Caught COVID-19 — Followed by Tinnitus, Clogged Ears, Loss of Smell and Burning Nostrils

[1983]

Hi - I've been reading Tinnitus Talk recently and thought I would share my experience so far, to see if anyone is in the same boat.

I'm 37. I never really had any hearing issues I can think of before this year. I caught COVID-19 in mid-October, quite mild symptoms, felt like a heavy cold. Temperature returned to normal in a couple of days, as I thought I was getting better, my ears became clogged (I couldn't pop them) and for one evening I did find it very difficult to hear from one ear.

Hearing came back the next day but I developed tinnitus in both ears, loss of smell and burning nostrils.

I went to GP after a week or so - they didn't seem interested. They said it was a middle ear infection and gave me some drops and a nasal spray.

Nothing changed so I was referred to an ENT specialist who gave me a hearing test. My hearing of high pitched frequencies is very poor. Which surprised me. The tinnitus is still here 2 months on, no sign of it going away. It's very high pitched in both ears, constant 24/7 and it is really really depressing me. I feel like I can't concentrate on work, and I have quite a responsible high pressure job. I can't sleep, I can't switch off, etc. It's quite scary that I could be stuck with this.

Anyone else had something similar happen? I am hoping it will disappear or at least subside (after all I'm only 2 months in).

My hearing results surprised me. Could the fact that I have constant high pitched tinnitus mask the high pitched beeps on a hearing test, and give a false result? I've really never had any hearing issues.

My nose is still burning so I think I still have some of this coronavirus knocking about my system. Maybe once it goes my tinnitus will disappear. I really hope so as this feels pretty life changing at the moment!

My ears are still clogged. The ENT doctor said the ears look healthy and there is plenty of air in there. It just seems really odd that I can't 'pop' my ears. If I had hearing loss and tinnitus, surely my ears would still pop? I feel like I just need to pop both ears and I will have peace and quiet again!

Others with tinnitus, do you also have clogged ears? Is this a symptom or a cause?

Thanks!

 

[Rainer]

Hello 1983,

I am not sure whether I might be in a similar boat. I have had seriously annoying tinnitus for some three weeks now, and I've been wondering whether I previously might have caught COVID-19 that could have caused this.

Hardly any other COVID-19 symptoms. Except for a congested nose in the morning that I've never had before, but I've been waking up with this for months now. It quickly subsided once I got up. Now the nose congestion is gone, but I got tinnitus instead. It has gotten so worse recently that it sometimes keeps me up at night, because it's so loud.

What I accidentally found out is that high-pitched sine sounds counteract my tinnitus. Mimicking the sound instead of masking it.

Unfortunately I have not been able to detect any rhyme or reason or consistency to my symptoms yet, and have no wisdom to share with you. I only do know what it feels like to not know whether I will ever feel normal again.

Best of luck.

 

[HeavyMantra]

I was shocked that while I was largely asymptomatic, COVID-19 gave me two new tones that so far have been chaotically moving around in my head and coming and going. It's been three weeks since they came, the person I lived with started getting her first more conventional symptoms right around that time and I got my new tones.

I have no idea why or how this can be. Inner ear or hearing nerve damage possibly? Sure, when searching for specific things like this the internet can feel like a small place but I've found a few people who also think they got tinnitus or got worse tinnitus from COVID-19. And now you guys as well.

My hearing results surprised me. Could the fact that I have constant high pitched tinnitus mask the high pitched beeps on a hearing test, and give a false result? I've really never had any hearing issues.

I thought this too, but I took a fresh test a few days ago with LOUD tinnitus and these new tones. Still perfect hearing up to 8000 Hz although I think I have hearing loss above that frequency.

Do you know around what frequency your tinnitus tones are?

 

[1983]

Hello 1983,

I am not sure whether I might be in a similar boat. I have had seriously annoying tinnitus for some three weeks now, and I've been wondering whether I previously might have caught COVID-19 that could have caused this.

