Had to Go to Bar for Work Meeting. Feel My Ears May Be Worse Even Though I Had Earplugs. Help?

[Julien87]

I did not drink alcohol while there either. Only was there to socialize with others.

Super worried can be enough
How are you today?

 

[jdjd09]

@jdjd09
I feel for you, I've been in the same situation with work before and it's a difficult situation to be put in.

@Alue, how do you handle it in a work setting? Like how do you prevent this from affecting your job when these events happen?

 

[Alue]

@Alue, how do you handle it in a work setting? Like how do you prevent this from affecting your job when these events happen?

It's been difficult. Last time was in January and I made a post about it here https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/i-just-dont-understand-why-my-ears-are-so-reactive.33472/.

I have explained to people and most of them know, but it's still a difficult situation. During the summer we have a company anniversary celebration and all of us long distance employees will be traveling to HQ. I know I'll probably face a similar situation there and I'm a bit worried about it. I may have to just duck out, my manager understands and wouldn't mind if I skipped a company dinner, but explaining it to upper management or other people is difficult. What's even more difficult is I have customers/clients that may not know about my hearing issues.

I just put myself in a non-work situation that was just as loud if not louder while trying to get out and socialize outside of work. Now my tinnitus seems to have a bit of a spike.

I can commiserate, I wish I had more constructive advice, but the only thing I can say is try to explain to your managers that your ears cannot tolerate loud places. Tell them you have hyperacusis so they can look it up if they think it's an imaginary condition. They may or may not get it, but at least you tried.

 

[jdjd09]

@Alue , thanks and sorry that happened to you. Did it get better after the work experience (since it appears the social experience was different)? Hopefully it got better.

I'm just very stressed because I feel the tone is where the warplugs protect the least (frequency wise). I still have this after four days and not sure if this means it's permanent new tone or situation. What do you think? Or do you think I should get predinisone at this point or let it be? I have been taking CoQ, NAC, magnesium, and some vitamin C.

Not sure what else I should do or if I'm screwed.

Also, how did your boss take it? Like they say they are understanding, but do they think it's weird? I just started this job and my previous boss badmouthed me (even though it was unjustified). I hate making a first bad impression with this.

 

[jdjd09]

However, I did do a hearing test and there does not appear to be any hearing loss from previous test.

 

[jdjd09]

@Bill Bauer, thanks for your input thoughout this. Can I ask maybe why you feel optimistic about my situation? I am just scared because it's been four days and the new tone seems to still be there. Or maybe it was already there and just got louder in both ears. Feels like maybe it associates where the musician ear plugs were protecting less.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Can I ask maybe why you feel optimistic about my situation?

What I learned over the past 26 months (based on my own experiences and also what I learned on this forum) is:
1) ears take forever to heal
2)T tends to change - it is dynamic
3) Most spikes are temporary
4) Temporary spikes can take over 3 months to clear
5) There is no reason to worry (about the spike being permanent) for the first few weeks of a spike

I would worry only if there was to be no improvement/fading after a month.

Of course permanent spikes are real. However, they are also rare...

 

[PeteJ]

@Bill Bauer, thanks for your input thoughout this. Can I ask maybe why you feel optimistic about my situation? I am just scared because it's been four days and the new tone seems to still be there. Or maybe it was already there and just got louder in both ears. Feels like maybe it associates where the musician ear plugs were protecting less.

I ask Bill the same questions. He seems very rational and is a great guy. I hope he's right.

I only have one piece of advice. I quit (more or less) my job. I'm not going back so unless they have some remote work I can do...
It's a loud place and people expected me to. Geez...

I strongly advise you to find a quiet job, whatever that is. A bar is too loud. I know it is difficult to consider and follow but some of us have no choice. Hope we heal one of these days so we can tolerate normal noise levels.

But, I suggest to seek a work environment where the sound level is much lower. A quiet room or office in which you tell them your limitations or remote from home is ideal.

As for the tones and worry, I have been there. I hope you improve. I would get better ear plugs. I think musician plugs should only be used in semi quiet places where you need to talk to people.

Foam plugs block out more sound.

 

[jdjd09]

I'm still very stressed out about this. It have been 5 days now and just very stressed out that this happened, and it was due to something I DID NOT want to do and felt forced to go for work.

I'm stressed out. What else should I be doing at this point? I have taken NAC, magnesium, CoQ, and some other stuff.


I'm concerned about this.

 

[jdjd09]

I feel alone in this. Basically family just hangs up on me and says go see a doctor and then complains I'm not doing anything when I have told them repeatedly there is nothing the doctors can do at this time for me. Then complains that I'm weird for not wanting to go to another bar meeting if work has it (I will not go and if I get fired, so f'n be it).

Explaining to people makes them look at you like your crazy or they don't get the big deal.

