Please Tell Me I'm Not Alone — My Tinnitus Is Incredibly Loud

[Russb]

So this is my experience - my tinnitus is in my right ear only, I can't believe how loud it is, and how often it affects me. It comes and goes, this current bout has been with me constantly for 3 weeks and it is devastating my life. It is so loud and disruptive.

The thing is that I can't find any information about the hearing loss that comes with my tinnitus, if I block my left (good) ear, I can barely hear anything through my bad ear except the tinnitus, I can just about hear conversation or music but it is very feint and highly distorted.

Every now and then I get horrendous vertigo, crippling me for hours. Everything I have read about Meniere's disease, vertigo, tinnitus and/or hearing loss doesn't add up to my experience. I'm so confused and fed up, please can someone tell me they understand?

 

[Michael Leigh]

HI @Russb

Welcome to the forum.

I am sorry to know you are going through such a difficult time at the moment with tinnitus. I and many others in this forum know how debilitating tinnitus can be and the way it is capable of wearing a person down. On your Avatar is reads: stress is the cause of tinnitus? Exposure to loud noise is one of the most common causes of this condition although stress can cause it too. Do you listen to music through headphones? I am just curious. Since you have had tinnitus since 2017 I will assume that you have hearing test done at ENT? I think you need to return to ENT to get reassessed and if there are no problems get referred to an Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus treatment and management. Since you have hearing loss you may find a hearing aid can help. Your ENT doctor should be able to advise on this.

All the best
Michael

 

[billie48]

So this is my experience - my tinnitus is in my right ear only, I can't believe how loud it is, and how often it affects me. It comes and goes, this current bout has been with me constantly for 3 weeks and it is devastating my life. It is so loud and disruptive.

The thing is that I can't find any information about the hearing loss that comes with my tinnitus, if I block my left (good) ear, I can barely hear anything through my bad ear except the tinnitus, I can just about hear conversation or music but it is very feint and highly distorted.

Every now and then I get horrendous vertigo, crippling me for hours. Everything I have read about Meniere's disease, vertigo, tinnitus and/or hearing loss doesn't add up to my experience. I'm so confused and fed up, please can someone tell me they understand?

Welcome to the forum. You are definitely not alone for having a loud tinnitus. Many members have that, me too. IF your vertigo is not caused by Menerie, if may be BPPV related. The half somersault method created by a MD may help you. It cured my vertigo when I tried it. Google it to find out more.

 

[GregCA]

Hi @Russb ,

Sorry about your situation.

Every now and then I get horrendous vertigo, crippling me for hours. Everything I have read about Meniere's disease, vertigo, tinnitus and/or hearing loss doesn't add up to my experience.

You say you have vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus... in a fluctuating form.
Which part doesn't add up?

Have you gone to the doc and done any tests (in particular a hearing test)? If so are you comfortable posting your audiogram here? (blank out any personal info)

 

[Marianne F]

Hello @Russb

You're certainly not alone. I too have T in my right ear. Weirdly my hearing in that ear is perfect whereas the left ear's hearing is deteriorating. No rhyme nor reason really. For you, I'm hoping by now you've been fitted with a hearing aid as I'm sure this would help.
I've had this condition for over three years now and like most people on this website, I have exhausted every avenue of enquiry as to what and why! Mine sounds like a piercing gaggle of screeching crickets It's thankfully sporadic so although daily, it gives me a break every now and then. I do find it worsens when I'm tense. Chicken and egg really. How the hell are you supposed to relax? I think initially it's the most scariest of experiences and accompanied with vertigo you imagine the worst. Meniere's, brain tumour, you name it! And then when the healthcare services just more or less tell you to go away and get on with it, how lonely is that? Your family and friends try to understand but how can they possibly comprehend this irritating, freeloading gremlin that we carry around in our head 24/7 ?
On the upside, acceptance definitely does take over...I have now learned how to habituate for most of the time and thankfully the vertigo has disappeared for the time being. I keep promising myself to take up mindfulness and yoga as research has shown these practices can have a positive effect. It makes sense to just lose yourself in you but for me , and it's probably a weak excuse, it's finding the time at the moment ....
Have you tried the Epley Manoeuvre for your vertigo? Or, just standing still for a few moments with your eyes shut and focusing on your feet helps...
It's in the middle of the night when something wakes us and the T is having a laugh at the same time....that's when we feel at our lowest don't you think? So forums like this are a real godsend. My T consultant advised me not to look at other people's experiences as this can have a negative affect. I have to disagree. I think it helps enormously just knowing you're definitely not alone.

Take care of yourself and feel free to chat anytime....

 

[Davey]

So this is my experience - my tinnitus is in my right ear only, I can't believe how loud it is, and how often it affects me. It comes and goes, this current bout has been with me constantly for 3 weeks and it is devastating my life. It is so loud and disruptive.

The thing is that I can't find any information about the hearing loss that comes with my tinnitus, if I block my left (good) ear, I can barely hear anything through my bad ear except the tinnitus, I can just about hear conversation or music but it is very feint and highly distorted.

Every now and then I get horrendous vertigo, crippling me for hours. Everything I have read about Meniere's disease, vertigo, tinnitus and/or hearing loss doesn't add up to my experience. I'm so confused and fed up, please can someone tell me they understand?

You're not alone. I got like 5 different type of tones, two high, one low, morse code and little chirping birds in the background. 3 years ago I had my first vertigo attack, that lasted for two weaks. Since then I get these vertigo attacks once a month and maybe a worsening in my tinnitus. Two days ago I experienced my first hearing loss when waking up. It was my left ear, I couldn't hold conversations anymore and was scared shitless. I saved me some prednisone and used that right away. After 13 hours my hearing came back.

Have you got it tested for meniere's? My doctor doesn't want to do that, so I'm going to a private clinic to let it tested.