Constant Ringing for 9 Days Now — How Long Should I Wait Before I Know It's Not Going Away?

[rdz]

Hi, I'm new to this website, so if I'm doing this wrong let me know. I recently noticed a constant ringing in both of my ears.

It has been 9 days since I noticed it.

I am having difficulty sleeping or doing much of anything.

I went to the doctor and they told me one of my ears was irritated and gave me ear drops.

How long should I wait to know if this is something I have to deal with the rest of my life.

 

[dpdx]

2-3 weeks after that its there to stay...forever

 

[Bill Bauer]

How long should I wait to know if this is something I have to deal with the rest of my life.

You might hear that if your T doesn't go away in 6 months, it is permanent. That is a myth. "Six months" is just a time interval that insurance companies use to classify a condition as being chronic. It has no medical basis.

Multiple sources seem to use "2 years" as their rule of thumb. See, for example
http://web.archive.org/web/20170505...nts/TinnitusDocuments/01_HenryPTM-HB_1-10.pdf
"A general guideline is that tinnitus of at least 12 months duration has a high likelihood of being a permanent condition (Dobie, 2004b). However, it also has been suggested that a person must have experienced tinnitus for at least two years before it should be considered permanent (Vernon, 1996)."

If your T keeps fading but is still audible 2 years after onset, there is no reason to think that it will stop fading after 2 years.
It will most likely continue fading. A number of members of this forum had stated that the first time they got tinnitus, they eventually got to hear silence after 12-18 months. This is evidence contradicting the statement above from that Dobbie 2004 study.

There is a good chance that three months from now you will notice that your T has faded. There is also a good chance that your T will improve several months after the irritation inside of your ears is gone.

Also check out the studies linked to at the thread below
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/spontaneous-recovery-stats-many-recover-3-studies.21441/

You can find more information that might be useful to you at
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...eone-else-who-has-tinnitus.26850/#post-307822

 

[Bill Bauer]

2-3 weeks after that its there to stay...forever

You yourself said that your T has been fading up until the day when you had that hearing test done. Why would you want to misinform a fellow T sufferer?

 

[rdz]

Do you of anything that could help me sleep. I was told to ignore it but that is a little difficult to do.

 

[dpdx]

You yourself said that your T has been fading up until the day when you had that hearing test done. Why would you want to misinform a fellow T sufferer?

His question was "How long Should I wait before I know its not going away", which means he is asking if it will go away permanently.

Fading though does happen after the onset. Permanent vanishing of Tinnitus, eh not so sure.

 

[GregCA]

Hi, I'm new to this website, so if I'm doing this wrong let me know. I recently noticed a constant ringing in both of my ears.

It has been 9 days since I noticed it.

I am having difficulty sleeping or doing much of anything.

I went to the doctor and they told me one of my ears was irritated and gave me ear drops.

How long should I wait to know if this is something I have to deal with the rest of my life.

It depends on your root cause. What drops did you doc give you and what was his diagnosis?

 

[rdz]

It depends on your root cause. What drops did you doc give you and what was his diagnosis?

I wasn't diagnosed with anything but she said that my right ear is irritated so maybe that's why I hear a ringing sound. She also said she was not sure why both are ringing if the right one was the only irritated one. Not sure what ear drops I was prescribed but was told if nothing changes in a week to make another appointment.

 

[GregCA]

I wasn't diagnosed with anything but she said that my right ear is irritated so maybe that's why I hear a ringing sound. She also said she was not sure why both are ringing if the right one was the only irritated one. Not sure what ear drops I was prescribed but was told if nothing changes in a week to make another appointment.

You don't have access to the drops to go and look?

 

[rdz]

You don't have access to the drops to go and look?

It's called neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and hydrocortisone otic suspension, USP

 

[Bill Bauer]

Do you of anything that could help me sleep.

Try playing cricket noises in your bedroom. The goal is to give you something else to listen to, besides your tinnitus. For the first 5 minutes, you will still be focusing on your tinnitus, but eventually you should be able to switch to listen to the nature sounds.

You can try taking amitriptyline. It is non-addictive and it won't make you feel drowsy the next day.

