Ringing in Ears After Using Sodium Bicarbonate Ear Drops for Impacted Earwax & Microsuction

[MindOverMatter]

You shouldn't feel sorry for anything @AnonymousPie.

It's okay and perfectly normal to feel worried and anxious when you feel threatened and down by something like this. As @volsung37 says:

You're in the very early stages when panic is at its worst. Things will probably remain that way for a few months. Its always the same with tinnitus. The next stage is getting used to the sounds. This seems impossible now but it nearly always happens. From then your neuroplasticity may kick in. As you don't really care about the sounds your stress levels will lower and healing can take place.

......Try to get sleep worked out. This is important in the early stages.

Did your wax issues sort out? Do you still feel burning and fullness in ears? You might want to try out bioflavonoids for that.

But your main focus should be on getting some help, preferably early on in the stage you are now, to get your mind sorted.

Do you have anyone you can speak to, or maybe some therapist you can reach out too? Even better if they have some experience with tinnitus and the likes.

I am positive that in a few months time you will feel better, but it would be good for you to get some sort of counselling. Preferably with audiology knowledge. That well in turn also lower your anxiety, and help with sleep.

 

[volsung37]

@volsung37, thanks for responding to me. Yesterday I felt OK, positive, calm and hopeful. But today when I woke up, my left left ear felt clogged or muffled. Scared. It feels like high frequency crickets are in it and with a whistling noise. I honestly feel frightened. I can't function. Sometimes this noise gets so pitchy and comes in and out I feel somewhat deaf. Then it calms and it feels hearing in that ear isn't the same.

I'm scared of being vulnerable to SSHL. How do I know if I have inner ear damage? What tests can I have? I don't want to go deaf. I am scared I'm not going to get better. Only worsen.

Sorry for my anxiety BTW. I'm trying so hard. I feel so broken today. I spoke to an ENT in email trying to book a hearing test ASAP to detect if I've got SSHL. I feel fragile. I don't want to live like this. I think my inner ear is broken and I have a risk everyday. Sorry for this. Just in panic mode hoping I get better hugs all.

Definitely get a test done if you fear SSHL. It sounds like you've got 'normal' tinnitus but any test that reduces fear and reduces stress is good. As you have less stress, over time the perception of tinnitus can reduce and eventually fade.

 

[AnonymousPie]

@jjflyman, sorry to tag you again. I'm just feeling helpless. After 6 weeks into my acoustic trauma, which I wrote about to you above, I was walking with normal fluffy winter earmuffs, not Peltors, and a loud motorcycle comes with the loudest exhaust and goes past me. It was even loud far away let alone near me on the sidewalk. I'm so scared. Screaming tinnitus came back as well as hyperacusis which totally settled before but it's only been 6 weeks for me. I'm scared I've got nerve damage. My ENT said to me I can't have Prednisone if there is no sudden hearing loss. Aural fullness returned, mouth feels cold and I have more saliva. I hear clicking, have reactive tinnitus and hearing is slightly muffled. Sounds don't sound the same. Feeling very tense. Ear pain. I really need hope. Am I going to pull through this!? Very very fragile right now.

 

[makeyourownluck]

@AnonymousPie, out of interest, have you had an audiogram? Does the ENT know for sure that no hearing has been lost? You can get free audiograms from boots. You are in the UK, right?

Try to hang in there. I'm sorry you're struggling so much.

 

[Blue28]

Hi @jjflyman, I believe I too have suffered from acoustic trauma. I'm going on almost week 6 now. Feeling extremely helpless and vulnerable right now. Your posts and comments to folks have kept me going.

I had microsuction and I'm so scared. They told me it was 45 decibels but it felt louder and was very noisy in the ears. Also been told about the clarinetting effect which can reach almost 150 decibels when sucking wax or getting stuck on a piece. I remember jumping back at one point as it sounded so loud like vacuum block or a loud bleep. Then I let her continue and she took 5 to 10 minutes in each ear.

