Cause of Tinnitus and Hyperacusis: Postviral Lesion

[__nico__]

In early April I finally underwent an MRI of the inner ear to see what the cause of my debilitating ear problems are, because it obviously was not an acoustic trauma.

And as luck would have it, the MRI showed that I have a very clearly inflamed postviral lesion.

I am being put on Prednisone again but for obvious reasons I'm holding that off due to my previous bad experience.

What do you folks recommend?

 

[FGG]

In early April I finally underwent an MRI of the inner ear to see what the cause of my debilitating ear problems are, because it obviously was not an acoustic trauma.

And as luck would have it, the MRI showed that I have a very clearly inflamed postviral lesion.

I am being put on Prednisone again but for obvious reasons I'm holding that off due to my previous bad experience.

What do you folks recommend?

Your MRI showed lesions in the inner ear itself? Do you have a copy of the report by any chance?

 

[Matchbox]

Do everything you can man.

There might be alternatives you could chat to the doc about other than steroids for immune overreaction as well as anti virals, because who's to say what virus and if it's gone or just dormant?

And for everyone else with similar symptoms of hell, what kind of MRI was it of? My GP isn't able to give me brain ones. Was this through an ENT or neurotologist?

Asking for Dexamethasone instead might be an option to keep the mineral effects on the inner ear to a minimum. As well as antivirals, though Dexamethasone might be IV or injection only.

 

[__nico__]

what kind of MRI was it of? My GP isn't able to give me brain ones. Was this through an ENT or neurotologist?

It was an inner ear MRI via a Tesla 3 scanner that was ordered by my neurotologist.

 

[__nico__]

Your MRI showed lesions in the inner ear itself? Do you have a copy of the report by any chance?

That's the gist of what I got. Also no, I don't have the report.

 

[__nico__]

Well I'm going to push my GP to give me a viral / antibody test. If that comes back clear (it shouldn't, but let's say it does), then I'll just take Prednisone.

 

[FGG]

Well I'm going to push my GP to give me a viral / antibody test. If that comes back clear (it shouldn't, but let's say it does), then I'll just take Prednisone.

Even if you do have a virus, steroids can help with some of the secondary inflammation from it.

 

[__nico__]

Even if you do have a virus, steroids can help with some of the secondary inflammation from it.

Yeah... I'll probably compulsively jump at the steroids anyway now that I think about it.

 

[Jelli]

Caution with Prednisone with horrible side effects. Its usage should be VERY SHORT. (See white paper documentation). Not FDA approved or cleared for tinnitus. While it can temporarily eliminate some tinnitus, the risks and side effects are bad including exasperating your tinnitus when you stop.

 

[Matchbox]

Yeah... I'll probably compulsively jump at the steroids anyway now that I think about it.

Man, I'd strongly advise antivirals if that's what they're saying caused it in any capacity. The steroids lower your immunity and is perhaps why the virus got jacked up.

At the very least, Lysine will help if it's a Herpes family virus.

That and taper damn slowly if you do it again. I'd hate to see you get worse from a rapid taper off.

Could also give some things like Theobromine/Turmeric a try to get that TNF-alpha down.

They'd never give steroids during an active infection, only post-inflammatory stage, unlike with autoimmunity like in MS where they pump you full of 'em.

Knowing if it's a secondary reaction due to a virus or a primary immune response in your ear is kinda critical here.

 

[Matchbox]

Even if you do have a virus, steroids can help with some of the secondary inflammation from it.

Then he should be on antivirals to counter any reactivation once his immune reaction goes down, otherwise it'll just be an ever worsening merry-go-round. Knowing for sure if it's a virus is important or even just doing broad antivirals if they aren't ototoxic while doing the steroids.

 

[Lukee]

What do you folks recommend?

I can't recommend anything but I am very happy that at least you have a diagnosis and a way forward. I would think the Prednisone would help like @FGG said and some antivirals might help as well. If you wanted to start with a natural antiviral look up Monolaurin. It's derived from coconuts but it's very powerful as an antiviral and with pretty much no side effects. If I was in your position I would jump on the Prednisone in a second. Is it possible to get Dexamethasone or Prednisone injected IT? I would think that hitting it at the source could help more but someone with more knowledge could possible chime in.

I didn't even know an MRI of the inner ear was possible.

Caution with Prednisone with horrible side effects. Its usage should be VERY SHORT. (See white paper documentation). Not FDA approved or cleared for tinnitus. While it can temporarily eliminate some tinnitus, the risks and side effects are bad including exasperating your tinnitus when you stop.

Correct. Prednisone is not indicated for tinnitus but it can be used for inflammation and that's what Nico's doctor is recommending. I also agree it should be taking in short duration; however, it is used long term for other ailments, albeit it at lower doses. @__nico__ has a diagnosis, it's not like he's shooting in the dark hoping Prednisone will fix acoustic trauma. I would follow the doc's advice.