I just need some hope. Can someone please help me. I'm not new to this. I had it when it was "mild" and I had it increase to very loud from noise exposure years ago. I am so stressed out. I felt trapped by my new job. But I refuse to ever be put in this situation again and I don't care if it costs me a job or offends people.

 

[jdjd09]

Should I get prednisone for this or am I overreacting and should give it time? I'm so stressed and can't think straight right now on what to do.

I did a hearing test and my hearing is the same on the audiogram.

Please, someone tell me what to do. I can't think straight and am desperate for help. Someone please just tell me what I am suppose to be doing right now.

I'm so lost and tired and can't think straight. Please help me figure this out. Please. Please. Please help me. Please just help me know what I should do.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Should I get prednisone for this or am I overreacting and should give it time?

If you want to take prednisone, the sooner you start taking it, the better. Having said this,

Prednisone carries risks. Not doing anything is also risky. Your guess about what to do is as good as anyone's (on this forum, or a an ENT guessing).

You already know what the risk of not taking it is (a T spike). Here is a sample post by someone who ended up having a bad experience with Prednisone:

Because of taking prednisone for my tinnitus, I then got more serious problems, I was examined for 2 months because I felt terrible. It turned out that I had developed adrenal insufficiency from taking prednisone. And 3 months later, it persists. What's the reason for this, nobody knows.

Of course getting serious problems like that likely has a low probability.

The bottom line is that you will have to do what feels right to you, and then try to never question your decision...

 

[Bill Bauer]

You are panicking. Keep in mind that most likely you will not be stuck with the T that you are hearing now. It will likely eventually go away. You just need to ride out the next couple of days/weeks...

 

[Bill Bauer]

I have taken NAC, magnesium, CoQ, and some other stuff.

You can try taking melatonin. I remember seeing multiple posts about it doing similar things to prednisone, while not being as dangerous. I am having trouble finding those posts now.

 

[GSC]

Is there any possible way to inform your boss of your condition, so hopefully, understanding can be put into the situation? That way.. he might not get mad, or fire you, or disappointed on why you would need to skip out on such things.

 

[jdjd09]

@Bill Bauer , I have taken prednisone in the past and haven't had any issues with it. It's just a pain to get from doctor and they never dose very high. But I also realize I may be potentially overreacting and it goes away. I don't want to take it if I'm just overreacting. Want to only use it when a real emergency happens. Like if someone shot a gun near me or if measurable hearing loss occurred. But maybe I should use it. I really do not know.

The restaurant/bar was only really 80 to 85 dB and I had earplugs that claim at the lowest to be 15db protection, see earplug link in original post. They may not be accurate though, but they have good ratings. I used the green ones.

I will try melatonin at night though. Can I ask the amount you saw recommended? Also, how did they say it was similar?

I am panicking and just don't think straight right now. Want to make sure I do the right thing. Just don't know how to make right decisions right now.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I will try melatonin at night though. Can I ask the amount you saw recommended? Also, how did they say it was similar?

Here is one of those posts

I believe it reduces inflammation that can cause oxidative stress that leads to damage like hair cells dying off.

I think a lot of people jump too quickly to use it, because it is ototoxic and also has a long list of possible nasty side effects. Not saying you should not be taking it because I don't know your situation. Hope it wasn't too bad.

I would be getting on antioxidants unless it's a severe situation (i.e. where there's measurable/perceived hearing loss), in particular ones that boost glutathione. Other things like nicotinamide riboside, r lipoic acid, acetyl-l-carnitine, magnesium, melatonin and others have research to suggest they can reduce hearing loss as a result of loud noise exposure. In fact, some research indicates melatonin is as effective or more effective than prednisone.

For sleep, you don't need a large dose of melatonin

You can also try taking melatonin, but make sure not to take too much of it.
https://vanwinkles.com/the-dark-side-downsides-side-effects-of-melatonin
"In 2001, researchers at MIT concluded that the correct dosage for melatonin falls between .3 and 1 mg."

But you might consider taking the entire 3 or 5 mg pill (that is the normal dosage being sold) if you take it instead of prednisone...

 

[Bill Bauer]

N Acetyl Cystein
Alpha lipoic acid
acetyl L carnitine

NAC helps me a lot to tolarate my 10 month old daughter screams. Swanson is my brand and im taking half the recommended dosage- that reads on the bottle. I split the capsule to half. Days when sound toxication is heavier i will take the whole Nac- its 600mg. Its more useful to have glutathione available for longer period, so i read that after 5-6 hours Nac should be depleted and so i will take 300 in the morning and another on the day time. When i had virus i took one more in the evening and was up within 1,5 days, whereas my wife has the same virus and it took a week to get her out of the bed. Im using it 4-5 days week. I get nausea when 600mg is taken at once. Melatonine is good too, after shock like this.

