Recent Tinnitus Increase, Feeling Really Hopeless

Howdy everyone,

So I’ve had tinnitus for around 3 or 4 years. I got it when my mother slapped me in the ear during a heated argument. I don’t blame her because she didn’t know how severe the repercussions such a simple punishment could be. It was difficult to manage at first. I went to the doctor, got some wax removed, saw an ENT, took an MRI and hearing exam. The details are fuzzy. Long story short, ENT said I was outta luck. Eventually I adapted and habituated. Life went on. At least until recently.

Around 3 weeks ago my tinnitus had a severe spike and it hasn’t improved. I’ve been looking at dozens of these threads trying to figure out why. In the past, I only had spikes after being exposed to loud noise. They always resolved themselves a few days after. Yesterday, I went to the doctor and she said that there was fluid in my ear. She gave me some Pseudoephedrine to clear it out. I also have an appointment with an ENT sometime this month.

Honestly, I’m feeling really hopeless. I seriously doubt the meds I was prescribed will help. I’m 18 and recently had to drop out of college due to health issues. I was hoping to go back next year but right now I don’t think that’s possible. Nothing really gets my mind off the noise at this volume. I guess I’ll just keep checking the research thread for the next couple years. I don’t really know what else to do.

 

Since you mentioned fluid in the ears...there are two sides of that ear where fluid can be. Try PatulEND.

 

I’ll talk to the ENT about it. After some googling it just seems to be some vitamins that go into the ear. Also, I think she meant that the fluid was in the inner ear. All she did was look with the standard otoscope. By the way, what did the ENT you saw say about PatulEND?

 

The two sides are either in the ear canal (ahead of the ear drum), in which case gravity would suffice (just like when you have water in your ear after a shower) sometimes with the assistance of some ear drops, or the middle ear (behind the ear drum), which is why he was given a decongestant (pseudoephedrin) hoping the fluid can drain out through the eustachian tubes once they "open up".

No, she meant the middle ear. The inner ear is supposed to have fluid: it's called endolymph and perilymph. The doctor does not see the inner ear with the otoscope.

 

Did you also get other possible causes checked? It might seem odd, but not all tinnitus cases are ear-related.

 

Oh that makes much more sense. I should learn more about ear anatomy.

 

I know that there could be thousands of reasons that could cause someone to have tinnitus, although I don’t know of any that a doctor or ENT could check other than visible blockage in the ear or an MRI. Perhaps blood pressure or a tumor? It’s been with me for years and all I can remember is when it started ringing after I was slapped in the ear.

 

A tumor is highly unusual, no need to worry there

I was referring to things like TMJ or muscle strain. It is unknown to me how much force the slap had and where the impact was, of course, an ear issue is likely when the ear itself got hit. Can you influence your T with jaw movement/pressure? And do you remember any specific event before the spike happened? Sound, injury, anything?

 

I did have issues opening my mouth for wisdom teeth removal a couple months ago, and straining my jaw does cause a substantial increase in T volume. Perhaps it is TMJ related. Thank you I’ve never considered that. Should I do something? Talk to the ENT about it?

 

The ENT likely does not know about TMJ, but your dentist should be able to redirect you to a specialist if he sees clear indications in the mouth/jaw. Don't get your hopes up too much, I don't even know if a slap can cause TMJ symptoms... then again, neither did I know that a neck injury can cause T. The human body is full of surprises.

It doesn't hurt to check it out, might as well give it a try.