Strange Thing Happened

[mrdude1234]

About 3 and a half weeks ago I suddenly got a high pitched tinnitus in my left ear. A week later I was having all sorts of physical and neurological symptoms.

After a week of some of those symptoms have subsided but still some things are off. I've had an MRI which came back clear, but for some sinus fluid, and blood test came back with quite low vitamin D.

Now, as of Monday this week my girlfriend also has tinnitus in her left ear just like I did. Currently that's her only symptom, but I find it strange that neither of us have ever had tinnitus before and now we both have it within a month.

Any ideas as to what could have transpired?

 

[mrdude1234]

Also, I've seen a vestibular physiotherapist who can definitely see that something isn't right, as my eyes keep drifting off to the right and then correcting. He noticed this through a series of tests using these dark goggles with cameras.

 

[ruben ruiz]

What an awful coincidence. Im sorry for you both. Maybe environment, food, loud noise...
strange.

 

[Xorthian]

@mrdude1234 maybe this is meniere attack?

 

[mrdude1234]

I don't think it's menieres as I'm not having vertigo attacks.

I'm wondering is there something contagious that I could've passed onto her?

I'm not sure of what food could've caused this. Although when it happened to her, it was in the morning after her alarm went off. Maybe her alarm caused some acoustic shock? She has no hearing loss so I don't know...

 

[RaZaH]

Have a look at your living conditions, in particular check for Mold issues.

 

[Karen]

Tinnitus can be caused by so many factors, it's hard to say. Do you have any electronics in your bedroom, next to your bed? How about your wifi router? If it's close to where you sleep, it could be influencing the tinnitus for both of you.

Also, Vitamin D deficiency can cause many strange symptoms. Are you going to start taking Vitamin D3? I've certainly felt a lot better since I've been taking a D3 supplement.

 

[mrdude1234]

Have a look at your living conditions, in particular check for Mold issues.

We don't live together, but are you able to elaborate more on this mold/tinnitus (or even general health) connection?

Tinnitus can be caused by so many factors, it's hard to say. Do you have any electronics in your bedroom, next to your bed? How about your wifi router? If it's close to where you sleep, it could be influencing the tinnitus for both of you.

Also, Vitamin D deficiency can cause many strange symptoms. Are you going to start taking Vitamin D3? I've certainly felt a lot better since I've been taking a D3 supplement.

Hmm, I have a TV in my room but it's rarely ever plugged in, WiFi is not really close to my room either.

The vitamin d is a strange one, about a year ago my vitamin d was fine, it's almost as if something is attacking my levels in some way but I could be wrong.

I'm thinking if it's possible that I could've got lyme disease and then passed it onto my girlfriend, but I highly doubt it.

The physiotherapist thought I could maybe have something called basilar migraines but he's not really sure.

If my girlfriend starts to have similar symptoms that I did then I'll know it's connected in some way. Hopefully that's not the case.

 

[mrdude1234]

Another symptom that I've had that my GP seems to disregard:

I went running a few weeks ago and my calf muscle felt like it slightly pulled, no big deal as something like this normally heals very quickly.

Now after several weeks, the calf muscle is still very tender. It's as if my body isn't healing properly.

Just adding this as I feel it could be important in getting answers to my symptoms.

I am alsk scheduled to see a neurologist in a couple of months

 

[Mad maggot]

Could be a virus and hopefully you both fully recover from the T.

 

[mrdude1234]

Could be a virus and hopefully you both fully recover from the T.

It's possible but my girlfriend doesn't currently have any other symptoms. I am still having some symptoms come and go, and am not feeling 100% in general.

I've arranged to get a blood test for Epstein-Barr & Cytomegalovirus, will see what the results say.

I'm starting to explore this mold issue. My tinnitus started at my house, and my girlfriends tinnitus started at my house also. Not sure if I should get some kind of a mold assessment... But then again my brother doesn't have any of the symptoms that I do.

 

[linearb]

EBV is more likely than Lyme just because, afaik, Lyme hasn't been proved to be communicable between humans.

 

[mrdude1234]

EBV is more likely than Lyme just because, afaik, Lyme hasn't been proved to be communicable between humans.

I don't know much about EBV, but I don't seem to have the classic glandular swelling that comes with the virus. From some of the reading I've done it seems Lyme can possibly be transmitted to another person. None if this is conclusive so who really knows.

This morning I woke up and was quite sweaty, neck was also quite sore. Yesterday I woke up with a sore hip. It almost feels as if I have random sporadic arthritis. I think I'm going to see a functional doctor with a bit of knowledge in nutrition, who can do some testing and see if I have any odd genetic mutation or something like that. I really don't want these issues becoming chronic as it has been going on for almost a month now.

 

[RaZaH]

I lived in a moldy house , completely fxxxed me up .
Loads of issues, waking up with dry throat and eyes, dizziness, nausea, massive pains all over my body , lack of concentration , cognative issues.
It only affected me and my son on a smaller scale , wife never felt anything ...until we moved out, lots of her issues started clearing up .

It is quite possible and in fact common that it might affect you and no one else in the household.

One clue is getting very sensitive to smells , detergent , perfume etc.
If you have any black spots in the windows , in the shower or live in an old house ... its possible.

