Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection with Pre-Existing Tinnitus

[T Toledo OH]

I have seen a few threads mentioning this but would like to know what others who already have tinnitus and got the coronavirus.

I had both Moderna shots and the booster a few weeks ago. My tinnitus ramped up bad on Tuesday and not it is Friday and it is still spiking.

I tested positive for COVID-19 today. My concern is will the spike subside once I recover. I only have a dry cough and sinus drainage down my throat. Sore throat also. No fever or loss of taste and smell.

Just looking for some reassurance that this spike will pass from others who may have been through this.

 

[ZFire]

Yes the spike subsided for me. I tested positive on December 27th. Symptoms included soreness, headache, chills, no taste, and a noticeable tinnitus spike. Strangely my hyperacusis was better than ever before during this period. I was fully healed up by the 31st, but the tinnitus took much more time to fully settle down. It took about a week and a half post infection.

Check my profile posts pertaining to this if you're interested.

 

[Shelbylynn]

I hope the spike passes for your and all of our sake. It looks like we are all going to get it.

Sorry I can't help you with any experience but I hope we get some positive answers and I hope you feel much better and your spike goes away.

 

[Johan001]

I had very bad COVID-19 a few months ago and made a couple of trips to a hospital in an ambulance. I was worried the tinnitus would spike but my whole body was so messed up that nothing really mattered at that stage. It took me about 2.5 weeks to recover. I had a weird heavy feeling in my head but tinnitus returned to where it was before the illness.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

 

[DreiT]

It's been ten days since I tested positive for Omicron. My tinnitus is spiking. I hope it will go back to baseline. I can't live like this.

 

[HeavyMantra]

COVID-19 seems to cause temporary or permanent worsening of tinnitus. Myself, I got 2 new permanent tones.

 

[Kenilworth]

My tinnitus was also affected by COVID-19 I got in December. The increase in tinnitus remained after recovery.

 

[mrbrightside614]

COVID-19 seems to cause temporary or permanent worsening of tinnitus. Myself, I got 2 new permanent tones.

@Kenilworth, @HeavyMantra, I recently tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies (present from 1 year up to November 15, anyone's guess when I actually got it).

Did you have any unpleasant symptoms that may have included your ears? I experienced a gradual spike from 11/25 through 12/21 wherein I gained two new tones. I had no symptoms at any point this past year, other than the worsened tinnitus.

Also, HeavyMantra, I hate to ask you if your profile post of "Living a happy life in spite of my tinnitus, never thought I'd see the day..." came before or after this realization.

 

[HeavyMantra]

@Kenilworth, @HeavyMantra, I recently tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies (present from 1 year up to November 15, anyone's guess when I actually got it).

Did you have any unpleasant symptoms that may have included your ears? I experienced a gradual spike from 11/25 through 12/21 wherein I gained two new tones. I had no symptoms at any point this past year, other than the worsened tinnitus.

Also, HeavyMantra, I hate to ask you if your profile post of "Living a happy life in spite of my tinnitus, never thought I'd see the day..." came before or after this realization.

I was asymptomatic when I got COVID-19, it was a year ago. I only got 2 new tones. Would not have known I had COVID-19 if my partner didn't test herself.

I am living a happy life. Not compared to before tinnitus, but compared to the first years after onset. Life will never be as good as before onset. Recently I've been getting a loud cicada sound again, so for a week now I've been struggling a bit. But it went away before, might go away again. My happiness is just one unfortunate event away from turning into suicidal depression. I know that and try to avoid anything that could make it worse. Name of the game. I think this new cicada spike came from a small dose of psyche*el*cs so I guess I should avoid that moving forward...

But the cicada sound could be from COVID-19 as well for all I know, I didn't test myself when sick. I had 5 separate colds this autumn and the cicada sound appeared at that time.

 

[mrbrightside614]

I was asymptomatic when I got COVID-19, it was a year ago. I only got 2 new tones. Would not have known I had COVID-19 if my partner didn't test herself.

