Hi to all fellow sufferers.
Here's my story. It all started 10 months ago after a very noisy microsuction procedure by an ENT. In the days following the wax removal I got loud tinnitus, extreme pressure in my ears, ear pain/burning sensations with hyperacusis, and my hearing seemed a little quieter/distant. For instance I could no longer hear birds chirping outside my bedroom window and the traffic noise I would usually hear from inside my house sounded very faint/quiet and muffled.
Then all high pitched sounds were unbearable and even normal conversation hurt my ears. I also got a strange thumping/fluttering sensation (mainly in my right ear), which I believe may be tonic tensor tympani syndrome. I have to say prior to the microsuction I had good hearing, NO tinnitus or ear problems whatsoever.
I took a 9 day course of steroids a week after the microsuction but nothing much changed.
I had my first hearing test a few weeks after the noise trauma (up to 8khz) which was within normal range with some small dips but nothing huge.
Went to another audiologist and did another test up to 16khz, which showed a very steep dip (55db) in both ears at 12khz!!! My tinnitus frequency was measured at 12khz. It's very loud too, no masking covers it, I even tried white noise generators. I have a noise discomfort level of around 35db. I feel like my life is over, I'm just existing. I struggle to sleep, can't stand everyday noises, can't go anywhere like shopping centres, restaurants etc, the fullness is present almost all the time and the tinnitus is crazy loud. I feel like no one around me gets it.
I feel I'm losing my friends because they don't understand my unhappiness, I think they just think I'm a moaner so I don't mention it anymore. Even some of my close family really don't get it, it's like they don't care. It hurts. I have a toddler too so it make it all so much harder to deal with. I just want to be the happy mummy I was before the microsuction procedure.
The ENTs I have seen have been no help. I take all sorts of vitamins, ginkgo biloba, antioxidants etc... Nothing helps! 10 months on and I am really struggling and feel I have no one to talk to. Most people don't think about their ears...I can't think about anything else :-(
Do I hope for any improvement? I'm at my wits end. Thanks for listening.
Here's my story. It all started 10 months ago after a very noisy microsuction procedure by an ENT. In the days following the wax removal I got loud tinnitus, extreme pressure in my ears, ear pain/burning sensations with hyperacusis, and my hearing seemed a little quieter/distant. For instance I could no longer hear birds chirping outside my bedroom window and the traffic noise I would usually hear from inside my house sounded very faint/quiet and muffled.
Then all high pitched sounds were unbearable and even normal conversation hurt my ears. I also got a strange thumping/fluttering sensation (mainly in my right ear), which I believe may be tonic tensor tympani syndrome. I have to say prior to the microsuction I had good hearing, NO tinnitus or ear problems whatsoever.
I took a 9 day course of steroids a week after the microsuction but nothing much changed.
I had my first hearing test a few weeks after the noise trauma (up to 8khz) which was within normal range with some small dips but nothing huge.
Went to another audiologist and did another test up to 16khz, which showed a very steep dip (55db) in both ears at 12khz!!! My tinnitus frequency was measured at 12khz. It's very loud too, no masking covers it, I even tried white noise generators. I have a noise discomfort level of around 35db. I feel like my life is over, I'm just existing. I struggle to sleep, can't stand everyday noises, can't go anywhere like shopping centres, restaurants etc, the fullness is present almost all the time and the tinnitus is crazy loud. I feel like no one around me gets it.
I feel I'm losing my friends because they don't understand my unhappiness, I think they just think I'm a moaner so I don't mention it anymore. Even some of my close family really don't get it, it's like they don't care. It hurts. I have a toddler too so it make it all so much harder to deal with. I just want to be the happy mummy I was before the microsuction procedure.
The ENTs I have seen have been no help. I take all sorts of vitamins, ginkgo biloba, antioxidants etc... Nothing helps! 10 months on and I am really struggling and feel I have no one to talk to. Most people don't think about their ears...I can't think about anything else :-(
Do I hope for any improvement? I'm at my wits end. Thanks for listening.