Tinnitus After Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

[Judy Cummings]

My name is Judy. I live in the US, and I'm new to this group. I developed tinnitus in my left ear about 17 hours post-vaccination with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. It has now been 19 days since I lost 'The Sound of Silence.'

I have filed a VAERS report with the CDC. I have also tried multiple times to reach Janssen. The ringing seems to get worse in the evening. I keep hoping each day that it will go away.

 

[twa]

My name is Judy. I live in the US, and I'm new to this group. I developed tinnitus in my left ear about 17 hours post-vaccination with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. It has now been 19 days since I lost 'The Sound of Silence.'

I have filed a VAERS report with the CDC. I have also tried multiple times to reach Janssen. The ringing seems to get worse in the evening. I keep hoping each day that it will go away.

My tinnitus was not caused by the vaccine, however, mine is usually louder in the evenings also. I also filled out the report with VAERS as I experienced a double ear infection, dizziness and nausea. Hope you get in touch with Johnson and Johnson.

Blessings,
twa

 

[Judy Cummings]

Thanks so much. As you can tell, I'm new to this, having just started with the ear ringing on March 10. I appreciate your reply. Have a good day today. Judy

 

[Jay G]

Sorry to hear. There is hope - I have read that some people's vaccine related tinnitus has gone away.

I am in the same boat. I had minor tinnitus prior to my first shot last week. One hour after the shot I could hear my tinnitus get louder and it has persisted since. I have reported it to VAERS, Moderna, and V-Safe and just set up an appointment with my PCP.

I also found this today:

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=Tinnitus

Trending up significantly on Google searches.

If there is any silver lining, hopefully this raises awareness and chances for treatments/cures.

 

[Judy Cummings]

Thank you so much Jay.

I am discouraged. I have always taken such great care of my hearing. I am a singer and an acoustic musician - as well as a teacher.

Today I found that I had to take off my earphones in order to teach online as my left ear hurt. I have never experienced anything like this before. I went on the American Tinnitus Association website and realized that I am between a "teakettle" and "screeching" sound -- not pleasant at all.

 

[Leila]

Today I found that I had to take off my earphones in order to teach online as my left ear hurt.

The use of in-ear phones / headphones / headsets is a major contributor to tinnitus. Often, because we simply listen to things too loudly without being aware of it. However, I had quite a couple of friends who, before COVID-19, used to have jobs that didn't require the use of headsets ask me about my tinnitus and whether the continuous use of headsets may have something to do with them also developing tinnitus symptoms.

I still like using headphones for talking on the phone or, if possible, when watching TV, because I live in a noisy environment and it makes it easier for me to understand dialogues / my conversation partner. But when doing so I also need to wear earplugs or else my tinnitus will spike.

Maybe you should experiment with something similar if you can't get around wearing earphones for work.

 

[Judy Cummings]

Thanks again. Before the pandemic, I never have ever used headphones nor have I used a headset to listen to music. I only started wearing the headsets as my teaching needed to go on to Zoom. Still, I keep the volume at the lowest level - because my hearing has always been so acute. I will not wear them anymore. I can work without them for sure. Thanks for telling me this. I will also mention this to some of my students - much younger than me - who have their ears plugged in all the time!

 

[tpeters1]

Just wanted to chime in to let you know that you're not alone. I also developed tinnitus about a day after my first Moderna shot, and it has not changed ever since, which is now 11 days. You saying that it's been 19 for you is not very encouraging, but I'm still hopeful that it'll fade away.

In the mean time I'm taking a few of the home remedies with my fingers crossed that it might help. Apple cider vinegar and beet root powder daily. A friend had tinnitus (not from COVID-19 or the vaccine) and swears it went away after taking that combination for about two weeks. I'm only on day 4, so a ways to go, and will certainly let you know if it helps at all.

 

[tpeters1]

Sorry to hear. There is hope - I have read that some people's vaccine related tinnitus has gone away.

I am in the same boat. I had minor tinnitus prior to my first shot last week. One hour after the shot I could hear my tinnitus get louder and it has persisted since. I have reported it to VAERS, Moderna, and V-Safe and just set up an appointment with my PCP.

I also found this today:

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=Tinnitus

Trending up significantly on Google searches.

If there is any silver lining, hopefully this raises awareness and chances for treatments/cures.

Jay G... when did you get your shot? I too had the increase after the first Moderna shot, which was 3/19 and have had no improvement. Also from what you read, did anyone say how long it took for it to go away?

 

[Judy Cummings]

Thank you so very much! I appreciate any tips you can offer me. This is extremely annoying. It worsens each evening -- I will try this too!

