Hi there, I've been lurking on the forum for a few days and thought I'd sign up and introduce myself. Sorry for what I suspect will be a lengthy post.
I have had ringing/humming in my head for one week. I'm not sure what caused it. It could be damage from loud noise; it could be ETD; it could be TMJ. There are lots of variables.
My story begins last Thursday when I went to an outdoor rally that had presenters with microphones and speakers, and loads of cheering. I wasn't anywhere near the speakers and didn't consider it to be too loud but suddenly felt a sharp pain in my right ear. Afterwards I could hear a ring/hum in my head. I'm not sure if it's in one ear, both ears, or in my head. I got zero sleep that night, from the noise and the ensuing panic and dread.
The next day I went to a walk-in clinic and the doctor, after looking at my ears and at my tongue, told me he believed my eustachian tubes were blocked as there was fluid in my right ear. He prescribed nasal spray (Avamys - fluticasone furoate). He told me if there was no improvement in 5 - 7 days, come back to the clinic. The chemist said it would be fairer to give it 2 weeks. He said if I see improvement after 1 week to continue taking it. I started taking the nasal spray that day. I'd told the doctor about the loud rally and the pain in my ear and he'd seemed to think that was merely a coincidence, that ETD had messed with the pressure in my ear and it was not chronic tinnitus. He said 90% of people get better with no lasting effects. That reassured me.
However, on Monday, I went to another walk-in clinic for a second opinion from another doctor. I gave her the same information I'd given the first doctor. She examined me and said she couldn't tell what was going on (no inflammation or fluid in ear that she could see). She told me it wasn't uncommon for someone who'd attended a large event like a rally or a concert to have some ringing for a week or so. She agreed that I should give the nasal spray a week. She said if there was no improvement during that time, I should go back to that clinic as they have a resident ENT. Tomorrow is the one week mark. I'll be making the call tomorrow to see the doctor again. Things seemed to have gotten a bit better, and then worse again.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a fan on level 2 or 3 helped mask the sound of the noise in my head. Not ideal but I did manage to get some fitful sleep. In addition to doing the nasal spray, I started steaming my head with euchalyptus for 10 minutes on Monday night.
On Tuesday as I steamed my head I felt my left ear give a soft "squish" sound and it seemed finally to unplug. Later that ear felt a bit moist, as if something was draining. Later that evening, the right ear seemed to unplug as well.
On Monday and Tuesday I was pleasantly surprised to find the noise seemed to have abated and when I put my ears on the pillow there was no amplification. Tuesday night was bliss, laying there listening to the relative quiet (the noise was there but very hushed). Last night (Wednesday) I steamed my head again and went to bed, hoping for the best. But it was a nightmare. The noise was back up to its original level and I couldn't sleep. Even the fan didn't help but rather just irritated me more. Finally BBC Radio 4 Xtra on my iphone gave me some relief and I fell asleep to that. Problem is, I've always needed silence in which to stay asleep so although music or nature sounds can help me sleep, they always interfere with me staying asleep. This morning when I got up I bawled like a baby. Where I've been fairly optimistic and positive the last two days, I'm back to fighting a rising panic.
I have a previously-scheduled appointment this evening with my naturopath and another with my chiropractor tomorrow. I'm going to discuss options with both of them. The next step as well will be seeing an ENT and trying to figure out what has caused my head-noise and whether there is anything I can do about it.
In the meantime, I'm logging everything I eat and drink (not eating much thought to be honest although am still managing to get my usual green smoothie down first thing in the morning) to see if perhaps I can recognize any spikes or remissions of the noise and try to pinpoint things that may help me cope if this is here to stay with me permanently.
I've found some really helpful information on this forum and am grateful to everyone for their posts and encouragement to other members. I stopped reading the scary stuff though and have been reading success stories of people who adopted successful coping strategies or got rid of their T entirely.
Right now I find being at work very stressful as there is a constant ringing/whining at my desk from the computer and office equipment and I find myself wondering if it's really the computer or my head and whether my noise is getting louder or changing in pitch or will be aggravated by the noise of the computer. Turning on BBC Radio 4 and 4 Xtra help with it but I'm not supposed to be on the internet while working. I might have to buy a radio and listen to crappy Canadian stations. If I can't get this anxiety under control, I know I'm going to have to take time off work.
It's been one injury after another for me for the past few years - torn muscles, severe bruising, soft tissue injuries, popped ribs, sprained ankles, shin splints, most recently a fractured foot and now THIS. Before I'm even out of the cast I get THIS. God, I'm SO tired to trying to "look on the bright side" and "think positively" and saying "Aw well, it could be worse". So tired of it.
