Hi all,
I'm 44 & I've had tinnitus in my left ear for 12 months now. My right ear is fine. I initially went to the doctor when it first started and she said my ear canal looked inflamed. She gave me some ear spray but it didn't help the tinnitus at all. I went back and she said it would probably clear up by itself.
So I left it 12 months and it still isn't any better. I went to see the doctor again (a different one to last time) and she said unilateral tinnitus is a red flag and she's sending me for an MRI scan. She did a few neurological tests (follow the finger, blow out my cheeks, asked if I have double vision) and that was all fine. I haven't had a hearing test or been seen by an ENT, I've only seen my GP. But I have to admit I'm freaking out a bit over the MRI. She was just very blunt about it when she said "This is a red flag, I need to send you for an MRI as soon as possible".
She looked in my ear and also commented that it was inflamed (otis externa) so she gave me some different ear drops to before. She seemed to think that this was unrelated to the tinnitus however.
Despite being worried about the MRI, I personally wonder if the tinnitus is related to Eustachian tube dysfunction. When I blow my nose that ear often pops. Sound is also sometimes muffled and can be relieved by me holding my nose and blowing which again causes it to pop. In those times it feels a lot like I'm on an aeroplane which is landing. I also sometimes have a dull ache in that ear but I'm not sure if that's related to the inflammation she mentioned. I do not experience any vertigo / dizziness.
I've always kind of had a problem with my ears, when I was young I had constant ear infections and when I go on a plane my ears don't just pop during landing, they feel like they're going to explode. I have literally been doubled over in pain, almost to the point of tears before and it takes days for them to return to normal.
The tinnitus itself is always there but sometimes it's hardly noticeable whereas other times it's very loud, always the same tone either way.
The only other thing I can think of which may be worth mentioning is that high pitched sounds sometimes cause pain in that ear. Just a short sharp pain. It doesn't happen all the time though.
If anyone has any advice or experience I'd be very grateful.
Sorry for rambling on.
I'm 44 & I've had tinnitus in my left ear for 12 months now. My right ear is fine. I initially went to the doctor when it first started and she said my ear canal looked inflamed. She gave me some ear spray but it didn't help the tinnitus at all. I went back and she said it would probably clear up by itself.
So I left it 12 months and it still isn't any better. I went to see the doctor again (a different one to last time) and she said unilateral tinnitus is a red flag and she's sending me for an MRI scan. She did a few neurological tests (follow the finger, blow out my cheeks, asked if I have double vision) and that was all fine. I haven't had a hearing test or been seen by an ENT, I've only seen my GP. But I have to admit I'm freaking out a bit over the MRI. She was just very blunt about it when she said "This is a red flag, I need to send you for an MRI as soon as possible".
She looked in my ear and also commented that it was inflamed (otis externa) so she gave me some different ear drops to before. She seemed to think that this was unrelated to the tinnitus however.
Despite being worried about the MRI, I personally wonder if the tinnitus is related to Eustachian tube dysfunction. When I blow my nose that ear often pops. Sound is also sometimes muffled and can be relieved by me holding my nose and blowing which again causes it to pop. In those times it feels a lot like I'm on an aeroplane which is landing. I also sometimes have a dull ache in that ear but I'm not sure if that's related to the inflammation she mentioned. I do not experience any vertigo / dizziness.
I've always kind of had a problem with my ears, when I was young I had constant ear infections and when I go on a plane my ears don't just pop during landing, they feel like they're going to explode. I have literally been doubled over in pain, almost to the point of tears before and it takes days for them to return to normal.
The tinnitus itself is always there but sometimes it's hardly noticeable whereas other times it's very loud, always the same tone either way.
The only other thing I can think of which may be worth mentioning is that high pitched sounds sometimes cause pain in that ear. Just a short sharp pain. It doesn't happen all the time though.
If anyone has any advice or experience I'd be very grateful.
Sorry for rambling on.
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