Clueless About Cause

[Jacob Alvarez]

Hello all,

It has been about 2 months since I have had tinnitus. I did a little bit more research since the last time I posted here, but I am still clueless about the cause of my tinnitus so I was hoping I could get more opinions on it.

It started on November 27th, 2017 right after hearing a dog whistle sound from an app on another person's cell phone. I don't believe the sound was particularly loud; the volume seemed about normal levels for a cellphone. I went to my GP a few days later and he prescribed prednisone for a week as he saw slight fluid in my ears. After a week, it did not resolve so I went to see a ENT. The ENT did a regular audiogram, said my hearing was normal, and checked my ears. He suggested it could be some meds I was taking, but other than that, he didn't know the cause.

As for the meds:
I have pulmonary hypertension so I had been on Lasix for two years prior. I read the Lasix could cause tinnitus so I asked my pulmonologist about it and they decided to try putting me on other med. That did not stop the ringing. Additionally, a few days prior to the start of the T, I had increased the dosage of a medication (Uptravi) I was on. The ENT said that the increased dosage could be the cause of the T. I did a lot of research into the side effects of this medicine, asked my specialty pharmacist, and the company itself and they all said that the med was not known to cause T. I pushed anyways to lower the dosage and even stopping it to see. It has not cleared up my T after 2 weeks.

At this point, I just want to find the cause. Can I get anyones thoughts on this matter?

 

[billie48]

Welcome to the forum. If the exposure to the dog whistle sound on the cell is very brief and the sound is not exceedingly loud, it is not likely to be the cause of your T. For that to happen by a sound, you need loud and perhaps extended exposure to suffering hearing damage. Saying that, hearing loss can be from many causes besides acoustic trauma, such as from aging, and from the side effects of ototoxic drugs. The following is a list of the more common known causes of tinnitus.

These can trigger or aggravate tinnitus. including but not limited to. drug side-effects from ototoxic drugs, ear wax build-up, ear-wax removal suction, inner ear infection, Eustachian tube disorder or ETD, ear drum injury, fluid build-up in ears feeling pressured or fullness, sinus infection & congestion especially with a bad cold, TMJ, TTTS, autoimmune disorders such as Lyme Disease & Fibromyalgia, high blood pressure or blood circulation problem, anemia, loud noise exposure or acoustic trauma/shock, head injury or TBI, neck injury or muscle problems, hearing loss from aging or other causes, Meniere's Decease, barotrauma from rapid pressure changes in flights or diving, especially with congested nose or sinus causing failure to balance the pressure changes, slapping of the ears, deep grief, untreated sleep apnea, extreme/extended stress, anxiety & panic disorder, depression, sleep deprivation, etc. T can also be caused or made worse by unhealthy diet such as too much salt, sugar, caffeine, MSG, alcohol, gluten etc. or by lacking some mineral or vitamin supplements, such as Magnesium, Zinc, B12, D3 etc.

 

[Jacob Alvarez]

I also got a flu shot the day before Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, I came down with a fever, but I was not congested. Could it be the flu shot that did it? I'm not sure if tinnitus is a listed adverse effect of the shot.

 

[Jacob Alvarez]

Went to an audiologist this time. He examined my ears (this time I got to see too due to a camera) and he showed me that there was some slight fluid in both ears. He performed a hearing test and also did bone conduction. He ruled out hearing issues and also said that the fluids shouldn't be the cause. Starting to feel hopeless...

 

[billie48]

Starting to feel hopeless...

I hope 'hopeless' you mean hopeless in finding the exact cause of your T, and not hopeless in life. Even if the cause of T is found, the treatment may or may not totally eliminate T. So how does on accept a life with some form of T? Millions out there have T and yet life goes on for majority of them. People find ways to cope with T and move on with life. We have 100s of stories in the success stories forum with people showing there is life after T. So hopefully you will not cave in to the T bully and all its negative reactions. Your T is still very new. So don't need to jump to any conclusion and don't lose hope. God bless.