Tinnitus Caused by Fluid Behind the Eardrum: Progress, Challenges, and Hope

[argiris]

Hello, let me introduce myself. My name is Argiris, I am from Greece, I am 33 years old, and I work as a software engineer. I would like to share my story with tinnitus.

On 22/12/24, I woke up with massive ear ringing. At first, I didn't pay much attention and went back to sleep. Over the following days, I experienced momentary pain in one or both ears—about 2 to 5 sharp stabs—not every day. I also felt a sensation of stuffed ears.

On 25/12/24, I went to the hospital. A general doctor diagnosed me with fluid behind the eardrum. (I had not felt sick prior to this—no warning signs other than a possible sore throat.) The doctor prescribed a steroid nasal spray to be used three times a day for one week.

On 31/12/24, I visited the first ENT. He performed an audiogram and a tympanogram. The audiogram showed that I could hear at 25 dB instead of 20 dB at 2 kHz and at 30 dB instead of 20 dB at 4 kHz. All other frequencies were normal. He prescribed methylprednisolone orally for 15 days: 48 mg per day for one week, 32 mg per day for three days, 16 mg per day for two days, and 8 mg per day for one day. The fluid resolved, and my ears were fine, but the symptoms persisted.

On 3/1/25, I visited a second ENT at a military hospital. He conducted the same examinations, with the same results. He was confident that my condition would improve or possibly be cured entirely. He advised me to be patient, remain calm, and continue my life as usual. He also recommended using white noise for relief.

Now, let me share my progress.

I'm fortunate to have a very supportive girlfriend and a couple of friends who understand my situation and give me courage, especially during the dark days.

The first two weeks were living hell. I couldn't sleep, focus on anything, or picture myself living like this for the rest of my life. I experienced anxiety attacks and depression. Reading catastrophic comments on the internet had a huge negative impact on me. I failed to consider that every person is different and reacts differently, with many factors influencing the outcome.

I started recording my progress daily.

Today marks 22 days since the start of my tinnitus (22/12/24) and 16 days since the fluid resolved (31/12/24).

7/1/25 - Progress Update:

• My tinnitus is mild to medium most of the time during the day.
• I have had four loud spikes that lasted 1-3 hours each, occurring randomly.
• Compared to the first two weeks, I see some progress. After spikes, I sometimes feel depressed again, but I remind myself that most of the day is mild to medium, with rare moments of silence.

Sounds I Hear:

1. Crickets (this sound is new and was not present in the first two weeks).
2. A constant "eeeeee," mainly in my left ear.

I repurposed my old mobile phone as a white noise machine. I use it mostly for sleeping, keeping the volume at 3/10. During the day, I rarely use it unless the tinnitus is medium or spiking, making it hard to focus on work. I also use it if I'm in a completely quiet room.

I know it's very early in the healing process. I'm trying to remain patient and hopeful. I've also purchased professional earplugs with filters to reduce several decibels when going to cafes or social gatherings.

I still experience mild hyperacusis, occasional stabs, and a clogged-ear sensation, but not daily.

I will continue to update my progress and contribute as much as I can. I hope everyone here finds healing soon. When I recover, I plan to make a video and actively support new sufferers on this forum.

I apologize for my English, and I would be happy to answer any questions or receive advice. I'm new to this situation and look forward to your replies!

 

[Ben Ng]

Hi @argiris,

Is your tinnitus getting better? Your situation is exactly the same as mine.

I woke up two weeks ago and started hearing a buzz, cricket-like sound, and "eeee" in my left ear, even though I was not sick. My doctor prescribed Prednisone, but I have not noticed any progress.

I think a tooth infection might have affected my ear and caused the tinnitus. I will need to call my dentist.

 

[argiris]

Hi @argiris,

Is your tinnitus getting better? Your situation is exactly the same as mine.

I woke up two weeks ago and started hearing a buzz, cricket-like sound, and "eeee" in my left ear, even though I was not sick. My doctor prescribed Prednisone, but I have not noticed any progress.

I think a tooth infection might have affected my ear and caused the tinnitus. I will need to call my dentist.

Hello @Ben Ng,

I do not believe a tooth issue could really cause tinnitus, but feel free to contact me about your healing journey. I think Prednisone did very little for me as well.

Most cases improve or fully resolve with time, at least according to four doctors I have consulted. Acoustic traumas are harder to recover from, but even those can improve. Age is also a positive factor. This situation requires a lot of patience and a good mindset. It is also worth remembering that very few people return to share their success stories. When people heal, they move on and do not usually revisit forums like this.

