Much to my disappointment and confusion, a few weeks ago, I was doing some light exercise after dinner when my right ear suddenly felt plugged and started ringing loudly. I've had this happen occasionally over the years, as my sinuses are pretty sensitive. Once in a while, one of my ears might plug up and ring for a bit, but it always went away, and I never noticed any changes in my hearing. Unfortunately, this time the ringing and hissing have persisted for the last three weeks, though it tends to come and go, varying in tone and intensity.
I went to the doctor, and they said everything looks fine, aside from some slight inflammation in my nasal passages. They recommended using nasal spray and taking allergy medicine for a few weeks to see if that helps. So far, I haven't noticed much of a difference, but I'm willing to give it time, as I feel fine otherwise. Allergies in Missouri have been brutal this year, with many people experiencing sinus issues, dizziness, and other problems. Apparently, I'm not alone in this.
I haven't noticed any change in my hearing, just an annoying static that seems to always be present in some form. My diet and exercise routine are pretty healthy, so I doubt that's a factor, as I've been following the same plan for quite some time. Whether it's allergies, COVID-19, or just bad luck is unclear at this point, but my head and sinuses haven't felt right since.
It's embarrassing because I've always taken good care of my ears, and I carry earplugs everywhere since they've always been sensitive. The ringing seems to go away at night while I'm sleeping but fluctuates throughout the day. I'm almost tempted to start getting up at 2 a.m., as that's the only time I can walk into the living room and hear absolute silence—something I sadly took for granted for so long. I don't know what kind of fool damages their hearing from exercising, but apparently, I did.
It's also taken away my enjoyment of music, as it now sounds like I'm listening through damaged or poor speakers—a hiss or frequency permeates everything and sucks the life out of the arrangements. I have an audiologist appointment next month, originally to get a new custom set of earplugs molded. That seems unnecessary now, as my ears were damaged despite using earplugs faithfully for 25 years. There's no cure, and I doubt they'll be able to do much, so I guess it'll save me some money.
I had already been considering selling off my records, and this has given me the push to do so, as I can no longer enjoy them with clear hearing. I've always adored music, but I'm starting to wean myself off it since there's really no way to fully enjoy it without the static, humming, or ringing. The noise always seems to change tone and volume. I've been playing drums for over 25 years without any issues, always using earplugs, but now I'll probably sell those off as well.
The last three weeks have given me a deeper empathy for those who suffer from tinnitus.
Anyway, sorry for the long intro. It looks like this is my new reality, and any advice is always welcome.
I went to the doctor, and they said everything looks fine, aside from some slight inflammation in my nasal passages. They recommended using nasal spray and taking allergy medicine for a few weeks to see if that helps. So far, I haven't noticed much of a difference, but I'm willing to give it time, as I feel fine otherwise. Allergies in Missouri have been brutal this year, with many people experiencing sinus issues, dizziness, and other problems. Apparently, I'm not alone in this.
I haven't noticed any change in my hearing, just an annoying static that seems to always be present in some form. My diet and exercise routine are pretty healthy, so I doubt that's a factor, as I've been following the same plan for quite some time. Whether it's allergies, COVID-19, or just bad luck is unclear at this point, but my head and sinuses haven't felt right since.
It's embarrassing because I've always taken good care of my ears, and I carry earplugs everywhere since they've always been sensitive. The ringing seems to go away at night while I'm sleeping but fluctuates throughout the day. I'm almost tempted to start getting up at 2 a.m., as that's the only time I can walk into the living room and hear absolute silence—something I sadly took for granted for so long. I don't know what kind of fool damages their hearing from exercising, but apparently, I did.
It's also taken away my enjoyment of music, as it now sounds like I'm listening through damaged or poor speakers—a hiss or frequency permeates everything and sucks the life out of the arrangements. I have an audiologist appointment next month, originally to get a new custom set of earplugs molded. That seems unnecessary now, as my ears were damaged despite using earplugs faithfully for 25 years. There's no cure, and I doubt they'll be able to do much, so I guess it'll save me some money.
I had already been considering selling off my records, and this has given me the push to do so, as I can no longer enjoy them with clear hearing. I've always adored music, but I'm starting to wean myself off it since there's really no way to fully enjoy it without the static, humming, or ringing. The noise always seems to change tone and volume. I've been playing drums for over 25 years without any issues, always using earplugs, but now I'll probably sell those off as well.
The last three weeks have given me a deeper empathy for those who suffer from tinnitus.
Anyway, sorry for the long intro. It looks like this is my new reality, and any advice is always welcome.