Tinnitus Induced via Styrenes (Carpet Adhesive)?

[John2000]

I moved into a new apartment last week on Thursday.

About 5 days later I noticed this ringing in my ears.

It became intolerable and I moved into the kitchen.

This seems like a rare cause of tinnitus, but possible.

Anyone heard of something similar?

 

[billie48]

Welcome to the forum.

I personally have not heard about this but usually never know. Have you tried to stay away the apartment to see if the ringing will be less? There are many other causes for tinnitus. Perhaps the stress of moving and relocating to a new environment or perhaps some hearing loss? Try to get an ENT to check out the ears first.

Best wishes. God bless.

 

[John2000]

Welcome to the forum.

I personally have not heard about this but usually never know. Have you tried to stay away the apartment to see if the ringing will be less? There are many other causes for tinnitus. Perhaps the stress of moving and relocating to a new environment or perhaps some hearing loss? Try to get an ENT to check out the ears first.

Best wishes. God bless.

Cheers, yes I just spent a week away from the apartment in a friend's place and its intensity did not reduce at all.

On that basis it would appear unlikely that's it's sound based tinnitus (i.e. caused by exposure to noise, high frequency sound).

So either carpet adhesive/solvents, or the COVID-19 booster shot I had last Tuesday.

Thursday the ringing in my ears woke me up in tears.

 

[billie48]

Cheers, yes I just spent a week away from the apartment in a friend's place and its intensity did not reduce at all.

On that basis it would appear unlikely that's it's sound based tinnitus (i.e. caused by exposure to noise, high frequency sound).

So either carpet adhesive/solvents, or the COVID-19 booster shot I had last Tuesday.

Thursday the ringing in my ears woke me up in tears.

Sorry you are struggling with the ringing. Usually waking up during the initial months of a new tinnitus is the loudest time due to a phenomenon some called it "awakening response". The brain tends to scan for our vital signs when waking up, and tinnitus is erroneously treated as a vital sign. Dr. Nagler has written a more detailed explanation.

"I have always felt it to be due to the role of the reticular formation in tinnitus perception. The reticular formation is a primitive structure in the brain stem. It's a "vital sign monitor." When you wake up, the RF checks to see whether or not you are alive! It looks for heartbeat, respirations, blood pressure, temperature - basic bodily signs. It does not care whether or not these signs are good or bad - just that they are present. And as far as the RF is concerned, tinnitus is part of "expected" body function in an individual suffering from severe intrusive tinnitus. So when you wake, your RF checks to see whether or not tinnitus is present. And if it doesn't immediately find the tinnitus, the RF seeks it with a vengeance - - especially in the post-nap state, when there has been inadequate REM sleep and when, therefore, the RF is on already "high alert" that something might not be quite right. Theoretically - very theoretically - this RF hyperactivity in seeking tinnitus, which in a person with severe intrusive tinnitus it equates with life, results in temporarily markedly augmented tinnitus.​

So don't worry about it. The brain is just trying to help you get ready for the day. This should slowly fade back to normal after some time as the brain probably realize tinnitus is a fake vital sign. Lol.

Perhaps if this keeps bothering you, try to have some soothing masking sounds around your bed so it can help mask the tinnitus. You can download tinnitus masking apps to your phone and use a Bluetooth speaker. Anyway things should get better over time. Don't worry too much about it. Your tinnitus may fade or you will habituate to it. I have written a success story about how to habituate to a new tinnitus. Check it out here. Take good care. God bless your recovery.