I Got Tinnitus Right After My Wife Said She Had Ringing in the Ears

[Rie]

Hi All!

I developed tinnitus on 11/21/20 after my wife came home and stated she had ringing in her ears while at work earlier in the day. I told her oh that's nothing, it's happened to me once in a while.

Boom! After that night I started hearing a static sensation on my left side. Then the next day I started hearing a tone out of my left ear. Then a few days later I started hearing a weird chimney whistle type of sound.

A week later, I woke up to what sounded like sirens from an ambulance or something. That kind of subsided but a couple of weeks later while shopping for couches, and there was Xmas music playing, I heard the weird whistle sound over the music. And now I hear it over my normal tinnitus.

This has made me depressed. I suffer from anxiety already so this has made it worse. Music sounds awful and certain things on TV.

I'm a 32-year-old female by the way.

I went to an ENT twice and audiology once. Had my ears cleaned, did a hearing test which the ENT said was really good. A few weeks ago I had an MRI which came back normal. 3rd week in January I went to a strictly hearing doctor, he reviewed my MRI, spoke to me and said he believes this isn't a medical issue and to come back if there's any hearing loss.

I started taking 250mg Magnesium, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin C. They don't seem to be doing much. I sleep with a white noise machine and fan sometimes.

I'm worried my hearing will get worse.

Anyone have any tips that have actually helped? Thanks!

 

[Drachen]

Hello, Rie!

I'm really sorry to hear about both you and your wife having to deal with this symptom. I hope that hears is merely fleeting. As for you, there is still a chance that yours will go away or lessen to an insignificant extent given how early into it you are. I completely empathize your anxiety and depression both in terms of what you had already and how worse it might have gotten since onset. This is something I am still struggling with myself.

Regarding your request for what has "actually helped", there's really nothing that is believed to help every single individual with the symptom. What may help you is largely dependent on the following things:

• What is the etiology of your onset? Noise-induced damage? Ototoxicity? TMJ issues? Etc.
• What is your overall general health like? Are you deficient in any vitamins?
• How is your mental condition? Are you prone to common comorbidities like anxiety, stress, and depression? What about obsessive-compulsive thinking?
• Is your symptom reactive? Do you have any symptoms related to hyperacusis?

This is a big contributor to why this condition is particularly cruel, and it doesn't help that medicine has not yet reached a consensus on how to exactly address the symptom in a general case.

The supplements you are currently taking are commonly advised and probably alright to keep taking. Many have stated that it can take weeks or even months to start seeing improvements, though it's difficult to tell what benefits come from the supplements versus natural recovery.

This symptom is not known to worsen your hearing unless it's loud enough to the point it is obscuring sounds. It is possible, however, if yours is originated from hearing loss or ear damage that you are more prone to further damage. This is why it is often advised to protect your ears when you feel it is necessary, and you should avoid loud noise exposure for at least a few months, maybe longer. Others go so far to say that you should avoid using headphones altogether, though this is a debated subject.

I would encourage you to look into the success stories available on the site and try and glean from them information you might find useful. As someone that also suffers from anxiety, I would tread carefully on the forum, as there are some posts on this forum by those especially in pain and distress that may negatively affect your anxiety.

If you need able to speak with or vent to, I am available. I do certainly wish you all the best. Others should be able to provide further advice as you need!

 

[Michael Leigh]

This has made me depressed. I suffer from anxiety already so this has made it worse. Music sounds awful and certain things on TV.

Many things can cause tinnitus but a few things mentioned in your post makes me believe it's noise induced, which is the most common cause of this condition. Typically, it is using headphones, earbuds or headset regularly. Or subjecting your auditory system to other forms of loud noise that you might not be aware of. Listening to music through speakers, in the car or working in a noisy environment. Your oversensitivity to music could be an indication of hyperacusis, something that often accompanies noise induced tinnitus. If you regularly use headphones or earbuds this is the likely reason you are hearing tinnitus. If this is the case I advise you to stop using them even at low volume.

Please click on the links below and read my posts that you might find helpful.

Michael

New to Tinnitus, What to Do? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

[one-light]

Thoughts increase tinnitus 'bad thoughts' fear - a big part of my mental health research the last 4 years has been on tinnitus because I have it... When lying awake in the night or resting deeply - single point concentration, that's take your mind away from the crap we have to deal with sometimes 'no fear' - take your mind to a nice beach, sit in a chair, get yourself and ice cream, no cost - and hold that thought/image for 10 seconds, hold the image - compliment yourself on the 10 seconds of happiness 'this is important' complimenting, raising vibes - then go again, another image... I have a theory with the music playing in heads, they had a program about it on the radio several years ago, specialists, not a clue...

