Gushing Water — Deafness and Tinnitus

[Tutz]

Hi Everyone - I am 51 and at the moment trying to come to terms with Tinnitus & deafness. I woke in the early hours on 5 July to a sound of gushing water (I thought a pipe had burst somewhere) - it was in my head. It was so loud. I thought I needed my ears syringed so made a GP appt. I couldn't get in for 2 days. I had had foot surgery 8 days prior and was on anti-inflammatory and antibiotics. The GP advised it was a sudden hearing loss and to have a CT scan done, see an audiologist and ENT specialist.

I thought this was overkill so I asked 'Dr Google'. Dr Google said medication can cause this problem, so I ceased my medication. The problem continued. I then tried to book the audiologist but needed a referral - back to the GP - a different one this time - he said the last diagnosis was overkill and to try Sudafed to unblock the nasel tubes - I tried this whilst waiting for my audiologist appt. - it didn't work.

I had the appt with the audiologist- my left side is completely deaf. Fortunately the audiologist managed to get me an ENT appt three days later, I had the CT scan and went for my visit. The ENT has prescribed 50mg prednislone for 7 days, 25mg for 7 days, 12mg for 7 days a new CT scan with contrast dye and then revisit. I am at day 15 of the medication. If anything I think I have gained a very small amount of hearing, if I put the phone to the 'sad' ear I hear a shallow, yet quiet vibrating voice through a tunnel (best way to describe what I am hearing).

The Tinnitus though is chaotic in my head. If I am alone I can put my headphones on and listen to the sound therapy on youtube, sounds of running water or wind - this helps a lot to mask the crazies in my head, if I am in a group of 4 or more though, it is chaotic. The sound distortion of voices, of clanging noises and just intense ringing does my head in. How do you mask these sounds whilst still maintaining conversation with people. I am four weeks in so far, my sleep is fractured, my temper is fractured - I just feel like snapping all the time.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My next ENT visit is still 7 days away.

He had said if this treatment doesn't work I will then have 7 days of injecting prednisolone directly into the cochlear, if that doesn't work he doesn't think I will regain my hearing at all - help!

 

[billie48]

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Welcome to the forum. I am not a doctor so I can't give an opinion on the treatment you will receive from the doctor. All I can say that your tinnitus is relatively new. So at this stage we suffer the most as the brain reacts in trauma to this new alien ringing. As a result, we suffer the kind of symptoms you mention above, as it can affect our mood, sleep, work, socializing, etc., etc. Your reaction is quite normal and if you read the success stories you will find many who have recovered had gone through similar tough struggle initially. Don't worry too much nor despair. Better days will come and from a few months to a year or two, most people will find some improvement and many will habituate. I had the same challenges initially but also with relentless anxiety and panic attacks due to my prior condition of anxiety and panic disorder. I was in such a mess that I thought I would never recover. But today I live a normal, happy and absolutely enjoyable life. I wrote my success story and share some helpful strategies. Check if out if you have time. Take care. God bless.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...w-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/

 

[Contrast]

https://decibeltx.com/
This is your only hope and treatment is close to 10 years away in a good case scenario.

 

[Jonstorm]

Hi Tutz, I feel you as a new tinnitus sufferer. Im not sure why mine came on but it may have been high pitched dental drill work on a background of excessive headphone video game use. Im fairly sure mine is on a lower scale of severity only that ive freaked out and amplified it up with the good old fight and flight reaction that often accompanies this issue such that its feeling deafening at night especially.
From what ive read I think you can reasonably expect it to continue to improve if you have already had a bit of improvement with the steroids but I guess nothing is guaranteed on that front. What will improve is your ability to cope with the sounds and that's what I am telling myself as well.
Good luck in the days ahead

 

[Tutz]

Thank you all for your kind words, I understand - I must wait patiently for Mother Nature and Father Time to sort me out! I do appreciate all your thoughts and understanding. Trying to explain to someone who has no idea is not easy, so for me to be able to voice my concern and frustration to those who do - thank you.

 

[califkaren]

Tutz, You are anything but alone. You and I are on a similar timeline; May/June - woke up 0ne day with the roaring and hearing loss. Seven doctors later....The prednisone made me crazy and didn't seem to help. The 3 injections may have helped relieve some of the accompanying pressure but not the noise or the hearing loss and the MRI found nothing out of the ordinary, I almost wish it had found something! Now it is just trying to deal with the hearing loss and noise (mine is a freight train engine). Yes, being around more than a couple people, or a noisy restaurant is just exhausting. Getting comfortable with asking people to repeat themselves is a major adjustment. My GP pointed out that some of my anxiety and sadness is grief. I had not considered that; but it feels right. The steps of grief is what I have been living. Haven't gotten to acceptance yet - waiting for my brain to do the 'plastic' thing the specialist say SHOULD happen. It is hard to accept that this is my new NORMAL.