Anxious and Terrified

[GavH26]

Hi All,

I'm completely new to this forum. I'm from North Wales, UK. Here's my story.

I got a cold back in oct/nov. It was no biggy - just your average cold and I was handling it fine., just getting on with it. The only difference was my right ear felt blocked. I could still hear OK but it just felt like there was something in it. I'd never had this before and at first I dismissed it but after a week or so I started to get scared. After a trip to the doctors they told me I had a build up of wax and gave me some olive oil drops. I used them a couple of times but it wasn't shifting and, being a very anxious person anyway, I started to use Otex. It seemed to clear but then around Christmas time it came back, accompanied by a mild ringing sound. I know it sounds odd, but I couldn't figure out which ear the ringing was in. I decided it was both. Again, I was prescribed olive oil, which I used religiously, and book in for an ear syringe. By the time my appointment came round (about three weeks later) my ears were fine and the nurse told me there was no more wax. Great. A few weeks later, the ringing flared up again and it's been here ever since. I just cannot escape it. I'm a bit neurotic anyway so I've been over thinking it which I know is bad but I just can't help it. It is constantly on my mind. The doctors no longer seem interested (in fact the last GP casually dismissed me with 'lots of people have ringing in their ears') and the only two theories I can come up with are A) The olive oil/otex has disturbed something in my ear or B) After the first spell, I was in a car and the driver was playing VERY loud music (to keep her awake). I had some ringing before this but it's the only incident I can think of that may have worsened it.

Anyway, I am at rock bottom. I'm struggling to sleep and live in fear of quiet spaces. I used to love curling up with a good book but now I can't do that as I just get distracted. I'm not eating properly and I just feel like I can't do anything, even simple everyday things. I know it sounds dramatic but I feel like everything I do from now on will be ruined by this for the rest of my life. I'm 23 and just keep thinking about all the things ahead of me that will now be blighted by this awful ringing, popping and cracking.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions of treatment.

 

[calin]

Welcome GavH26!

Wow... I feel for you. Totally understand! so so sorry.

I just wrote up a few things that helps me cope...
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-member-hello-to-all.1407/#post-11061

I was just reading over a site that has the A-Z on tinnitus. I may be helpful for you to gain some knowledge about this not so nice condition. http://tinnitusspecialistboston.com/

Lots of help here. So glad you signed on with us.

To distract you and get some fun here, try adding a video to your profile... a favorite song or sport video. for an example, see Karen, Markku or my profiles.

Hang in there... you are not alone and things will get better for you.

As a side note.. did you know that Chris Martin of Coldplay has tinnitus? He somehow is making do. http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/coldplay-chris-martin-reveals-tinnitus-817716
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21181250 Coldplay donates track to tinnitus charity album

Best wishes for you my friend!

 

[Karen]

Hi, Gav, and welcome!

I certainly do understand what you're going through right now. That sounds like me a couple years ago. Tinnitus can get better with time, and usually does. I love to read, too, and was unable to even look at a book when my tinnitus started. Now, I am back to reading again (I've been reading a novel today), and sleeping again, as well.

Many doctors don't really know what to do for tinnitus, and can be quite dismissive of anyone with it. I'm sorry that happened to you.

There are many ways to cope. Look around this site, and you'll find lots of great information, plus many others who are experiencing the same thing.

Best wishes, and please know that we're all here to support one another!

 

[GavH26]

Thanks you very much - will definitely check out those links. Yes, I heard about Chris Martin. I also read Will.i.am has T. From what I've read today it seems distraction is the key but at the minute that feels like such a hard job.

 

[GavH26]

Thanks to both of you

 

[GavH26]

Does anybody else experience a sort of popping/crackling sensation in the ears/nose/sinus region? Not all the time but now and then. My ears pop randomly too.

 

[calin]

Thanks you very much - will definitely check out those links. Yes, I heard about Chris Martin. I also read Will.i.am has T. From what I've read today it seems distraction is the key but at the minute that feels like such a hard job.

Yep... him too.

Phil Collins - one of my favorites - has it and he had to stop doing what he does. Big loss.

