Getting No Answers From Doctors — Need Help Please

[jdren]

I've had this ringing in my ear since the start of May. In one ear only. I've read online that having it in one ear only could be dangerous. My hearing in that ear has been bad since the ringing started. My other ear is fine. The problem is most of my information is coming from what i read on the internet (information sites, not from people themselves).

I've been to the doctors who then asked me to come back to get my ear syringed, and to use olive oil ear drops until then. The ear drops didnt work. Getting my ear syringed didn't help. The doctor said she wasn't sure she got all the ear wax out. I stopped using the ear drops. I went home and waited. That was from the start of May to the end of June. At the start of July, I went to see the doctor again.

Each time I go, it's a different doctor who tells me the same thing. They didn't know what to do to be honest, there was no sense of urgency, and I wasn't given any answers.

The last doctor I seen at the start of July recommended me to another doctor outside of their surgery who specialises in this stuff. The problem is it's been 2 weeks and I'm still waiting to receive the information in the mail (the contact details so i can make an appointment with the new doctor).

I don't know what this is. I can barely hear anything out of one ear. The ringing isn't as loud as it was at first, and doesn't distract me much...but it's there. Can someone offer me some kind of explanation or something please? I'm getting very little help from the doctors right now, and I'm getting really worried. Is it uncommon to have this in just one ear? What can I do while I wait to hear from doctors again?

 

[Constable85]

Doctors are lost because there is no cure. Tinnitus ( A generic name for any sort of head noise) can take the form of many different sounds and it can be in one ear or both ears. My best advice is to not get too excited when you eventually don't hear it and do not get too depressed when you do. It will eventually subside but it will probably never fully go away. Hugs.

 

[gary]

I've had this ringing in my ear since the start of May. In one ear only. I've read online that having it in one ear only could be dangerous. My hearing in that ear has been bad since the ringing started. My other ear is fine. The problem is most of my information is coming from what i read on the internet (information sites, not from people themselves).

I've been to the doctors who then asked me to come back to get my ear syringed, and to use olive oil ear drops until then. The ear drops didnt work. Getting my ear syringed didn't help. The doctor said she wasn't sure she got all the ear wax out. I stopped using the ear drops. I went home and waited. That was from the start of May to the end of June. At the start of July, I went to see the doctor again.

Each time I go, it's a different doctor who tells me the same thing. They didn't know what to do to be honest, there was no sense of urgency, and I wasn't given any answers.

The last doctor I seen at the start of July recommended me to another doctor outside of their surgery who specialises in this stuff. The problem is it's been 2 weeks and I'm still waiting to receive the information in the mail (the contact details so i can make an appointment with the new doctor).

I don't know what this is. I can barely hear anything out of one ear. The ringing isn't as loud as it was at first, and doesn't distract me much...but it's there. Can someone offer me some kind of explanation or something please? I'm getting very little help from the doctors right now, and I'm getting really worried. Is it uncommon to have this in just one ear? What can I do while I wait to hear from doctors again?

Hi jdren, welcome to the site. Having the noise in just one ear is not dangerous, and not uncommon. I had it in one ear for almost three years. It is hard to tell what causes it, ear wax is one cause. Loss of hearing can cause it to. But the specialist who deals in these matters are called ENT's. It may go away so quickly as it came, if not remember it will not harm you in any way, it is just a noise, it will not kill you. They may want to do a MRI test to look for a tumor, that is pretty much standard for them to do that. I had an MRI when I first got it. I have been here for the three years and have yet to hear of anyone having this noise because of a tumor.

Loud noises can cause it, say if you are at a concert right by the speakers. Do some looking around on the different forums. when you see the next Dr let us know how it went. Remember you are not alone in this, there are a lot of us here to try and answer your questions. At the moment there is no actual cure for tinnitus, if it turns out to tinnitus there are things you can do to help with the noise.

What were you doing when you noticed the T, were you listening to anything really loud before, or around anything really loud?

 

[erik]

I agree --go see an ENT to see if there is another causes for the ringing. Most likely ENT will not be able to find anything medically wrong that they can point to but it is good to rule out the more serious conditions such as acoustic neroma or something.

One ear T is pretty common. I have T mainly in my right ear though if I plug both ears it is all over in my head. And it is blaring loud. I have TV on now at 3/4 volume because I also have my dryer and dishwasher going at the same time and my T is still the loudest thing I hear. I am fine. And you will be too!

 

[Evian]

I agree --go see an ENT to see if there is another causes for the ringing. Most likely ENT will not be able to find anything medically wrong that they can point to but it is good to rule out the more serious conditions such as acoustic neroma or something.

One ear T is pretty common. I have T mainly in my right ear though if I plug both ears it is all over in my head. And it is blaring loud. I have TV on now at 3/4 volume because I also have my dryer and dishwasher going at the same time and my T is still the loudest thing I hear. I am fine. And you will be too!

Great post.

Your t is the same as mine if I plug my ears it's all over my head.

I like reading things that say ' you will be fine '

 

[erik]

Great post.

Your t is the same as mine if I plug my ears it's all over my head.

I like reading things that say ' you will be fine '

Yup when I plug my ears, it is a symphony of noises, though every noise is out of tune

 

[Evian]

Yup when I plug my ears, it is a symphony of noises, though every noise is out of tune

How do you manage to sleep ?

