It Comes and Goes In Phases!

[FuzzyFrey]

Hey guys, long time no speak! Last time I frequented these boards I was going through some new T phases and symptoms. Sometimes this 'new' ringing comes in my right ear, sometimes my left. I had a hunch my middle ear was something to do with it.

I finally got to see an ear/nose/throat specialist in April. She did some hearing tests (came back fine!) and also removed ear wax to rule out the 'blocked' feeling I've been having. The blocked sensation is still there, so it only confirms my latest T is middle ear related. Other symptoms that assume this are that I occasionally get ear pressure pains - and also whenever I suck my ears in, the tinnitus noise either disappears - or disappears from one ear and appears in the other ear! When I return pressure to normal - it goes back to what it was. It is bizarre - does anybody else here experience similar symptoms?

I've had an MRI scan as well but haven't got the results yet. One other bothersome symptom is that sometimes I hear a whistling sort of noise (usually in one ear) that accompanies noises coming in - be it people talking, listening to music or even the tapping noises from me typing on this computer keyboard. I'm sure I'm not the first to experience a symptom like this, but I don't know what it's called. It's hard enough to describe as it is!

The ENT suggested that these symptoms are all cyclical, and this is definitely true. On some days I am not bothered at all by the symptoms as they are minimal, but on other days they are more pronounced and that gets me stressed out again. I'm not sure what my next step will be other than to tell this to the ENT when I next see her but that won't be for a fair few weeks. Thanks for reading

 

[Nucleo]

Did the ENT perform a tympanometry test? This tests middle ear function.

 

[FuzzyFrey]

She did yes. The left ear and right ear both reacted differently.

 

[marqualler]

Hey guys, long time no speak! Last time I frequented these boards I was going through some new T phases and symptoms. Sometimes this 'new' ringing comes in my right ear, sometimes my left. I had a hunch my middle ear was something to do with it.

I finally got to see an ear/nose/throat specialist in April. She did some hearing tests (came back fine!) and also removed ear wax to rule out the 'blocked' feeling I've been having. The blocked sensation is still there, so it only confirms my latest T is middle ear related. Other symptoms that assume this are that I occasionally get ear pressure pains - and also whenever I suck my ears in, the tinnitus noise either disappears - or disappears from one ear and appears in the other ear! When I return pressure to normal - it goes back to what it was. It is bizarre - does anybody else here experience similar symptoms?

I've had an MRI scan as well but haven't got the results yet. One other bothersome symptom is that sometimes I hear a whistling sort of noise (usually in one ear) that accompanies noises coming in - be it people talking, listening to music or even the tapping noises from me typing on this computer keyboard. I'm sure I'm not the first to experience a symptom like this, but I don't know what it's called. It's hard enough to describe as it is!

The ENT suggested that these symptoms are all cyclical, and this is definitely true. On some days I am not bothered at all by the symptoms as they are minimal, but on other days they are more pronounced and that gets me stressed out again. I'm not sure what my next step will be other than to tell this to the ENT when I next see her but that won't be for a fair few weeks. Thanks for reading

Hi @FuzzyFrey--I have had somewhat similar symptoms with my tinnitus--it appeared with an ear infection and lessened in intensity over time but has remained. Although I had heard numerous accounts that unilateral tinnitus will eventually turn into "full head" or both ear tinnitus, that has not happened to me yet. I also continue to have some "autophony" symptoms in my left ear (the tinnitus ear) that are less than they were months ago but still persist. I am planning on going back to the ENT I originally saw who insisted that surgery on my left middle ear could resolve these symptoms and possibly ease or resolve the tinnitus as well as I continue to have mild middle ear pain that feels like inflammation in that ear. I definitely have Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in both ears so that is a factor.

Best wishes to you!

 

[FuzzyFrey]

Hi @FuzzyFrey--I have had somewhat similar symptoms with my tinnitus--it appeared with an ear infection and lessened in intensity over time but has remained. Although I had heard numerous accounts that unilateral tinnitus will eventually turn into "full head" or both ear tinnitus, that has not happened to me yet. I also continue to have some "autophony" symptoms in my left ear (the tinnitus ear) that are less than they were months ago but still persist. I am planning on going back to the ENT I originally saw who insisted that surgery on my left middle ear could resolve these symptoms and possibly ease or resolve the tinnitus as well as I continue to have mild middle ear pain that feels like inflammation in that ear. I definitely have Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in both ears so that is a factor.

Best wishes to you!

Thank you Marquallar, glad you understand where I am coming from I guess I just allow myself to get upset about these things because I am not the patient type - though when I am in a good mood I don't let myself get bothered too easily anyway. I don't know what started these middle ear problems last autumn, they just sort of came and have developed since then - but I have had a long history of middle ear issues I did not get properly diagnosed with by the audiologist. One of them was autophony like symptoms but present in one ear. It hasn't got better or worse in the five years I have had it (five!). So the ENT is definitely the person to speak with on this one.

