Two Tinnitus Tones After a Nasty Virus?

[yortflops]

Sitting up at 2 am quietly freaking out. :/

I have had a high pitched tinnitus in both ears for about 10-15 years now, I think from ongoing exposure to loud music.

But a few days ago I got a really intense virus from a friend's toddler, complete with hot flushes, joint pain, etc. Bed-ridden for most of the week. I'm at the clogged-sinuses + sore throat stage.

Just as it's starting to get better, my left ear starts a disturbingly loud new tinnitus tone, seemingly a few octaves down from the usual high pitched tinnitus that I've grown to know and love. As I'm typing this the higher pitched tone is now louder in my left ear as well.

I feel a little deafer in the affected left ear too. For example if I click my fingers with my right ear covered it feels like all the high frequencies are rounded off...

The other funny symptom is that if I yawn or open my mouth wide, my left ear will make what I can only describe as a "wet crunching" sound, almost like squishing a dry cracker between your fingers.

I will visit the GP tomorrow, get a COVID-19 test and I guess a referral to an ENT? Would love to get any ideas or advice on what to try next.

Much love to everyone here from Australia!

 

[Wrfortiscue]

I would say that it's probably just temporary as being sick can affect your ears.

 

[linearb]

My tinnitus always gets worse when I'm sick, if I am sick with Eustachian tube or ear symptoms it can get a lot worse, and it can take 2-3 weeks after the sickness is gone to resolve.

Taking pseudoephedrine, using a Neti pot (once active infection is cleared) and hot showers with lots of steam can help open up your e-tubes and let them drain.

It is likely that you have fluid in your Eustachian tube and middle ear; this will decrease your hearing, increase your tinnitus, and also create weird humming noises and sloshing sounds.

Usually I can open my e-tubes easily with the valsalva manueveur; after an illness they can just get blocked like a brick wall for days and it is fairly awful.

I've never had this symptom persist for more than about 3 weeks after a bad cold or influenza. Drink lots of fluids, hot tea. Consider chewing gum.

 

[yortflops]

My tinnitus always gets worse when I'm sick, if I am sick with Eustachian tube or ear symptoms it can get a lot worse, and it can take 2-3 weeks after the sickness is gone to resolve.

Taking pseudoephedrine, using a Neti pot (once active infection is cleared) and hot showers with lots of steam can help open up your e-tubes and let them drain.

It is likely that you have fluid in your Eustachian tube and middle ear; this will decrease your hearing, increase your tinnitus, and also create weird humming noises and sloshing sounds.

Usually I can open my e-tubes easily with the valsalva manueveur; after an illness they can just get blocked like a brick wall for days and it is fairly awful.

I've never had this symptom persist for more than about 3 weeks after a bad cold or influenza. Drink lots of fluids, hot tea. Consider chewing gum.

oh I really really appreciate all this, thanks so much!!! I was super scared it'd be a permanent think but we got some pseudoephedrine, which seems to be generically magical, and has already helped.

will smash some hot showers and hot tea + chewing gum, and stress less for the next few weeks.

phew, thank you.