Don't panic! As horrible as ear problems can be (oh boy do i know!) this won't kill you! Be calm. Try. Now: have you been sneezing lately? Is it possible you are coming down with a cold? Have you done anything to your ears, like stick q tips into them or try to de-wax them by yourself (not a good idea)? Tinnitus gets worse when our ears are affected by other things (like upper respiratory infection, impacted ear wax, in my case weeping skin in my ears from contact dermatitis caused by ear drops!) When the ear canals are swollen (this happens after ENT sub specialist debrides the skin in my ears or suctions them) tinnitus will be worse for a day or so; if there's wax in the ear, tinnitus will be worse. If you wake up and suddenly your ear is blocked (that happened to me), you may have an oncoming ear infection. Tomorrow morning, call your primary care Dr. and ask for referral to a ENT with a subspecialty in ears (they are not all equal, most ENTs don't have microscopes and equipment to suction your ears). Until then, prop your head up with two or more pillows when you sleep tonight and try to stay on your back. <3