Again, sorry for the long post and thanks to those who read the entire thing
I have had ringing/humming in my head for one week. I'm not sure what caused it. It could be damage from loud noise; it could be ETD; it could be TMJ. There are lots of variables.
My story begins last Thursday when I went to an outdoor rally that had presenters with microphones and speakers, and loads of cheering. I wasn't anywhere near the speakers and didn't consider it to be too loud but suddenly felt a sharp pain in my right ear. Afterwards I could hear a ring/hum in my head. I'm not sure if it's in one ear, both ears, or in my head. I got zero sleep that night, from the noise and the ensuing panic and dread.
The next day I went to a walk-in clinic and the doctor, after looking at my ears and at my tongue, told me he believed my eustachian tubes were blocked as there was fluid in my right ear. He prescribed nasal spray (Avamys - fluticasone furoate). He told me if there was no improvement in 5 - 7 days, come back to the clinic. The chemist said it would be fairer to give it 2 weeks. He said if I see improvement after 1 week to continue taking it. I started taking the nasal spray that day. I'd told the doctor about the loud rally and the pain in my ear and he'd seemed to think that was merely a coincidence, that ETD had messed with the pressure in my ear and it was not chronic tinnitus. He said 90% of people get better with no lasting effects. That reassured me.
However, on Monday, I went to another walk-in clinic for a second opinion from another doctor. I gave her the same information I'd given the first doctor. She examined me and said she couldn't tell what was going on (no inflammation or fluid in ear that she could see). She told me it wasn't uncommon for someone who'd attended a large event like a rally or a concert to have some ringing for a week or so. She agreed that I should give the nasal spray a week. She said if there was no improvement during that time, I should go back to that clinic as they have a resident ENT. Tomorrow is the one week mark. I'll be making the call tomorrow to see the doctor again. Things seemed to have gotten a bit better, and then worse again.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a fan on level 2 or 3 helped mask the sound of the noise in my head. Not ideal but I did manage to get some fitful sleep. In addition to doing the nasal spray, I started steaming my head with euchalyptus for 10 minutes on Monday night.
On Tuesday as I steamed my head I felt my left ear give a soft "squish" sound and it seemed finally to unplug. Later that ear felt a bit moist, as if something was draining. Later that evening, the right ear seemed to unplug as well.
On Monday and Tuesday I was pleasantly surprised to find the noise seemed to have abated and when I put my ears on the pillow there was no amplification. Tuesday night was bliss, laying there listening to the relative quiet (the noise was there but very hushed). Last night (Wednesday) I steamed my head again and went to bed, hoping for the best. But it was a nightmare. The noise was back up to its original level and I couldn't sleep. Even the fan didn't help but rather just irritated me more. Finally BBC Radio 4 Xtra on my iphone gave me some relief and I fell asleep to that. Problem is, I've always needed silence in which to stay asleep so although music or nature sounds can help me sleep, they always interfere with me staying asleep. This morning when I got up I bawled like a baby. Where I've been fairly optimistic and positive the last two days, I'm back to fighting a rising panic.
I have a previously-scheduled appointment this evening with my naturopath and another with my chiropractor tomorrow. I'm going to discuss options with both of them. The next step as well will be seeing an ENT and trying to figure out what has caused my head-noise and whether there is anything I can do about it.
In the meantime, I'm logging everything I eat and drink (not eating much thought to be honest although am still managing to get my usual green smoothie down first thing in the morning) to see if perhaps I can recognize any spikes or remissions of the noise and try to pinpoint things that may help me cope if this is here to stay with me permanently.
I've found some really helpful information on this forum and am grateful to everyone for their posts and encouragement to other members. I stopped reading the scary stuff though and have been reading success stories of people who adopted successful coping strategies or got rid of their T entirely.
Right now I find being at work very stressful as there is a constant ringing/whining at my desk from the computer and office equipment and I find myself wondering if it's really the computer or my head and whether my noise is getting louder or changing in pitch or will be aggravated by the noise of the computer. Turning on BBC Radio 4 and 4 Xtra help with it but I'm not supposed to be on the internet while working. I might have to buy a radio and listen to crappy Canadian stations. If I can't get this anxiety under control, I know I'm going to have to take time off work.
It's been one injury after another for me for the past few years - torn muscles, severe bruising, soft tissue injuries, popped ribs, sprained ankles, shin splints, most recently a fractured foot and now THIS. Before I'm even out of the cast I get THIS. God, I'm SO tired to trying to "look on the bright side" and "think positively" and saying "Aw well, it could be worse". So tired of it.
Again, sorry for the long post and thanks to those who read the entire thing
Member
I'm going to read those spontaneous recovery stats, thanks for that! 