 

[Karen]

Gav,

Yes to the question about crackling, popping, and occasional pressure. Does it sort of feel like you have to pop your ears all the time?

Don't worry; that's pretty common. A lot of us have that same symptom. I think it has to do with Eustachian tube imbalance.

 

[calin]

Gav,

Yes to the question about crackling, popping, and occasional pressure. Does it sort of feel like you have to pop your ears all the time?

Don't worry; that's pretty common. A lot of us have that same symptom. I think it has to do with Eustachian tube imbalance.

hmmm.. I yawn to pop the light pressure a couple of times a day. And I can understand when I have to do that when changing altitudes like driving up a hill, but I do this without an elevation change.

 

[GavH26]

Yes it does feel like that. The pressure in my head is awful and the crackling/popping just reminds me that I have this when I manage to ignore it.

 

[calin]

I was just remembering when I got a stuffy ear a couple of months ago, I panicked a bit cause I thought maybe my Tinnitus would act up or be negatively affected. The only thing iI could think of to do was spray a light mist of Sovereign Silver in the ear - thinking I was getting an ear infection. In about an hour, all symptoms disappeared. Whew!

Do you have maybe an ear infection as well as the T?

 

[GavH26]

The doctors think there's no sign of infection - they said my ears look perfectly fine inside :-/

 

[Karen]

I've had the pressure in the ears thing, and it is mostly gone now. It could be that, with time, our ears find a new balance and get more acclimated to the tinnitus. I'm not sure, but I do think it has something to do with Eustachian tubes.

 

[David O]

I feel your anxiety ;and pain
my advice would be see a Dr and get some meds, I was going crazy and depressed till I got on antidepprsesants.
Prozac has helped me tremendously and I will be on it till I get used to it or it goes away,
truly ,you are not the only one.
Dave

 

[jazz]

The doctors think there's no sign of infection - they said my ears look perfectly fine inside :-/

I agree with calin and Karen that it's probably related to a problem with your eustachian tubes. This is very common with people who have tinnitus. I suffer from it. Mine has several causes--including the aftermath of a cold, ruptured ear drums, and allergies. What cured me was nasal steroids. Though I don't like steroids, the nasal ones do relieve inflammation within your ears. That inflammation may be causing your fullness and popping. My left ear felt constant pressure, clicked and popped unexpectedly, and made my life miserable. I used to gently pop my ears; but last August I did this and it resulted in damaging my hearing. I now have tinnitus.

I went to the doctor, and he did put me on nasal steroids for allergies and eustachian tube dysfunction. Within a month, my clicking was gone and so was the pressure. I recently stopped my nasal steroids, and the fullness has not returned. But the clicking has! Without the fullness, however, I've decided I can live with the clicking.

Perhaps, you want to see your doctor again and ask him about nasal steroids to help with the fullness. ENT's only have a few items in their toolbox. Nasal steroids are one of the more effective ones. If it doesn't work, you won't be hurt.

Just an idea.

Good luck and remember you will get better.

Fullness and clicking are uncomfortable, but they don't mean you are seriously ill. In time, both will disappear.

Here's a link on eustachian tube dysfunction:

http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/eustachian-tube-dysfunction.html

 

[GavH26]

Thanks for your support - It's almost 9am here in Wales. Did not get much sleep last night and have woken up feeling sick with anxiety. Managed to fight a couple of panic episodes off during the night. Called the Doctors surgery first thing this morning and managed to get an appointment for 10.15am. It's so frustrating. I just keep remembering that this could be with me for life and it scares me so much!

 

[GavH26]

He's given me decongestant, antihistamines and Sertaline (?) anti-anxiety. One of the side effects can be ringing in the ears :-/ I need something to help but I'm scared of taking it incase it makes it worse or completely screws up my ears even more :-(

 

[Fish]

Hello GavH I need to leave now so I'll keep this short but - try to avoid taking anything that has tinnitus listed as a side effect. Especially if it's an anti-anxiety drug, there are safer alternatives. If you experience anxiety and need something ASAP, try some over the counter herbal drugs first.

I will contribute some more when I am back home.

 

[Fish]

It is me again, I am sorry that I cannot edit my first post.

