Hi. I'm a new member, mild tinnitus since July 2012. My quick info:
1. Certain foods and additives make my ears ring. The most potent is anything with maltodextrin, but there seem to be others, either sugar or corn-based. (Also possibly msg)
2. Once my ears are ringing, they will ring moderately from 6 to 24 hours.
3. Ears typically settle down after a night's sleep. Cannot hear tinnitus in my sleep.
4. When I get up in the morning I typically listen to soft music while sitting on the couch. Tinnitus here is normally moderate, until I stand up and begin moving around, at which point it is much software, usually drowned out by everyday things.
5. A morning non-dairy smoothie with lots of natural green foods and ginger, berries, etc. is a huge help.
My questions are mostly about the Valsalva maneuver. When my ears are reacting to ingesting maltodextrin (and to some extent most simple carbs), along with the increase in tinnitus is a sense that the area around my eustachian tubes is somehow swelling, as if there's just not enough room for all my ear structures or something. My hearing seems slightly dulled at this point, but mostly things don't seem right, as if my "acoustic orientation" is a little off.
While in this state, when I do the Valsalva maneuver, while in the middle of the maneuver, my hearing becomes extremely acute and sensitive - my upper range is significantly increased. It's wonderful. As soon as I stop the maneuver, that very high range instantly subdues and I'm back to slightly dulled hearing.
I also notice that if I do a "reverse Valsalva", i.e. I hold my nose and breath in briskly, a suction effect occurs, and I again can hear extremely high frequencies. The suction (and high frequency response) continues after I let go of my nose, until I swallow.
My question is: if my high end audio response of my ears is made better with a Valsalva, and immediately stops after stopping the maneuver, does this mean that I have some kind of inflammation? I'm basically vegan, lots of raw food, blood test good ("perfect" in the opinion of my doctor), IgG allergy test clear. But maltodextrin is a definite trigger. I've tried every supplement (curcumin, ginger, etc. etc. etc.) but they have no positive effect. The only thing that helps the tinnitus is to avoid things like maltodextrin. But the Valsalva thing, it persists: while doing it, my hearing is fantasic. When I stop, not so good. Why?
Sorry for the long message, and thanks for any input.
Dave
1. Certain foods and additives make my ears ring. The most potent is anything with maltodextrin, but there seem to be others, either sugar or corn-based. (Also possibly msg)
2. Once my ears are ringing, they will ring moderately from 6 to 24 hours.
3. Ears typically settle down after a night's sleep. Cannot hear tinnitus in my sleep.
4. When I get up in the morning I typically listen to soft music while sitting on the couch. Tinnitus here is normally moderate, until I stand up and begin moving around, at which point it is much software, usually drowned out by everyday things.
5. A morning non-dairy smoothie with lots of natural green foods and ginger, berries, etc. is a huge help.
My questions are mostly about the Valsalva maneuver. When my ears are reacting to ingesting maltodextrin (and to some extent most simple carbs), along with the increase in tinnitus is a sense that the area around my eustachian tubes is somehow swelling, as if there's just not enough room for all my ear structures or something. My hearing seems slightly dulled at this point, but mostly things don't seem right, as if my "acoustic orientation" is a little off.
While in this state, when I do the Valsalva maneuver, while in the middle of the maneuver, my hearing becomes extremely acute and sensitive - my upper range is significantly increased. It's wonderful. As soon as I stop the maneuver, that very high range instantly subdues and I'm back to slightly dulled hearing.
I also notice that if I do a "reverse Valsalva", i.e. I hold my nose and breath in briskly, a suction effect occurs, and I again can hear extremely high frequencies. The suction (and high frequency response) continues after I let go of my nose, until I swallow.
My question is: if my high end audio response of my ears is made better with a Valsalva, and immediately stops after stopping the maneuver, does this mean that I have some kind of inflammation? I'm basically vegan, lots of raw food, blood test good ("perfect" in the opinion of my doctor), IgG allergy test clear. But maltodextrin is a definite trigger. I've tried every supplement (curcumin, ginger, etc. etc. etc.) but they have no positive effect. The only thing that helps the tinnitus is to avoid things like maltodextrin. But the Valsalva thing, it persists: while doing it, my hearing is fantasic. When I stop, not so good. Why?
Sorry for the long message, and thanks for any input.
Dave