Hardly any other COVID-19 symptoms. Except for a congested nose in the morning that I've never had before, but I've been waking up with this for months now. It quickly subsided once I got up. Now the nose congestion is gone, but I got tinnitus instead. It has gotten so worse recently that it sometimes keeps me up at night, because it's so loud.

What I accidentally found out is that high-pitched sine sounds counteract my tinnitus. Mimicking the sound instead of masking it.

Unfortunately I have not been able to detect any rhyme or reason or consistency to my symptoms yet, and have no wisdom to share with you. I only do know what it feels like to not know whether I will ever feel normal again.

Best of luck.

Thanks. Best of luck to you too.

 

[Rainer]

I have no idea why or how this can be. Inner ear or hearing nerve damage possibly?

I fear that this is literally the case. AFAIK SARS-CoV-2 can and does attack the nerves, hence the well-known loss of smell that many people report. On the bright side, it seems that for the majority of those people the smell returns, so maybe the nerve damage need not be permanent.

 

[1983]

I was shocked that while I was largely asymptomatic, COVID-19 gave me two new tones that so far have been chaotically moving around in my head and coming and going. It's been three weeks since they came, the person I lived with started getting her first more conventional symptoms right around that time and I got my new tones.

I have no idea why or how this can be. Inner ear or hearing nerve damage possibly? Sure, when searching for specific things like this the internet can feel like a small place but I've found a few people who also think they got tinnitus or got worse tinnitus from COVID-19. And now you guys as well.

I thought this too, but I took a fresh test a few days ago with LOUD tinnitus and these new tones. Still perfect hearing up to 8000 Hz although I think I have hearing loss above that frequency.

Do you know around what frequency your tinnitus tones are?

Once I go over 4000 Hz I have problems on the hearing test. But I feel like my tinnitus is in this 4000 Hz - 8000 Hz range, so how can my test be accurate if I am trying to listen out for sounds that are in the same frequency as this constant hum in my ears?
Surely it must have an impact?

I have never had any problems with my hearing that I am aware of.

The audiologist was asking if I'd been in the army, any explosions, car crash, rode a motorbike etc as this is the type of loss associated with that sort of injury. I'm very confused. I have no issues at all below 4000 Hz.

I'm hopeful that the damage from COVID-19 is temporary and I can get back to some normality. Only 2 months or so in so not giving up hope. Does seem to be a bit better last day or so.

I was listening to some background noise (crickets!) to get to sleep but have to use headphones so as not to disturb my wife. Should I be avoiding headphones at all costs? Even on low volume?

 

[HeavyMantra]

Once I go over 4000 Hz I have problems on the hearing test. But I feel like my tinnitus is in this 4000 Hz - 8000 Hz range, so how can my test be accurate if I am trying to listen out for sounds that are in the same frequency as this constant hum in my ears?
Surely it must have an impact?

I have never had any problems with my hearing that I am aware of.

The audiologist was asking if I'd been in the army, any explosions, car crash, rode a motorbike etc as this is the type of loss associated with that sort of injury. I'm very confused. I have no issues at all below 4000 Hz.

I'm hopeful that the damage from COVID-19 is temporary and I can get back to some normality. Only 2 months or so in so not giving up hope. Does seem to be a bit better last day or so.

I was listening to some background noise (crickets!) to get to sleep but have to use headphones so as not to disturb my wife. Should I be avoiding headphones at all costs? Even on low volume?

I'm not an expert but I know some things about basic audiology.

I'm not sure about how tinnitus affects an audiogram, I've been wondering the same thing myself. Giving it some thought, I can say that I hear the test tones over my tinnitus in the same range. Is your tinnitus extremely loud? Mine is very loud sometimes and I still have no trouble hearing the test tones over my tinnitus. Most of them aren't in the same range though, but some are. Nobody seems to know for sure if there's a correlation between tinnitus frequency and hearing loss frequency.

I'm sorry to say this but I think you have hearing loss. It could have been caused by the virus if you haven't been exposed to loud sounds during your life or have other problems with the inner ear. It can be caused by many things including medication, genetic factors and more.

