Tinnitus During and After Glandular Fever

[Hay]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if any of you out there have had similar experiences to me.

I started to feel really rough early June this year, and was diagnosed with glandular fever after going to a+e.

At the same time, I was entirely deaf in my left ear due to wax build up and so had it syringed (I have had my ears syringed once every year for the past 4/5 years - very small ear canals). A few days after my left ear was syringed, I noticed a faint high-pitched beep in my <<right>> ear, I hadn't noticed it until the room was entirely silent.

Since then, the tinnitus has moved into my head - it feels as though there were crickets in my head making noises in pulses, and this sound I could <<feel>> as well, so any noise didn't mask it. That has now subsided, but occurs occasionally mostly when I lie down. In its place is a constant whirring of, what feels like, electricity in my head, as though someone has plugged me in and my head is 'on', very strange sensation.

I also now get a high pitched beep in my left ear also, and very occasionally it changes pitch/volume, and dulls down again after 10 secs or so.

I've been to the doctors twice for it, they tried a nasal spray and then decongestion tablets as they thought it might be related to my sinuses (I've got a huge pressure behind my nose), but neither has relieved my symptoms nor the pressure. I also get headaches and have a pain at the right side just at the skull base.

I thought perhaps it might be due to an inner ear infection, although the doctor said my ears are clear and my ear drums don't look damaged.

I appreciate that I'm getting over this nasty virus, but I haven't heard much of a link between the two.

I'm going to a different doctor on Tuesday and am hoping for a referral to an ENT specialist.

Has anyone experienced anything similar after having glandular fever?

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Hay Ear syringing was how I got my first tinnitus. Or you could have received tinnitus from glandular fever.

 

[Hay]

Thanks @Greg Sacramento , it just seems an unusual after effect of the virus. I haven't found many people that have experienced the same or even similar.

 

[GeorgiaRose1812]

Thanks @Greg Sacramento , it just seems an unusual after effect of the virus. I haven't found many people that have experienced the same or even similar.

I have a very similar story, haven't tried decongestants or anything though as no doctor seems willing to listen to me, they just tell me to wait and see if it clears up but it's been two months now, it hasn't and I'm worried that much longer without investigation and treatment and the tinnitus/damage will become permanent.

I also have a pressure feeling in my ears and behind my nose that I can't seem to clear, and intermittently in the rest of my head. I also know exactly what you mean about your head feeling 'on' although I still have something high pitches ringing as well. I also get the headaches with the pain on the right hand side at the base and have been told my ears are fine except for a little fluid. Also had a hearing test about a month ago which came out perfect.

I'm convinced I must have some sort of inner ear infection, since this all started with strep throat and that bacteria can travel to your ears if left to it's own devices, and since I had to stop taking penicillin early due to side effects this is what has happened in my opinion. But good luck getting a doctor to listen to my opinion! The latest doctor (the fifth one I've seen and the only one to take me seriously) said there is still fluid in my ears and that she thinks it's glandular fever, and has booked me in for blood tests - but I'm not convinced. I am also beginning to have hearing issues and extreme sensitivity to all and any sound. I can't even sleep due to the ringing!

Have you had any progress?

 

[Name]

I have a very similar story, haven't tried decongestants or anything though as no doctor seems willing to listen to me, they just tell me to wait and see if it clears up but it's been two months now, it hasn't and I'm worried that much longer without investigation and treatment and the tinnitus/damage will become permanent.

I also have a pressure feeling in my ears and behind my nose that I can't seem to clear, and intermittently in the rest of my head. I also know exactly what you mean about your head feeling 'on' although I still have something high pitches ringing as well. I also get the headaches with the pain on the right hand side at the base and have been told my ears are fine except for a little fluid. Also had a hearing test about a month ago which came out perfect.

I'm convinced I must have some sort of inner ear infection, since this all started with strep throat and that bacteria can travel to your ears if left to it's own devices, and since I had to stop taking penicillin early due to side effects this is what has happened in my opinion. But good luck getting a doctor to listen to my opinion! The latest doctor (the fifth one I've seen and the only one to take me seriously) said there is still fluid in my ears and that she thinks it's glandular fever, and has booked me in for blood tests - but I'm not convinced. I am also beginning to have hearing issues and extreme sensitivity to all and any sound. I can't even sleep due to the ringing!

Have you had any progress?

Any updates?

 

[GeorgiaRose1812]

Any updates?

yes! I posted a story in the support forum a week or so ago. I'll see if i can put a link to it here....

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/1-year-on-positive-post.31122/#post-368066

There we go. It is worth saying that the best diagnosis I got for the tinnitus itself in the end was blocked eustachian tubes, and while it does get worse when I'm blocked up not 100% convinced that's the full story, so maybe there was something like an inner ear infection. Also, personally I didn't find that antibiotics (Amoxicillin or penicillin) made my ears any worse - just wanted to add that in as it was something I worried intensely about. The side effects I mention in the post you've quoted in retrospect I believe were due to extreme stress and anxiety rather than the pills.