I developed tinnitus just over a month ago. I was on telmisartan (blood pressure drug), and developed a severe inner ear infection with fluid. Had headaches, dizziness, and tinnitus. My ETs were definitely not working properly - I couldn't pop my ears. The tinnitus was extremely loud and high pitched.
I unconsciously developed a massive stress response to the tinnitus and ear infection - my blood pressure was uncontrolled by the med, and my pulse rate became constantly elevated. Adrenaline was constantly pouring into my system. I stopped the telmisartan, and two weeks after the infection started, I started taking a beta blocker (bisoprolol) to help control the adrenaline response. I was getting no sleep whatsoever and lost a bunch of weight.
About 1.5 weeks ago, the main infection cleared up, and I started to be able to do the Valsalva maneuver. Since that time, I've been using Avamys (corticosteroid spray) and daily steam with menthol. One ear is clearly "sticking" a bit though. Around that time, the tinnitus started to have short breaks where the volume either dramatically reduced or it stopped altogether. Also around that time, I developed sensitivity to certain sounds - my kids, although I love them, are the worst when they're loudly yelling and playing. My ears are really now really sensitive to loud scenes, and family gatherings have definitely triggered worse tinnitus.
I saw an ENT one week ago - almost useless. Said my ears looked clear - no fluid, and "IF" my T was viral in origin, it would likely resolve in several more weeks. My hearing test results were excellent, and my eardrums moved normally.
In the last week, the breaks have become more frequent and the tinnitus has reduced in volume. On a scale of 1-10, in the beginning it was 8-10. Now the 8-10 whine has largely turned to a low volume hiss, strength of 1-2, with some breaks with none at all. Thankfully, the insane stress response mounted by my brain and body also seems to have resolved, with my heart rate having returned to normal, and much less adrenaline pouring into me.
I have became convinced that the beta blocker is also exacerbating the T since in the last several days, I noticed that it would spike about an hour after I took the med, and would stay high for the next 12-14 hours. Tied in with that, last night was the first night I reduced the dose of the beta blocker and it was the first night where the volume of the tinnitus stayed low. Looking to ween myself off it over the coming weeks.
I guess what I'm wondering is:
1) Looks like the T is slowly resolving itself (?).
2) Is the sensitivity to sound likely to resolve as well, or likely to stay?
3) Anything else I should do? Prednisone is surely out for me - I'm very sensitive to most meds, and I'm quite sure that I would suffer pretty horrible side-effects with it.
4) Any similar stories out there with a successful ending?
I unconsciously developed a massive stress response to the tinnitus and ear infection - my blood pressure was uncontrolled by the med, and my pulse rate became constantly elevated. Adrenaline was constantly pouring into my system. I stopped the telmisartan, and two weeks after the infection started, I started taking a beta blocker (bisoprolol) to help control the adrenaline response. I was getting no sleep whatsoever and lost a bunch of weight.
About 1.5 weeks ago, the main infection cleared up, and I started to be able to do the Valsalva maneuver. Since that time, I've been using Avamys (corticosteroid spray) and daily steam with menthol. One ear is clearly "sticking" a bit though. Around that time, the tinnitus started to have short breaks where the volume either dramatically reduced or it stopped altogether. Also around that time, I developed sensitivity to certain sounds - my kids, although I love them, are the worst when they're loudly yelling and playing. My ears are really now really sensitive to loud scenes, and family gatherings have definitely triggered worse tinnitus.
I saw an ENT one week ago - almost useless. Said my ears looked clear - no fluid, and "IF" my T was viral in origin, it would likely resolve in several more weeks. My hearing test results were excellent, and my eardrums moved normally.
In the last week, the breaks have become more frequent and the tinnitus has reduced in volume. On a scale of 1-10, in the beginning it was 8-10. Now the 8-10 whine has largely turned to a low volume hiss, strength of 1-2, with some breaks with none at all. Thankfully, the insane stress response mounted by my brain and body also seems to have resolved, with my heart rate having returned to normal, and much less adrenaline pouring into me.
I have became convinced that the beta blocker is also exacerbating the T since in the last several days, I noticed that it would spike about an hour after I took the med, and would stay high for the next 12-14 hours. Tied in with that, last night was the first night I reduced the dose of the beta blocker and it was the first night where the volume of the tinnitus stayed low. Looking to ween myself off it over the coming weeks.
I guess what I'm wondering is:
1) Looks like the T is slowly resolving itself (?).
2) Is the sensitivity to sound likely to resolve as well, or likely to stay?
3) Anything else I should do? Prednisone is surely out for me - I'm very sensitive to most meds, and I'm quite sure that I would suffer pretty horrible side-effects with it.
4) Any similar stories out there with a successful ending?
