Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club

[David J]

If you saw this movie, do you recall the scenes when Ron Woodroof was about to pass-out? The loud high pitch shrieking sound just prior to passing-out? That scene kind of made me cringe.

I think I experienced that maybe one or two times back when I was wrestling in high school and my opponent had a tight grip around my neck. When I came close to losing consciousness. That was the same high pitch EEEEEEEEEEE I heard then and it is pretty much the same as the "T" I hear now.

It is a bit unsettling to think about. With my "T", I can't help but wonder if something is either cutting-off the blood flow and/or oxygen causing it. I know that I am thinking too much................right now

But I can't help but wonder if anyone can relate to this experience and their "T"..............."yes" "no"?

Dave

 

[mikey13]

Can't say I have. Sorry.

 

[Whitney]

If you saw this movie, do you recall the scenes when Ron Woodroof was about to pass-out? The loud high pitch shrieking sound just prior to passing-out? That scene kind of made me cringe.

I think I experienced that maybe one or two times back when I was wrestling in high school and my opponent had a tight grip around my neck. When I came close to losing consciousness. That was the same high pitch EEEEEEEEEEE I heard then and it is pretty much the same as the "T" I hear now.

It is a bit unsettling to think about. With my "T", I can't help but wonder if something is either cutting-off the blood flow and/or oxygen causing it. I know that I am thinking too much................right now

But I can't help but wonder if anyone can relate to this experience and their "T"..............."yes" "no"?

Dave

Yes - I have had the same high-pitched squeal that plays in the scene as he grabs his ears and walks out into traffic constantly now for nearly a year and a half.

I believe that my tinnitus was originally related to a lack of oxygen to the ears since I had an ear infection which led to a eustachian tube dysfunction and a negative pressure balance in my ears. However, I had surgery which has helped ease the physical discomfort (slightly), but as I'm sure you know in many cases once you have tinnitus you're stuck with it unfortunately.

I have recommended the movie to many of my friends so they can get a better idea of what I go through on a daily basis in terms of my tinnitus.

 

[jazz]

I believe that my tinnitus was originally related to a lack of oxygen to the ears since I had an ear infection which led to a eustachian tube dysfunction and a negative pressure balance in my ears. However, I had surgery which has helped ease the physical discomfort (slightly), but as I'm sure you know in many cases once you have tinnitus you're stuck with it unfortunately.

@Whitney

Hello!

I developed tinnitus from an original injury to my eardrums after a bad cold. And I was left with eustachian tube dysfunction so we share some commonalities! I was wondering what surgery you had to correct the "negative pressure balance in your ears?" I currently have a bad cold and my ETD has come back. I'm hoping I don't get a worsening of my tinnitus. Anyway, if there's any way I could improve my eustachian tubes I'm up for it.

Any information is so appreciated!

jazz

 

[bill 112]

Or in the first episode of the walking dead when Rick fires his gun inside the tank he gets temporary T cringe moment

 

[Whitney]

@Whitney

Hello!

I developed tinnitus from an original injury to my eardrums after a bad cold. And I was left with eustachian tube dysfunction so we share some commonalities! I was wondering what surgery you had to correct the "negative pressure balance in your ears?" I currently have a bad cold and my ETD has come back. I'm hoping I don't get a worsening of my tinnitus. Anyway, if there's any way I could improve my eustachian tubes I'm up for it.

Any information is so appreciated!

jazz

Hi Jazz!

I'm so sorry to hear you also have this condition - I recently had bilateral grommet insertion (myringotomy with grommets) performed and while it has not cleared up the eustachian tube dysfunction completely, it has decreased the full feeling in the ears a bit. The grommets are not a cure-all, and the results are not immediate. I may need another set put in in another few months. They basically allow air flow into the ears in hopes that the oxygen will allow the ears to heal themselves over time. I did, however, notice that the tinnitus went away completely in one ear, but came back after two weeks. I think this had to do with the fact that they suctioned out excess moisture and that helped tremendously. However, if your ears can't regulate the moisture by themselves it could come back.

Anyways, I'm not 100 percent certain that my ears will ever recover completely, but the grommets do provide some modicum of much-needed relief.

