New to Forums! I've Had Tinnitus for More Than 3 Years

[Shay.J.]

What's up I'm Shay. I've had tinnitus for more than 3 years. It's given me soo much anxiety and depression. I'm having an MRI done this coming Monday night.

For a long time it used to drive me crazy. I used to think the high pitched ringing was coming from my ears but the longer I've had it, I really feel and hear it in my head. I'm not sure if that makes any sense. I tried everything from just ignoring it, masking it with sounds but all of it was really temporary for me.

After having my 1st born son I definitely feel the ringing getting worse. I get these sudden attacks where my head feels like its pounding with pain, I get nauseous, dizzy, and my hearing goes in and out causing me to lose my balance. On top of all of that, my tinnitus gets extremely loud as if a bomb went off like you see in the movies. Just last week I had this sudden attack and I fell straight on my face. This has happened a couple times before my pregnancy and I've always caught myself but this time I just couldn't.

I notice that I get these attacks sometimes when I'm in a moving vehicle, when I happen to smoke some trees (mary jane), or have a drink or 2. Also I've noticed that they happen if I'm under the influence and having a good time, I sometimes forget to hydrate myself and the attacks sometimes put me to sleep. I don't drink or smoke often but when I do, I always have to remind myself to hydrate. I always feel so embarrassed around friends and fam because they don't know what I deal with so they either think I'm just super lit or just a lightweight which I'm really not.

Doctors have said I have signs of vertigo but the symptoms I have aren't classic. So far I saw an audiologist and my hearing is great. Next step is to get an MRI and see an ENT and optometrist.

I don't know about these forums so help me out! I'd hella appreciate it thanks guys and I hope we all find some healing.

 

[robHing]

I'm having an MRI done this coming Monday night.

Hi... Welcome....
Be very careful to do MRI while you are having tinnitus.
There are a few members here complain about this procedure.
It might spike your ears.

(see below discussion thread)
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/probably-light-spike-after-an-mri-scan.30107/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tests-procedures-to-avoid.26681/

 

[robHing]

After having my 1st born son I definitely feel the ringing getting worse.

I can feel your pain after having a child.
Baby's crying is in high decibel.
Some of T members here can provide info about it.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Shay.J. Maybe just a bacterial infection.

 

[Shay.J.]

@Greg Sacramento where do you think i might have one?

 

[robHing]

@Shay.J. We are sorry that you go through this painful ears experience.
This TT forums can provide some crucial info.
But going through doctors' diagnosis are important too.

 

[Shay.J.]

@robHing thank you. Im hoping that the mri wont make my tinnitus spike. I would hate if it did. I will ask for some ear plugs hopefully it will prevent it. Ive never had an mri or ct scan before.

Honestly i used to go crazy about my ears from the ringing but now i go crazy because its actually in my head. I cant stand silence otherwise its the loudest. But i also crave and wish for silence because its so loud in my head

 

[robHing]

Honestly i used to go crazy about my ears from the ringing but now i go crazy because its actually in my head.

Tinnitus is a brain neuron issue. It is not the real hissing sound in ears.
It is from the brain.
I hope that there will be some ways (eg. medicine) to cope with your tough situation.

 

[Shay.J.]

@robHing i didnt know that it came from the brain until i felt that it was coming from there. i did some research myself, saw a doctor cause i knew i wasnt trippin... I really hate taking meds. So im hoping its something i can cure in a holistic way.

 

[robHing]

@Shay.J. Please hang in there.
Also, please feel free to ask questions.
You have all the support from us.

 

[Shay.J.]

@robHing thank you i really appreciate it

 

[dpdx]

@robHing thank you. Im hoping that the mri wont make my tinnitus spike. I would hate if it did. I will ask for some ear plugs hopefully it will prevent it. Ive never had an mri or ct scan before.

Honestly i used to go crazy about my ears from the ringing but now i go crazy because its actually in my head. I cant stand silence otherwise its the loudest. But i also crave and wish for silence because its so loud in my head

WEAR EAR PLUGS and extra protection when doing MRI.

 

[Shay.J.]

@dpdx thank you, what other protections are there besides ear plugs?

 

[dpdx]

@dpdx thank you, what other protections are there besides ear plugs?