Permanent vanishing of Tinnitus, eh not so sure.

I agree, it is not clear whether most people who claim that they can hear silence, are actually in the "can hear it only in quiet rooms" stage.

It's called neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and hydrocortisone otic suspension, USP

According to
http://hlaa-sbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Ototoxic_Brochure.pdf

of particular interest is that topical ear drop medications containing gentamycin or neomycin do not appear to be ototoxic in humans unless the tympanic membrane is perforated

Hopefully your tympanic membrane is intact.

 

[rdz]

Try playing cricket noises in your bedroom. The goal is to give you something else to listen to, besides your T. For the first 5 minutes, you will still be focusing on your T, but eventually you should be able to switch to listen to the nature sounds.

You can try taking amitriptyline. It is non-addictive and it won't make you feel drowsy the next day.

I agree, it is not clear whether most people who claim that they can hear silence, are actually in the "can hear it only in quiet rooms" stage.

According to
http://hlaa-sbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Ototoxic_Brochure.pdf
Hopefully your tympanic membrane is intact.

Wait how would I know if my tympanic membrane is intact? Should I stop taking it?

 

[Contrast]

2-3 weeks after that its there to stay...forever

we simply don't know!

We need to determine the cause of your tinnitus which is most likely hearing loss

 

[Bill Bauer]

Wait how would I know if my tympanic membrane is intact? Should I stop taking it?

I think that there is a chance that it is not intact if you pocked with a Qtip inside of your ear, or if you might have had a barotrauma. I read posts by people whose membrane was not intact - they experience pain when stuff is poured into their ear. Yours is probably intact.

 

[GregCA]

It's called neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and hydrocortisone otic suspension, USP

Those drops contain an antibiotic - perhaps your doctor thought you had an infection (not just an irritation)?

Note that the antibiotic neomycin could be an issue if you suspect you have a perforated ear drum, as it is ototoxic. Consider asking for an alternative for peace of mind.

Good luck!

 

[carlover]

Ear drops... Don't get me started... Google neomycin and ototoxity........ then throw them away.

 

[dpdx]

we simply don't know!

We need to determine the cause of your tinnitus which is most likely hearing loss

Hearing Loss most likely

 

[rdz]

Those drops contain an antibiotic - perhaps your doctor thought you had an infection (not just an irritation)?

Note that the antibiotic neomycin could be an issue if you suspect you have a perforated ear drum, as it is ototoxic. Consider asking for an alternative for peace of mind.

Good luck!

Do you think it will be safe to stop taking them, I started on Friday. I have not noticed any change on how loud it is or hearing loss. I also don't have any pain.

 

[PortalNaut]

@rdz When I got T, I was hoping it would go away in 48 hours, and it didn't. I got an appointment with an ENT on Day 7, and was prescribed Prednesone on Day 12.

For you and why this arose, I think I read something like 50% of T is due to hearing loss, so it is the most likely cause. -->Take all action you can now to heal the nerves and hair cells. My ENT said there is like a 30 day window.

 

[rdz]

@rdz When I got T, I was hoping it would go away in 48 hours, and it didn't. I got an appointment with an ENT on Day 7, and was prescribed Prednesone on Day 12.

For you and why this arose, I think I read something like 50% of T is due to hearing loss, so it is the most likely cause. -->Take all action you can now to heal the nerves and hair cells. My ENT said there is like a 30 day window.

Should I asked the doctor for it. Is this something that helps people early on?

 

[PortalNaut]

Yes, steroid treatment and sometimes some other drugs (otc) are standard treatment for noise induced hearing loss. I hate to mention it, but some treatment is to have the steroid injected into parts of the ear. That's not something I would do and is done probably in the first 2 days in certain situations.

Back to regular treatment: My ENT insisted on a test by an audiologist, and the tests showed a slight loss at like 7000Hz in one ear, so my ENT went ahead and prescribed the steroid. People argue about steroids, like they are dangerous and don't take them if you don't need them, but if I had an inkling it might help, I know my body can handle the steroids, so I'd take them. In your case, I might try to find a sympathetic doctor and get a prescription. You have three people in this thread saying T implies hearing loss. Something caused it, and if it was a build up of noise that your ears couldn't handle, then your ear hair cells and nerves got damaged - the steroid can help in those cases to keep those buggers from dying permanently.

