Tinnitus Increasing?

[Stacey427]

Hi Dr Hubbard,

Seven weeks ago out of no where permanant tinnitus in the form of the ringing appeared on both ears (worse in left) I have been extremely depressed and my anxiety and sleep patterns are all over the place.
Up until last night I was learning to live with it up until someone a a BBQ decided to set off (for approx five- six seconds) an air/ gas horn. I was standing with my left ear (the worse one) about two metres away from it.

I am now so distraught, I woke up and the ringing felt louder. No muffled ears or dizziness, just what I feel is a spike is the ringing. I've tried to stay calm and take b12 and magnesium but I'm not sure if the damage to the already existing tinnitus is worse?
Someone suggested steriods ? I don't want to take that route if possible as I am not sure whether the spike is from the horn or the anxiety (probably both) but I already can stand to be in a quiet room or go to bed at night. If this has made it worse I seriously don't know of I can cope.

Any advice would be very much appreciated! Thank you

 

[Dr. Hubbard]

Hi Stacey
I'm hoping it's that the increased loudness of the tinnitus will resolve (back to it's usual level), in the same way your ears ring the day after a concert then go back to normal. You'd need to see an ENT about the steroids, but on the surface that's probably not indicated. Steroids are for inner ear inflamation and there's no reason to believe that's the problem now. Hope you're back to normal. Let me know.
best,
DR Hubbard