I've been struggling that past several months, since beginning of April. During that span of time I've seen my Primary Care Doctor, ENT, Gastroenterologist, Neurologist, Chiropractor, Dentist and currently awaiting a follow up with my ENT and an appointment with audiology. I am 50 with a husband and 4 kids.
I had a cold or something, maybe allergies (runny nose, sometimes like water was running from my nose, it was so thin, stuffy nose, sore throat, and a little bit of a cough). It went away and then early April I felt my ears getting a fullness feeling. My nose symptoms had resolved by this time. I was told it was allergies and prescribed Flonase and Zyrtec by Urgent Care. Tested me for COVID-19, negative. I followed up with my Primary Doctor who said the same thing but I wasn't having any nasal issues and my ears looked fine, no infection or fluid, so I guess I didn't think that was the issue.
Fast forward and within the first 2 weeks in April I had a CT scan of my head and CT scan of sinuses – all normal. Referred to ENT – asked if I had ringing in my ears – I did, although not too bad at that time. I also developed sensitivity to certain sounds, like running water, rustling paper, crinkling of water bottles, and hear my voice a little loud in my ears. She looked in my ears and did a pressure test – all normal. She then put a tube through my nose, said it looked dry and asked if my throat was dry. It was – I also had thick mucus in my throat and at times would get thick rubbery white mucus in my nose, but it didn't feel stuffy or anything, so was thinking possibility of silent reflux or something, since my stomach was a little off, but, could be anxiety I was suffering as well. Anyway – she ordered blood tests for autoimmune and thyroid, I will go this week to get that done. She also did a hearing test in her office which came back normal.
Followed up with my Primary Care again, and during this whole time I knew I was clenching my jaw and I had mainly left sided neck and skull pain with head pressure. She referred me to gastro and neuro where basically nothing came of it. Gastro wants to do a colonoscopy and abdominal ultrasound, but my insurance didn't approve the ultrasound. So got nowhere on the possibility of reflux. Neuro wanted an MRI, the ENT already ordered one in the meantime. I'm supposed to go this Thursday but having second thoughts because MRIs are loud and nervous. It will be a wide bore MRI which I know is loud.
The dentist said I have TMJ – I mainly feel jaw pain on my left side and pain in and around that ear. Tinnitus is worse in that ear, not as bad in the right. A mold was done of my teeth for a night guard, I do tend to tense my jaw due to anxiety and last few months it has been really bad.
As of today my current symptoms: increased tinnitus and sensitivity to sound which I noticed last Wednesday. So, this is weird and not sure if related, but something I noticed: My left ear when this first started happening in April, high pitched ringing, felt like maybe roaring in my ear as well along with fullness and crackling – but, when I would plug my left ear I heard like blood moving, whatever you are supposed to hear when you plug your ear canal shut. However, when I did this with my right ear, it was like numb or dull. This resolved like 5 days later and last Wednesday I experienced it again, but now it is fine. However, the hearing in that ear was kind of tinny. Like I heard things far away? I have pretty much constant ear fullness and crackling (crackling more when I swallow and sometimes it will pop a little but on its own). I also get bouts of a little dizziness and anxiety is still there. I was thinking maybe hydrops or something. My mother when she was I believe in her 40s noticed she was losing hearing in her right ear. The doctor told her it was hydrops and prescribed a water pill, which she has taken every day since then.
I don't have any diagnosis for this and trying to be patient. Up until last Wednesday I was using ear protection sparingly, nothing to noise cancelling and limited use if I was going to be in a noisy environment. I started listening to pink noise for the tinnitus last Wednesday as well, and increased my usage of ear protection (again, nothing huge like noise cancellation, just using link dream over the ear headphones – I play the pink noise through them as well). I listen to the pink noise on and off through the day, and try to go without have the earphones on. I now have the Oasis sound machine sitting next to me instead of using the headphones. The pillow speakers won't be here until Wednesday so I don't have to wear headphones at night. I don't use them all night, as they tend to fall off when I sleep and my phone battery dies during the night as well.