 

[rdz]

Yes, steroid treatment and sometimes some other drugs (otc) are standard treatment for noise induced hearing loss. I hate to mention it, but some treatment is to have the steroid injected into parts of the ear. That's not something I would do and is done probably in the first 2 days in certain situations.

Back to regular treatment: My ENT insisted on a test by an audiologist, and the tests showed a slight loss at like 7000Hz in one ear, so my ENT went ahead and prescribed the steroid. People argue about steroids, like they are dangerous and don't take them if you don't need them, but if I had an inkling it might help, I know my body can handle the steroids, so I'd take them. In your case, I might try to find a sympathetic doctor and get a prescription. You have three people in this thread saying T implies hearing loss. Something caused it, and if it was a build up of noise that your ears couldn't handle, then your ear hair cells and nerves got damaged - the steroid can help in those cases to keep those buggers from dying permanently.

I'll ask the doctor but I just dont want to seem like a person who is addicted to drugs.

 

[PortalNaut]

I don't see any reason to view taking a pharmaceutical temporarily as shameful or something a lesser human would do. You of course have to decide how to live your life. But small things now can possibly help you down the road. A steroid treatment like I had lasted 15 days, and some people have them for less than that.

You are now on like day 12 and possibly things are improving on their own, and that would be great, but if they aren't much better, my take (for me) is to throw something at this while it is still somewhat in the early days.

I'm almost at 11 months, and I want the best for everyone facing this devil.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

2-3 weeks after that its there to stay...forever

I have to disagree on this.

My sister had it for 3 years. A loud engine/drone noise 24/7. Went to every doctor available, had all tests done, blah, blah, blah.... Anxiety, depression..."the whole 9 yards."
One day she woke up and it was completely gone! No more.... zero ringing, nada.

There's hope.

 

[rdz]

I have to disagree on this.

My sister had it for 3 years. A loud engine/drone noise 24/7. Went to every doctor available, had all tests done, blah, blah, blah.... Anxiety, depression..."the whole 9 yards."
One day she woke up and it was completely gone! No more.... zero ringing, nada.

There's hope.

Really? Sorry for all the questions I'm going to ask, I hope you dont mind. How long ago was it that it happen? Has it come back at all? Does she protect here ears or is she like the average person with healthy ears. Again sorry for all the question, I'm just curious.

 

[Tanni]

2-3 weeks after that its there to stay...forever

This is absolutely not true, and I'm not sure why it has been posted??

Tinnitus can go at any time, but for most people it will generally fade throughout the first year. @Bill Bauer has the best posts on this. Look after your ears and try not to worry - you've had it such a short time, so chances are you will be absolutely fine.

My advice is to get in front of an ENT specialist as soon as you can - it may be controversial to say it, but GPs are not equipped to properly diagnose ear issues. Take whatever advice the ENT specialist gives you. They will be able to advise if steroids will be right for your situation or not.

 

[Jr_time]

Really? Sorry for all the questions I'm going to ask, I hope you dont mind. How long ago was it that it happen? Has it come back at all? Does she protect here ears or is she like the average person with healthy ears. Again sorry for all the question, I'm just curious.

Did you take the prednisone?? How's your t now?

 

[rdz]

Did you take the prednisone?? How's your t now?

No I didn't take any. My tinnitus is still the same as when it started.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

How long ago was it that it happen?

About 10 years ago??

Has it come back at all?

When she gets a migraine headache, she gets a mild hissing and then it goes away after she takes a nap and the migraine subsides.

Does she protect here ears or is she like the average person with healthy ears.

Never protects. Goes about her everyday life.

How are you doing?

Once

 

[Tanni]

I have to disagree on this.

My sister had it for 3 years. A loud engine/drone noise 24/7. Went to every doctor available, had all tests done, blah, blah, blah.... Anxiety, depression..."the whole 9 yards."
One day she woke up and it was completely gone! No more.... zero ringing, nada.

There's hope.

Thank you for sharing this story Once - exactly what I needed to hear today