 

[twa]

Thank you so much Jay.

I am discouraged. I have always taken such great care of my hearing. I am a singer and an acoustic musician - as well as a teacher.

Today I found that I had to take off my earphones in order to teach online as my left ear hurt. I have never experienced anything like this before. I went on the American Tinnitus Association website and realized that I am between a "teakettle" and "screeching" sound -- not pleasant at all.

Praying yours with fade away soon. Walks really helped me in the beginning after my acoustic trauma. My ear really hurt for a while, but got better over time.

Blessings~
twa

 

[Meagan G.]

I wanted to offer my reply to the question about how the tinnitus exacerbation after vaccine is progressing. My first Pfizer shot was February 17th and it is now 6 weeks later. For context, I already had ringing in my right ear and overhead buzzing since 2005. Both were mild and easy to live with. One week after the shot I woke in the night thinking that my right ear was worse. This brought on pretty serious panic for days. After three days, the buzz volume and intrusiveness became very noticeably higher. A mellow and faint buzz turned into a staticky, louder, and higher-pitched buzz.

For a couple weeks I have felt that the right-ear ringing is back to baseline. Very occasionally I hear it but mostly I am back in the pre-vaccine habit of not noticing it.

As for the loud, staticky overhead buzz, currently I am having periods of improvement where I feel like the static sound mellows out and some concentration on a task makes me mostly forget about it and I think, "Oh, I could live with this if it would stay this way." Then, for no apparent reason, the static and volume come back. Some days sleeping quiets everything down, some days I hear it loud and clear in the night and as soon as I wake up.

Conclusion: while not back to baseline altogether, I do feel an improvement over when both exacerbations began.

Still weighing whether to get the 2nd shot.

 

[Lane]

Still weighing whether to get the 2nd shot.

Hi Meagan G -- I've read several reports that the 2nd shot can be much more difficult than the first shot.

I appreciate any tips you can offer me.

Apple cider vinegar and beet root powder daily.

I think those two supplements are good choices. Since you seem open to various kinds of experimentation, you may want to consider doing some acupressure to support your ears. I believe that whenever we have some kind of discomfort or discordance anywhere in our body, it's always helpful to send as much extra nerve energy to that area as possible. One of the best ways to do that is with reflexology. There are others, but reflexology is the easiest and quickest way to start (and sometimes the most effective). Reflexologists essentially believe there's nerve ending in the hands and feet that correspond to every part of the body. And by massaging various areas of the feet and hands, you can send nerve energy to specific parts of the body.

Regarding any kind of ear discomfort, the area on the hands that corresponds to the ears is between the little finger and ring finger. If you massage the inside of the little finger and the immediately adjacent area of the ring finger (and the area on the hand where they meet), I'm guessing most people with tinnitus will likely find these areas quite tender. If a person gently works on them over a few days, that tenderness will start to work itself out. Some people actually notice an almost immediate difference in their tinnitus and/or the stress levels in their ears. -- In my initial traumatic stages of tinnitus, those areas were actually painful to the touch. Gently massaging them seemed to really help me keep calm during those desperate times.

 

[tpeters1]

I wanted to offer my reply to the question about how the tinnitus exacerbation after vaccine is progressing. My first Pfizer shot was February 17th and it is now 6 weeks later. For context, I already had ringing in my right ear and overhead buzzing since 2005. Both were mild and easy to live with. One week after the shot I woke in the night thinking that my right ear was worse. This brought on pretty serious panic for days. After three days, the buzz volume and intrusiveness became very noticeably higher. A mellow and faint buzz turned into a staticky, louder, and higher-pitched buzz.

For a couple weeks I have felt that the right-ear ringing is back to baseline. Very occasionally I hear it but mostly I am back in the pre-vaccine habit of not noticing it.

As for the loud, staticky overhead buzz, currently I am having periods of improvement where I feel like the static sound mellows out and some concentration on a task makes me mostly forget about it and I think, "Oh, I could live with this if it would stay this way." Then, for no apparent reason, the static and volume come back. Some days sleeping quiets everything down, some days I hear it loud and clear in the night and as soon as I wake up.

Conclusion: while not back to baseline altogether, I do feel an improvement over when both exacerbations began.

Still weighing whether to get the 2nd shot.

Thank you !!!!! Even though it's not the best news, it's still in a positive direction and that's what really helps!! Tim

 

[Judy Cummings]

Thank you so much, Megan G., for the idea about acupressure points. I am going to try this for sure.