Since then I've suffered from tinnitus and hyperacusis. The hyperacusis was very bad at first and I had aural fullness that seems to settle but the sensitivity is still there however. I've been waking up and most the day my left ear feels muffled, and the pitches make me feel like I'm almost deaf but am not. I had hearing tests done all within normal range but only up to 8000 Hz.

I'm scared because I feel I'm doomed and that microsuction is the worst of it. Reading other comments here saying 3 years later they are still suffering extremely bad. I'm 27 and feel like I've lost my life and won't heal. I'm holding onto your messages for hope but scared the microsuction has severely ruined me. I'm honestly very fragile right now. If you read this could you please post me some support or hope. I'd appreciate it. My ENT wouldn't give Prednisone. Researching and hoping the cures arrive for us all soon.

Many thanks!

I'm so sorry to read that you too have been a victim of microsuction. It's almost 6 years since my microsuction experience caused severe tinnitus, hyperacusis, hearing loss and much more. The procedure is VERY LOUD, and can (imo) cause hearing damage. Before the procedure my hearing was normal, no tinnitus etc. Most doctors or hearing specialists try to deny it can cause damage, but there are reports stating noise levels, and I can categorically say from first hand experience that the procedure is dangerously loud.

When it first happened to me I did a hearing test up to 8 kHz, which came back within normal limits. However when I did an extended high frequency hearing test, I had a huge notch in my hearing at 12 kHz (which corresponds with the pitch of my tinnitus). If you want to be sure, do a hearing test that goes up to 16khz. Be careful about other tests that you may be offered, don't accept an mri (it's only really useful for acoustic neuroma) as it's very loud. Also try to stay away from the acoustic reflex test, Loudness discomfort level test etc as all of this is more noise directly into your ear. I didn't know all of this and innocently accepted to do these tests, which made matters worse.

Once again I'm so sorry to read your story and hope that you'll see some improvement soon.

 

[AnonymousPie]

@AnonymousPie, out of interest, have you had an audiogram? Does the ENT know for sure that no hearing has been lost? You can get free audiograms from boots. You are in the UK, right?

Try to hang in there. I'm sorry you're struggling so much.

I did LDL tests and the tuning fork test yesterday again. Feel like I've got a new tone in other ear. Trying to be calm. The tuning fork test is to detect sensorineural hearing loss which came back normal. I want to do advanced special tests but too scared. Best bet that looks like it'll help many for all this shit is the OTO-413. They are releasing results mid-2022 apparently. I hope it comes out as soon as possible. But I really hope I heal.

I actually felt better yesterday but a bit worse today. Up and down.

 

[makeyourownluck]

I did LDL tests and the tuning fork test yesterday again. Feel like I've got a new tone in other ear. Trying to be calm. The tuning fork test is to detect sensorineural hearing loss which came back normal. I want to do advanced special tests but too scared. Best bet that looks like it'll help many for all this shit is the OTO-413. They are releasing results mid-2022 apparently. I hope it comes out as soon as possible. But I really hope I heal.

I actually felt better yesterday but a bit worse today. Up and down.

Never heard of an LDL or tuning fork test, who does them? Are they loud? Always remember to research any tests before you take them. Never do anything that you are uncomfortable with, or that you perceive as loud.

I hope your new tone resolves. Tinnitus is always a bit up and down. Regardless of what it's doing, it's always best to relax. I think you need something to manage your anxiety more than anything. An audiogram is also good so you have a reference level for your hearing going forward, but no doubt you have already done this?

Definitely try get to an audiologist, they can offer talking therapy/CBT for tinnitus distress. They can also provide masking devices, some people get on really well with these.

Make a case to your GP, over emphasis the impact it's having on your mental health. I brought up the NICE guidelines and was given an urgent referral to audiology that day.

 

[AnonymousPie]

Never heard of an LDL or tuning fork test, who does them? Are they loud? Always remember to research any tests before you take them. Never do anything that you are uncomfortable with, or that you perceive as loud.

I hope your new tone resolves. Tinnitus is always a bit up and down. Regardless of what it's doing, it's always best to relax. I think you need something to manage your anxiety more than anything. An audiogram is also good so you have a reference level for your hearing going forward, but no doubt you have already done this?

