About 95% Gone... Then Back Again

[Mike K]

So I've been sick with a low grade cold for 10 weeks now. I've produced mucus in my throat and I'm congested (more so in the morning, which is normal). My ears make a clicking noise when yawning and swallowing, although my right has gotten much better, and overnight it seems like my left is a little better as well. I know the noise is normal, but I can assure you it's louder and more crackly than normal because my right seems to be more normal than my left now.

Can someone tell me their thoughts on this theory? The fact that my ears are plugged means the fluid can't drain properly, and any time the Eustachian tube/inner ear gets enflamed, the ringing comes back? And is it likely my ears will soon clear up along with the rest of my sinuses? Can't say I'm 100% better but I'm feeling better since it started. A 10 week long cold is making me think I have some chronic condition now.

When I first had T it was very loud, then on/off for 8ish weeks. This past week it was pretty much gone; I couldn't even hear it with my head against a pillow at night. Two days ago it came back softly in my left ear (about a 2/10), died down yesterday and is back softly again. Should I get my hopes up? It's only in my left except for when my right side is against a pillow, then it's in my right ear.

I'm really just mentally drained from feeling chipper that it goes away, only to be let down when it comes back. I'm afraid of any loud music because I'm paranoid that it'll do more damage. I'm sure it's not noise induced but I'm still anxious, especially today because I'm going to a show/party that lasts a long time.

Further note, my hearing is great, I missed one frequency on the high end but the ENT seemed confident that it was from the congestion.

 

[Jason_Cohen]

A cold for 10 weeks? A cold caused by a virus wouldn't last that long. Are you sure you don't have a bacterial sinus infection? What did your ENT say about it?

 

[Mike K]

A cold for 10 weeks? A cold caused by a virus wouldn't last that long. Are you sure you don't have a bacterial sinus infection? What did your ENT say about it?

I guess I was using "cold" as an overarching term. I don't have a runny nose and it's only really stuffed in the morning. Bacterial sinus infection is exactly what it is. A few weeks into it, after feeling better, my tonsils got white spots on them (which are fading away slowly). The ENT said that our area (In upstate NY) has the worst recorded allergenic mold in history, or something like that. So my sinuses were infected and enflamed, and usually any ear problem from infection can be traced back to the nose, right where it connects to the inner ear.

I was prescribed prednisone which cleared things up a bit, but the recovery process still feels slow as my throat gathers up mucus every 30 minutes and my ears still feel a bit plugged. No pressure, just the clicking makes me think that all of my sinuses, included the good old Eustachian tube, are a bit mucus-y and irritated.

 

[Jason_Cohen]

Your doctor didn't prescribe any antibiotics?

 

[Mike K]

Your doctor didn't prescribe any antibiotics?

Initially a primary care doc prescribed amoxicillin to prevent the tonsil issue from getting any worse. It definitely didn't make it worse but I wouldn't say it made it much better, that was about 3 weeks ago now.

The ENT said if I'm feeling 60% better from when it started, then it should go away most likely. But this infection isn't even that debilitating, I'm just congested. I just produce a lot of mucus; that would mean I'm still sick right? I kind of hope so because it would warrant the ringing...

 

[Jason_Cohen]

Yeah, I would think you still have inflammation in your sinuses/inner ear, which is causing the tinnitus.

Not sure if you mentioned it, but did the tinnitus start with the infection?

 

[Mike K]

Yeah, I would think you still have inflammation in your sinuses/inner ear, which is causing the tinnitus.

Not sure if you mentioned it, but did the tinnitus start with the infection?

Yes they started around the same time. One weekend I was getting head rushes every time I stood up, and felt just cloudy in general. Then on Sunday I started hearing the ringing at night. Soon after I started to feel congested. The doc at my school said that it was most likely a low grade cold that started in my ears. Usually infections start in the nose or throat, but can attach the ears first sometimes. Made sense to me

Thanks for your attentiveness btw

 

[Jason_Cohen]

No problem, man. Just trying to be helpful.

From what I've read, tinnitus caused by a sinus infection can still take some time to go away after the infection is completely gone, so don't go too crazy if it doesn't stop immediately.

 

[Mike K]

No problem, man. Just trying to be helpful.

From what I've read, tinnitus caused by a sinus infection can still take some time to go away after the infection is completely gone, so don't go too crazy if it doesn't stop immediately.

I appreciate it
For the most part I'm keeping my sanity, it's just when it goes away and comes back that I go a little nutty. Just gotta beat this infection. If it's still there after, I'll know that I've been listening to music a bit too loud.

 

[Jason_Cohen]

Yeah, it's always hard to know what it's from unless it happens immediately after an event.

Make sure to wear some earplugs at that party later.

 

[Mike K]

Yeah, it's always hard to know what it's from unless it happens immediately after an event.

Make sure to wear some earplugs at that party later.

I remember specifically staying in that entire weekend, so that's a good sign! Already got two pairs with me

 

[Ying]

Mike k
I had my sinus infection about two months now and ringing about a month and week. I don't have an ear infection but my head just feel heavy and still neck. The ringing started then lost smell n taste. Now smell 20% taste back almost full. I still feel congest. My sinus is still draining clear. The ringing was low then high but now I'm cutting salt n fats. It seems to help abit. I keep wondering the ringing to go away after sinus clear? I can breathe better now but still feel congest behind my nose. Going to see ent next week. By then it should be clear he said but I'm still congest n ear still ringing. Any advices will be glad.

Wondering if yours gone away.