Hi everyone. I've come across this forum a few times through googling about tinnitus, and finally decide to join.
Mine started acting up late last year, and pretty much came out of the blue. At least it didn't follow any trauma or illness related to the ears. Mine is a constant high pitched ringing sound in both ears, a bit louder on the left side.
I recently went to an ENT, got a hearing test and ear exam. My hearing is excellent, with some dropoff in the high frequencies in the left ear. The ENT said my eardrums look great, and I'm not suffering from things like dizziness, ear pain, etc. Though there is lately some slight feelings of "fullness" in the ears.
I have been to my share of loud concerts in the past, but I started wearing earplugs all the time as I got older and wiser. I also did have a loud firework explode near me as a kid that seemed to do some damage, but no visible damage to the eardrum.
So after the ENT to make sure I didn't need to do anything to save my hearing, I went to my primary care doc, who wants to rule out acoustic neuroma etc with the neurologist.
Some background on me that may be relevant: In the spring of last year I started suffering from some kind of anxiety attacks, which are hard to describe. I would start feeling unwell in a non-specific way and then start worrying that something was really wrong with me, that I could have a serious illness, that I could die soon, etc. I would get really freaked out and it was hard to tell if I was feeling bad from anxiety or if it was something physical.
It started with an episode where I suddenly felt a little faint and got a feeling of impending doom, and couldn't shake it, so I went to the ER, where they found nothing wrong with me, and I felt better after getting checked out. After that the feeling would return in some form, but never as serious as the first time, every few days to every couple weeks. I went to my primary doc and had heart scans, blood tests, etc, where everything seemed to be fine.
Except one blood test showed reduced kidney function. This really scared me, as I thought this is it, this is what I've been feeling, my kidneys are failing, etc. I went to the kidney doctor and he dismissed it as not that big of a deal, said my function would have to be a lot worse to be feeling any effects, and to test it again in a month and see. The next test showed everything back to normal, to my great relief, and I chalked my feelings up to anxiety, exhaustion, etc.
I work full time and have small kids and have not gotten much good sleep over the last few years, so it is entirely possible that's what it was.
So now few months ago, just after I got the good news about kidney function being normal again and feeling like I was over those episodes of anxiety, the tinnitus started kicking in, and now it's pretty loud to the point where I'm starting to freak out a little bit. Wondering what's causing it, maybe there is something going on with my kidneys or something else internally wrong and not knowing where to turn.
One other tidbit on my T: it seems to get worse when I run or work out. Which is a shame, because I'm pretty hooked on exercise. It's a important part of my life and well-being.
Anyway, that's my long intro and history. I look forward to being part of the community.
Mine started acting up late last year, and pretty much came out of the blue. At least it didn't follow any trauma or illness related to the ears. Mine is a constant high pitched ringing sound in both ears, a bit louder on the left side.
I recently went to an ENT, got a hearing test and ear exam. My hearing is excellent, with some dropoff in the high frequencies in the left ear. The ENT said my eardrums look great, and I'm not suffering from things like dizziness, ear pain, etc. Though there is lately some slight feelings of "fullness" in the ears.
I have been to my share of loud concerts in the past, but I started wearing earplugs all the time as I got older and wiser. I also did have a loud firework explode near me as a kid that seemed to do some damage, but no visible damage to the eardrum.
So after the ENT to make sure I didn't need to do anything to save my hearing, I went to my primary care doc, who wants to rule out acoustic neuroma etc with the neurologist.
Some background on me that may be relevant: In the spring of last year I started suffering from some kind of anxiety attacks, which are hard to describe. I would start feeling unwell in a non-specific way and then start worrying that something was really wrong with me, that I could have a serious illness, that I could die soon, etc. I would get really freaked out and it was hard to tell if I was feeling bad from anxiety or if it was something physical.
It started with an episode where I suddenly felt a little faint and got a feeling of impending doom, and couldn't shake it, so I went to the ER, where they found nothing wrong with me, and I felt better after getting checked out. After that the feeling would return in some form, but never as serious as the first time, every few days to every couple weeks. I went to my primary doc and had heart scans, blood tests, etc, where everything seemed to be fine.
Except one blood test showed reduced kidney function. This really scared me, as I thought this is it, this is what I've been feeling, my kidneys are failing, etc. I went to the kidney doctor and he dismissed it as not that big of a deal, said my function would have to be a lot worse to be feeling any effects, and to test it again in a month and see. The next test showed everything back to normal, to my great relief, and I chalked my feelings up to anxiety, exhaustion, etc.
I work full time and have small kids and have not gotten much good sleep over the last few years, so it is entirely possible that's what it was.
So now few months ago, just after I got the good news about kidney function being normal again and feeling like I was over those episodes of anxiety, the tinnitus started kicking in, and now it's pretty loud to the point where I'm starting to freak out a little bit. Wondering what's causing it, maybe there is something going on with my kidneys or something else internally wrong and not knowing where to turn.
One other tidbit on my T: it seems to get worse when I run or work out. Which is a shame, because I'm pretty hooked on exercise. It's a important part of my life and well-being.
Anyway, that's my long intro and history. I look forward to being part of the community.
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