Your tinnitus might improve, but IF you have hearing loss I'm very sorry to say it most likely won't come back if it's been two months. The good news is that there is a pretty promising cure for hearing loss that will be tested further during 2021. You may not have to live like this forever, but just like the rest of us the only thing you can do right now is to try to persevere and live in spite of it.

I would avoid headphones if you can. Then again, if your tinnitus was caused by the virus and you have no hyperacusis then headphones might be ok to use. Nobody can tell you this for sure.

 

[Rainer]

I was listening to some background noise (crickets!) to get to sleep but have to use headphones so as not to disturb my wife. Should I be avoiding headphones at all costs? Even on low volume?

Why would you do that?

I'm aware that "people are saying" that you should, but then again people are saying that Climate Change is a liberal hoax.

To me, headphones are absolutely indispensable to mitigate my symptoms. Absent a very convincing argument (which I have yet to hear or read), I see no reason to avoid them.

 

[1983]

I'm not an expert but I know some things about basic audiology.

I'm not sure about how tinnitus affects an audiogram, I've been wondering the same thing myself. Giving it some thought, I can say that I hear the test tones over my tinnitus in the same range. Is your tinnitus extremely loud? Mine is very loud sometimes and I still have no trouble hearing the test tones over my tinnitus. Most of them aren't in the same range though, but some are. Nobody seems to know for sure if there's a correlation between tinnitus frequency and hearing loss frequency.

I'm sorry to say this but I think you have hearing loss. It could have been caused by the virus if you haven't been exposed to loud sounds during your life or have other problems with the inner ear. It can be caused by many things including medication, genetic factors and more.

Your tinnitus might improve, but IF you have hearing loss I'm very sorry to say it most likely won't come back if it's been two months. The good news is that there is a pretty promising cure for hearing loss that will be tested further during 2021. You may not have to live like this forever, but just like the rest of us the only thing you can do right now is to try to persevere and live in spite of it.

I would avoid headphones if you can. Then again, if your tinnitus was caused by the virus and you have no hyperacusis then headphones might be ok to use. Nobody can tell you this for sure.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I may have hearing loss then. Which I guess would be permanent. That doesn't necessarily mean the tinnitus is permanent though? Or does it?

It is very loud at times. In a meeting at work today I could hear the tinnitus over everyone's talking, that's why I do think there could be some issue on the audiogram.

My ears are clogged as well since this COVID-19, I can no longer 'pop' my ears, is that normal for someone with tinnitus, does anyone know?

I'm not going to get all depressed about it but it is quite irritating. I feel very very tired and run down since I've got this, very difficult to switch off. I have got a steroid nose spray from the doctor (probably too late), hoping that might improve things!

It's all a bit worrying and confusing suddenly having a non-stop buzzing noise 24/7!

Let's say I have got hearing loss (which I'm not really bothered about to be honest) and the ear is damaged, would that mean my tinnitus is likely permanent?

I can live with slight hearing loss a lot easier than I can live with tinnitus!

Ear doctor said his rule of thumb is wait until 18 months and whatever you are left with (i.e. if you still have it, pitch, volume etc) is what you're going to be stuck with.
18 months seems a very long time!

 

[1983]

Why would you do that?

I'm aware that "people are saying" that you should, but then again people are saying that Climate Change is a liberal hoax.

To me, headphones are absolutely indispensable to mitigate my symptoms. Absent a very convincing argument (which I have yet to hear or read), I see no reason to avoid them.

Thanks for reply .

I've never even thought about my hearing or tinnitus until October this year and have read a few bits and pieces that suggest you should avoid headphones.
I am in no way clued up on this so just asking people's thoughts.
I think I share your view that they are key for mitigating symptoms, especially at night.

I just don't want to take unnecessary risks as I'm still early days with this and hoping it will clear up.

 

[Rainer]

I just don't want to take unnecessary risks as I'm still early days with this and hoping it will clear up.

