Gradual Tinnitus Onset — Ringing After a Month from What First Appeared as Fleeting Tinnitus?

[8958464854]

It all started around 3rd January. I was listening to my headphones at that time and suddenly, I heard loud ringing. It all happened in the evening and although it kept ringing, I thought it would go away after sleep. And the next day it did, but it returned in the evening. After that, I thought going to sleep would fix it. It did again but for a much shorter period of time, I'd say it started ringing about half an hour after I woke up. That day it came and went.

On the 4th day, it stayed. Since then there's been a constant ringing in my ear. On around the 5th day, I got sick with what I presume was a mild cold (my nose was stuffy but not too much, I also had a temperature but again, not that bad, around 37.0 - 37.2 degrees).

I've been to an ENT and after checking my ear and hearing my story the doctor prescribed me some nasal spray that doesn't seem to work so far. Two days ago I got similar fleeting tinnitus but on my other ear. That day I woke up in the middle of the night hearing another sound in that ear. Thankfully it went away a few hours from then. The ringing I got originally is still there though.

I'm lost at what might've been the cause. I did listen to my headphones frequently but I made sure to do it at normal volume as I knew what tinnitus is before. I'm thinking it might be related to the cold I had a few days after the onset? It was fairly mild though and was gone in like 5 days as opposed to my tinnitus. I don't think it's related to noise exposure as the first time it came, it was louder than the show I was watching. From what I've read so far, most people that develop it through excessive noise only notice it after the fact when in a quiet setting, I might be wrong though.

Although I did kinda get used to it at first, the recent temporary noise in my other ear really spiked my anxiety again. Since then I decided to not use my headphones at all.

I'll be seeing another ENT a few days from now. I was wondering if someone had a similar experience here.

One thing I forgot to add, I did test for COVID-19 and it came out negative. I can hear sounds just fine, my hearing isn't muffled or anything. My ear doesn't hurt either. My nose is still a bit clogged up but I only notice it when I exercise. Other than that, I can breathe normally. During my cold, it wasn't very clogged either.

 

[Damocles]

It all started around 3rd January

You're right, you're never going to be able to pinpoint whether it was noise induced, virus induced or maybe a combination of both.

I suffer from severe tinnitus, but for years before that I suffered mild tinnitus.

What changed that was going to a loud concert with earplugs in and getting an ear infection in my left ear.

To this day, I have no idea what degree of the severe onset is attributable to the infection, and what degree is attributable to the noise exposure (despite the earplugs).

In any case it's irrelevant. I had to treat the ear infection all the same, and then spend years getting used to this jet engine in both my ears; something you don't want to have to do.

I did listen to my headphones frequently but I made sure to do it at normal volume as I knew what tinnitus is before.

I don't think it's related to noise exposure as the first time it came, it was louder than the show I was watching. From what I've read so far, most people that develop it through excessive noise only notice it after the fact when in a quiet setting, I might be wrong though.

This is an incorrect assumption. There is no variation in type or volume of tinnitus based on cause.

There is quite frankly no safe volume where headphones are concerned, and I'd suggest that if you want to leave this forum and never have to rejoin it, you let this be the last time you ever use them.

At this point, you're two months into your tinnitus; very much in the acute (early) stage, and thus have every possibility of making a full - or in worst case scenario, partial (unlikely in your case though) - recovery, much like my friend @kuromi whose story I suggest you read.

From here on out, avoid loud noises and places, and wear hearing protection when you're going somewhere you consider to be loud (ear defenders or foam earplugs), until the tinnitus subsides.

If they don't disagree with you, take some supplement like NAC, Turmeric, Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin E and B Complex. These should speed up your recovery.

Apart from that, just don't stress. Do some (not noisy) activities you enjoy while you're recovering: reading (books/comic books), video games (not with a headset and at low volume), films/movies (again, at sensible volumes) etc.

You sound young, so you've got a good chance of recovery here, if you do the right things.

 

[8958464854]

You're right, you're never going to be able to pinpoint whether it was noise induced, virus induced or maybe a combination of both.

I suffer from severe tinnitus, but for years before that I suffered mild tinnitus.

What changed that was going to a loud concert with earplugs in and getting an ear infection in my left ear.

To this day, I have no idea what degree of the severe onset is attributable to the infection, and what degree is attributable to the noise exposure (despite the earplugs).

In any case it's irrelevant. I had to treat the ear infection all the same, and then spend years getting used to this jet engine in both my ears; something you don't want to have to do.

This is an incorrect assumption. There is no variation in type or volume of tinnitus based on cause.

There is quite frankly no safe volume where headphones are concerned, and I'd suggest that if you want to leave this forum and never have to rejoin it, you let this be the last time you ever use them.

At this point, you're two months into your tinnitus; very much in the acute (early) stage, and thus have every possibility of making a full - or in worst case scenario, partial (unlikely in your case though) - recovery, much like my friend @kuromi whose story I suggest you read.

From here on out, avoid loud noises and places, and wear hearing protection when you're going somewhere you consider to be loud (ear defenders or foam earplugs), until the tinnitus subsides.

If they don't disagree with you, take some supplement like NAC, Turmeric, Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin E and B Complex. These should speed up your recovery.

Apart from that, just don't stress. Do some (not noisy) activities you enjoy while you're recovering: reading (books/comic books), video games (not with a headset and at low volume), films/movies (again, at sensible volumes) etc.

You sound young, so you've got a good chance of recovery here, if you do the right things.