She didn't think grommits or surgery may be necessary. She asked me if I thought a nasal spray could work - but I am dubious as to whether it can or not. I guess we're just going through a long and drawn out process of elimination.

Best wishes to you too!

 

[Nucleo]

She did yes. The left ear and right ear both reacted differently.

How so? Different pressures or peak intensities?

 

[FuzzyFrey]

I don't remember. I think it was peak intensities but don't quote me on that.

 

[RicoS]

Hey guys, long time no speak! Last time I frequented these boards I was going through some new T phases and symptoms. Sometimes this 'new' ringing comes in my right ear, sometimes my left. I had a hunch my middle ear was something to do with it.

I finally got to see an ear/nose/throat specialist in April. She did some hearing tests (came back fine!) and also removed ear wax to rule out the 'blocked' feeling I've been having. The blocked sensation is still there, so it only confirms my latest T is middle ear related. Other symptoms that assume this are that I occasionally get ear pressure pains - and also whenever I suck my ears in, the tinnitus noise either disappears - or disappears from one ear and appears in the other ear! When I return pressure to normal - it goes back to what it was. It is bizarre - does anybody else here experience similar symptoms?

I've had an MRI scan as well but haven't got the results yet. One other bothersome symptom is that sometimes I hear a whistling sort of noise (usually in one ear) that accompanies noises coming in - be it people talking, listening to music or even the tapping noises from me typing on this computer keyboard. I'm sure I'm not the first to experience a symptom like this, but I don't know what it's called. It's hard enough to describe as it is!

The ENT suggested that these symptoms are all cyclical, and this is definitely true. On some days I am not bothered at all by the symptoms as they are minimal, but on other days they are more pronounced and that gets me stressed out again. I'm not sure what my next step will be other than to tell this to the ENT when I next see her but that won't be for a fair few weeks. Thanks for reading

I view days back I posted the same thing I also have this blocked sensation and the "how you call it" whisteling noise that comes in together with other sounds. In a silent room it seems like my middle ear goes in hypermode and make the inside of my left ear feel warm. I only have it in on ear though.

 

[FuzzyFrey]

I view days back I posted the same thing I also have this blocked sensation and the "how you call it" whisteling noise that comes in together with other sounds. In a silent room it seems like my middle ear goes in hypermode and make the inside of my left ear feel warm. I only have it in on ear though.

Of course! It is hearing distortion.... I should have realised this. I already had a different kind of hearing distortion in my other ear for nearly six years. It's caused by something entirely different, but the same rules apply to how it affects me.

 

[RicoS]

Of course! It is hearing distortion.... I should have realised this. I already had a different kind of hearing distortion in my other ear for nearly six years. It's caused by something entirely different, but the same rules apply to how it affects me.

Yes I also think it is hearing distortion. I also notice that to much focus on it makes it worse. So better not do that

 

[FuzzyFrey]

Yes, I know ^^. Focusing on it makes a big difference. Problem is when you get stressed or angsty about it you focus on it more! Hehe.

 

[Raphael7713]

Im bumping this up since my situation is exactly like yours! My T comes in phases. Sometimes I have it, sometimes I dont. And when I have it its a whistling sound coming from my right ear. Some times when I wake up I have ut on my left but it goes away within minutes. Everything you wrote is identical with my situation. How has it been going for u ever since?

 

[FuzzyFrey]

In regards to that particular phase I think it's either eased off a bit or I've habituated, maybe a bit of both ^^.

 

[Raphael7713]

My situation has been like this:

I got it (noticed it) in january 14 when I was going to sleep. I had it exactly 2 weeks because I got rid off it night of january 28. I was T free more or less entire february (maybe an occasion of 1-3 days of T).

I got it again in early march and it lasted for maybe 2-4 days, then it went off. Then comes back again and goes. Now Im in a period where I have it again. It's a low sound that can almost only be heard when quiet. Sometimes I can hear it when im out going for a walk, for some reason the T can get "louder" when im outside, then when Im back ina quiet room it goes low again.

So it comes and goes, the sound is whistling, almost always right ear.

Any guesses of what this can be? Since your situation is similar.

 

[Henrik78]

My tinnitus also behaves like this. Its really weird. Just 3 weeks ago I had such a low tinnitus I even had problems hear it in quiet rooms. But at the moment its a bit loud again after a major spike I had last week. Right now its back to baseline loudness. Shifting from 1/10 - 3/10 on the scale with multiple sounds, but no high pitch tones. I cope alright with this as long as the different sounds I have stays the same and dont change in to high pitch.

