Tinnitus Started After an Airplane Flight — It Keeps Worsening on a Monthly Basis

Hello everyone, this is my first thread and I’m quite nervous! I’m hoping to find some others who are experiencing or have experienced what I’m going through. Or advice. Or just some understanding.

My tinnitus started nearly two years ago after a flight to Portugal. I don’t think this was the root cause as I’ve always had sensitive hearing and had relied on earplugs at night for years. Very much regretting that now. Since then the tiny noise in my left ear has increased on a monthly basis if not more. My right ear has not been far behind. I’m now at a stage where I’ve got multiple tones in both ears with white noise in my head and it just keeps getting worse.

I’ve seen an audiologist and he said I have hyperacusis and gave me some hearing aids to start me off on a treatment plan. I was told I needed to get up to 8 hours of white noise but after a few hours my ears would be raw and heavy (can’t think of a better way to describe it) and the tinnitus would be worse. Which he told me was impossible. So that was a bust as I couldn’t handle the hearing aids. He said that the tinnitus would improve with time but what I’ve found is if I have an increase in noise it never calms down. It just adds itself to the cacophony of tones already there.

I also had an MRI and no bigger issues have been found which has left me with no real plan. The ENT wasn’t overly helpful and just told me that my tinnitus is getting worse because I’m so fixated on it. I understand that tinnitus is very much entwined with stress and that I do myself no favours worrying about it. However I get on with my life. I work, I have a 6-year-old to look after, as much as I can I carry on as normal. I’m not in a quiet room listening intently to changes. I’m mostly woken up in the middle of the night with a new or louder tone. Surely there is a more definite reason as to why my tinnitus is getting louder?

I’m starting to lose control over my life at this point. I’ve been prescribed Amitriptyline but that turns me into a forgetful zombie (at best). I can’t imagine what my life will be like if this continues to deteriorate at a such a fast rate. I have moments when it makes me freeze with horror and nausea at the thought. I feel like a huge black cloud is on the horizon and I can’t escape what’s coming.

Anyway. Thanks for reading my ramblings. Any advice or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

 

Hi, because of tinnitus, I got high stress and depression. Every week I see my tinnitus getting worse. And the reason is that I am in a vicious cycle in which stress puts my tinnitus much higher and I get worse.

The worst is that it is scientifically proven that tinnitus worsens with age.

 

I can second that. Stress makes it worse. A lot worse. Maybe try a different medication. I know it's getting off on one medication and then going on another but in the long run it might be beneficial.

Best of luck.

 

This is NOT a 100% guarantee. Yes it can potentially worsen with age because of natural hearing loss that occurs for almost everyone. That doesn't mean that you will not habituate before then. It's a constant cycle of habituation with tinnitus. It gets better, then it gets worse, then it gets better again. You have to convince yourself that it WILL get better. Believe that. Shoot for the good days, even if they are only once or twice a month. Don't waste them when they arrive. Do something fun. Worrying will not change anything except potentially make your condition worse.

You can do it. You will do it. Hang in there. I would start taking NAC daily if your doctor says its okay. It can help protect your ears from further damage. I take Zinc, NAC, and Taurine along with Garlic pills to help protect my ears from further damage.

Amitriptyline messes with your serotonin. It could be making your tinnitus worse but I am no doctor. Start taking Melatonin at night and Magnesium if your doctor says it's okay.

Put yourself on a sleep schedule. God bless.

 

I'm sorry this is happening. It is distressing, especially in the beginning. I also have a young child. It can be difficult caring for them and yourself with this condition.

Hopefully, you will start to feel better and be able to relax which in turn will help the tinnitus.

Hugs,
twa

 

My first piece of advice would be to find a different ENT or audiologist. Try to find someone who specializes or has worked with tinnitus patients in the past. They will be more sympathetic and more willing to help.

Most doctors are know it alls and don't care about truly listening to their patients.

 

I concur that you may want to consider a different medication. Nortriptyline made mine worse and getting off it helped.

 

What type of aircraft was it?

 

Hi everyone, thank you for taking the time to reply to my original post. I’m sorry it’s been months but I’m having trouble coping with everyday life I guess. The days seem to merge into one and suddenly summer is over and I’m left wondering where the time has gone.

I do lurk around the site most days and can honestly say reading other people’s stories does bring a sort of comfort to the situation. At least I’m not alone in this.