Definitely try get to an audiologist, they can offer talking therapy/CBT for tinnitus distress. They can also provide masking devices, some people get on really well with these.

Make a case to your GP, over emphasis the impact it's having on your mental health. I brought up the NICE guidelines and was given an urgent referral to audiology that day.

Hey! The tuning fork would pick up if I had sensorineural hearing loss and I heard it where I was supposed to so I assume that was good even though it can be slightly loud.

It's the motorcycle exhaust that set me back, gave me all this tension and aural fullness again, but since then my hearing is all in the normal range. Trying to remain calm. And hopeful and positive. I know they're working on many cures right now too.

Will call GP. They are so useless. I've gone private for everything. My mental health is so bad I just want a huge cuddle and reassurance that this shit will pass. I'm very fragile.

If I call GP, they try to put me to nurses but I will need to see a doctor. Shall I bring up the NICE guidelines? What should I say exactly? Sorry just unsure about how to go about it. Praying to heal.

Huge hugs

 

[makeyourownluck]

Hey! The tuning fork would pick up if I had sensorineural hearing loss and I heard it where I was supposed to so I assume that was good even though it can be slightly loud.

It's the motorcycle exhaust that set me back, gave me all this tension and aural fullness again, but since then my hearing is all in the normal range. Trying to remain calm. And hopeful and positive. I know they're working on many cures right now too.

Will call GP. They are so useless. I've gone private for everything. My mental health is so bad I just want a huge cuddle and reassurance that this shit will pass. I'm very fragile.

If I call GP, they try to put me to nurses but I will need to see a doctor. Shall I bring up the NICE guidelines? What should I say exactly? Sorry just unsure about how to go about it. Praying to heal.

Huge hugs

Aw man it's terrible, if you were round the corner from me I would jump round and give you a hug. I was blabbering like a baby to my partner for months. We have been together the best part of a decade and he has never seen me brake down like that. It does get better, I am in no way 100%, but definitely a million times better than I was back in July. Hang in there!

With your doctor, I'm unsure how you would personally bring it up. I think many people feel inferior around doctors, I am not like this, I'm a straight shooting kind of person.

I did the usual hellos, said I would like to talk about my tinnitus because it's still causing me a lot of anxiety. I said that I had looked at the NICE guidelines the night before and noticed that they recommend a referral to audiology within 2 week if tinnitus is negatively impacting someone's every day life. I then went on to describe all the ways it impacts my day to day/mental health. After that I just said that I would really appreciate the referral because I feel that I need CBT specifically directed towards tinnitus distress.

Edit: doctors and nurses really can't argue against NICE guidelines so don't feel embarrassed bringing it up. Nothing wrong with doing your own research and being well informed.

 

[AnonymousPie]

Hey @Michael Leigh, please read above message. I'm in a very very fragile place. Based on what I said above, do you think I'll pull through this? Just went to A&E and they've sent me through to Urgent Care department. Hoping I'm going to heal. I'm very fragile. Very very very scared.

 

[ajc]

do you think I'll pull through this?

I'm trying to be realistic here... you have to understand the following:

• Most people's tinnitus either gets better or they habituate to it within 24 months of onset
• Some people take more than 24 months to habituate or get better
  
• Some people get worse, it's important you protect your hearing from now on from loud noise and ototoxic medications, until you eventually die. Tinnitus can always get worse. Don't forget that.
  
• Some people don't habituate or get better, and they commit suicide. This is a small minority but this group exists.

You're asking the impossible, AnonymousPie, when you ask where you'll end up. If someone tells you that you're 100% sure going to heal, be fine... they would be lying.

You need to take it easy now, let time do its job and see where you land. Stop visiting this forum and other tinnitus web pages so much and instead do something enjoyable, go for a walk, watch TV, or anything else.