Thanks! I really needed that. I really hope I do make a full recovery but over the past month I've started to accept my tinnitus (that temporary tinnitus in my other ear set me back a bit but I'm fine now), so even if it doesn't go away it's all good. Getting it really made me pay more attention to my overall health though. I've started exercising more often and cut all unhealthy food, so it's not all bad I suppose lol.

 

[Damocles]

Thanks! I really needed that. I really hope I do make a full recovery but over the past month I've started to accept my tinnitus (that temporary tinnitus in my other ear set me back a bit but I'm fine now), so even if it doesn't go away it's all good.

Keep in mind, even if your tinnitus doesn't disappear, the volume will likely go down slowly over time.

Many people on this forum live day to day with volumes the like of which you couldn't even begin to imagine, and still manage to function day to day. Hopefully, if you're careful, you'll never have to live with anything like this.

Getting it really made me pay more attention to my overall health though. I've started exercising more often and cut all unhealthy food, so it's not all bad I suppose lol.

My advice is to not to push yourself too much while you're recovering. Stay away from liftings weights, noisy gyms, running on treadmills (those things are loud as f*ck) etc. until you've given your ears ample time to heal.

Can't argue with healthy food under any circumstances.

BTW I really like your profile picture. So much, that I decided to make my own.

 

[kuromi]

Hello, I hadn't realised @Damocles had mentioned me here, so I figured I'd give you my perspective.

I totally get it. The initial few months of dealing with this can be beyond horrifying - and I won't lie and tell you this hasn't been the most terrifying thing I've ever had to deal with, because it was. But believe me, it can get better.

I won't make you any empty promises, but listen closely to what @Damocles said. With the medical world being of little help, the best thing anyone here can advise you to do in the early stages is to avoid loud noises and situations, use hearing protection and most importantly be careful.

These words aren't to scare you, I know how anxiety-inducing this can be; just know that living a normal life with this condition is possible - I'm a testament to that. My journey with this began in November 2021, and as of now, Februrary 2022, my tinnitus is exceptionally mild and my mind is used to it now.

The only reason I'm writing this with minimal tinnitus right now is because of playing it safe and taking precautions when needed. (Even a year later, I still use foam earplugs for some noisy situations such as household chores or in the cinema, for example.)

Everyone here has your back, and believe me, I know you can succeed in spite of this. I'm here for you if you ever need someone to talk to.

 

[8958464854]

Keep in mind, even if your tinnitus doesn't disappear, the volume will likely go down slowly over time.

Many people on this forum live day to day with volumes the like of which you couldn't even begin to imagine, and still manage to function day to day. Hopefully, if you're careful, you'll never have to live with anything like this.

My advice is to not to push yourself too much while you're recovering. Stay away from liftings weights, noisy gyms, running on treadmills (those things are loud as f*ck) etc. until you've given your ears ample time to heal.

Can't argue with healthy food under any circumstances.

BTW I really like your profile picture. So much, that I decided to make my own.

View attachment 48789

Looks cute haha! I'll definitely make sure to not push myself too hard and avoid loud places. Thanks a lot!

 

[8958464854]

Hello, I hadn't realised @Damocles had mentioned me here, so I figured I'd give you my perspective.

I totally get it. The initial few months of dealing with this can be beyond horrifying - and I won't lie and tell you this hasn't been the most terrifying thing I've ever had to deal with, because it was. But believe me, it can get better.

I won't make you any empty promises, but listen closely to what @Damocles said. With the medical world being of little help, the best thing anyone here can advise you to do in the early stages is to avoid loud noises and situations, use hearing protection and most importantly be careful.

These words aren't to scare you, I know how anxiety-inducing this can be; just know that living a normal life with this condition is possible - I'm a testament to that. My journey with this began in November 2021, and as of now, Februrary 2022, my tinnitus is exceptionally mild and my mind is used to it now.

The only reason I'm writing this with minimal tinnitus right now is because of playing it safe and taking precautions when needed. (Even a year later, I still use foam earplugs for some noisy situations such as household chores or in the cinema, for example.)

Everyone here has your back, and believe me, I know you can succeed in spite of this. I'm here for you if you ever need someone to talk to.

Thanks for the kind words guys! Really means a lot, especially right now.

 

[Forever hopeful]

Thanks for the kind words guys! Really means a lot, especially right now.

How are you doing now?

 

[Marshall]

How are you doing now?

They haven't logged in since May, so either really good or worst case scenario.

 

[8958464854]

How are you doing now?

I'm pretty much used to it at this point. It mostly bothers me when trying to sleep. I'm not sure if it got better because of the nasal spray or not, it's been so long that I don't really remember how my tinnitus was at first. I remember hearing it everywhere, but now it's not so bad. Maybe I'm just used to it at this point though.

One interesting thing I've noticed is that when I do the Valsalva maneuver, there's another sound in my right ear (the one that's ringing). Somewhere around may I had the sound stay for like one month, but now it's back to being there only when I do the Valsalva.

The first thing I suspected about it was the Valsalva, so I stopped taking the spray and doing it. During that period I remember my tinnitus being more annoying and occasionally getting that weird, fleeting tinnitus with muffled sounds (so the one where I got my original tinnitus) again. I'm back to using that spray and doing Valsalva, and it's fine now. No weird tinnitus with muffled sounds so far. Which leads me to believe there's something going on in there? My left ear, the one without tinnitus, had no weird things happen so far. When doing Valsalva it's always been quiet.

 

[8958464854]

I was thinking of making an update. Not much hearing loss at all, there's no blockage or anything either. I had a CT scan recently and everything was fine.

I don't really think about it anymore, not even when going to sleep. It might as well not be there.