When you said

By the time my appointment came round (about three weeks later) my ears were fine and the nurse told me there was no more wax.

Do you mean the ear ringing did go away aswell at the time?

What did the doctor today tell you? You have been prescribed antihistamines and decongestant, are you allergic to something? Allergies can cause a feeling of fulless, swollen sinuses, ear popping but I don't think it would cause tinnitus on it's own.

Have you had a hearing test done? There seems to be no clear reason why your tinnitus has started so perhaps that should be the next thing to check. Even small, not noticeable hearing loss may be associated with tinnitus.

 

[Juice564]

I take Sertaline (Zoloft) since getting Tinnitus, it hasn't made it worse for me and helped me a lot with the anxiety. Try your best to distract yourself from the sound as hard as that may seem to do. Sounds to me you may have some form of inner ear infection but I'm no doctor. Everyone here knows how you are feeling, and are here to help.

 

[GavH26]

Hi,

I don't know whether it went away but I certainly didn't notice it for a while.
The doctor seems to think it's related to possible fluid behind the ear. I think the fluid would have gone by now if it was there. He's given me decongestants (which i've had before and haven't worked) to try and clear it. I do have hayfever, which he mentioned today, and he thinks it might be related to that. (I don't think so - we're still recovering from a period of heavy snow!)

I haven't had a hearing test done. I think the T started either after the cold (my ear was blocked) or after I started pouring oil and otex down each ear. In my panic, I think I may have overdone it and worsened the T. I dunno :-(

 

[GavH26]

Thank you, I haven't taken the Sertraline yet but I think I'll start tomorrow. I desperately need something to calm myself down.

 

[Karen]

Gav,
I've heard that it can sometimes take a long time for fluid in the ear to go away. Based on what Juice564 said about the Sertraline, it looks like it will do you some good to take it. It will help to calm your fears, and maybe get some more sleep. Take care, and keep us posted. We understand what you're going through!

 

[Karen]

Gav,
Any updates on how you're doing? Have you begun taking the Sertraline, and is it helping you calm down a bit?

 

[GavH26]

Hello,

Yes I started the Sertraline yesterday. I was busy yesterday so that kept me sort of distracted. I had a better nights sleep last night and I did feel calmer going to bed. I suppose it will talk a few days for the Sertraline to work properly. Had some funny ear pains yesterday which I'm hoping were nothing bad!

 

[Karen]

Hi, and thanks for the update.

I'm glad to hear you've started the Sertraline, and that you were able to get some sleep. The ear pains could be caused by that fluid in the ear; or, could you possibly still have some ear infection from the cold?

Anyway, I am glad you're hanging in there. Distraction is good; I find that I'm a lot calmer if I can focus on something else for awhile. Exercise is good, too. Take care, don't give up, and let the drug begin to take effect, and give you some calmer days and nights!

 

[GavH26]

Having a late night panic. Slept OK last night and have had several (short) moments where I've felt the ringing is going quieter/softer. I've just settled down and it's pretty loud again. My right ear feels blocked - my left ear sometimes feels like this, it's like they alternate. I'm so distraught. Whenever I get a glimmer of feeling well, I just get hit with this awful panic soon after. I just want this to go away.

 

[Karen]

Gav,
I'm sorry you're having a bad time of it right now. It's night time there right now, isn't it? That blocked ear feeling is bad; most of us have experienced that at one time or another. It comes and goes; has to do with the Eustachian tubes.

Has the Sertraline helped you at all? Maybe it will take a few days to kick in.

 

[GavH26]

Yeh it's 10.30pm. I thought the Sertraline had helped but I suppose it will take a few days. I just wish I could pull myself out of this and get over it.

 

[Karen]

You're 5 hours ahead of me. It's 5:40 P.M. here (east coast of the U.S.).

If it makes you feel any better, it has taken most of us many months to get to where we feel calmer and better about tinnitus. But it DOES happen! Time is your friend --- hard to believe, but true. In the meantime, please be patient with the drug. It might take awhile for it to really make a change in your overall feeling of well-being. The main thing right now is to try and get some sleep. Try to relax, drink some tea, and get calm. That always helps!