I had extra cushions that were placed by the MRI technician. I did this in Dec and I had no spike or permanent increase of T, warning it is so loud. make sure they are properly in place.

 

[Shay.J.]

@dpdx thank you for the tips.

 

[robHing]

Please take good care of yourself.
God bless you !

 

[Contrast]

Did you see a professional to see if you have menieres?

 

[Shay.J.]

@Contrast you know whats crazy? Ive googled my symptoms before and menieres disease always matched up to what im experiencing. Ive only gone to my primary doctor and they never have mentioned menieres to me. What kind of professional should i see? And is menieres a serious disease? I dont think there is a cure for it too, correct me if im wrong

 

[robHing]

And is menieres a serious disease?

This is what I found from Google -
"Meniere's disease is an inner ear disease that typically affects one ear. This disease can cause pressure or pain in the ear, severe cases of dizziness or vertigo, hearing loss and a ringing or roaring noise, also known as tinnitus. "

 

[Contrast]

@Contrast you know whats crazy? Ive googled my symptoms before and menieres disease always matched up to what im experiencing. Ive only gone to my primary doctor and they never have mentioned menieres to me. What kind of professional should i see? And is menieres a serious disease? I dont think there is a cure for it too, correct me if im wrong

The year is 2018 and there are no therapeutic that directly targets any cochlear/vestibular issue.

@glynis nis has menieres I beleive and she would know a lot more.

 

[dpdx]

The year is 2018 and there are no therapeutic that directly targets any cochlear/vestibular issue.

@glynis nis has menieres I beleive and she would know a lot more.

We can create internet, send people off to freakin mars..but we cant treat tinnitus. BS

 

[housemzk]

Low salt diet has helped my coworker with Meniere's Disease. His vertigo symptoms have so far disappeared after he cut his salt intake. Any ENT should be able to look at your symptoms and suspect Meniere's and then recommend options for you.

I see your in SF. UCSF has tinnitus management program: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/programs/tinnitus_patient_management_program/

I spoke to an ENT over at Kaiser in Oakland when I first experienced my issues and he help put me at ease on a lot of the fear and anxiety I was dealing with when the ringing and ear pain was unbearable. He also had tinnitus and was unable to sit in a quiet room because his tinnitus was so loud. Just knowing I wasn't alone with this infliction helped the anxiety as well.

 

[Julia Garrett]

Hi Shay, I agree it sounds like Menieres. I think I have a form of it too. I also can get worse in the car and I control my diet, no caff, alcohol, salt. GP cannot help much, they don't know enough about it and even with ENT can be a long road to diagnosis. Experiment with your diet and see if it helps. Don't give up!

 

[Shay.J.]

@housemzk hi. Thank you so much for your input. I honestly feel that i do have menieres since the symptoms that i experience always point to that.

Hi Shay, I agree it sounds like Menieres. I think I have a form of it too. I also can get worse in the car and I control my diet, no caff, alcohol, salt. GP cannot help much, they don't know enough about it and even with ENT can be a long road to diagnosis. Experiment with your diet and see if it helps. Don't give up!

Thank you, im trying my best here you guys. I also realllly want to stop smoking but its just soo hard. Its so easy to say kick the pack and dont buy any but its so difficult to! Its like i need to be completely sober for this to go away. Ive been a party person since my teens so this is really new to me and lifechanging kinda like when i had my son lol seriously. Dont laugh at me.

 

[Shay.J.]

@housemzk hi. Thank you so much for your input. I honestly feel that i do have menieres since the symptoms that i experience always point to that.

Thank you, im trying my best here you guys. I also realllly want to stop smoking but its just soo hard. Its so easy to say kick the pack and dont buy any but its so difficult to! Its like i need to be completely sober for this to go away. Ive been a party person since my teens so this is really new to me and lifechanging kinda like when i had my son lol seriously. Dont laugh at me.

What is GP btw?

 

[robHing]

What is GP btw?

general practitioner (GP) is a medical doctor

 

[AmericanJosh]

While reading this site I realized a lot of people use GP. I know we use that term in America and know what it means, but rarely, if ever, have I heard anyone in the real world say GP. I think that term is very popular in England and European countries. Most people in the US just call them doctors.