Sudden Tinnitus Spike with Ear Pressure and Other Symptoms

[EdwardV]

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!

 

[TurtleTrainer]

Hi @EdwardV,

I'm responding to your mention of "crackling." I've had tinnitus since 2014, which developed alongside a bad flu. I use various coping strategies and would rate mine as moderate to severe. It's bilateral and high-pitched, like a whooshing sound that's constant, 24/7. It takes me an inordinately long time to fall asleep, though I do eventually. Last year, I started a NuCalm subscription for their Deep Sleep neuroacoustic software, which I play through a Sonos speaker.

On very rare occasions, my tinnitus will drop to a low register. It doesn't last long, but it sounds heavenly—a stark contrast to the high-pitched sounds I usually hear. As for the crackling, it's something I notice occasionally. It sounds like a piece of wax paper crackling in both ears, and I suspect it might be related to earwax in the inner ear.

I have a doctor's appointment later this month to get a referral to an audiologist. I want to rule out issues like impacted earwax or an acoustic tumor before seeing anyone who might just try to sell me hearing aids. An audiologist or ENT specialist seems better suited to assess this properly.

I'm new to this forum and was glad to stumble across it. It's great to have a chance to connect with others who understand what this is like (I'm not sure what else to call us!). Best of luck to you.