I'm trying to decide whether to take Prednisolone after experiencing tinnitus and hearing loss a couple of days after loud music exposure. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I've had tinnitus to varying degrees for over a decade and have noticed it often starts shortly after an anxiety, stress, or depression-inducing thought. It's remarkable how consistently I hear it kick in about 3 to 5 minutes after such moments. Over the past few years, my hearing has gradually declined, confirmed by hearing tests indicating I'm borderline for needing hearing aids. It's been manageable, if not ideal, until now.
Recently, I didn't use earplugs at a loud event, though I stayed away from the loudest area for most of the time, aside from a few minutes. About 48 hours later, I couldn't sleep because the tinnitus had become so loud. It was also accompanied by pain, with a noticeable decrease in hearing in my right ear. The one-sided issue seems related to the time I spent standing next to a brick wall with loud music nearby. I was recording some video for a friend, and I suspect the arched wall somehow amplified the sound on my right side, while my left side was exposed to open space.
Today, I was fortunate to see both a hospital ENT doctor and an ENT surgeon, and I had repeat audiology tests. The strange part, though perhaps not to those familiar with this situation, is that my hearing results haven't changed much. As the surgeon explained, tone detection tests are basic and don't tell the whole story. The surgeon, who was more experienced than the hospital ENT doctor, recommended a 5-day course of 40 mg Prednisolone. The hospital doctor, however, said it wasn't indicated.
I think the surgeon is probably correct, and the medication could help. But the potential side effects, noted in a Mayo Clinic article, are concerning. I've had depressive episodes in the past, and I'm wary of returning to that state, let alone experiencing something like psychosis or memory loss. Still, I understand that if Prednisolone is effective, the sooner I take it, the better the chances.
Has anyone here had positive or negative experiences with Prednisolone in a similar situation? Obviously, the symptoms could resolve on their own without the medication, but there's also a chance they might not.
I've had tinnitus to varying degrees for over a decade and have noticed it often starts shortly after an anxiety, stress, or depression-inducing thought. It's remarkable how consistently I hear it kick in about 3 to 5 minutes after such moments. Over the past few years, my hearing has gradually declined, confirmed by hearing tests indicating I'm borderline for needing hearing aids. It's been manageable, if not ideal, until now.
Recently, I didn't use earplugs at a loud event, though I stayed away from the loudest area for most of the time, aside from a few minutes. About 48 hours later, I couldn't sleep because the tinnitus had become so loud. It was also accompanied by pain, with a noticeable decrease in hearing in my right ear. The one-sided issue seems related to the time I spent standing next to a brick wall with loud music nearby. I was recording some video for a friend, and I suspect the arched wall somehow amplified the sound on my right side, while my left side was exposed to open space.
Today, I was fortunate to see both a hospital ENT doctor and an ENT surgeon, and I had repeat audiology tests. The strange part, though perhaps not to those familiar with this situation, is that my hearing results haven't changed much. As the surgeon explained, tone detection tests are basic and don't tell the whole story. The surgeon, who was more experienced than the hospital ENT doctor, recommended a 5-day course of 40 mg Prednisolone. The hospital doctor, however, said it wasn't indicated.
I think the surgeon is probably correct, and the medication could help. But the potential side effects, noted in a Mayo Clinic article, are concerning. I've had depressive episodes in the past, and I'm wary of returning to that state, let alone experiencing something like psychosis or memory loss. Still, I understand that if Prednisolone is effective, the sooner I take it, the better the chances.
Has anyone here had positive or negative experiences with Prednisolone in a similar situation? Obviously, the symptoms could resolve on their own without the medication, but there's also a chance they might not.
