Is It Normal If Tinnitus Keeps Getting Worse?

[HeidiK]

Hello,

I'm Heidi, 20 years old and I've had tinnitus for 4 months now. I would like to hear your experiences on this: is it normal if my tinnitus keeps getting worse?

It started with a very small sound in my right ear. It was a beeping sound and it wasn't a continuous like 'beeeeeep' but more like 'bidi pidi bidi pidi'. I hope you get what I mean. Anyway, I could only hear it if I slept with my right ear against the pillow or put my fingers or ear plugs into my ears.

I went to see a doctor and apparently my ears were fine. Hearing test also showed no noticeable damage. I was kinda okay with it and thought I could manage.

After about a month, the sound kept getting worse. The bidi pidi bidi -sound started to change into longer beeps and there were different frequencies too. The sound became louder.

Now, after four months the sound is unbearable. It is only in my right ear and there are two different frequency sounds and one of them is a continuous beeeeep and the other is bidi pidi bidi. I can hear the sound over everything, even music. For four months I've worn ear protection in loud spaces and I've barely listened to any music. I had a flu two months ago, which made my ear clogged, but they healed.

Also, I had high fever about five week ago, and during the fever my tinnitus disappeared almost completely. Even a few days after the fever there was no noise, but gradually it came back and kept getting worse.

It is possible that my tinnitus is caused by noise damage, even though my hearing is fine. I've been clubbing and going to concerts a lot during the past couple of years. The weird thing is that a day before the day I first noticed my tinnitus, my right ear felt like it was clogged. I didn't think any of it until the next day when I started hearing the little noise when I went to bed.

Anyway, do you guys have any suggestions? Should I continue going to the doctor even though they didn't find any damage 4 months ago when this first started? I'm going to see a therapist in a couple of weeks, because I'm in pretty bad shape because of this. I'm already suffering from a eye disease that affects my vision so this is pretty devastating. Wouldn't wanna lose my hearing.

 

[ClubRacer]

You sound like myself... no real answers to your issue.

I've had tinnitus for 3 years and it was like yours in the beginning, very quiet, then about 4 months ago it has just got louder and louder to the point the tv won't drown it out.

I would be going to see a specialist again and keep at them to see what they can come up with.

Mine is a high pitched ring and it dies down a little then back up again with no loud noise.

Only thing you can do atm until you see more specialists is to use the sound apps and find one that drowns out and not annoy your tinnitus. High pitched sounds annoy mine. I use a water/cricket one that kind of lets me get to sleep sometimes when it's bad.

 

[Paulmanlike]

What ear protection were you using? High quality musicians ear plugs? I won't even go to a club with protection now, mine is so loud.

Also, you can get more tests from an ENT to rule any underlying problems out not detected by a GP.

Any medications you are taking? Even Ibuprofen long term can cause it.

I'm in a similar boat, my tinnitus has worsened after a bout of the flu, around the same time as yours - still not gone back down.

 

[jasonbourne]

Your tinnitus sounds like it's noise induced. When you expose yourself to loud environments for too long, or a sudden loud sound, it will permanently get worse. The clubbing and concerts need to stop. Every time you do it, your tinnitus will get louder...permanently.

 

[Red]

Are you on medication? Have you gotten an mri? Have you gotten an extensive blood check including b12, zinc, magnesium, lyme, and tsh levels? Have you been in a car accident or had an injury?

 

[JohnAdams]

I say yes

 

[coffee_girl]

Most people i know with t have it baseline for many years. My grandfather has t and it was the same for 40 years (unchanging). He lives a very quiet life in the country with no TV or loud noises.i think this might have helped. My friends with t also have it unchanged for 10+ years.

 

[Sam Bridge]

Your tinnitus sounds like it's noise induced. When you expose yourself to loud environments for too long, or a sudden loud sound, it will permanently get worse. The clubbing and concerts need to stop. Every time you do it, your tinnitus will get louder...permanently.

Not true in all cases, I went to a concert on Saturday and it was fine.

 

[jasonbourne]

Not true in all cases, I went to a concert on Saturday and it was fine.

"I had unprotected sex and didn't get an STI, don't worry about using a condom"

Good for you man.

 

[HeidiK]

Thank you everyone for your messages! I'm still not sure how to use this forum so I can't really answer to your messages individually, sorry about that.

I'm not on any medication. I have a eye-disease that affects the muscles in my eyes, but there is no medication for it. I have had an MRI when I was 14 years old, so it's been a while, but at that time nothing unusual was found.

