Hi all,
I've been having a bad spike in my tinnitus the last 7 weeks, I don't know what to think and my doctor visits have mostly failed me on this. At this point I'm starting think this isn't a 'spike' and my new normal which is extremely depressing. I'm hoping someone has some experience or perspective to help me understand what's going on. I'm sorry for the long post but I tried to include all the information I thought was relevant...
For some context and history;
May 2017 - I initially developed tinnitus after a loud concert. After this, it was at say a 1 or 2 out of 10. It was annoying, my fault, but not a big deal. I only really heard it in quiet rooms.
May 2018 – almost overnight, it got much louder. My ENT ran an MRI and ECoG and determined I have endolymphatic hydrops. After about a month of this, it finally quiets down to the 'normal' of 1 or 2 out of 10. For the next three years, I have two or three occasional spikes that were mild and go away after 2-4 weeks.
January 2019 – My ears start popping/crunching every time I swallow. I'm sure this is something related to Eustachian tubes, but it has never seemed to have any effect on tinnitus, my ENT doesn't seem worried, so I ignore it. This issue is still happening.
March 2021 - My ears started ringing worse again. I experience bad ear pain/pressure. I initially just think it's another spike. Over the next 7 weeks, I have a few visits to a walk-in clinic around the ENT appointment I made with mixed results:
-My first visit is a walk-in clinic on vacation. I'm told there is no infection or anything visible, it is Eustachian tube dysfunction, and I'm given a short course of Prednisone and discharged. Makes pretty much no difference.
-About a week later, the pain gets so bad I go to the walk-in clinic back home. They say I have an ear infection, and it looks so severe the doctor says I should be prepared for a ruptured ear drum (never happens thankfully). They give me a course of Augmentin and discharge me, and ask I return back after the course.
-I see my ENT three days later. He inspects my ears and sees nothing. He takes a pressure reading and it comes back completely normal. He chalks my trouble up to allergies. I have a bit of a hard time believing I had a severe ear infection and Augmentin of all things cleared it up totally in 3 days, but not sure what else to think.
ENT prescribes me Fluticasone spray, Olopatadine spray, Pseudoephedrine, and a course of Cefuroxime just in case.
-After going through all these medicines, I feel absolutely zero difference. I make my return visit to the local walk-in, and I really like the doctor this time. He takes a long, deliberate look in my ears and says I have fluid buildup. He gives me another course of Prednisone, Claritin-D and an injection of Dexamethasone. Dexametshasone DOES HELP. For about 2 days after the injection, I'm feeling much closer to my normal self, the tinnitus drops down and the ear pain goes away.
It's now about 16 days since my Dexamethasone injection. I don't really have any ear pain. But the new, worse tinnitus is still there. I feel no lasting improvement at this point.
TL;DR for folks – 7 weeks of a flare up/spike I'm worried about and can't seem to get better. Only a Dexamethasone injection has helped.
I've been prescribed:
-Fluticasone spray
-Olopatadine Spray
-Pseudoephedrine Pills
-Augmentin, Cefuroxime
-Prednisone oral tablets
-Claritin-D
Supplements I've taken:
-5-HTP
-NAC
I cannot think of any medication or diet changes I have made recently. The only thing that's seemed off is my circulation has been a little bad compared to normal. I smoke marijuana somewhat regularly, aside from it getting a little louder while I am high I've never noticed any connection or pattern with it related to tinnitus.
So here I am, I'm lost why I'm having SO much trouble this time with my ears and hoping for dear life this is just a long flare up or some reaction to something.
I assume this is some combination of the hydrops, fluid on my ears, and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction causing this but no idea how to get past this and improve. I'd love some help or ideas from all the knowledgeable people here.
I've been having a bad spike in my tinnitus the last 7 weeks, I don't know what to think and my doctor visits have mostly failed me on this. At this point I'm starting think this isn't a 'spike' and my new normal which is extremely depressing. I'm hoping someone has some experience or perspective to help me understand what's going on. I'm sorry for the long post but I tried to include all the information I thought was relevant...
For some context and history;
May 2017 - I initially developed tinnitus after a loud concert. After this, it was at say a 1 or 2 out of 10. It was annoying, my fault, but not a big deal. I only really heard it in quiet rooms.
May 2018 – almost overnight, it got much louder. My ENT ran an MRI and ECoG and determined I have endolymphatic hydrops. After about a month of this, it finally quiets down to the 'normal' of 1 or 2 out of 10. For the next three years, I have two or three occasional spikes that were mild and go away after 2-4 weeks.
January 2019 – My ears start popping/crunching every time I swallow. I'm sure this is something related to Eustachian tubes, but it has never seemed to have any effect on tinnitus, my ENT doesn't seem worried, so I ignore it. This issue is still happening.
March 2021 - My ears started ringing worse again. I experience bad ear pain/pressure. I initially just think it's another spike. Over the next 7 weeks, I have a few visits to a walk-in clinic around the ENT appointment I made with mixed results:
-My first visit is a walk-in clinic on vacation. I'm told there is no infection or anything visible, it is Eustachian tube dysfunction, and I'm given a short course of Prednisone and discharged. Makes pretty much no difference.
-About a week later, the pain gets so bad I go to the walk-in clinic back home. They say I have an ear infection, and it looks so severe the doctor says I should be prepared for a ruptured ear drum (never happens thankfully). They give me a course of Augmentin and discharge me, and ask I return back after the course.
-I see my ENT three days later. He inspects my ears and sees nothing. He takes a pressure reading and it comes back completely normal. He chalks my trouble up to allergies. I have a bit of a hard time believing I had a severe ear infection and Augmentin of all things cleared it up totally in 3 days, but not sure what else to think.
ENT prescribes me Fluticasone spray, Olopatadine spray, Pseudoephedrine, and a course of Cefuroxime just in case.
-After going through all these medicines, I feel absolutely zero difference. I make my return visit to the local walk-in, and I really like the doctor this time. He takes a long, deliberate look in my ears and says I have fluid buildup. He gives me another course of Prednisone, Claritin-D and an injection of Dexamethasone. Dexametshasone DOES HELP. For about 2 days after the injection, I'm feeling much closer to my normal self, the tinnitus drops down and the ear pain goes away.
It's now about 16 days since my Dexamethasone injection. I don't really have any ear pain. But the new, worse tinnitus is still there. I feel no lasting improvement at this point.
TL;DR for folks – 7 weeks of a flare up/spike I'm worried about and can't seem to get better. Only a Dexamethasone injection has helped.
I've been prescribed:
-Fluticasone spray
-Olopatadine Spray
-Pseudoephedrine Pills
-Augmentin, Cefuroxime
-Prednisone oral tablets
-Claritin-D
Supplements I've taken:
-5-HTP
-NAC
I cannot think of any medication or diet changes I have made recently. The only thing that's seemed off is my circulation has been a little bad compared to normal. I smoke marijuana somewhat regularly, aside from it getting a little louder while I am high I've never noticed any connection or pattern with it related to tinnitus.
So here I am, I'm lost why I'm having SO much trouble this time with my ears and hoping for dear life this is just a long flare up or some reaction to something.
I assume this is some combination of the hydrops, fluid on my ears, and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction causing this but no idea how to get past this and improve. I'd love some help or ideas from all the knowledgeable people here.
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