Here is a story I learned today from my mother: the father of a family friend had tinnitus, and after a year, it completely resolved. He was 60 years old.

Updates on My Experience

Now that I have been dealing with this for some time, I want to share more details about my symptoms and progress.

The Sounds I Hear:

1. High-pitched sound (like "eeeeeee") that can be continuous or intermittent.
2. A sound like dragging a metal object, which is intermittent.
3. Shhhhhhh sounds that can be continuous or intermittent.
4. Crickets, although I have not heard them for about three days.

Timeline of My Progress:

• Tomorrow marks three weeks since the fluid behind my eardrum resolved and four weeks since the initial effects began.
• I still experience stabbing sensations in both ears that last a few seconds. These occur randomly over several days and may indicate healing.
• My ears often feel clogged.
• I believe I have very mild hyperacusis to certain sounds, like clanging plates or loud conversations.
• When the high-pitched "eeeeeee" sound is present, I sometimes feel facial nerve pain.
• Rare moments of silence have occurred since the beginning, but they last only a few minutes.

Volume Levels Over Recent Days:

• 15/1: Most of the day, the tinnitus volume was 3–5/10, except at night when it spiked for a few hours.
• 16/1: For two hours, the volume was 5/10, but for the rest of the day, it was 2/10 (almost silence) without significant spikes.
• 17/1: For three hours, the volume was 4/10, but the rest of the day, it was 2/10 (almost silence).
• 18/1: I woke up with a ringing level of 4–5/10, which reduced to 2–3/10 after a couple of hours.

Over the last three days, I have noticed a small reduction in my tinnitus that lasts for many hours. I can now sit in silent rooms. Although I still hear it more in quiet environments, it is no longer as overwhelming as it was during the first few weeks, when silence was unbearable.

Coping Strategies:

• I do not use masking noise during the day. With the TV on at a low volume, the tinnitus is barely noticeable most of the time.
• At night, in a completely silent room, I cannot sleep without light masking noise because the ringing becomes louder when I lie down.
• go outside without earplugs but cover my ears for loud motorcycles. I do not experience hyperacusis in these situations.
• I wear earplugs (22 dB reduction) in cafes with music or crowds. I avoid bars and clubs entirely.

Seeking Additional Help:

Next week, I will see a psychiatrist to help manage my fear and anxiety about this condition.

A Glimmer of Hope:

The last three days have made me a little happier and more hopeful. There is still a long way to go, but I feel like I am making progress.

 

[jim.wilson.169]

My experience is similar. I woke up one night to ringing in my left ear, and the ear was tender to the touch. The ENT said the ringing might be due to inflammation (it was red inside) and a buildup of earwax. The doctor cleaned out the wax and prescribed ear drops with antibiotics and steroids. The pain in my ear is gone, but the ringing is still there.

I'm planning to follow up with the ENT again. Best wishes to all of us!

 

[argiris]

My experience is similar. I woke up one night to ringing in my left ear, and the ear was tender to the touch. The ENT said the ringing might be due to inflammation (it was red inside) and a buildup of earwax. The doctor cleaned out the wax and prescribed ear drops with antibiotics and steroids. The pain in my ear is gone, but the ringing is still there.

I'm planning to follow up with the ENT again. Best wishes to all of us!

It will improve significantly; just give it time. The ear needs a lot of time to heal, especially in cases like ours. Ear infections often resolve or improve greatly over time.

Many people notice some reduction after 2-3 months or more, but patience is essential. The reduction might be so gradual that you may not even notice it on a daily basis.

• How old are you?
• How badly do you hear it during the day on a scale of 1-10? I understand this is very subjective. For example, if I cannot focus on something like working or reading, I would rate mine close to a 4 or higher. In a moderately quiet room, with a small-volume TV (e.g., 3/10 volume), I would rate it around 3.
• How many sounds do you hear, and what do they sound like?

I am about to reach one month next week, and I have already experienced some reduction over the past week. My ears still hurt sometimes, and I am still anxious despite noticing a small improvement.

 

[JoSBrooks]

Hi @argiris,

You are spot on. According to an ENT nurse I saw, the ear typically takes 2–3 months to heal. She mentioned that my eardrum currently looks like a crumpled crisp packet and will need time to return to normal—fingers crossed it will. I had a nasty infection that required two rounds of antibiotics to clear. Now, I'm nearly four weeks post-infection.