 

[mrdude1234]

One clue is getting very sensitive to smells , detergent , perfume etc.
If you have any black spots in the windows , in the shower or live in an old house ... its possible.

Very interesting. I'll look for black spots, I remember there being black spots in the bathroom but they were cleaned up (not by me). House was probably built in late 80's.

I wouldn't say I'm sensitive to any smells or anything like that. Is there a test that can be taken to test for mold or fungus in the body? I might be reaching in that regard though.

I felt MUCH worse at the start of June, my ear used to flutter and prevent me from sleeping but thankfully this has stopped. I just think the high-pitched tinnitus and hyperacusis might be a clue, because they were my absolute FIRST symptoms, then a week later everything else started.

 

[Kathi]

Have a look at your living conditions, in particular check for Mold issues.

@RaZaH --what do you know about mold causing tinnitus? I ask because my boss and I got T within months of each other and in asking around I found that 7 of us have tinnitus--all since we've been in our current building at work. I can smell mold on damp days in the hallways. I always attributed my T to age related HF loss and stress but most of the 7 are much younger. I've always had sinus problems and my allergies are much worse since coming to this building.

 

[RaZaH]

There are tests that you can do. Measuring the inside air for spores.
If you are concerned about this issue start by checking your bathroom for leaks.
In my case their were loose tiles in the shower , slowly leaking into the wall.
When the whole wall was removed it was completely black on the inside from mold.

 

[RaZaH]

@Kathi .
Well, all of my issues were caused by mold , I was put on epileptic drugs because of severe tremors.
After quitting the drugs I got T , I moved out the next week.
All my issues were resolved, stuck with T though.
It would not surprise me if my T was also caused by mold.
In fact I know of a such a case.
Mold is not to be underestimated , it damn near killed me.

If you suspect mold , do not under any circumstances disregard it.

 

[linearb]

@RaZaH --what do you know about mold causing tinnitus? I ask because my boss and I got T within months of each other and in asking around I found that 7 of us have tinnitus--all since we've been in our current building at work.

7 out of how many? That sounds pretty f'ing significant to me...

When I developed worse T due to a noise trauma, I'd been living in a building that had tons of black mold in it for a while. I'm not necessarily convinced there was a connection, though... my partner doesn't have T, and we've moved twice since then.

 

[RaZaH]

Getting sensitive to smells comes late in the process.
I can not tolerate any mold whatsover now , I get immediatly sick.

 

[mrdude1234]

There are tests that you can do. Measuring the inside air for spores.
If you are concerned about this issue start by checking your bathroom for leaks.
In my case their were loose tiles in the shower , slowly leaking into the wall.
When the whole wall was removed it was completely black on the inside from mold.

Thanks, do you suggest I organise a mould specialist to come and check out my house? I did a quick google search for my city and a few of them exist so I guess that could be an option.

 

[RaZaH]

Even doctors are getting a clue , we just had a big article in the local paper abour a doctor that got sick from mold.
Things are changing in regard to mold over here ... Its serious stuff.
stachybotrys is even used in chemical weapons...so..

 

[mrdude1234]

Getting sensitive to smells comes late in the process.
I can not tolerate any mold whatsover now , I get immediatly sick.

When you moved out did your condition improve? Did your T disappear?

 

[RaZaH]

Well...yeah . But obviously I dont know , it just came to mind since you said there were two of you.
I guess its less likely if she does not live there , but if she spends time there, yes definitely.
I just wish that I had a clue about mold before it completely messed me up.
I lost 15 kg , could not eat anything for months , could not sleep, had severe tremors...it got ugly.
And no I did not have anxiety or depression , apart from the mold I was having the time of my life
I mention that as of course that is what the doctors thought.

 

[RaZaH]

No, my T is still there , everything else disappeared . took 2-3 weeks .
I should have taken a clue from always feelin awesome when abroad.

 

[Kathi]

Thanks @RaZaH --mold is a terrible thing--It makes my allergies horrific and my spouse's eyes swell up and his breathing gets restricted whenever mold is present. We learned this at a hotel in Daytona Beach,Florida--the place was so moldy. I am going to ask around a bit more--the 6 others I mentioned are my friends and boss. We have 250 employees in our building--which many say is an unhealthy building--and I would like to know how many out of the 250 have tinnitus.

I hope you are doing okay--I enjoy your point of view on many topics.

 

[RaZaH]

If you get positive results from a mold test I suggest moving out ...preferably the same day.
What is important is crashing at a friends place for 2 weeks or so in order to come back into the house.
When you come back is when you realise if its mold affecting you or not, you might not feel a lot of difference from the moving out part but coming back... no doubt you will feel it .
If in fact , you have a mold problem.

 

[RaZaH]

@Kathi , yes we just had a public building completely renovated here because of mold and health issues across the board. Again, serious stuff.
And its sooo hidden and sneaky , very different effects between people, different problems.

 

[mrdude1234]

Thanks RaZaH. I will try maybe my parents or girlfriends place for a bit and see how I go.

I've been living in this house three years now and my symptoms all started VERY suddenly, so in that regard it doesn't sound like mould but I cannot disregard it.

 

[RaZaH]

Mold is a mycotoxin and causes hearing loss and Tinnitus .
As well as a multitude of other issues.