Hi All! I Suspect I Have Tinnitus. Little Bit Worried.

[chaosgodloki]

I'm glad I discovered you guys! I'm kind of freaking out right now. About 4 days ago I was on my computer and noticed I had this high-pitched kind of hissing in my ears. I'm not sure if I just hadn't noticed it or if it has just appeared. I think it has just appeared because it's quite noticeable.

It hasn't been confirmed yet; I'm heading to the doctor's tomorrow to ask about it. I do get wax-build up a lot, and have had my ears syringed a few years back. I'm going to get them syringed tomorrow too, to see if that helps.

I think it won't. I'm quite the pessimist. My mum just thinks it's wax build up but I've gotten a hell of a lot of wax out of my ears in the past few days (using wax softener drops). It hasn't changed things, not one bit.

I work in a supermarket and it's not overly loud. Sometimes when people are carrying stuff out the back with trolleys it gets loud, but only for a moment.

I have been using earplugs to get to sleep for many years. I do game with headphones almost every day for up to 4 hours at a time, but I never have it louder than need be. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it. I do drink Coke a lot, at least 1 can a day, but have not drank any since I noticed the noise as caffeine apparently makes it worse. There hasn't been any change though.

I do get "pops" in my ears sometimes. And sometimes one of my ears will randomly block up and all I can hear it myself breathing in that ear. I'm not sure if any of that means anything.

I also find it is worse in the morning. Yesterday it was so loud when I woke up, I could almost only hear that. I find that it's kinda worse when laying down. It does get a little bit quieter as the day goes on.

I'm just hoping it will go away soon on its own. It's not enough to make me want to jump off a cliff, but it is loud enough to be annoying. I am only 18, I don't want to live with this forever.

Thank you all.

 

[Lorenzo74]

Hey @chaosgodloki and welcome to our little club..

You will find great info on here... I don't know about syringing... I would not do that as I heard some people actually developed T as a consequence.. I believe our beloved director and founder @Markku had that happen to him, so maybe he could give you some advise on how to clean the wax... I would just ask the ENT to take the wax out with a little tiny kind of instrument they have... I had that done the last 2 times I had them cleaned and I never had any problem...

I would also ease down a bit on the earplug use at least for now and see how your T reacts... 4 hours a day, even at low level sound a bit too much if you ask me...

I wish you well and that your T will resolve soon !!! Take care !!

 

[chaosgodloki]

Thank you for the quick reply!

I have been refraining from using the earplugs to sleep since I noticed it. Have only used my headset maybe once for about 2 hours since. Hasn't really done anything. It's a brand new headset too; now I'm too scared to use them!

I have been using these wax softener drops and they're working great for my right ear, but are doing nothing for my left. I think there's a blockage.

I might ask the doc to see if he can get it out without syringing. I had syringing done a couple years ago and it hurt a bit, but didn't cause any problems. But hearing someone got T because of it makes me worried.

I do think gaming with my headset did cause it. I can't think of anything else. It sucks because I've been using headsets for about 2 years and I rely on it to play games now, it's too different without them. But if it makes this less of a problem I will have to deal with it!

I can still hear perfectly fine. My ears feel a bit full at the moment but I can hear sounds just fine. So I'm not sure if it is related to hearing loss. I have only had this for about 4-5 days. Is there a chance it could go away?

 

[Sound Wave]

The less you think and worry about T in the first days the better -> the less your brain 'learns' to associate T to worry and distress -> you will habituate better or maybe your brain just ignores T all together in the first weeks...

 

[Lorenzo74]

Hey @chaosgodloki

Good to hear you are easing up on the headphones... I am not familiar with your case but extensive usage of earplugs can cause T...

I use the oil I buy in the pharmacy as well to ease the wax, and in my case that seems to be enough to help clear the wax... Also a couple of ENTs have told me that ears' wax usually cleans itself out, so no real need to mess with the ears, at least for normal wax's build up..

I read on here that if you are in within the first week of onset you should ask your ENT for a course of steroids (in my case I was too late).. It has to be done within the first week to be effective, so maybe ask your ENT when you speak with him tomorrow and maybe research about it here on TT...

Best of luck my T friend !

 

[AlecP]

Hey @chaosgodloki

What kind of gaming headset do you use? I have Turtle Beach XO Seven's and was using them when my Tinnitus was triggered. I played many hours per day with them like you also do - not massively loudly but it was enough to trigger my T I guess.

As for the rest of your story, wait for your doc to confirm and then give it a good six weeks. Don't focus on your T, stay away from Tinnitus horror stories and see what happens in a month or so. Chances are your sound will just dissipate until it fully goes away - avoid all headphone use for a while and try and protect your ears as much as you can going forward

 

[Nucleo]

I do get "pops" in my ears sometimes. And sometimes one of my ears will randomly block up and all I can hear it myself breathing in that ear. I'm not sure if any of that means anything.

This is textbook autophony probably caused by eustachian tube dysfunction. It's worth investigating further.

 

[chaosgodloki]

I originally used Turtlebeach Earforce Atlas, then recently changed to Stealth 400x, but they had problems. I'm now using the Stealth 500x's. I've only had them for about 2 weeks.

I have never heard of autophony, but it does sound like what I get sometimes. I've had the random ear block ups for a while, a few years at least. Last time I went to the doc he thought it was just earwax build up and syringed my ears. That did stop it for a little while but it came back eventually. I'll ask him about it today, but I think I will have to go to an actual ear specialist and not just the local doc soon.

 

[chaosgodloki]

Ok so I went to the doc today and he didn't really have much to offer. My left ear was blocked with wax so he flushed it out but my right ear was clear. He also said inside the right ear was red so he prescribed me some ointment stuff. He also said to stop using my headset

The hissing is still there, but it's not too bad today. My right ear hurts quite a bit and still feels blocked. I guess because it is inflamed? I did poke it a bit to get the wax out, I need to stop! Lol

He referred me to an actual ear specialist so I will see them in a few weeks. Not much I can do until then!

 

[Hariz Nonis]

Hopefully things will turn out well for you I am 19 this year, so I understand how you feel, about living with the sound for a very long time. It's takes time, but you'll get used to it. Just take care of your hearing in every way possible. I did that for months, and thankfully I have gotten better. So can you.