I really appreciate the friendliness of this group - and how so many people are willing to offer advice and tips that have helped them. It's just wonderful -- and I don't feel so alone anymore.

It is now day 21 since the ringing started 17 hours post- Janssen / J & J vaccination. I found a site that gives you the "ring-tones" - and mine seems to be between a "tea-kettle" and a "screeching" sound. Yikes! My husband keeps telling me that COVID-19 would be much worse - but there are days that I get very discouraged.

 

[Judy Cummings]

I heard from J & J yesterday. They gave me a file number and concluded that my side effect was "not serious." The ringing in my ears is ongoing. It will be a month this April 10 - since it started about 16 hours post- J & J inoculation. The best ENT in my area will not take on new patients. He is too busy.

How can our world be so dismissive?

 

[Ken219]

How can our world be so dismissive?

My guess is GREED! You are a problem for them.

 

[Judy Cummings]

I am only looking to inform others. I really am not in this for me. I really just want to help other people become aware of what they might expect. I certainly wasn't expecting this when I walked in to receive the vaccination. I think awareness is everything in life. If we can help one another, we need to do so. Also - it sure would be nice to be able to have the Sound of Silence back in my life again.

I would like to know more about treatment options - non-drug related. I really don't want to put any other chemicals into my system if at all possible.

 

[Koiki]

Judy, did your tinnitus improve?

I got the same reaction after the first shot of Moderna a month ago. I canceled the second shot. I have had a slight decrease in tinnitus since the worsening, but my issue is still here.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Judy Cummings]

Hi Koiki -- I'm sorry to say that my tinnitus has not improved. It is now 31 days since the ringing in my left ear started. Some on this forum recommended Beet Powder as a supplement which I started taking two weeks back. I really like the Beet Powder, but it hasn't decreased my symptoms yet. Someone also recommended NAS as a supplement. I have heard that acupressure and acupuncture are helpful. During COVID-19, however, I'm reluctant to see anyone, particularly with rates rising in our area and a new variant. This is certainly an unexpected result of vaccination - one which I hope will go away. The option - to have death by COVID-19 - seems far worse to me, however. No matter how you look at it, COVID-19 has altered life on a personal, national, and global level.

I really hope that your story has a happy ending, Koiki. Take Care.

 

[madeline S]

Hi Judy,

I'm in the same boat as you. I had the J&J COVID-19 vaccine on March 20th and 5 days later, non-stop ringing in my head, not my ears. The high-pitched ringing still continues. No answers from any doctor.

 

[ehrfried]

I want to express my gratitude!

Because of all the reports here I have signed off from the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

[Wrfortiscue]

I had the J&J COVID-19 vaccine on March 20th and 5 days later, non-stop ringing in my head, not my ears. The high-pitched ringing still continues. No answers from any doctor.

Any progress? I'm in the same boat.

 

[Wrfortiscue]

I want to express my gratitude!

Because of all the reports here I have signed off from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Nice, wish I waited tbh lol.

 

[ehrfried]

Nice, wish I waited tbh lol.

I wish that the side effects are temporary!

 

[Wrfortiscue]

I wish that the side effects are temporary!

As long as I habituate or no longer care then I'm good honestly.

 

[tfouto]

I heard from J & J yesterday. They gave me a file number and concluded that my side effect was "not serious." The ringing in my ears is ongoing. It will be a month this April 10 - since it started about 16 hours post- J & J inoculation. The best ENT in my area will not take on new patients. He is too busy.

How can our world be so dismissive?

They are in it for the money.

 

[Matchbox]

I think such a strong initial response and tinnitus means it was probably a vasospasm event or allergic reaction?

At any rate, your body can fix that damage over time, so the recovery is probably good.

Immune mediated tinnitus (several days post vaccine) is another kettle of wax.

 

[JMD201]

I've had tinnitus for many, many years since I lost my hearing in one ear.

However, the tinnitus didn't bother me until 03/2021 when I got my J&J COVID-19 vaccine. Now it is much worse and much more bothersome.

Here's my dilemma. I'm a 67-year-old lady on chronic Prednisone for lung disease and immunosuppressed. From what I'm reading lately, immunocompromised people are supposed to get a booster shot. But I hesitate because I don't want my tinnitus to get even worse, so I don't know what to do.

Does anybody have any thoughts about this?

 

[Juan]

They are in it for the money.

It would be great if a pharma company actually created a drug to CURE coronavirus. I have read there is an Israeli drug on the making, or being tested. It's an avenue pharmas should pursue, but of course they would prefer to sell vaccines for close to $20 USD than to provide a cheap drug that maybe could cost a fraction of that price.