At the height of the infection, the tinnitus was unbearably loud, to the point where nothing could mask it. Almost four weeks later, I can just about hear above the TV, although it oddly depends on which room I'm in. Today is the first day I've found that being in a quiet room hasn't significantly bothered me.

Initially, I heard static, exceptionally loud crickets, ringing, a siren sound, a high-pitched whistle (which was the worst), and a loud electronic noise. Nearly four weeks on, I still hear the static, the siren, and some ringing, but the volume has decreased dramatically. The electronic sound is still present occasionally, but it has also lessened in intensity.

Progress can be hard to notice day by day, but looking back, I can see improvement. That said, I still have days when it spikes (yesterday was one of them). Last week, I couldn't even sit in a room with just the TV on because the tinnitus was too loud. I've noticed small changes every 48 hours, with slight decreases in volume—unless I'm having a spike.

I still have ear sensitivity, and loud sounds like clanging plates, dogs barking, and cars speeding along a road are painful for my ears. This reminds me that I'm still healing. Occasionally, I get anxious and panic, but I've learned that this only makes the tinnitus worse.

When it's particularly bad, I wear a headband with speakers positioned just above (not directly on) my ears and play masking noise. This helps distract me and allows me to go about my day.

I know it's a long journey to recovery, but I remain hopeful that the tinnitus will go away completely. I've also noticed during my research that very few people post success stories (I've only found two or three), which initially worried me. However, I realize that people often don't return to share their success once they've recovered.

Keep healing, everyone. Stay hopeful and keep in touch. Positivity is what we need!

 

[argiris]

Hi @argiris,

You are spot on. According to an ENT nurse I saw, the ear typically takes 2–3 months to heal. She mentioned that my eardrum currently looks like a crumpled crisp packet and will need time to return to normal—fingers crossed it will. I had a nasty infection that required two rounds of antibiotics to clear. Now, I'm nearly four weeks post-infection.

At the height of the infection, the tinnitus was unbearably loud, to the point where nothing could mask it. Almost four weeks later, I can just about hear above the TV, although it oddly depends on which room I'm in. Today is the first day I've found that being in a quiet room hasn't significantly bothered me.

Initially, I heard static, exceptionally loud crickets, ringing, a siren sound, a high-pitched whistle (which was the worst), and a loud electronic noise. Nearly four weeks on, I still hear the static, the siren, and some ringing, but the volume has decreased dramatically. The electronic sound is still present occasionally, but it has also lessened in intensity.

Progress can be hard to notice day by day, but looking back, I can see improvement. That said, I still have days when it spikes (yesterday was one of them). Last week, I couldn't even sit in a room with just the TV on because the tinnitus was too loud. I've noticed small changes every 48 hours, with slight decreases in volume—unless I'm having a spike.

I still have ear sensitivity, and loud sounds like clanging plates, dogs barking, and cars speeding along a road are painful for my ears. This reminds me that I'm still healing. Occasionally, I get anxious and panic, but I've learned that this only makes the tinnitus worse.

When it's particularly bad, I wear a headband with speakers positioned just above (not directly on) my ears and play masking noise. This helps distract me and allows me to go about my day.

I know it's a long journey to recovery, but I remain hopeful that the tinnitus will go away completely. I've also noticed during my research that very few people post success stories (I've only found two or three), which initially worried me. However, I realize that people often don't return to share their success once they've recovered.

Keep healing, everyone. Stay hopeful and keep in touch. Positivity is what we need!

Hello again,

I just returned from my second ENT appointment. The doctor examined me again, this time using a tool with a camera to get a better view of the eardrum, and even recorded a video. He explained that the eardrum was slightly pushed out of its correct position, likely due to fluid behind it. While I do not know the exact term to describe it, it seemed like a minor issue as he explained it. He suggested this could be the cause of my tinnitus but reassured me that it should improve significantly, if not resolve completely. He emphasized that I will not have tinnitus forever, but I need to be patient. He also noticed that I seemed scared and depressed and reminded me that stressing out can make things worse.

In two days, it will mark four weeks since the infection.

From last night until now, it has been a tough day with high-pitched tinnitus. However, January 16, 17, 18, 21, and 23 were very good days with almost complete silence for most of the day. I hope that indicates some kind of progress.

Next weekend, I have appointments with a psychiatrist, psychologist, and audiologist to help me manage these challenging first months of tinnitus.