Absolutely not, and I think it is prudent to think about this. AFAIK there are indeed a few things to be said about headphones, even if you don't use them at loud volumes. To wit, closed headphones or molded in-ear monitors might facilitate ear infections because it's warmer and moister inside your ear canal than without those, especially in summer.

OTOH sleeping without anything isn't an option for me right now. There seems to be a self-reinforcing feedback loop that leads to my tinnitus getting ever louder as I sleep, so much so that I finally wake up at two in the morning.

I use pedestrian smallish wired buds to prevent that from happening, and it's definitely the lesser evil for me.

BTW, I hope I didn't come across as sarcastic, as this was not my intention.

 

[1983]

Absolutely not, and I think it is prudent to think about this. AFAIK there are indeed a few things to be said about headphones, even if you don't use them at loud volumes. To wit, closed headphones or molded in-ear monitors might facilitate ear infections because it's warmer and moister inside your ear canal than without those, especially in summer.

OTOH sleeping without anything isn't an option for me right now. There seems to be a self-reinforcing feedback loop that leads to my tinnitus getting ever louder as I sleep, so much so that I finally wake up at two in the morning.

I use pedestrian smallish wired buds to prevent that from happening, and it's definitely the lesser evil for me.

BTW, I hope I didn't come across as sarcastic, as this was not my intention.

No, don't worry, I didn't take it as sarcastic at all, thanks for taking the time to reply to me.

Sorry to hear you are having trouble sleeping.

For you yes it definitely sounds like you need to be using headphones. I have been sleeping the last couple of nights. I never get much sleep anyway even before tinnitus. Drifting off about 2 am and waking up for 7.30 am past couple nights which is good for me.

Are your ears clogged? Can you pop them?

That's one really odd thing I have at the moment.

 

[Rainer]

Are your ears clogged?

Not that I'm aware of, no.

I assume you already tried the remedies proposed on sites like this, yes?

 

[1983]

I assume you already tried the remedies proposed on sites like this, yes?

Yes thanks for the link - tried all of that! Multiple times! Still no joy. I am holding out hope that when my ears finally 'pop' my tinnitus problems might go away!

 

[Robert H]

Hi,

I too didn't really have any symptoms from COVID-19 except the tinnitus. I never had an issue before getting COVID-19. My ears didn't seem to clog up, the ringing just started. It does fluctuate with stress which seems to come on more recently. For instance, while watching television and answering different related questions from other people in the room my patience level with the two different thoughts going on and that damn ringing just makes my tinnitus almost unbearable.

I have been taking edible THC gummies which I make to help with the anxiety edge that I now have. It definitely seems to help calm my head. I also sleep much better except I seem to wake up around 4 am and the ringing won't let me fall back to sleep. The THC gummies definitely help a great deal.

 

[RON LUNDGREN]

I contracted covid 19 in December and got tinnitus, stiff neck, balance problems and head ache and fullness in my head all day. Been about 2 monthes of living hell and really cant live with it. The high pitch sounds never stops! I mean never! hard to get to sleep and when I get up I cant get back to sleep. Any suggestions to fall asleep for over 4 hours or so? desperate!

 

[S J]

I have covid-acquired tinnitus. I have had it for about 10 days now and had tested positive on the 18th of Feb (exposed about 10 days prior (8th) with a mild cough about two days after exposure). I am seeing a chiro tomorrow. My primary advised me to stop all supplements (primarily the vit D I had increased) and said we just don't know enough about it (covid-19) yet. I've had a few mornings waking with barely noticeable tinnitus , but it always increases. This is one of the semi-common symptoms of long-haulers, so I have been searching their stories to see if any had recovered. I've only found that some have diminished T. So I'm still searching. I'm considering NAD+ injections or IV considering the T may be cellular damage in the otological region. Whether its permanent or reversible remains to be observed. I wish there were a study for it.

 

[Sara May]

Hi - I've been reading Tinnitus Talk recently and thought I would share my experience so far, to see if anyone is in the same boat.

Hi @1983, how have you been doing this year? Any updates on your tinnitus?

Thank you and I hope you are feeling better and may have recovered some.