Hi everyone,
I wanted to post here because I am in desperate need of support. I feel hopeless and very distressed, although I haven't been struggling with this for long. Please be kind, as I truly need it right now. I'm just looking for a little hope.
I've always had a slight buzzing in my ears. It was only noticeable in complete silence when I really focused on it. I'm not sure if this was tinnitus, but it was never bothersome. Recently, I joined a local metal band. I've always known to wear ear protection because I don't want to risk my hearing. There were a couple of times I didn't wear ear protection at shows, but I didn't experience much ringing afterward. I also used to listen to music loudly, though never above 80 dB. If I listened too loudly, my ears would ring a little, but I never knew much about tinnitus, or I would have been more careful.
About six days ago, while practicing with the band, I forgot my earplugs at home. The drummer told me it would be fine just this once, as we needed to practice for our upcoming gig. He said, "Oh, nobody really wears those anyway. You'll sing better too." I thought it would be okay. That turned out to be a huge mistake because now my ears have been ringing at an extremely high pitch for almost a week. It's so severe that I would need to play white noise at full volume just to muffle it. Of course, I won't do that because I don't want to make it worse.
I went to an ENT doctor today. He briefly looked into my ears and said my eardrums looked fine and that my hearing test was perfect. No steroids, no injections. They also tested for fluid or pressure issues by placing buds in my ears for a few seconds, though I don't really understand how that works. Everything came back normal. Unfortunately, the ENT doctor was a bit dismissive, telling me I should just "learn to deal with it" and that "it's not a big deal." But my ears are in agony, so how could this not be a big deal?
The ringing is worse in my left ear, and it helps a bit when I pull my ears upward. It's still there, but not as bad. The ENT said this was just an illusion or a placebo effect, though. I'm in so much pain, and I'm terrified this won't go away. I don't think I can live like this. I know it's only been six days, but I'm really scared. I desperately need hope, some coping tips, success stories, anything. Is there a good chance this will go away?
The pain and ringing are so severe that I can't even get dressed or do much of anything. I've just been lying in bed, crying, and listening to white noise quietly because I don't want to make it worse. This is especially heartbreaking because I'd finally reached a place in my life where I was truly happy after years of trauma and depression. Now, this has hit me like a brick. I feel so anxious and depressed.
I love music; it's my life. I don't want to stop making music, but I can't bear this constant pain either. Should I keep hoping? Am I just overreacting? What should I do?
I wanted to post here because I am in desperate need of support. I feel hopeless and very distressed, although I haven't been struggling with this for long. Please be kind, as I truly need it right now. I'm just looking for a little hope.
I've always had a slight buzzing in my ears. It was only noticeable in complete silence when I really focused on it. I'm not sure if this was tinnitus, but it was never bothersome. Recently, I joined a local metal band. I've always known to wear ear protection because I don't want to risk my hearing. There were a couple of times I didn't wear ear protection at shows, but I didn't experience much ringing afterward. I also used to listen to music loudly, though never above 80 dB. If I listened too loudly, my ears would ring a little, but I never knew much about tinnitus, or I would have been more careful.
About six days ago, while practicing with the band, I forgot my earplugs at home. The drummer told me it would be fine just this once, as we needed to practice for our upcoming gig. He said, "Oh, nobody really wears those anyway. You'll sing better too." I thought it would be okay. That turned out to be a huge mistake because now my ears have been ringing at an extremely high pitch for almost a week. It's so severe that I would need to play white noise at full volume just to muffle it. Of course, I won't do that because I don't want to make it worse.
I went to an ENT doctor today. He briefly looked into my ears and said my eardrums looked fine and that my hearing test was perfect. No steroids, no injections. They also tested for fluid or pressure issues by placing buds in my ears for a few seconds, though I don't really understand how that works. Everything came back normal. Unfortunately, the ENT doctor was a bit dismissive, telling me I should just "learn to deal with it" and that "it's not a big deal." But my ears are in agony, so how could this not be a big deal?
The ringing is worse in my left ear, and it helps a bit when I pull my ears upward. It's still there, but not as bad. The ENT said this was just an illusion or a placebo effect, though. I'm in so much pain, and I'm terrified this won't go away. I don't think I can live like this. I know it's only been six days, but I'm really scared. I desperately need hope, some coping tips, success stories, anything. Is there a good chance this will go away?
The pain and ringing are so severe that I can't even get dressed or do much of anything. I've just been lying in bed, crying, and listening to white noise quietly because I don't want to make it worse. This is especially heartbreaking because I'd finally reached a place in my life where I was truly happy after years of trauma and depression. Now, this has hit me like a brick. I feel so anxious and depressed.
I love music; it's my life. I don't want to stop making music, but I can't bear this constant pain either. Should I keep hoping? Am I just overreacting? What should I do?
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