in an exact way, they wouldn't feel comfortable.
A few weeks later, I was at the doctor for an unrelated issue, they did a full blood panel, it revealed I was experiencing hypothyroidism. During this visit, I mentioned that my right ear was bothering me, they checked it and they said I had a wax build up, they did a cleaning and I thought the T would dissipate.
Two weeks later, the T was worse, and I was having a lot of pressure and pain in both ears, particularly my right. After nearly vomiting at work from nausea and vertigo, I went to a local clinic and had a checkup, they found a huge blockage in my right ear, and a massive infection. After several weeks of using ear drops, my ears felt normal again but the T remained slightly higher. I eventually became used to it and my life continued.
Now, before I get to my recent issue, let me establish some history. When I was 8, I was swinging on a swing-set in my parents backyard. I for some reason blacked out mid-swing, fell from the set, and broke my left arm, along with a mild concussion. I cannot recall or not if this is when my T started, but it could have been. In high school, I became a gym rat to try and get my weight under control, I still work out regularly, and eat healthily. But it's during working out or strenuous activity that I notice this the most. My right ear will always 'clog up' when exercising. The ear will feel full, and I will hear my breathing very loudly, and have difficulty hearing out of the ear for a period.
Also, as my doctor was examining my symptoms of off and on depression, increased anxiety…they tested for a gene mutation called MTHFR. In short, this mutation can present itself in several ways, and in some cases, it can drastically reduce a person's ability to process B vitamins. And my specific mutation of this gene means I am one of those that will not properly process natural B vitamins.
So now the recent setback. On Saturday, I went on another motorcycle ride with my friends. I was sure I had good earplugs in the whole time, and I even own a quieter helmet. This ride lasted much of the day, and when I got home that night, I noticed my T was louder. I figured it was just from being tired and it would pass with sleep. The next day I woke up, and the T was much louder, in addition to my high pitch usual tone, there was now a buzzing/humming sound that was much deeper. I only notice the deep sound in a very quiet environment, but the higher sound is now loud enough that I can notice it over say a TV at normal volume.
Since the ride, I have noticed pressure in both ears, along with off and on headaches. These symptoms feel similar to what I felt like when I had the bad ear infection earlier this year. Overall, so long as I can keep myself occupied, I can manage. But I have periods of weakness and feel much despair and 'why me' about it. I don't understand why the T is so much worse even though I was being proactive and wearing protection. I am very lucky that my girlfriend is so understanding of my issue and is being supportive. She has her own level of T but it's not at a level that bothers her.
Like all of us here, I am hoping that treatments will come someday that will eliminate T as a widespread affliction. And I wish all of you that have taken the time to read my story the best, thank you for taking the time to read my story.
I am a 25 year old man from Texas, USA. I have had some level of T for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid I remember plugging my ears with my fingers and hearing a ringing sound. For the most part, it never bothered me, I always wore ear plugs at concerts, but I would listen to music louder than I should have and used the in ear sealed headphones most of the time, and when I first started riding motorcycles, I wouldn't use ear plugs for just short jaunts around town.
Earlier this year, I bought a new motorcycle, and while on a long ride with my friends, I had my right ear plug slip out. I did not think much of it at the time but after this ride, I noticed my T had increased in the right ear. Still not particularly bothersome, but worse. I noticed overall that I had a hard time keeping earplugs in my right ear, and unless I put them in in an exact way, they wouldn't feel comfortable.
A few weeks later, I was at the doctor for an unrelated issue, they did a full blood panel, it revealed I was experiencing hypothyroidism. During this visit, I mentioned that my right ear was bothering me, they checked it and they said I had a wax build up, they did a cleaning and I thought the T would dissipate.
Two weeks later, the T was worse, and I was having a lot of pressure and pain in both ears, particularly my right. After nearly vomiting at work from nausea and vertigo, I went to a local clinic and had a checkup, they found a huge blockage in my right ear, and a massive infection. After several weeks of using ear drops, my ears felt normal again but the T remained slightly higher. I eventually became used to it and my life continued.
Now, before I get to my recent issue, let me establish some history. When I was 8, I was swinging on a swing-set in my parents backyard. I for some reason blacked out mid-swing, fell from the set, and broke my left arm, along with a mild concussion. I cannot recall or not if this is when my T started, but it could have been. In high school, I became a gym rat to try and get my weight under control, I still work out regularly, and eat healthily. But it's during working out or strenuous activity that I notice this the most. My right ear will always 'clog up' when exercising. The ear will feel full, and I will hear my breathing very loudly, and have difficulty hearing out of the ear for a period.
Also, as my doctor was examining my symptoms of off and on depression, increased anxiety…they tested for a gene mutation called MTHFR. In short, this mutation can present itself in several ways, and in some cases, it can drastically reduce a person's ability to process B vitamins. And my specific mutation of this gene means I am one of those that will not properly process natural B vitamins.
So now the recent setback. On Saturday, I went on another motorcycle ride with my friends. I was sure I had good earplugs in the whole time, and I even own a quieter helmet. This ride lasted much of the day, and when I got home that night, I noticed my T was louder. I figured it was just from being tired and it would pass with sleep. The next day I woke up, and the T was much louder, in addition to my high pitch usual tone, there was now a buzzing/humming sound that was much deeper. I only notice the deep sound in a very quiet environment, but the higher sound is now loud enough that I can notice it over say a TV at normal volume.
Since the ride, I have noticed pressure in both ears, along with off and on headaches. These symptoms feel similar to what I felt like when I had the bad ear infection earlier this year. Overall, so long as I can keep myself occupied, I can manage. But I have periods of weakness and feel much despair and 'why me' about it. I don't understand why the T is so much worse even though I was being proactive and wearing protection. I am very lucky that my girlfriend is so understanding of my issue and is being supportive. She has her own level of T but it's not at a level that bothers her.
Like all of us here, I am hoping that treatments will come someday that will eliminate T as a widespread affliction. And I wish all of you that have taken the time to read my story the best, thank you for taking the time to read my story.
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