Hi all,
30 year old male here. I've appreciated being able to read through a lot of different accounts of tinnitus experiences in the last few days. Some of it has scared me and some of it has given me optimism. In fact, I really don't feel like I deserve to be 'introducing myself' because I've only had this ringing in my ears for about 2 weeks now. But hey, it's better to catch it early, right? Or maybe it makes no difference. I dunno..
I've had issues with my ears on and off for about 7 or 8 years now. I get a build up of wax so I've had to put drops in to loosen it and then syringe them out a couple of times a year. This was pretty standard for the first 4 years but then started getting more serious ear infection sensations with it. I was told by the doctor that it was an infection of some sort (nothing serious) and to use some cortisone ointment or some drops now and then every time it felt like it was flaring up and hopefully it would go away. Sometimes my ears were fine for months and then they would just suddenly start feeling sore or producing a small discharge and they'd be a problem for me again for a few days or weeks. Then I'd get back on a course and they'd eventually come right again.
Recently they started getting painful again - tightness, a feeling that they were getting an infection in the ear canal or something like that. I had been using this ointment prescription for about a year which worked, but obviously kept on coming back regardless. The ENT specialist told me this time that it seemed to be a dermatitis condition and that it would not go away and that it just had to be treated whenever it reoccurred. I was told I should not get it wet as moisture allows the condition to grow. Then he proceeded to 'mop' my ears out. It was quite uncomfortable but hey he's a professional. He went pretty deep with his mopping tool and it was uncomfortable but I just assumed it was all good. My ears were already pretty clear because they had been cleared a few weeks before and wax was no issue. After I left, feeling a bit dejected that I was now subjected to a life of ear dermatitis and could never get them wet, I started hearing a loud ringing now but obviously just associated it with an initial sensation from having them tended to.
2 weeks later it hasn't gone away and I'm pretty worried. They've never had ringing before but my logic tells that this ENT doctor has damaged my ears and given me tinnitus! Is that a possible scenario or am I being paranoid? Sure it was uncomfortable (more than usual) but I assume he was just doing what he always does and there was no real chance that he would actually go deep enough to damage my ear drums?
My other theory is that it is just a result of all these drugs that have been used throughout the years and this particular visit just happened to trigger the ringing? It's all a bit weird and I feel very hopeless and miserable. I can hear the high pitched ringing quite loud at night. During the day its less noticeable. My ears also feel partially blocked and I get constant popping and crackling sounds when I open my jaw and move it around. Which all gives me hope that this is all just related to some sort of blockage and not actual damage. But Im just guessing at this point.
Anyway, I'm going on far too long. Just wanted to say hi and tell my shitty story. I'm trying to stay positive but I'm naturally a worry-wart like a lot of us I guess.
30 year old male here. I've appreciated being able to read through a lot of different accounts of tinnitus experiences in the last few days. Some of it has scared me and some of it has given me optimism. In fact, I really don't feel like I deserve to be 'introducing myself' because I've only had this ringing in my ears for about 2 weeks now. But hey, it's better to catch it early, right? Or maybe it makes no difference. I dunno..
I've had issues with my ears on and off for about 7 or 8 years now. I get a build up of wax so I've had to put drops in to loosen it and then syringe them out a couple of times a year. This was pretty standard for the first 4 years but then started getting more serious ear infection sensations with it. I was told by the doctor that it was an infection of some sort (nothing serious) and to use some cortisone ointment or some drops now and then every time it felt like it was flaring up and hopefully it would go away. Sometimes my ears were fine for months and then they would just suddenly start feeling sore or producing a small discharge and they'd be a problem for me again for a few days or weeks. Then I'd get back on a course and they'd eventually come right again.
Recently they started getting painful again - tightness, a feeling that they were getting an infection in the ear canal or something like that. I had been using this ointment prescription for about a year which worked, but obviously kept on coming back regardless. The ENT specialist told me this time that it seemed to be a dermatitis condition and that it would not go away and that it just had to be treated whenever it reoccurred. I was told I should not get it wet as moisture allows the condition to grow. Then he proceeded to 'mop' my ears out. It was quite uncomfortable but hey he's a professional. He went pretty deep with his mopping tool and it was uncomfortable but I just assumed it was all good. My ears were already pretty clear because they had been cleared a few weeks before and wax was no issue. After I left, feeling a bit dejected that I was now subjected to a life of ear dermatitis and could never get them wet, I started hearing a loud ringing now but obviously just associated it with an initial sensation from having them tended to.
2 weeks later it hasn't gone away and I'm pretty worried. They've never had ringing before but my logic tells that this ENT doctor has damaged my ears and given me tinnitus! Is that a possible scenario or am I being paranoid? Sure it was uncomfortable (more than usual) but I assume he was just doing what he always does and there was no real chance that he would actually go deep enough to damage my ear drums?
My other theory is that it is just a result of all these drugs that have been used throughout the years and this particular visit just happened to trigger the ringing? It's all a bit weird and I feel very hopeless and miserable. I can hear the high pitched ringing quite loud at night. During the day its less noticeable. My ears also feel partially blocked and I get constant popping and crackling sounds when I open my jaw and move it around. Which all gives me hope that this is all just related to some sort of blockage and not actual damage. But Im just guessing at this point.
Anyway, I'm going on far too long. Just wanted to say hi and tell my shitty story. I'm trying to stay positive but I'm naturally a worry-wart like a lot of us I guess.
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