I think there are a lot if strong people on this forum, I feel so feeble that I can't cope as other people's sounds just as deafening ad mine, spend a lot of time thinking about calling it a day, then think how it would affect my kids (young adults) and hubbie

 

[linearb]

How do you manage to sleep ?

having obnoxious T isn't actually an obstacle to sleep for a lot of people, including myself. In fact, I slept with a fan for years before I had T, now I sleep without a fan, and the T doesn't cause me difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep.

Everyone has to figure out the "how" on their own, but, we pretty clearly evolved to be able to get sleep even under difficult circumstances -- and people manage to sleep in war zones and stuff like that, so, it can be done. T is a lot of stress, but compared to the stress of feeling like I was about to be sniped or bombed at any moment, I'd guess it's not actually that big a deal.

 

[Evian]

having obnoxious T isn't actually an obstacle to sleep for a lot of people, including myself. In fact, I slept with a fan for years before I had T, now I sleep without a fan, and the T doesn't cause me difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep.

Everyone has to figure out the "how" on their own, but, we pretty clearly evolved to be able to get sleep even under difficult circumstances -- and people manage to sleep in war zones and stuff like that, so, it can be done. T is a lot of stress, but compared to the stress of feeling like I was about to be sniped or bombed at any moment, I'd guess it's not actually that big a deal.

It's interesting you should say that.

I was thinking about my grandad who died in 1973, and was born in 1885, he was in three wars, I imagine loads of his generation had dreadful things but coped.

It makes me feel pathetic

 

[linearb]

It's interesting you should say that.

I was thinking about my grandad who died in 1973, and was born in 1885, he was in three wars, I imagine loads of his generation had dreadful things but coped.

It makes me feel pathetic

Oh, I wouldn't feel pathetic. Life is fucking hard, it always has been, and it always will be. You are a construct of billions of tiny bits of water and protein, stuck on a giant spheroid that's barrelling through a void of cosmic radiation at 900,000 miles per hour. The sun you depend on for pretty much all life and energy, is a giant ball of death that will kill you in six different ways if you're exposed to it for long enough.

 

[Evian]

Oh, I wouldn't feel pathetic. Life is fucking hard, it always has been, and it always will be. You are a construct of billions of tiny bits of water and protein, stuck on a giant spheroid that's barrelling through a void of cosmic radiation at 900,000 miles per hour. The sun you depend on for pretty much all life and energy, is a giant ball of death that will kill you in six different ways if you're exposed to it for long enough.

Well it's nice to know I'm a product of what you say, but I could do without the accompanying sound track.

Whilst I hate it, I'm kind of grateful that I didn't get it when I was younger.

I was about too early retire but am to ill with this to work, so will probs lose my job, and am lamenting the loss of what I thought would be a happy globe trotting retirement, and was looking forward to maybe minding grandkids someday, but as you say life is fucking hard and we just have to get on with it.

 

[linearb]

I was about too early retire but am to ill with this to work, so will probs lose my job, and am lamenting the loss of what I thought would be a happy globe trotting retirement, and was looking forward to maybe minding grandkids someday, but as you say life is fucking hard and we just have to get on with it.

I hear you. I'm 34. I wish I had gotten another 20-30 years of quiet in my life!

 

[Evian]

I hear you. I'm 34. I wish I had gotten another 20-30 years of quiet in my life!

I hate to read of young people with this, I was 58 when I got it and am devastated but the idea of kids etc is just too appalling for words. I wish nobody had it, but that's a forlorn hope as I read something about ancient Egyptians having it so that can't have been due to listening to music too loud on their headphones

I wish there was more sound controls in public places, I know it isn't the only answer but it would help

 

[Sailboardman]

Evian, you might want to stop ear syringing. Some here have gotten T from that practice. Ask Markku here at TT about that.

Hope yours goes away and you can live out your retirement in peace!

Sailboardman

 

[Evian]

only had them done once in my life years ago.

Then the flippin ENT I went to see about blocked right ear, ringing in left ear? left up and used one of the new machines on my left ear and that is the one that is the worst.

In fairness I had it T already as that was why I was there and he said it was full of wax, but it's now worse - might have happened anyway

Thanks sailboard man, it isn't going to happen, six months non stop loud high pitch CVT noise no breaks

I have it for life even though I haven't come to terms with the fact. Was thinking I had worked 42 years to get to this point, then though I should be grateful I didnt have if younger - but it's hard to be grateful about anything to do with T.

I guess nobody ever said life would be fair so no reason to expect it, feel like I have ruined my husbands retirement. I have H as well so can't go to restaurants and will never fly again

 

[luka]

@jdren I don't want to scare you but go to the ENT as soon as possible (tommorow):
- ask him to put you on steroids,
- go buy and eat a lot of vitamin b, and e oil.
- as well as magnesium.
- It would also be good if you can go into the hyperbaric chamber

If you're having what It's possible that you are having ( http://www.healthline.com/health/sensorineural-deafness), since they already cleaned your ears and you still hear bad, than this is medical emergency, and it can stay permanent if not treated fast.

I agree a lot of doctors sux, they don't have enough medical experience or are generally to busy to deal with the patients. Sadly I had the the same problem.

Hope everything works out well for you,

Best,

Luka