Tinnitus Spike After Two Glass Bottles Smacked Together and Made a Loud Sound

[SaraK18]

Hey all,

I did something very silly last night when I was very tired and not thinking... I threw a glass bottle into my recycling not realizing someone had put a wine bottle in there earlier. The two glass bottles smacked together and made a pretty loud sound.

My tinnitus definitely seems louder and I have a little bit of heat in my ears today. Very upset with myself for being careless and worried that I have re-injured my ears.

Any tips on what I can do right now? I took some Magnesium and I didn't have coffee today. Trying to stay calm and not be too upset with myself.

I was recovering nicely from noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus last August. I still have tinnitus but totally manageable. That also happened from a random around the house thing... A bench slamming shut. After several exposures to that I had some pretty bad ear problems for a few months with all kinds of unpleasant symptoms.

I'm so cautious with my ears. I'm really upset that I let this happen. I would appreciate any support, advice, feedback that can calm my nerves.

I know what's done is done, but I also know that if I freak out and get really upset that is not going to help things.

Thanks,
Sara

 

[Matchbox]

Magnesium and any other vasodilator substance really. Slightly hypertonic sterile saline might help but it'd have to go up your Eustachian tube.

In lieu of that? A study I read said Lasix might help for the acute hydrops of acoustic trauma.

Honestly, just rest your ears extra. A sudden sound isn't too awful unless it's an explosion. It's loud and constant to watch out for.

 

[Oabmarcus]

I think you are being too sensitive, I doubt such a brief event would cause any lasting damage to your hearing. Just forget about it and move on with life, I doubt the symptoms will worsen.

While it is a good idea to protect one's hearing, we all tend to become overly sensitive and overprotective of our ears. A lot of times the effects are more psychological than physical.

 

[Poseidon65]

Since my initial acoustic trauma, I've had 3 small incidents of loud noise.

• One was when my son popped a small balloon near me. This set off a spike.
• Another was when I was gathering firewood outside. I found a stick which was too long, and I broke it in half with my foot. My tinnitus spiked immediately upon the stick break.
• A third time, I was in a hotel putting the toilet seat down. The seat came down full speed and caused a loud noise. My tinnitus spiked up immediately.

Did any of these incidents make my tinnitus permanently worse? No idea.

Could I have prevented any of these? Maybe if I never did anything at all

I have learned to have a softer touch around things. For example, if I'm putting dishes in the sink, I do it carefully. This is one thing I've learned. But random things will definitely happen, and when they do, try not to be too hard on yourself.

 

[Oabmarcus]

I think people who have severe hyperacusis that does not improve over time is due to over protection. The brain somehow is thinking that the lower sound threshold is dangerous, hence giving you the pain signals. You have to actively experience sound to show your brain that sound at these levels is not harmful. If you are constantly scared of normal everyday sounds, and actively trying to avoid them, then your hyperacusis will only get worse and not better. Because it's the same thing as you saying to your brain that it is correct to assume that these sounds are dangerous.

 

[SaraK18]

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I appreciate it. 4th of July was pretty bad in my neighborhood. Even inside my house with earplugs, so many illegal fireworks outside. It was a rough night. Hopefully it's upward from here for my ears.

Xx
Sara

 

[SaraK18]

Hi,

I posted last week about my tinnitus being reactivated...

Does anyone else notice that when your symptoms are bad, it seems like you are a magnet for accidental loud sounds? I also get clumsier?!

I know things could always be worse, but this is so challenging when you're in it.

I had a noise trauma last August from a very loud bench slamming shut in close proximity to me. I felt like I wasn't even myself anymore.

After months of poor emotions and constant struggling and anxiety my symptoms started to subside. Hyperacusis was nearly gone about nine or 10 months later and while I still had a ringing, I barely noticed it, I think I had completely acclimated and it got quieter.

Unfortunately last week I tossed a glass bottle into the recycling and it hit another heavy glass bottle resulting in a loud sound. I knew immediately that it was not good. It started with increased tinnitus but after a few days progressed to hyperacusis as well. Unfortunately the bottle incident happened two days before Fourth of July, and my neighborhood is overrun with illegal fireworks so it was a pretty rough night.

My doctor said I had a reactivation of my injury and I'm going through all of the difficult emotions as my hyperacusis has come back and sounds are freaking me out.

I went to stay with my aunt because she lives in a quieter neighborhood, and last night she didn't see that I was in the room and accidentally screamed without thinking. Thank God I had earplugs in but it was still jarring. Sometimes I feel like when my ears are in this state, mistakes can be made so easily and in my desire to do the right thing I become almost paranoid about doing anything.

Do others notice this as well? When your symptoms are acting up it seems like it all comes at once?