Tinnitus After Caloric Test

[Freerunner]

Hello All,

I have been experiencing tinnitus in both years after a caloric test with hot air blowing in both of my years. The test was last week and since then my ears cannot stop ringing.

Beforehand, I assume I had tinnitus from time to time, but through my whole life (I am 28) it has not bothered me at all. I mean literally at all. I was living in peace since I did not know about the condition and the sound was not irritating at all. I was hearing in mostly in night before sleep.

But since this "procedure" I have several nights of insomnia and I am not feeling good at all. I also have sensitivity in hearing. The noise is now constant and high pitched.

I went to a otoneurologist who prescribed me Hydroxyzine with Grandaxin. He also suggests clearing the earwax, but from topics in the forum I understood it can only make things worse. Although I was really willing to try it beforehand. I did clean the earwax in both ears this year but he claims there is now enough to clean. I know some people who visited him are ok with the results as it turned down their tinnitus up to 50 percent.

What would be your suggestions for the whole situation? How do I calm down the spike? Is it going to be quieter again ? What do I try? It is affecting me a lot emotionally since I am dealing with more health issues at the same time.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Stacken77]

Hi @Freerunner,

I'm very sorry to hear about your recent spike.

also have sensitivity in hearing.

Try to avoid the sounds that you feel sensitive to.

I have several nights of insomnia and I am not feeling good at all.

prescribed me Hydroxyzine

When I first got tinnitus, I went through several nights of insomnia. What helped me get things in order was Hydroxyzine which is one of the safer anti-anxiety drugs which also have sedative effects. I think you can safely use it for two days to get some thorough sleep. If you intend to use it longer than that, just be observant if it causes spikes or increased sensitivity(I don't think it should, but we should be careful with medications).

What would be your suggestions for the whole situation? How do I calm down the spike?

Have some rest in quiet environments. Maybe sleep with earplugs if you can with the tinnitus. Let the ears have some rest. Just don't use earplugs literally 24/7, I don't think that's good, sensitivity wise.

You could also try to load up on some Magnesium and NAC. The forum has some great information on those supplements. Other than that, it's just a waiting game. The spike could recede in a few days, weeks, months or years - or never, you'll never know. But what is done, is done, so try to not dwell too much on the past, just take it easy going forward.

I sincerely hope you get some rest, and a good recovery,
Stacken

 

[Freerunner]

@Stacken77, thank you man. I really hope it does go down so it is not bothering me too much. I want to be one of the people out there telling the success stories and hopefully help others.

The doctor is considering prescribing me Clonarex. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Regarding the spike - I just think this procedure unlocked it. So far it has not bothered me at all - I was not even paying attention to it and thought it was something normal. All my life I was not even aware that it is a condition. Such good days... So I suppose life will go on if it reduces again, but as you said it is a waiting game...

Are you by any chance aware what ear examinations I should do? What do you propose for the earwax cleaning?

 

[Stacken77]

Hi @Freerunner,

The doctor is considering prescribing me Clonarex. Do you have any thoughts on this?

I just did a quick search for the drug, and it seems to be a Benzodiazepine. That class of drugs are very powerful for anxiety, but they build tolerance and withdrawal can cause worsened tinnitus. I have not had experience with Benzodiazepines myself, but there's plenty of information on this forum. I'd nevertheless advise you not to take it, at least not first hand, more like a "last resort".

Such good days... So I suppose life will go on if it reduces again, but as you said it is a waiting game...

I think you'll have good days again, even if the spike doesn't fully resolve. The mind has a great capacity to adapt. But of course, we sincerely hope the spike goes down; it's only about waiting.

Are you by any chance aware what ear examinations I should do?

There are multiple tests that doctors can ordain. One thing to keep in mind is that most tests aren't precise enough to find something wrong. There are tests that are outright harmful with loud sounds, as you just may have experienced with the Caloric test. If you need to have further evaluation, I'd only do a tone audiometry, and skip the rest.

What do you propose for the earwax cleaning?

A lot of doctors have wax removed through microsuction or ear irrigation. Both these methods are loud, and have caused worsened tinnitus in quite a few people, as can be read on the forum. I don't think you need to have the wax removed, as it's rarely the culprit behind tinnitus, but if you really want; insist on having it removed manually by a doctor. The tool used is called a "curette". This procedure is not loud and rarely causes complications.

Wish you well,
Stacken

 

[Freerunner]

Today I made an audio test and my hearing was ok. I opted not to have the earwax removed and I was advised by the doctor to do it at home using olive oil. I was also prescribed lyrica alongside with the other medications.

Did anyone else manage with tinnitus after caloric test?

 

[Freerunner]

I went today to seek second opinion by ENT. He checked my ears with a tube and got a little deeper I think. This seem to made things a little worse as I have more high pitched noise now...

 

[Freerunner]

@Stacken77,

Since you seem to be really knowledgeable on the topic I would really like your opinion further.

Alongside with the high pitched hissing from the first days I now have new noise which is more like a high pitched siren and it is not so constant. Sometimes I hear it and sometimes I do not. It can be on both ears as well. From the last few days it is more consistent. For example now I am hearing it in my left year, even though I am at home with a window opened and I hear the traffic outside. I also experience a temporary spike which subsides in 5-10 seconds. I have experienced this rarely after the earwax cleaning before my trauma and It was nothing special to me.

My hyperacusis stays basically the same with a little exceptions of pain coming and subsiding. I have trouble listening to conversations and things like rubbing two pieces of paper together gives me a lot of irritation. I must admit that when clearing earwax before I had mild hyperacusis as well which passed for several days. Nothing bothersome. This time though I know it is different.

Do you reckon that I have a chance for actual recovery now that I have new tone as well in such short period of time? Since I previously had tinnitus but I was completely unaware (It was more than mild) can this be considered as a spike or this would be my minimal level from now on? Before the incident my tinnitus was not affected by noises I think. I only had more noticeable hissing when returning from a bar or disco. Can my trauma be considered as an acoustic one? I always been vigilant about my ears to a degree that I do not overprotect them of course. I have been in noisy environments but I have cut down discos and bars to a minimum from the past 4-5 years. I was living a normal live and even with headphones I rarely played loud music.

Are you aware if there is a chance new tones come and go eventually?

Even if the cause for tinnitus is earwax, is it now to late for me to try it? Should I try it?

I cannot forgive myself for letting them make this test to me and ruin everything. I am having troubles sleeping for more that 4-5 hours, things with tinnitus and hyperacusis do not seem to get better...

I was only offered a earwax cleaning once again by another specialist but even if done manually I am afraid it may make things worse. He said my eardrum cannot be seen from the was and that the caloric test might have pushed it a bit inside and thus tinnitus coming. He wants to clean it and have my eardrum tested with I really wish that would be the case but I have my doubts and I am so afraid. I cannot imagine how my life is going to be from now one alongside with all the other health problems I have. This year has been my worst so far.

 

[Freerunner]

By the way a dog barked next to my ear (maybe less than a meter away) today and it got muffed immediately. Now it is going slowly back to normal, however this ear sounds different now. It is even more high pitched. Is this just a spike or could this dog have worsened the situation?

 

[Bob1234]

I think you want to get the earwax removed somehow, either manually by an ENT or use one of the over the counter liquids to soften it up and do it that way gradually.

It is still very early days for you and it will very likely get better.

I've had many temporary spikes along the way caused by dog barks and other things and my tinnitus tone has always gone back to baseline.