Super New to This.... Need Advice

[Gin]

Hi there. Well I am new to this forum, but have actually been reading on it for a few months now. Thought I would share my story and see if I could get some advice, support, and some questions answered. I had never heard of tinnitus or had any previous ear problems before this past July. I attended a concert and was on the front row. I really didn't think the music was that loud, of course, I was drinking a few beers at the time too. Anyway, the next day I was fine, but two days later everything changed. I woke up feeling really weird. I had this unconnected feeling and this kind of ringing going on. I ignored it best as I could. I just figured lack of sleep maybe some symptoms from the concert, even though it had been two days. But about three days later, it got severely worse. I had the plugged ear feeling along with real sensitivity to noises. Even starting my car engine hurt. I started putting cotton in my ears, thinking maybe it would go away possible an ear infection. I had no insurance. Finally after about a week. I couldn't take it anymore, I dished out the money and went to a walk in clinic. No fluid behind the ear, no infection. Gave me a week worth of steroids. I took them. Within a day felt great. Felt wonderful for 3 weeks. Went on vacation to Florida no problems. Thought I was healed. Came home, woke up one morning it was back. Plugged ears, sensitivity to noises, etc. Went back to walk in clinic. Gave me 3 days worth of steroids. Told me to take antihistimines, soup, hold my nose and blow. Said it was an inner ear infection. 2 days of steroids I felt better. 2 weeks later. It was back. So I went to a real doctor. She said maybe an inner ear infection, but did not see any fluid behind the ear. Gave me 7 days of steroids. Said if it returns, come in immediately we will get an MRI and/or hearing test. Again 3 weeks I felt perfect no noise. 1 week later, it was back. Did an MRI came back clean. Did a hearing test. I had some hearing loss. They are now referring me to an ENT. My appointment is not until Jan. 14th. I cried. I have to go that long like this. My doctor gave up. No advice says its probably Meneires. Due to some dizzy spells I've had as well. Gave me Meclazine. I take it when I feel dizzy. It does help. But the dizziness is nothing compared to the noise. I was going 3 days of no noise at all. Complete silence, then like clockwork, 2 days of plugged ears. The sensitivity to other sounds is gone now, which is a blessing. But as of last Sunday, I have this humming it has not stopped in 8 days now. Its not bad when I'm outside, its not bad in restaurants or stores. At home it is horrible, even with tv on. Sleep at night doesn't happen until Im completely exhausted. I have a fan on in my room, but still can hear the humming. The ABSOLUTE weird thing I noticed the other day, if I talk at all it quits, but the minute I catch my breath or stop talking it's back. Has anyone had that Happen??? Or if I hear a song at a certain frequency it goes away for a minute. I scared to death I'll never hear silence again. I'm also terrified that waiting till Jan to see this ENT will make it worse or permanent. I got so upset I went out and got drunk last night. When I got home it was completely silent. I was so happy. But as I sat down to watch tv, within 20 minutes I could hear it come back. And this morning, it is exactly where it was. Only now I'm hungover too. So my questions are

Do you think it is permanent? (my hearing test doc says it was not noise induced, he doesn't think it is a inner ear or Meneires problem, hearing loss issue with tinnitus. Also says my ears were never plugged, just due to the lack of hearing it may feel that way) The hearing loss was not severe

Does anyone elses tinnitus stop when they talk and/or hear certain sounds?

What supplements help? (I'm taking Gingko Biloma, Magnesseum, Calcium, Garlic, B12)

Sorry this is so long. But it seems all my doctors have given up and I feel all alone. Im a very active 40 year old girl who now hardly leaves the house, cries all the time, and is very depressed about this. My family and friends don't understand it either, which makes it soooo much harder. Please help.

 

[attheedgeofscience]

Do you think it is permanent? (my hearing test doc says it was not noise induced, he doesn't think it is a inner ear or Meneires problem, hearing loss issue with tinnitus. Also says my ears were never plugged, just due to the lack of hearing it may feel that way) The hearing loss was not severe

I believe you and your doctors are making this way more complicated than it needs to be: If you attend a concert and tinnitus develops in the immediate aftermath, then, well... you have found the cause.

In some locations the AM-101 clinical trial is available for a specific patient profile. Given your now late onset, I am not sure you will be eligible, but this should be easy to verify.

 

[Gin]

I'm not even sure what the AM-101 clinical trial is or how to find out anything about it. And the doctor that gave me the hearing test said he did not think it was noise induced. The ringing did begin a couple of days after the concert. It has been 5 months now. And has not gone away. It has been horrible. Its a very low frequency hum.

 

[attheedgeofscience]

The ringing did begin a couple of days after the concert.

Sometimes tinnitus is instantaneous; sometimes not. Most cases of tinnitus - in general - are noise induced (either acoustic trauma or long-term noise exposure). Tinnitus is often best diagnosed using patient testimony rather than solely relying on clinical tests.

I'm not even sure what the AM-101 clinical trial is or how to find out anything about it.

See this: www.tinnitus-study.info

 

[Gin]

Thanks. So do you think it is something that will go away in time? Temporary? Have you ever heard of someone having T that goes away when they talk?

 

[Gin]

They don't have a study close to where I live. But thanks for the info

 

[eric peterson]

Do you think it is permanent? (my hearing test doc says it was not noise induced, he doesn't think it is a inner ear or Meneires problem, hearing loss issue with tinnitus. Also says my ears were never plugged, just due to the lack of hearing it may feel that way) The hearing loss was not severe

Does anyone elses tinnitus stop when they talk and/or hear certain sounds?

What supplements help? (I'm taking Gingko Biloma, Magnesseum, Calcium, Garlic, B12)

Sorry this is so long. But it seems all my doctors have given up and I feel all alone. Im a very active 40 year old girl who now hardly leaves the house, cries all the time, and is very depressed about this. My family and friends don't understand it either, which makes it soooo much harder. Please help.

(1) No idea. No one else will really know either. But since you're pretty new to tinnitus, and it was likely caused by noise (ATEOS is probably correct. you attended a concert. it was loud. you got tinnitus soon afterward. it's certainly not uncommon), there is a good chance that it will get better or go away. Impossible to know how good. Let's hope it goes away.

(2) Mine doesn't. Possible that yours doesn't go away when you talk, but rather you're distracted when talking and don't pay attention to your tinnitus. But who knows. I'm sure some people on here can tell you some weird, wild stuff about their tinnitus, reacting to all sorts of noises, etc. I don't think it's too uncommon for T to be reactive.

(3) None. At least, there is nothing in the myriad of the juried scientific journals which shows statistically verifiable evidence that any of them offer relief to tinnitus sufferers. But so long as none of them are dangerous (or prohibitively expensive to rip you off) then why not try them? Maybe it's a placebo effect, but frankly, who cares? If it makes you feel better, than you feel better. Who am I to tell you that it doesn't work for you?

Good luck,

Eric