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. Woke one one night by ringing in left ear. and the left ear was tender when touched. ENT said the ringing may be due to inflammatory (red inside) an built up ear wax. the doc cleaned up the wax and prescribed me ear drop (antibiotic and steroids). Ear no longer hurt but the ringing is still there. I am going to follow up again with the ENT. best wishes for all of us.