 

[AnonymousPie]

I'm trying to be realistic here... you have to understand the following:

• Most people's tinnitus either gets better or they habituate to it within 24 months of onset
• Some people take more than 24 months to habituate or get better
  
• Some people get worse, it's important you protect your hearing from now on from loud noise and ototoxic medications, until you eventually die. Tinnitus can always get worse. Don't forget that.
  
• Some people don't habituate or get better, and they commit suicide. This is a small minority but this group exists.

You're asking the impossible, AnonymousPie, when you ask where you'll end up. If someone tells you that you're 100% sure going to heal, be fine... they would be lying.

You need to take it easy now, let time do its job and see where you land. Stop visiting this forum and other tinnitus web pages so much and instead do something enjoyable, go for a walk, watch TV, or anything else.

Thank you so so so so much for this comment. The last bit I need to do. My family said exactly the same. I need to get off here and watch TV and do things I enjoy. I'm going to see my ENT because the new symptoms ebb and flow and he will see if I need this steroid. He doesn't think so because they ebb and flow and sometimes I feel OK. But I'm going to now take your advice what you just said seriously. Just sad about the second exposure. But I've got to have faith and live my life. Sorry for this anxiety by the way and thanks for the message.

 

[MindOverMatter]

@AnonymousPie, as @ajc said, for now you have to try calm down. I know, easier said than done - but might be an idea getting off the forum for a while, and shift your focus to something that can take your mind off tinnitus a bit - if only for a little while.

Your life is not ruined due to this setback. I believe you have a great chance getting better with time. Speaking of experience. Try not to use too much energy on what happened regarding this motorcycle incident. These things happen, and it can't be unchanged. Focusing on it will only fuel you anxiety and desperation even more.

Focus on you getting better, and the fact that there is hope.

Take care!

 

[AnonymousPie]

@AnonymousPie, as @ajc said, for now you have to try calm down. I know, easier said than done - but might be an idea getting off the forum for a while, and shift your focus to something that can take your mind off tinnitus a bit - if only for a little while.

Your life is not ruined due to this setback. I believe you have a great chance getting better with time. Speaking of experience. Try not to use too much energy on what happened regarding this motorcycle incident. These things happen, and it can't be unchanged. Focusing on it will only fuel you anxiety and desperation even more.

Focus on you getting better, and the fact that there is hope.

Take care!

Thank you so much for your support. It means so much to me. Some parts of the day I feel OK but I feel my balance isn't great. I have slight dizziness. I've now diagnosed myself as having permanent serious vestibular issues and trying to organise a CT somehow. I wish I overcome this. Sorry for my anxiety BTW. I will still try to get off here and not think the worst.

 

[Novachrono]

@AnonymousPie, as @ajc said, for now you have to try calm down. I know, easier said than done - but might be an idea getting off the forum for a while, and shift your focus to something that can take your mind off tinnitus a bit - if only for a little while.

Your life is not ruined due to this setback. I believe you have a great chance getting better with time. Speaking of experience. Try not to use too much energy on what happened regarding this motorcycle incident. These things happen, and it can't be unchanged. Focusing on it will only fuel you anxiety and desperation even more.

Focus on you getting better, and the fact that there is hope.

Take care!

I'm 5 months in and tinnitus was a non issue for the past 2 months but it has ever so slightly raised since a few days ago. It does go down for parts of the day but I'm worried I won't be able to get back my previous progress. Can I ask what your experience with setbacks has been?

 

[MindOverMatter]

I'm 5 months in and tinnitus was a non issue for the past 2 months but it has ever so slightly raised since a few days ago. It does go down for parts of the day but I'm worried I won't be able to get back my previous progress. Can I ask what your experience with setbacks has been?

Why not use your energy on focusing on all your progress instead of a minor setback you've experienced for the last few days? It's natural to have minor setbacks, but there is probably no rationale reason that this should set you back permanently? (I assume you haven't exposed you ears for something you shouldn't).

My experiences with setbacks has been that eventually I've overcome them - one way or another. But I've constantly have to keep reminding myself about it, and put things in perspective. If you start to focus on your setback, and dwell with it, it may stick around for longer.

You got this, and there is no reason why your progression shouldn't continue.