I am living a happy life. Not compared to before tinnitus, but compared to the first years after onset. Life will never be as good as before onset. Recently I've been getting a loud cicada sound again, so for a week now I've been struggling a bit. But it went away before, might go away again. My happiness is just one unfortunate event away from turning into suicidal depression. I know that and try to avoid anything that could make it worse. Name of the game. I think this new cicada spike came from a small dose of psyche*el*cs so I guess I should avoid that moving forward...

But the cicada sound could be from COVID-19 as well for all I know, I didn't test myself when sick. I had 5 separate colds this autumn and the cicada sound appeared at that time.

I appreciate you brother. I'm on the wrong side of that brink right now and am just trying to forge a way through. Has it gotten any easier to cope in the past year considering your worsened (?) predicament?

 

[Forever hopeful]

There is data to suggest that a certain percentage of people actually suffer hearing loss as a result of COVID-19 infection and then get tinnitus due to hearing loss. I wonder if any of you have had a shift in your hearing as a result of COVID-19 and thus, experiencing a worsening your tinnitus. I'm not talking specifically about folks with a temporary spike due to perhaps head congestion that resolved once the symptoms resolved. I'm referencing more the people who are continuing to have a spike months later. I've seen a few studies that have a percentage somewhere between 7% and 12% depending on the study and it was something my ENT was seeing in her practice. As a result, she insisted I get vaccinated.

 

[HeavyMantra]

Has it gotten any easier to cope in the past year considering your worsened (?) predicament?

My tinnitus has improved in general. These 2 new tones are much lower than when they first appeared, much lower than my "main" tinnitus that came first. I've gotten used to my "main" tinnitus at this point. And I hope this cicada sound will follow suit if it's here to stay.

The biggest thing that happened was that my low droning tinnitus went away. It was THE worst tinnitus I can imagine and I ended up in a psych ward twice because of it. Press of a button, 60-70 dB sub 100 Hz drone attacks: "if this is permanent, I'm dead. Objectively, not a matter of attitude." But the attacks always subsided to a lower level, and now it's completely gone for now.

I think I got mild PTSD from it since when I was woken up by distant idling trucks or my neighbour's subwoofer, my heart was beating out of my chest upon waking and my anxiety was severe. Just because those sounds are exactly the same as the drone (which also drove me half mad, constantly thinking: is that a truck, a subwoofer, or my tinnitus?). Last time I heard it was this summer, and I'm starting to think it's allergy-related.

Something that really had a huge impact was getting an air purifier, just as a sound machine really. It has a low whooshing sound that makes my tinnitus much easier to sit with. I used to only have high frequency sounds as background noise, but I actually prefer a lower frequency sound that doesn't "compete" with my tinnitus. Whooshing below, tinnitus on top is my world now. Somehow it makes my life easier and I sleep better. Now that I think about it, maybe the low drone went away because of the air purifier if it was allergy related...

Where I'm at is due to a lot of effort on my part. I use huge amounts of Ashwagandha, Reishi, Turmeric. I do yogic breathing every day. Lots of Qi Gong. About 1-2 times a week I do 2 hours of vedic chanting (did 108 consecutive days of it some months back, during this time I learned to just "sit" with my tinnitus for the first time. Not in silence, but still hearing it and accepting it but focusing on the sound of my voice).

I feel for you brother. I know how it is, truly. I'm sure I'll end up there again at some point, and then hopefully claw myself back to normalcy again. When I have a good day, I make the most of it and think back on that during the worse days.

More bothered by my chronic pain these days but that's another story.

 

[kingsfan]

I had COVID-19 a couple weeks ago. Ended up with a new extremely high pitch tone for about a week or so afterwards, which has dissipated. Crossing my fingers it doesn't come back.

My other tones are all louder as well, but they had started increasing before COVID-19 so it's hard to say whether COVID-19 affected them at all or not.