My tinnitus went completely away 3 times last year. Longest periode I did't experience T was for 3 weeks. I thought it was gone for good but of course it came back. I dont belive one can just get rid of tinnitus that easy. Once its there in your brain it will probably never leave. As we all know, Just a handfull people get rid of their tinnitus.

I am almost two years into tinnitus and it has always kept coming and going for me too. Mainly I have T in my right ear, but when I get spikes I have hissing or whispering sound in the left ear too. Lately It has been very disturbing with all the whining or whispering sounds i am experiencing when I am at work because I belive the hissing makes the T spike or it some how reacts to all the computer fans at the office I work. I worked a few hours overtime today and it was horrible. I had to leave.

I dont think my tinnitus is noise induced. T started almost two years ago as a weak morsecode sound in my right ear and gradualy got louder and worse by time. Few years before i got T I started to have dizzines. Almost every day i was feeling slightely dizzy. Suddenly it stopped and BANg, a few month later I got T. Any connection? Whish I knew whats wrong with me.

Next week I will see the audiologist at the hospital. Its been a year since I last did a hearing test or talked to a specialist.

 

[Raphael7713]

My feeling is that T that behaves like this maybe isn't related to hearting loss? If you have a hearing loss and T it should be the same way all the time, maybe the sound can change some, but it's consistent. This with the coming and going is just weird. Maybe sinus related since I have had som issues with it...maybe allergy? I dunno. Could still be hearing loss related.

 

[Raphael7713]

Just to borrow the thread little and give little information (that many people may intersting).

Now, I do NOT know if my T is sinus related. But it CAN be. In summer of 2014 i developed a post nasal drip (PND). Which means you have nucus going down the "other" way. So instead of coming out from the nose, it goes down the throath. So nwo three years later, my sinus are always always full, I need to rinse it alot, and i get very WHITE mucus and yellow. Sometimes when I lay down on my bed on the sight, and switch so that i Lay on my back, i can suddenly feel an enormous pressure on my sinus.

So if you have an allergy or issues with sinus or something similar, its worth checking it up. It may or may not be the cause of ur T.

 

[Nics2drescue]

Hey guys, I'm in the same situation. Have had T for a few months, it started out as a hissing sound in my right ear, which is pretty annoying but somewhat bearable. This is due to hearing loss in my right ear. ENT confirmed I have early signs of otosclerosis .

Anyway, one night the T started in my left ear, but this time is was a loud ringing, whiney noise. Very distressing! Much much more distressing than the hissing sound in my right ear. I can mange the hissing sound. But with the ringing in my left ear, it comes and goes. I sometimes have it for days and it drives me crazy, then sometimes don't have it for weeks and I'm as happy as Larry! Then I had it for the last 2 weeks and those past couple of weeks were dreadful. Just full of worry and anxiety. Now today I woke up and it's gone again.

I think what is so frustrating about this condition is how bloody unpredictable it is. Like if we knew what the trigger was we could manage it better. So I'm raking my head thinking is it something I ate, is it something I drank etc. etc. I have been on amitriptyline tablets for the past while as since the T started I have terrible headaches. I have a feeling this could be a factor as the ringing in my left ear only started soon after I started those tablets. So now I am trying to wean myself off them to experiment and see if it helps. Sadly my headaches have come back, but I think putting up with a headache is better than the constant whine in my left ear.

Has anybody experienced the same?

 

[GregCA]

This is due to hearing loss in my right ear. ENT confirmed I have early signs of otosclerosis .

How did the ENT doc come up with this diagnosis? (what did s/he see that made him/her say that?)

If you do have O, you may want to look into treatments like Fluoride.
Also if your O only affects the middle ear, there is surgery you can do to restore your hearing (very high success rate) and get rid of T (in about 50% of the cases).

Good luck!

 

[Nics2drescue]

How did the ENT doc come up with this diagnosis? (what did s/he see that made him/her say that?)

If you do have O, you may want to look into treatments like Fluoride.
Also if your O only affects the middle ear, there is surgery you can do to restore your hearing (very high success rate) and get rid of T (in about 50% of the cases).

Good luck!

He did a hearing test on me and apparently based on the results (my hearing dipped at certain frequencies) he told me it is possible it's early signs of O. I also got a second opinion from an audiologist and he said the same. Yes I have read up about surgery, although I'm still in the early stages. I only just turned 30 and my hearing is not that bad yet, like I said, it's only early stages. But the strange thing is the O was only affected in my right ear and that's where I hear the hissing noise which is bearable. It's my left ear that I have the problem with the and ringing that comes and goes.

Where would I get Fluoride?

 

[GregCA]

He did a hearing test on me and apparently based on the results (my hearing dipped at certain frequencies) he told me it is possible it's early signs of O. I also got a second opinion from an audiologist and he said the same.

