I Think My Tinnitus Is Related to Herpes

[plyoung]

I have suffered with herpes outbreaks for years. My tinnitus started 3 years ago and was mild and only in my left ear. This week my tinnitus spiked and both ears were screaming. Last night I went to bed with both ears ringing and a head ache.This morning the tinnitus in my right ear is gone, headache gone, tinnitus in left ear back to normal ringing but I have a herpetic legion on my back.

Anybody else have a herpes-tinnitus connection?

 

[JohnAdams]

I like many of the luckiest people in the world, get cold sores from time to time. Apparently the herpes virus lives dormant in the nerves and resurges when your immune system isn't on its P's and Q's. I was wondering if some of the unexplained cases of hearing loss and tinnitus is from the herpes virus somehow migrating to the auditory nerve. I believe that it has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, and if it can migrate to the brain then surely it can get in the auditory nerve. Any thoughts?


"The same virus that causes cold sores appears to create lasting damage in the brain - a discovery that could suggest exciting new treatments for dementia."

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181022-there-is-mounting-evidence-that-herpes-leads-to-alzheimers

 

[Michael B]

If you were taking medication for the herpes and your tinnitus and headaches increased, I could see the connection, but what you described seems to be the opposite. Seems like more of a coincidence maybe. In any case, congrats on your lower tinnitus.

 

[FGG]

My vertigo issues seem to be related to Epstein-Barr (which is in the herpes virus family). I have vestibular migraines and i think they were related to having high tigers of EBV and a chronic active infection. I started anti-virals and haven't had a full vertigo episode since while I was having them regularly beforehand. I am HSV-1 and HSV-2 negative so EBV (or Zoster) would be the culprit.

There is a Meniere's doctor named Dr. Gacek who puts his patients on an anti-viral. He published a study showing many even had hearing improvements.

I started Acyclovir (using his protocol) when they thought I had Meniere's. I don't think it helped my hearing but these neurotrophic viruses can certainly affect the inner ear and my dizziness is dramatically better on anti-virals.

 

[dainryan]

My vertigo issues seem to be related to Epstein-Barr (which is in the herpes virus family). I have vestibular migraines and i think they were related to having high tigers of EBV and a chronic active infection. I started anti-virals and haven't had a full vertigo episode since while I was having them regularly beforehand. I am HSV-1 and HSV-2 negative so EBV (or Zoster) would be the culprit.

There is a Meniere's doctor named Dr. Gacek who puts his patients on an anti-viral. He published a study showing many even had hearing improvements.

I started Acyclovir (using his protocol) when they thought I had Meniere's. I don't think it helped my hearing but these neurotrophic viruses can certainly affect the inner ear and my dizziness is dramatically better on anti-virals.

I have currently started antivirals for the same reason. I do have HSV-1 though. I am also taking Lysine (1000mg) 3 times a day. I just started this protocol so it is much to early to expect results.

 

[FGG]

I have currently started antivirals for the same reason. I do have HSV-1 though. I am also taking Lysine (1000mg) 3 times a day. I just started this protocol so it is much to early to expect results.

Just to follow up, I have remained completely vertigo free on anti-virals and it's been 2 years. I still take low dose Acyclovir (1 tab once a day) just in case but maybe out of fear more than need at this point.

It took me a few months to see results as I recall but I had extreme vestibular issues: frequent full rotational, fully incapacitating vertigo episodes that lasted between 6 and 48 hours.

I will probably be paying off the ambulance and hospitalization bills for the next decade but it's the one ear thing that did fully resolve for me and I would encourage anyone with "Meniere's" to at least consider trying anti-virals.

 

[dainryan]

Just to follow up, I have remained completely vertigo free on anti-virals and it's been 2 years. I still take low dose Acyclovir (1 tab once a day) just in case but maybe out of fear more than need at this point.

It took me a few months to see results as I recall but I had extreme vestibular issues: frequent full rotational, fully incapacitating vertigo episodes that lasted between 6 and 48 hours.

I will probably be paying off the ambulance and hospitalization bills for the next decade but it's the one ear thing that did fully resolve for me and I would encourage anyone with "Meniere's" to at least consider trying anti-virals.

First time I had that rotational spinning, I thought I was going to die.

 

[ajc]

First time I had that rotational spinning, I thought I was going to die.

How often can those attacks occur? If they're daily, I'd die.

 

[FGG]

First time I had that rotational spinning, I thought I was going to die.

It's the worst feeling I could ever imagine.

One of the few things that I would say is worse then severe pain and much worse than severe tinnitus even. The only saying grace is that there are normal periods in between attacks. Although, the ER doctor told me my nystagmus was "the most violent" he had ever seen so maybe not everyone's is quite as bad as mine were. I feel deeply for anyone suffering from full rotational attacks. I think I spent the entire 48 hours on my worst one saying "sedate me please!" over and over and over again while moving my mouth as little as possible because even that motion would trigger another 15 min round of vomiting.

I will definitely keep my fingers crossed that anti-virals work as well for you.

 

[FGG]

How often can those attacks occur? If they're daily, I'd die.

Some people do get them daily. At my worst, I got them about once every week or two.

 

[dainryan]

Some people do get them daily. At my worst, I got them about once every week or two.

I have only had bad vertigo maybe four times. Worst for me though was I woke up one morning to a spinning room, tried walking out of bed, smashed into the wall, fell on the ground and couldn't even crawl. Puking everywhere. My wife was trying to talk to me and I could barely reply. I was convinced I was having a stroke. The only thing that helped was if I laid 100% still with my eyes closed. Two hours later at the snap of fingers, it passed.

 

[FGG]

I have only had bad vertigo maybe four times. Worst for me though was I woke up one morning to a spinning room, tried walking out of bed, smashed into the wall, fell on the ground and couldn't even crawl. Puking everywhere. My wife was trying to talk to me and I could barely reply. I was convinced I was having a stroke. The only thing that helped was if I laid 100% still with my eyes closed. Two hours later at the snap of fingers, it passed.

Shorter episodes are more consistent with Meniere's than what I had but even the "John of Ohio" Meniere's protocol is partially based on addressing viral causes. Many people get huge relief. Keep us posted.