 

[Rie]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I use to wear headphones playing call of duty and other video games and listening to music with ear buds for a few months l. Since the tinnitus I have drastically reduced the use of headphones and no more ear buds. I had a physical with my PCP and she says my vitamin d is low and iron is a bit low as well. Recommend iron pills OTC and OTC vitamin d daily. Not sure if this on top of anxiety and stress contributing to tinnitus.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I use to wear headphones playing call of duty and other video games and listening to music with ear buds for a few months l. Since the tinnitus I have drastically reduced the use of headphones and no more ear buds. I had a physical with my PCP and she says my vitamin d is low and iron is a bit low as well. Recommend iron pills OTC and OTC vitamin d daily. Not sure if this on top of anxiety and stress contributing to tinnitus.

The comments in your post are a strong indication that your tinnitus is noise induced. This was the reason I mentioned headphones and earbud use. If you stop using them, I believe the tinnitus will improve and could go away or reduce to a low level in time. I realize it can be difficult for some people to stop using these devices but that is what I recommend.

Michael

 

[Rie]

The comments in your post are a strong indication that your tinnitus is noise induced. This was the reason I mentioned headphones and earbud use. If you stop using them, I believe the tinnitus will improve and could go away or reduce to a low level in time. I realize it can be difficult for some people to stop using these devices but that is what I recommend.

Michael

thanks Michael definitely have stopped putting them on my ears and will continue to do so. I pray this helps because this tinnitus things is very difficult to live with as you all may know.

 

[Michael Leigh]

thanks Michael definitely have stopped putting them on my ears and will continue to do so. I pray this helps because this tinnitus things is very difficult to live with as you all may know.

You are welcome @Rie You will be fine in time just take things easy. Get yourself an Oasis sound machine as mentioned in my articles. Model S-650 is popular and start using this at night for sound enrichment. Keep the volume slightly below the tinnitus. It can also be used with a pillow speaker. The over sensitivity to sound you are experiencing is an acoustic shock/hyperacusis. Try not to over protect your ears or wearing earplugs too often, as this is the wrong thing to do. More is explained in my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it. Please follow my advice and I'm confident with time you'll feel a lot better. When the tinnitus reduces or goes away, this is possible. I suggest you never use any type of headphones again even at low volumes. You might be tempted thinking all is now well, believe me it isn't as the tinnitus is there. Try not to be alarmed by what I'm telling you, as it's best that you're in the know.

All the best
Michael

Hyperacusis, As I See It | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
The Habituation Process | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

[Leila]

I started hearing a static sensation on my left side. Then the next day I started hearing a tone out of my left ear. Then a few days later I started hearing a weird chimney whistle type of sound.

A week later, I woke up to what sounded like sirens from an ambulance or something. That kind of subsided but a couple of weeks later while shopping for couches, and there was Xmas music playing, I heard the weird whistle sound over the music. And now I hear it over my normal tinnitus.

I'm still fairly new to Tinnitus Talk myself. I signed up because I developed a third tinnitus noise in my so far unaffected ear and it made me feel rather down. Reading that you are affected by five tinnitus noises breaks me heart especially since all of them seem to be so different that finding a way of masking them will probably be quite the challenge.

I don't really have much to offer when it comes to good tips; keeping active is something that helps me, as does my WNG - but the support I got when I signed up here and the feeling of no longer being on my own with my suffering had quite an impact on the frame of mind I was in when I reached out. So I hope that, even though I haven't got a lot of useful tips, maybe my little hello will play a small part in making you feel a little better - because it really made a difference to me!

 

[Rie]

I'm still fairly new to Tinnitus Talk myself. I signed up because I developed a third tinnitus noise in my so far unaffected ear and it made me feel rather down. Reading that you are affected by five tinnitus noises breaks me heart especially since all of them seem to be so different that finding a way of masking them will probably be quite the challenge.

I don't really have much to offer when it comes to good tips; keeping active is something that helps me, as does my WNG - but the support I got when I signed up here and the feeling of no longer being on my own with my suffering had quite an impact on the frame of mind I was in when I reached out. So I hope that, even though I haven't got a lot of useful tips, maybe my little hello will play a small part in making you feel a little better - because it really made a difference to me!

thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Yes this is one of the MOST difficult things I have to face so far and I pray everyday that it gets better and or goes away just as it did!

 

[Michael Leigh]

Yes this is one of the MOST difficult things I have to face so far and I pray everyday that it gets better and or goes away just as it did!

Tinnitus can be immensely overwhelming in the early stages because the brain is focusing on a noise that previously wasn't there and feels threatened. It can play havoc with a person's mental and emotional wellbeing, so talk to your GP if things get too much, as an antidepressant might be suggested and can help. Some people are averse to taking medication thinking it will make the tinnitus worse, but this is not necessarily the case and therefore try to go it alone. Admiral as this might seem, this is the wrong approach as tinnitus can be quite resilient. With time and patience things will get better.

Michael