OK they probably saw not only a dip, but an air-bone gap, showing conductive losses. Perhaps they also did Webber/Rinne tests (Google them up) to check lateralization.

Yes I have read up about surgery, although I'm still in the early stages. I only just turned 30 and my hearing is not that bad yet, like I said, it's only early stages.

Yes, generally O is slow to progress. I'm the only freak that any doctors know who went from no hearing problem to 50 dB air bone gap in a month.

But the strange thing is the O was only affected in my right ear and that's where I hear the hissing noise which is bearable. It's my left ear that I have the problem with the and ringing that comes and goes.

It is not uncommon for O to start in one ear. In the majority of the cases, O also affects the other ear (possibly on a different time table). Mine hasn't shown signs in the other ear yet.

Where would I get Fluoride?

I buy mine from Amazon (they are called Monocal tablets). But you should check with your doctors first.

 

[Nics2drescue]

OK they probably saw not only a dip, but an air-bone gap, showing conductive losses. Perhaps they also did Webber/Rinne tests (Google them up) to check lateralization.



Yes, generally O is slow to progress. I'm the only freak that any doctors know who went from no hearing problem to 50 dB air bone gap in a month.



It is not uncommon for O to start in one ear. In the majority of the cases, O also affects the other ear (possibly on a different time table). Mine hasn't shown signs in the other ear yet.



I buy mine from Amazon (they are called Monocal tablets). But you should check with your doctors first.

Oh you have O too? Do you find you sometimes have H (hyperacusis), I find sometimes my ears hurt a little if the conversation was too loud or I heard a bang. Nothing really really major but I still feel it!

Re. Flurioid (sorry I can't seem to respond to each section like you can), my ENT is €160 per visit so I won't be asking him for advice! Why do you need to talk to a doctor if you can buy on Amazon?

 

[GregCA]

Oh you have O too? Do you find you sometimes have H (hyperacusis), I find sometimes my ears hurt a little if the conversation was too loud or I heard a bang. Nothing really really major but I still feel it!

Yes I have O too.
I used to have unbearable H, but surgery (stapedotomy) reduced my H to something very mild.

Re. Flurioid (sorry I can't seem to respond to each section like you can), my ENT is €160 per visit so I won't be asking him for advice! Why do you need to talk to a doctor if you can buy on Amazon?

Because it may not be appropriate for you. It's a very heavy dose of fluoride and it is not without side effects. If you've ever heard about some people complaining that "the government is putting fluoride in the water without my consent and poisoning me", then keep in mind that in these tablets you're looking at orders of magnitude more Fluoride. Have a doctor tell you about pros and cons and make your decision.

 

[Nics2drescue]

Yes I have O too.
I used to have unbearable H, but surgery (stapedotomy) reduced my H to something very mild.

So if you had the surgery, how would you say you still have O? Did surgery not resolve or help the issue?



[/QUOTE] Because it may not be appropriate for you. It's a very heavy dose of fluoride and it is not without side effects. If you've ever heard about some people complaining that "the government is putting fluoride in the water without my consent and poisoning me", then keep in mind that in these tablets you're looking at orders of magnitude more Fluoride. Have a doctor tell you about pros and cons and make your decision.[/QUOTE]

Ah ok, cool thanks very much. I'll be sure to ask my doctor in that case.

 

[Nics2drescue]

Yes I have O too.
I used to have unbearable H, but surgery (stapedotomy) reduced my H to something very mild.



Because it may not be appropriate for you. It's a very heavy dose of fluoride and it is not without side effects. If you've ever heard about some people complaining that "the government is putting fluoride in the water without my consent and poisoning me", then keep in mind that in these tablets you're looking at orders of magnitude more Fluoride. Have a doctor tell you about pros and cons and make your decision.

Also one more question! Do you find your T bothers you as much now or is it really like others say you 'get used to it'? I've only had it for a few months so I'm a newbie!

 

[GregCA]

So if you had the surgery, how would you say you still have O? Did surgery not resolve or help the issue?

It did, but my O is of the nasty kind: it attacks both my middle ear and my inner ear. That's why I have both conductive and sensorineural losses.
Surgery helped with conductive losses (I regained hearing to close-to-normal levels there), but not with sensorineural losses (it wasn't expected to).
So I'm left with SN losses, and the T that goes with it. I'm taking Fluoride to try to stop O from making progress in my inner ear and destroy more cells there, because that would mean more hearing loss, and likely more T.

Also one more question! Do you find your T bothers you as much now or is it really like others say you 'get used to it'? I've only had it for a few months so I'm a newbie!

I'm not used to it, but it's probably because mine is quite severe. Most of the anxiety of the early days went away though. I still have quite a lot of "down" time, but not due to anxiety.