Getting the tubes was a nightmare though! I saw at least three specialists, two nurse practitioners and four doctors until I found an ENT who not only knew what the surgery was, but was willing to perform it.

I received a lot of false advice along the way. For instance, one ENT told me it was allergies and to just take antihistimines (I've had allergies all my life, but the tinnitus only came on following an ear infection....), another ENT told me that the ear popping was good because it meant that it was healing (my ears should be cracking and causing me extreme discomfort months after the ear infection had cleared????) and the (I then believed to be competent) nurse practitioner who had initially diagnosed me with a eustachian tube dysfunction told me that they cannot perform the surgery on adults.... Oh, and of course none of the GPs had a clue...

However, I eventually found a wonderful ENT and he performed the surgery. He did tell me before the procedure that it is not guaranteed to cure the eustachian tube dysfunction, but it has greatly relieved the discomfort for me.

One caveat about the surgery though...I can no longer swim underwater because my ear drums could rupture with the grommets in. So scuba diving is definitely out, but flying is actually more comfortable with the grommets. Ask your doctor for more info.... If this is a sacrifice you are willing to make for an increased chance of recovery or at least some relief, then I would recommend going for it.

Lots of luck!
Whitney

Here are some links about the surgery:

http://www.ent-info.nhs.uk/E1_grommet.htm

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Glue-Ear-Grommets-and-Other-Operations.htm

 

[jazz]

@Whitney

Hello,

Thank you! Yeah, I also found ENTs to be pretty clueless about adult ETD. And, like you, I was told it was from allergies, which I also have always had, and that an antihistamine and nasal steroids would control it. Well, the antihistamines made my tinnitus scream; and the nasal steroids helped with the pressure and popping, but they did not lower my noise. Since using them, moreover, I have had five colds in two years. This is from someone who maybe got one cold a year. The nasal steroids greatly reduce your immunity from upper respiratory infections.

And whatever you do, don't try the valsava maneuver (ear popping) when you have ETD. I know it's not an issue with the grommets, but when they come out be cautious and try to never pop your ears. It will aggravate your tinnitus, or give you a new case. I know! And I was very gentle. The cold I had two years ago, which ruptured my eardrums, must've scarred my eustachian tubes and they will never be normal.

Thank you for all the information and the links. I will check out everything. And I hope you are cured! Please keep in touch and let us know about your progress.

take care,

jazz

 

[LadyDi]

Hi @David J, I saw you posted on this way back in February. I just saw "Dallas Buyers Club" last night on cable (what a great flix). And as you described it, that high-pitched ringing, especially toward the end of the film when Ron Woodruff (McConaughey) is wandering in traffic, made me wonder: does this character have tinnitus? Has it come on suddenly? The sound made my own tinnitus immediately fire up. I was so uncomfortable, I had to put the TV on mute. I never have had an experience like that with tinnitus since my onset. It was like that particular noise was communicating directly with my own frequency.

Be curious about others' experiences.

Here is an interesting article from NY Times about the use of that ringing in the movie (although sadly, doesn't address the tinnitus question):
http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.c...allas-buyers-club/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

 

[David J]

Good to know that I am not alone.
More importantly, I really think there is a connection between the "T" (high-pitched squeal) and the lack of oxygen/blood flow................to the brain/ears?

 

[Grace]

Hi @David J, I saw you posted on this way back in February. I just saw "Dallas Buyers Club" last night on cable (what a great flix). And as you described it, that high-pitched ringing, especially toward the end of the film when Ron Woodruff (McConaughey) is wandering in traffic, made me wonder: does this character have tinnitus? Has it come on suddenly? The sound made my own tinnitus immediately fire up. I was so uncomfortable, I had to put the TV on mute. I never have had an experience like that with tinnitus since my onset. It was like that particular noise was communicating directly with my own frequency.

Be curious about others' experiences.

Here is an interesting article from NY Times about the use of that ringing in the movie (although sadly, doesn't address the tinnitus question):
http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.c...allas-buyers-club/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

I was watching that today and when the part comes up with him in the car and he starts ringing, i freaked thinking it was my T! But wow he deff had it bad.