 

[kingsfan]

Something that really had a huge impact was getting an air purifier, just as a sound machine really. It has a low whooshing sound that makes my tinnitus much easier to sit with. I used to only have high frequency sounds as background noise, but I actually prefer a lower frequency sound that doesn't "compete" with my tinnitus. Whooshing below, tinnitus on top is my world now. Somehow it makes my life easier and I sleep better. Now that I think about it, maybe the low drone went away because of the air purifier if it was allergy related...

I agree with you on the air purifier. I always have my Honeywell purifier along with a QuietSet tower fan running in the room with me. They do nothing for masking the sound, but somehow make it easier to deal with.

 

[Bodycount2022]

Any positive news here from people whose tinnitus worsened after COVID-19 infection? Were you vaccinated like me?

 

[rewgs]

Double vaccinated (Moderna) and I just got Omicron. The vaccine had zero impact on my tinnitus, but COVID-19 itself has spiked my tinnitus a LOT. It is a good deal louder in both ears.

It's been about two weeks since the onset of symptoms, so I'm hoping it will go down with time, but I'm mentally preparing for this to be the new normal.

 

[David S]

If you have tinnitus as a result COVID-19 you might want to consider Gabapentin:

New onset tinnitus in the absence of hearing changes following COVID-19 infection

 

[blamingeverything]

Double vaccinated (Moderna) and I just got Omicron. The vaccine had zero impact on my tinnitus, but COVID-19 itself has spiked my tinnitus a LOT. It is a good deal louder in both ears.

It's been about two weeks since the onset of symptoms, so I'm hoping it will go down with time, but I'm mentally preparing for this to be the new normal.

Did it go down for you?

 

[blamingeverything]

My tinnitus was also affected by COVID-19 I got in December. The increase in tinnitus remained after recovery.

How about now?

 

[Kenilworth]

How about now?

Still the same. Worse.

 

[Johnny Karate]

It has been 11 days since I tested positive for COVID-19 and my tinnitus increased around day 5. This morning is day 11 and it has not lowered at all. It's horrible. I took steroids. They did nothing at all.

 

[Johnny Karate]

I don't want to chase rabbits in this thread but here is my update. I started taking Naltrexone around a 12.5 mg dose and the second day I took it at night before bed, I woke up and my tinnitus was back down again. I will continue taking what I have left which may last me 3 weeks. Search Naltrexone here on Tinnitus Talk to see what it is and how it's helped me in the past.

 

[blamingeverything]

I don't want to chase rabbits in this thread but here is my update. I started taking Naltrexone around a 12.5 mg dose and the second day I took it at night before bed, I woke up and my tinnitus was back down again. I will continue taking what I have left which may last me 3 weeks. Search Naltrexone here on Tinnitus Talk to see what it is and how it's helped me in the past.

Interesting. Keep us updated please!

 

[shrimp]

Just wanted to share some good news and hope in this thread for those of you that got worsened tinnitus after COVID-19.

I had 2 vaccination doses with zero impact on my tinnitus. In April this year I got Omicron and was quite sick for many weeks. Sinusitis, congested lungs, coughed until I fractured a rib. My tinnitus went through the roof. New tone, crazy loud. Panic mode.

I had been completely habituated for years prior but this spike was something else. Sent me into total panic and distress, I was back on these forums day and night due to being super anxious. Couldn't sleep from the sound, had to go back to masking, I was in total agony again. Could barely manage work and hyperacusis went through the roof. Started wearing earplugs just to be around my family again.

It stayed. For weeks, and then months. I had started to accept that the spike was permanent and was trying to learn to live with my new way louder tinnitus when suddenly at about 3 months post COVID-19 infection I realised I hadn't really heard my tinnitus for maybe two days. Didn't dare hope it would be permanently lowered, but I have to say now many weeks later it IS back down! It's not completely back to baseline prior to COVID-19, but not far from most days, it's just during temporary spikes (hormonal fluctuations, stress and the other usual stuff that spikes for me). I even had the unbelievable luck of having my tinnitus be quieter than it has ever been for all the 7 years I've had it, for a couple of days. I could barely hear it even if I really really listened for it this days and I was in absolute shock. It was almost like hearing true silence again for the first time in 7 years. That didn't last sadly but tinnitus in general is way down again and my hyperacusis is almost gone again now also.