It just feels weird that the sound is in my one ear only. Also the sound is nothing like the usual "tinnitus sounds" I've found online. Sometimes the sound stops for a few seconds and then continues, and it keeps changing pitches all the time. That's also why it's so hard to get used to it.

 

[Mark A]

HeidiK, Sorry to hear you are experiencing this. As you see all over this forum, everyone's experiences can differ. And yours is no exception as it is often times hard to peg what caused a spike or the onset of T in the first place. Plus you have it in only one ear and it has diminished at times. The timing of when it appears seems to differ for many of us. For me, my T didn't really appear for about a month after what I believe was the excessive noise event. Mine also seemed to get worse through the first year, but then seemed to stabilize in the second year. In year three, it diminished to the point I was living a pretty normal life. But it could be that I habituated and simply perceived it as diminished. Although, comparing to other sounds I think it was actually quieter. I'm in my fourth year, and am going through a terrible spike and worried it is permanent. I was next to a truck when the operator slammed the lift gate unexpectedly, which was very loud. I can't over-stress enough to protect your ears from loud noise as much as you can, but not from daily safe level sounds. You are early into this, so be patient and give the natural abilities of the human body to adapt. Hoping for the best!

 

[fishbone]

Hello,

I'm Heidi, 20 years old and I've had tinnitus for 4 months now. I would like to hear your experiences on this: is it normal if my tinnitus keeps getting worse?

It started with a very small sound in my right ear. It was a beeping sound and it wasn't a continuous like 'beeeeeep' but more like 'bidi pidi bidi pidi'. I hope you get what I mean. Anyway, I could only hear it if I slept with my right ear against the pillow or put my fingers or ear plugs into my ears.

I went to see a doctor and apparently my ears were fine. Hearing test also showed no noticeable damage. I was kinda okay with it and thought I could manage.

After about a month, the sound kept getting worse. The bidi pidi bidi -sound started to change into longer beeps and there were different frequencies too. The sound became louder.

Now, after four months the sound is unbearable. It is only in my right ear and there are two different frequency sounds and one of them is a continuous beeeeep and the other is bidi pidi bidi. I can hear the sound over everything, even music. For four months I've worn ear protection in loud spaces and I've barely listened to any music. I had a flu two months ago, which made my ear clogged, but they healed.

Also, I had high fever about five week ago, and during the fever my tinnitus disappeared almost completely. Even a few days after the fever there was no noise, but gradually it came back and kept getting worse.

It is possible that my tinnitus is caused by noise damage, even though my hearing is fine. I've been clubbing and going to concerts a lot during the past couple of years. The weird thing is that a day before the day I first noticed my tinnitus, my right ear felt like it was clogged. I didn't think any of it until the next day when I started hearing the little noise when I went to bed.

Anyway, do you guys have any suggestions? Should I continue going to the doctor even though they didn't find any damage 4 months ago when this first started? I'm going to see a therapist in a couple of weeks, because I'm in pretty bad shape because of this. I'm already suffering from a eye disease that affects my vision so this is pretty devastating. Wouldn't wanna lose my hearing.

The years of clubbing, the high fever and any other illnesses can take a toll on the human body and the ears. The ears take cumulative damages and it can take a toll on them. If you have already seen an ENT and he/she said that your ears are fine, then there is not much else that they can say. An audiologist and therapist are the professionals that I would possibly seek.

Tinnitus has a mind of its own and it can act how it wants to act. Our perception is also vital to how we feel about the tinnitus and the noise. Even if the tinnitus is loud (I have intrusive tinnitus and very bad hearing loss), you can still live good life. I do it daily. Intrusive tinnitus and negativity is never holding me back

Be patient, be strong and move forward!

 

[Greg Sacramento]

The bidi pidi bidi -sound started to change into longer beeps and there were different frequencies too. The sound became louder.

I had a flu two months ago, which made my ear clogged, but they healed.

I had high fever about five week ago, and during the fever my tinnitus disappeared almost completely.

Blood workup for infection, thyroid panel and vitamin levels with interest to magnesium, iron, vitamin B,C and D.

Your body was pumping out white cells to fight fever and with that it lowered your tinnitus.

Your mentions may be an ongoing bacterial immune system infection.

 

[HeidiK]

Thanks for replying! I will try to stay strong and keep moving forward. I'm used to overcoming illnesses, because I've had to learn to be strong with my eye disease. It just feels unfair to have to deal with an ear problem as well... I feel like an old woman even though I'm only 20 :') But I will try to manage.

Also I'll try to stay healthy and get enough vitamins, maybe that'll make some kind of difference! I doubt I have a bacterial infection going on, but I'll keep that option in mind!