For ears its well known protective substance.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22122955
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2012/may2012_Strategies-Protect-Preserve-Your-Hearing_02.htm

edit: Check this amino acid too- Taurine. In your case should be quite useful as it lowers blood pressure. I felt really calm and im naturally nervous person. As i said, there's lots of weapons out there, got to keep them loaded. Can't win, but at least this way, i feel, can't lose too.

"Taurine plays a vital role in hearing. In fact, studies have found that in some cases, taurine can reverse the biochemical processes behind hearing loss."
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2013/jun2013_The-Forgotten-Longevity-Benefits-of-Taurine_01.htm

 

[Rings-a-Bell]

So here's the good news. I've been in exactly your situation 5-6 times. I go someplace a little noisy (bar/restaurant/movie). I measure 80db. I use earplugs. Stay for an hours or two. Things are mostly fine that night but I wake the next morning to a big spike. Every time it has happened it's gone away within 1-2 weeks. Lately even sooner, sometimes just a couple of days. Your ears and your anxiety just need some time to settle.

 

[GSC]

Huh. Hm. Why don't more people take Taurine on here if in that article it supposedly claims to reduce Tinnitus and such.

 

[Contrast]

However, I did do a hearing test and there does not appear to be any hearing loss from previous test.

Are you aware a hearing test only tests the bare vitals of hearing?

 

[Drone Draper]

My experience as a corporate drone is this - go to company socialising events for 1-2 hours, then slink off. This was my MO, even before T.

While it is important to do your fair share of socialising to become successful as a corporate prostitute, you are better off cultivating relationships through good work and being seen as pro-active and in charge, especially in team meetings where your higher ups are attending.

Connect with your higher ups on LinkedIn and find out what books they're reading and people they follow. Read those books and follow those same people.

I hope your spike subsides, OP. I was at a restaurant at the weekend where a gaggle of loudmouthed oafs were celebrating someone's birthday. I was worried about a spike, but was thankfully fine.

 

[Raphael7713]

I think that fear has a part in this. When you are going to a bar you start to be afraid. Will my T get worse? You start to get stressed about it. Because we are very afraid that something will cause our T to spike up. You said that you had protection even. I think it's your fear and stress levels that has increased because you were going to a bar, which now makes your brain work harder and feel threatened, hence the spike.

I could be wrong of course. But if you had ear plugs and still experience a spike, i think it's more down to the fear and stress.

 

[jdjd09]

So, the key thing to note is the protection was LOWER than what I normally do. I have been in these situations before and had higher power earplugs and this was NEVER an issue. I've been in louder environments (slightly) and never had a concern and had the higher power earplugs in.

The problem was I can't inderstand people talking with them. So I put in lower powered ones. They are SUPPOSSED to protect at 15db at lower range.

Guess where my new tone is? Where the earplugs protect the least. This is why I am stressed. It is a new tone from what I can tell.

With that information, does this change anything.

I threw away the medium earplugs and will never use them again. If I can't understand people with the higher power ones than so be it.

 

[jdjd09]

I am buying taurine and should get it today. Giving all the above and the new lower tone and the weaker earplugs and 2 hours of the noise...should I get prednisone or not? Like I really don't know. I really can not make a decision. I'm stressed and I need someone to help me decide. I need help making a decision. I'm not in a position to make a decision.

PS: I already have measurable hearing loss from before. On the audiogram I have hearing loss in the higher frequencies on the audiogram and it dips down to 30-40db. That was from a couple years ago though. That didn't change though on my recent audiogram.

 

[jdjd09]

Please I know someone on here must know what I'm supposed to do right now. Please someone help me, I'm not in the right mind to make the right decision.

 

[Digital Doc]

Please I know someone on here must know what I'm supposed to do right now. Please someone help me, I'm not in the right mind to make the right decision.

I got TTTS twice, and never did prednisone, and have mostly recovered at this point, although still have some T.

I take omega3 daily, and think it helped quite a bit.

 

[jdjd09]

Thanks, what do others think about me taking prednisone or not? I really need to decide today if I need to get some or not. Not sure what to do. I can not decide. I am too stressed to make a sound decision.

 

[Ross McLauchlan]

Hey,

Sorry to see you're stressed out over your spike - it's horrible, totally feel for you. If it helps, I've taken Prednisone in the past and I still have tinnitus (I didn't really notice any benefits).

I've also had multiple spikes that I thought would never pass and they have. It can take a bit of time.

 

[jdjd09]

Right, so this is where is where I am lost. I need to make a decision soon whether to take any or not. Can someone who is knowledgeable please help me make the right decision?

Please help me make the right decision.

I already had tinnitus, I just feel I hear a new tone after this event is all.