So even if you are a couple of months into a spike after COVID-19, it doesn't necessarily mean it will stay! This was not just me habituating, the loudness really has gone down significantly.

 

[blamingeverything]

Just wanted to share some good news and hope in this thread for those of you that got worsened tinnitus after COVID-19.

I had 2 vaccination doses with zero impact on my tinnitus. In April this year I got Omicron and was quite sick for many weeks. Sinusitis, congested lungs, coughed until I fractured a rib. My tinnitus went through the roof. New tone, crazy loud. Panic mode.

I had been completely habituated for years prior but this spike was something else. Sent me into total panic and distress, I was back on these forums day and night due to being super anxious. Couldn't sleep from the sound, had to go back to masking, I was in total agony again. Could barely manage work and hyperacusis went through the roof. Started wearing earplugs just to be around my family again.

It stayed. For weeks, and then months. I had started to accept that the spike was permanent and was trying to learn to live with my new way louder tinnitus when suddenly at about 3 months post COVID-19 infection I realised I hadn't really heard my tinnitus for maybe two days. Didn't dare hope it would be permanently lowered, but I have to say now many weeks later it IS back down! It's not completely back to baseline prior to COVID-19, but not far from most days, it's just during temporary spikes (hormonal fluctuations, stress and the other usual stuff that spikes for me). I even had the unbelievable luck of having my tinnitus be quieter than it has ever been for all the 7 years I've had it, for a couple of days. I could barely hear it even if I really really listened for it this days and I was in absolute shock. It was almost like hearing true silence again for the first time in 7 years. That didn't last sadly but tinnitus in general is way down again and my hyperacusis is almost gone again now also.

So even if you are a couple of months into a spike after COVID-19, it doesn't necessarily mean it will stay! This was not just me habituating, the loudness really has gone down significantly.

So glad to hear this! Thanks for reporting your experience.

 

[blamingeverything]

Well, I tested positive yesterday, how incredibly convenient that I now get my n=1 experiment.

I've been laid up in bed all day. No change in tinnitus.

 

[ZFire]

I got COVID-19 a second time last week. Symptoms were way less severe this time. The first time I had it, I dealt with the sharpest throat pain imaginable. Every time I would swallow, it felt like the left side of my tonsil area was being stabbed by a combat knife. I couldn't ear of drink for 2 days, that's how excruciating it was. It made my tinnitus spike at the time look trivial in comparison. I also couldn't taste or smell for a week and half. First time that's ever happened to me.

This latest COVID-19 infection was much more mild and recovery went more quickly. I felt like I had a common cold with mostly congestion in the nose, throat, ears, and a slight headache. My tinnitus did spike but it was strongly correlated with the congestion. As that started to ease up a bit, so did the tinnitus spike.

 

[Forever hopeful]

Well I finally got COVID-19 last week from my husband after avoiding it for over 2 years. His tinnitus was unaffected naturally. Mine spiked bad today. No new tones, just louder, high pitched squeal (my normal sound) and more steady. Instead of being prominent in one ear, it's actually now prominent in both ears.

I know this may sound ridiculous but I actually stopped using my nasal steroids because I was afraid of sending the virus up into my auditory system via my Eustachian tubes. I know that sounds completely stupid, but when you have fear, you have fear.

I noticed it ramping up last night. Might be part of the congestion, I don't know.

I can't take any steroids right now because that would lower my immune system and I'm still fighting the infection.

Figures. I am praying the spike resolves.

 

[blamingeverything]

After two days of my tinnitus being very light, I've just woken to a level of tinnitus I've never experienced and it's terrifying. I really hope it's just that I took 100 mg of Trazodone vs my normal 50 mg. I can't handle this.

Before I went to sleep i was experiencing some lightheadedness but other than that I was just feeling bad. I'm going to start Paxlovid tomorrow.

Tell me this won't last...

 

[blamingeverything]

It calmed down. Thank goodness.