I also plan to buy a white noise machine since I do not want to rely on keeping my old mobile phone 30 cm from my head for months.

I believe things will eventually return to their previous state—it just takes time, plenty of time! I am hopeful for all of us. Let's keep in touch and share our progress.

Wishing everyone the best!

 

[JoSBrooks]

Hi @argiris,

Thank you for your update. I had a bad day yesterday, but today I've noticed my tinnitus has improved ever so slightly. It seems this is how it goes—ups and downs. I hope you're managing okay today.

It takes a long time for the Eustachian tubes to reduce inflammation and allow the fluid to drain—at least six weeks, according to my ENT nurse. I've been using a headband with speakers that I connected to my phone. I play tinnitus-masking sounds through it, and it really helps. I got mine on Amazon.

I hope we both continue to make progress and that it resolves with time. An ex-paramedic once told me that the eardrum is one of the slowest parts of the body to heal because it gets very little blood flow.

Wishing you good healing and hope for today!

 

[jim.wilson.169]

It will improve significantly; just give it time. The ear needs a lot of time to heal, especially in cases like ours. Ear infections often resolve or improve greatly over time.

Many people notice some reduction after 2-3 months or more, but patience is essential. The reduction might be so gradual that you may not even notice it on a daily basis.

• How old are you?
• How badly do you hear it during the day on a scale of 1-10? I understand this is very subjective. For example, if I cannot focus on something like working or reading, I would rate mine close to a 4 or higher. In a moderately quiet room, with a small-volume TV (e.g., 3/10 volume), I would rate it around 3.
• How many sounds do you hear, and what do they sound like?

I am about to reach one month next week, and I have already experienced some reduction over the past week. My ears still hurt sometimes, and I am still anxious despite noticing a small improvement.

I am in mid 40 and sometimes I need to play white noise to mask my T so I could focus on work. I also play white noise when I go to sleep.

I hear mainly crickets (like millions of them all making sound at the same time) and it is only on 1 of my ear. I dont think my T is related to any hearing loss. That is something I will work with my ENT to find out.

 

[argiris]

Hi @argiris,

Thank you for your update. I had a bad day yesterday, but today I've noticed my tinnitus has improved ever so slightly. It seems this is how it goes—ups and downs. I hope you're managing okay today.

It takes a long time for the Eustachian tubes to reduce inflammation and allow the fluid to drain—at least six weeks, according to my ENT nurse. I've been using a headband with speakers that I connected to my phone. I play tinnitus-masking sounds through it, and it really helps. I got mine on Amazon.

I hope we both continue to make progress and that it resolves with time. An ex-paramedic once told me that the eardrum is one of the slowest parts of the body to heal because it gets very little blood flow.

Wishing you good healing and hope for today!

Hello @JoSBrooks,

We'll keep updating each other. Yesterday, I drove for over an hour with the car windows closed, and we went to a friend's house where five people were gathered. I wore earplugs about 80% of the time, and we didn't play any music during the drive. However, I realized I have hyperacusis, particularly with loud voices or when multiple people are talking in the same room. Two of the people there occasionally spoke loudly, laughed, etc., which made it more noticeable.

Driving for over an hour with the windows closed caused mild ear fullness for both me and my girlfriend. Next time, I'll try driving with the windows open, though not anytime soon. Previously, during the early days of my tinnitus, I didn't experience hyperacusis, even when walking outside in traffic or during shorter drives.

Since returning home last night, my ears have been in pain, and the fullness hasn't gone away. When I eat, the fullness seems to worsen, and my tinnitus is slightly louder than it was yesterday when it was almost silent. I believe this is due to the hyperacusis I've just discovered. I'll be consulting an audiologist to help me with this.

I also read an interesting post from another member about hyperacusis. It explained how to avoid setbacks by identifying which sounds are harmful, how much daily sound exposure is manageable, and how to gradually improve over time. The key is being cautious so that recovery takes months instead of years. I plan to follow that advice moving forward.

Yesterday's mistake was mine, and I won't repeat it. I'll wait for guidance from the audiologist before attempting situations like that again. Thankfully, I realized my error early.

God bless!

I am in mid 40 and sometimes I need to play white noise to mask my T so I could focus on work. I also play white noise when I go to sleep.

I hear mainly crickets (like millions of them all making sound at the same time) and it is only on 1 of my ear. I dont think my T is related to any hearing loss. That is something I will work with my ENT to find out.

Yes, check it out! It will improve a lot either way. Just take care and keep us updated.