 

[FGG]

Then he should be on antivirals to counter any reactivation once his immune reaction goes down, otherwise it'll just be an ever worsening merry-go-round. Knowing for sure if it's a virus is important or even just doing broad antivirals if they aren't ototoxic while doing the steroids.

I don't disagree. But I don't think steroids should be skipped if a viral cause is found because a big part of the damage is secondary inflammation. I would use them in conjunction with antivirals if excess inflammation is present.

 

[__nico__]

If I can't get on antiviral, I'll just take the Prednisone.

Besides, I can't be made any more or less hopeless than I already am and I have had my suicide planned out since the very beginning, which I'll do upon worsening.

 

[Lukee]

If I can't get on antiviral, I'll just take the Prednisone.

Besides, I can't be made any more or less hopeless than I already am and I have had my suicide planned out since the very beginning, which I'll do upon worsening.

I'd take both. Like you said, you can't get worse right? TryMmonolaurin and L-Lysine.

 

[__nico__]

I'm just going to hop on the Prednisone when I get it. I just simply don't care at this point. I will take antivirals too if I can convince my doctor to let me have them. But I've had enough of this suffering and I have all my affairs in order to die if I get worse.

 

[Lukee]

I'm just going to hop on the Prednisone when I get it. I just simply don't care at this point. I will take antivirals too if I can convince my doctor to let me have them. But I've had enough of this suffering and I have all my affairs in order to die if I get worse.

Good luck. I hope this works for you. Try the Monolaurin and L-Lysine. They are OTC antivirals with pretty much no side effects. You got this. Have faith.

 

[ee215909]

@__nico__, how are you doing after your MRI? Any spikes or worsened symptoms?

I have been having some neuro issues lately and my ENT wants to do an MRI of the inner ear/head. With my hyperacusis and tinnitus, I am freaking out, but don't think I have a lot of options.

I am really concerned about a significant set back. Hope you are well man and good luck with the inflammation. I hope you're able to get some resolution and improvement.

 

[Matchbox]

You jump on the steroid bandwagon again yet? Hoping the doctors helped you hedge a bit. Hoping you get some quiet days soon man.

 

[__nico__]

You jump on the steroid bandwagon again yet? Hoping the doctors helped you hedge a bit. Hoping you get some quiet days soon man.

Yeah I'm on steroids right now. I currently have an increase in tinnitus but a reduction of sound distortions somewhat which is a trade that's totally worth it because I'm more devastated by my auditory distortions than any level of tinnitus by a long shot.

 

[Lukee]

Yeah I'm on steroids right now. I currently have an increase in tinnitus but a reduction of sound distortions somewhat which is a trade that's totally worth it because I'm more devastated by my auditory distortions than any level of tinnitus by a long shot.

Keep us posted. I'm glad you're seeing some improvement. Hopefully it lasts long term and you can move ahead with your life.

 

[Matchbox]

Yeah I'm on steroids right now. I currently have an increase in tinnitus but a reduction of sound distortions somewhat which is a trade that's totally worth it because I'm more devastated by my auditory distortions than any level of tinnitus by a long shot.

Same happened to me on my last steroid run.

FTLoG, taper super slowly man.

 

[Lukee]

Same happened to me on my last steroid run.

Did the distortion results last?

 

[__nico__]

FTLoG, taper super slowly man.

Yeah, it's a 3 week course with a long taper. Hopefully nothing to worry about.

 

[__nico__]

I'm still on Prednisone, not yet even in the taper phase, and EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PITCHED DOWN A HALF STEP BILATERALLY.

This can't be permanent, right?

 

[__nico__]

EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PITCHED DOWN A HALF STEP BILATERALLY.

Alright... The pitch issue corrected itself.

 

[Lukee]

Alright... The pitch issue corrected itself.

What the f? That's some weird stuff going on. How are the other symptoms?

 

[Matchbox]

Did the distortion results last?

Yes.

It keeps changing week by week too. Lose sounds, gain sounds. It's truly madness.

 

[__nico__]

What the f? That's some weird stuff going on. How are the other symptoms?

My right ear was tinnitus free today but I'm still ravaged by dysacusis/distortions.

God. I would rather have excruciating tinnitus than any level of auditory distortions.

 

[__nico__]

So I'm currently on a long course/taper of Prednisone at 60 mg and it has made me worse again. Bilateral diplacusis with every single sound being a full tone flatter than it should be. It has eliminated a substantial amount of tinnitus but this is just BAD. I am tapering off now and going low sodium, sometimes the pitch perception fluctuates to say the least.

But honestly as my profile picture says, I am killing myself if this is permanent. This is a losing battle I'm tired of.