I'm not sure what is going on but any insight or support would be welcomed!
I had a cold or something, maybe allergies (runny nose, sometimes like water was running from my nose, it was so thin, stuffy nose, sore throat, and a little bit of a cough). It went away and then early April I felt my ears getting a fullness feeling. My nose symptoms had resolved by this time. I was told it was allergies and prescribed Flonase and Zyrtec by Urgent Care. Tested me for COVID-19, negative. I followed up with my Primary Doctor who said the same thing but I wasn't having any nasal issues and my ears looked fine, no infection or fluid, so I guess I didn't think that was the issue.
Fast forward and within the first 2 weeks in April I had a CT scan of my head and CT scan of sinuses – all normal. Referred to ENT – asked if I had ringing in my ears – I did, although not too bad at that time. I also developed sensitivity to certain sounds, like running water, rustling paper, crinkling of water bottles, and hear my voice a little loud in my ears. She looked in my ears and did a pressure test – all normal. She then put a tube through my nose, said it looked dry and asked if my throat was dry. It was – I also had thick mucus in my throat and at times would get thick rubbery white mucus in my nose, but it didn't feel stuffy or anything, so was thinking possibility of silent reflux or something, since my stomach was a little off, but, could be anxiety I was suffering as well. Anyway – she ordered blood tests for autoimmune and thyroid, I will go this week to get that done. She also did a hearing test in her office which came back normal.
Followed up with my Primary Care again, and during this whole time I knew I was clenching my jaw and I had mainly left sided neck and skull pain with head pressure. She referred me to gastro and neuro where basically nothing came of it. Gastro wants to do a colonoscopy and abdominal ultrasound, but my insurance didn't approve the ultrasound. So got nowhere on the possibility of reflux. Neuro wanted an MRI, the ENT already ordered one in the meantime. I'm supposed to go this Thursday but having second thoughts because MRIs are loud and nervous. It will be a wide bore MRI which I know is loud.
The dentist said I have TMJ – I mainly feel jaw pain on my left side and pain in and around that ear. Tinnitus is worse in that ear, not as bad in the right. A mold was done of my teeth for a night guard, I do tend to tense my jaw due to anxiety and last few months it has been really bad.
As of today my current symptoms: increased tinnitus and sensitivity to sound which I noticed last Wednesday. So, this is weird and not sure if related, but something I noticed: My left ear when this first started happening in April, high pitched ringing, felt like maybe roaring in my ear as well along with fullness and crackling – but, when I would plug my left ear I heard like blood moving, whatever you are supposed to hear when you plug your ear canal shut. However, when I did this with my right ear, it was like numb or dull. This resolved like 5 days later and last Wednesday I experienced it again, but now it is fine. However, the hearing in that ear was kind of tinny. Like I heard things far away? I have pretty much constant ear fullness and crackling (crackling more when I swallow and sometimes it will pop a little but on its own). I also get bouts of a little dizziness and anxiety is still there. I was thinking maybe hydrops or something. My mother when she was I believe in her 40s noticed she was losing hearing in her right ear. The doctor told her it was hydrops and prescribed a water pill, which she has taken every day since then.
I don't have any diagnosis for this and trying to be patient. Up until last Wednesday I was using ear protection sparingly, nothing to noise cancelling and limited use if I was going to be in a noisy environment. I started listening to pink noise for the tinnitus last Wednesday as well, and increased my usage of ear protection (again, nothing huge like noise cancellation, just using link dream over the ear headphones – I play the pink noise through them as well). I listen to the pink noise on and off through the day, and try to go without have the earphones on. I now have the Oasis sound machine sitting next to me instead of using the headphones. The pillow speakers won't be here until Wednesday so I don't have to wear headphones at night. I don't use them all night, as they tend to fall off when I sleep and my phone battery dies during the night as well.
I'm not sure what is going on but any insight or support would be welcomed!
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