Hello,
I've had tinnitus since 1985 after attending a loud indoor concert. It hasn't been an issue for decades until about two weeks ago, when I experienced a sudden increase in volume in both ears, with one side slightly worse than the other.
At the same time, I noticed pressure behind my ears, cracking sounds when swallowing, and occasional slight balance issues. I also had jaw pain on the side with the louder tinnitus, specifically where the upper and lower jaw meet.
I have a history of ear infections caused by sinusitis, typically treated with Z-paks. I visited a local ENT last week, and he prescribed a round of Z-paks. He suggested that I might be developing allergies, which, if untreated, can lead to more frequent sinusitis. To address this, he also prescribed Claritin and Flonase.
By the way, when prescribed, Claritin and Flonase are significantly cheaper than buying them over the counter. My wife, who regularly purchases them at the store, was surprised at how much I saved. Additionally, I've been taking Mucinex-D for persistent thick mucus.
After finishing the antibiotics, the jaw pain has resolved, but the ringing and ear pressure remain. I plan to give it a few more days, but if there's no improvement, I'll call the doctor to discuss trying other options, like steroids. I'm still dealing with a significant amount of thick mucus at the back of my throat.
The ENT who saw me is a skull base surgeon, and he recommended a CT scan if the symptoms don't subside. I'm hoping he'll be open to exploring other medications before resorting to that.
Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
I've had tinnitus since 1985 after attending a loud indoor concert. It hasn't been an issue for decades until about two weeks ago, when I experienced a sudden increase in volume in both ears, with one side slightly worse than the other.
At the same time, I noticed pressure behind my ears, cracking sounds when swallowing, and occasional slight balance issues. I also had jaw pain on the side with the louder tinnitus, specifically where the upper and lower jaw meet.
I have a history of ear infections caused by sinusitis, typically treated with Z-paks. I visited a local ENT last week, and he prescribed a round of Z-paks. He suggested that I might be developing allergies, which, if untreated, can lead to more frequent sinusitis. To address this, he also prescribed Claritin and Flonase.
By the way, when prescribed, Claritin and Flonase are significantly cheaper than buying them over the counter. My wife, who regularly purchases them at the store, was surprised at how much I saved. Additionally, I've been taking Mucinex-D for persistent thick mucus.
After finishing the antibiotics, the jaw pain has resolved, but the ringing and ear pressure remain. I plan to give it a few more days, but if there's no improvement, I'll call the doctor to discuss trying other options, like steroids. I'm still dealing with a significant amount of thick mucus at the back of my throat.
The ENT who saw me is a skull base surgeon, and he recommended a CT scan if the symptoms don't subside. I'm hoping he'll be open to exploring other medications before resorting to that.
Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
