Tinnitus Was Gone, Came Back

[Swish]

Hello, I got tinnitus about one year ago. I assumed it was caused by listening to music on earbuds for excessively long time, also riding on a loud motorcycles might have caused my hearing loss. I have never been to any doctor about that, after reading in the internet I assumed my tinnitus is caused by hearing damage and I thought I will have to learn to live with that so I never went to any doctor.

I tried supplements like magnesium and zink, nothing really helped. It wasn't that bad, I could hear it only when in silent room, mostly when I was going to sleep.

But one time I bought an ear spray that helps with wax removal, I always used it before sleep. I would lie on one side, spray it in my ear and after a few minutes I would do the same with other side. I kept doing that for a few days without effect.

Then, one night after I applied the spray to both of my ears I put my pinky into the ear and started moving it up and down.

Suddenly, the tinnitus in one ear was gone, just like that. I tried it with other ear. Nothing. Tried once more, and it's gone from both ears. I lay in silence and I don't hear the tinnitus, I try to focus my attention on it, but it's not there.

After that I started using my earbuds again and I don't even know when but it's back again.

I also have always cleaned my ears with q-tips.

Today my tinnitus is really bad again.

Do you think that the tinnitus my be caused not by hearing damage but by earwax buildup? Maybe the earbuds and q-tips pushed the earwax deeper causing my tinnitus to come back? Have you ever heard about something like that? Is it possible?

I am going to see a doctor in new year. I forgot to add that the tinnitus gets louder when I clench my jaw and when moving my neck.

 

[Bill_]

Yes, I have heard of tinnitus caused by earwax buildup. Let a doc check it BUT BEWARE:

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES let the doctor remove the earwax by so called microsuction! This is extremely important!! Even if he tells you not to worry. INSIST that the only uses manual tools!

Microsuction is known to cause SEVERE damage and to WORSEN TINNITUS extremely - it's a mystery to me how this is still performed!

I repeat because it's so utterly important: NO MICROSUCTION! EVER!

Also, no Tympanometry, Acoustic reflex test, vEMP/cEMP! All these can cause tinnitus to worsen MASSIVELY!

Be safe!

 

[dougwarby]

I'd get your ears checked, perhaps there is some deep wax and removing it might help you.

 

[Michael B]

@Swish
I blame my tinnitus on earbuds but not for the reason you mentioned.

There are those on this site who suggest headphones, earbuds and the like may cause inner ear damage. I happen to agree. I've been a runner all my life and wore earphones exclusively. Now I have severe tinnitus.

Luckily your tinnitus is mild but you don't want it to get worse. It's up to you but you may want to err on the side of caution when it comes earbuds and tinnitus.

Just my thoughts.
Mike

 

[Bill Bauer]

I forgot to add that the tinnitus gets louder when I clench my jaw and when moving my neck.

This is true for most of us here.

After that I started using my earbuds again and I don't even know when but it's back again.

If your T ever improves/disappears again, I hope you will protect your ears to reduce the chance that your T comes back a third time.

 

[anusha]

In my case it was a careless urgent care doctor who poured hydrogen peroxide that caused my tinnitus. ENT said it was a wrong treatment next day.

I couldn't forgive them for a very long time. I thought I will sue the urgent care for not seeing the perforation and pouring H2O2 blindly to clear the wax. wax is hardly removed using H2O2 these days said ENT specialist. He simply removed using a tool. When that was poured there was an insane burning sensation and triggering tinnitus which did not go away since then.

I searched for a cure for 5-6months spent money on acupunctures, massages, traveled to India, checked with ENTs there, met audiologist, suffered anxiety....still have anxiety many nights. I was least anxious person before tinnitus. I always used to live with a feeling that I can achieve whatever I want in my life but tinnitus got that down.

Gradually I learned acceptance and forgiveness is only what I have in my hands. I wrote a bad review to the urgent care. Google Analytics emails keeps coming saying that my review is making a difference and it has many views. So, that is that at least other people won't suffer what I have gone through.

I think I forgive them but am not sure on my bad days I might still curse that doctor for what she has done.

 

[Swish]

@Swish
I blame my tinnitus on earbuds but not for the reason you mentioned.

There are those on this site who suggest headphones, earbuds and the like may cause inner ear damage. I happen to agree. I've been a runner all my life and wore earphones exclusively. Now I have severe tinnitus.

Luckily your tinnitus is mild but you don't want it to get worse. It's up to you but you may want to err on the side of caution when it comes earbuds and tinnitus.

Just my thoughts.
Mike

I've used earphones all the time. That's why I thought going to the doctor wouldn't help, I was pretty sure I damaged my hearing with them. But when I tried the spray it was really weird. It worked in both ears at the same time, it was there, and then just gone. I remember the relief next morning when I woke up and tinnitus was gone. That's what made me think that it's not the hearing damage that's causing my tinnitus. But still, it probably is...