URGENT: Exposed to a Fire Alarm

[GBB]

Where did you get the 60 mg Prednisone from? Is that one tablet or multiple... I was not aware of this dosage.

Ken

60 mg prednisone is the standard for acoustic trauma as far as I know. Maybe you are thinking of Prednisolone or Dexamethosone which I believe requires less? Here is one study of many citing that figure.

Oral steroid regimens for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

 

[KWC]

60 mg prednisone is the standard for acoustic trauma as far as I know. Maybe you are thinking of Prednisolone or Dexamethosone which I believe requires less? Here is one study of many citing that figure.

Oral steroid regimens for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Thanks. I have not had acoustic trauma, but my right ear tinnitus appeared in January when I had an ear infection and the starting symptoms of right side TMJ. I was originally given a Prednisone 10 mg 48 count pack which cleared the infection but no impact on tinnitus. Just wondering if the higher dose treatment would have helped me then or if maybe now it would tell me if my tinnitus is related to inflammation.

 

[GBB]

Thanks. I have not had acoustic trauma, but my right ear tinnitus appeared in January when I had an ear infection and the starting symptoms of right side TMJ. I was originally given a Prednisone 10 mg 48 count pack which cleared the infection but no impact on tinnitus. Just wondering if the higher dose treatment would have helped me then or if maybe now it would tell me if my tinnitus is related to inflammation.

I'm not a doctor but if you took 10 mg a day, that strikes me as low. More than that, I can't say.

 

[KWC]

60 mg prednisone is the standard for acoustic trauma as far as I know. Maybe you are thinking of Prednisolone or Dexamethosone which I believe requires less? Here is one study of many citing that figure.

Oral steroid regimens for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

What is your taper schedule? 14-day course of 60 mg prednisone (with taper)?

 

[GBB]

What is your taper schedule? 14-day course of 60 mg prednisone (with taper)?

I'm just on a 7 day 60 mg shotgun. If it's 7 days, some say no taper is needed.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@KWC, could it be that onset development of TMJ caused an ear infection?

90% of the time when an adult has an ear infection and then notices development of TMJ - cause of ear infection is from jaw inflammation. If so, then this is another reason not to turn (exercise) your neck which can cause inflammation to travel.

Amoxicillin 250 X3/day for 10 days.

Is Your Ear Pain an Ear Infection or TMJ?

 

[Matchbox]

I'm just on a 7 day 60 mg shotgun. If it's 7 days, some say no taper is needed.

How'd the Prednisone work out for you?

I originally found as well, taking Prednisone, even 2mg, I could set my watch to an hour later and hear the tones simply melt into nothingness. Doesn't work that way now.

Did tapering off work out to lower your tinnitus volume? Same as before? Or did it give you a parting gift of new lower tones (like a seashell sound, my major issue)?

It definitely will reduce inflammation / hair cell death, but the rebound immune reaction causing fallout damage is what I'm worried about or screwing up the ionic balance of the inner ear (Prednisone does have some mineral corticosteroid activity unlike Dexamethasone).

Curcumin seems to also help... pointing again toward immune system issues.

 

[GBB]

How'd the Prednisone work out for you?

I originally found as well, taking Prednisone, even 2mg, I could set my watch to an hour later and hear the tones simply melt into nothingness. Doesn't work that way now.

Did tapering off work out to lower your tinnitus volume? Same as before? Or did it give you a parting gift of new lower tones (like a seashell sound, my major issue)?

It definitely will reduce inflammation / hair cell death, but the rebound immune reaction causing fallout damage is what I'm worried about or screwing up the ionic balance of the inner ear (Prednisone does have some mineral corticosteroid activity unlike Dexamethasone).

Curcumin seems to also help... pointing again toward immune system issues.

I'm not really sure - at the time it helped. Then I tapered off and have had pretty wild alternations between moderate and severe tinnitus. Some days it can be masked, some days nothing will mask it and I can't enjoy a minute of the day because I'm suffering the entire time.

The tone that came in from the fire alarm initially did fade away, however, now my tinnitus cycles with new sounds. Every day is a new type of tinnitus I've never heard and a random volume level.

Overall compared to pre-fire alarm I'd say I'm worse.

 

[KWC]

Hello. I was exposed to smoke alarms last night. Something overcooked in the microwave and smoked my kitchen and I had to get near 3 of my smoke detectors to reset them. I tried to cover my ears.

I have right ear tinnitus which now sounds a little louder and I have a slight ringing in my left ear which does/did not have tinnitus.

I went to urgent care to pursue Prednisone and they did a basic hearing test (saying I failed left ear at 500 Hz and 4000 Hz... it was a really basic beep test) and told me they would only prescribe for total hearing loss. The chances of me seeing an ENT Xmas week are nil to none. I do not think going to the ER is going to help. I have magnesium I am taking, turmeric/curcumin.

Does anybody have any advice?

 

[GBB]

Hello. I was exposed to smoke alarms last night. Something overcooked in the microwave and smoked my kitchen and I had to get near 3 of my smoke detectors to reset them. I tried to cover my ears.

I have right ear tinnitus which now sounds a little louder and I have a slight ringing in my left ear which does/did not have tinnitus.

I went to urgent care to pursue Prednisone and they did a basic hearing test (saying I failed left ear at 500 Hz and 4000 Hz... it was a really basic beep test) and told me they would only prescribe for total hearing loss. The chances of me seeing an ENT Xmas week are nil to none. I do not think going to the ER is going to help. I have magnesium I am taking, turmeric/curcumin.

Does anybody have any advice?

The way I got Prednisone was by using a teledoc service. I used Plush - it's a service where you connect with a doctor over the phone and they treat you on the call. I simply told them I have a history of tinnitus, was exposed to a fire cracker, and tolerate Prednisone well, so could they prescribe it. They prescribed it without much trouble at all.

I was very specific in a saying last time this happened, I took x milligrams for y days, and it greatly helped.

 

[KWC]

The way I got Prednisone was by using a teledoc service. I used Plush - it's a service where you connect with a doctor over the phone and they treat you on the call. I simply told them I have a history of tinnitus, was exposed to a fire cracker, and tolerate Prednisone well, so could they prescribe it. They prescribed it without much trouble at all.

I was very specific in a saying last time this happened, I took x milligrams for y days, and it greatly helped.

@GBB thank you for your reply. I contacted my ENT and hey gave me a 6 day Prednisone prescription.

20 mg x 3 - 3 days
20 mg x 2 - 2 days
20 mg - 1 day

Will see if it helps.

 

[whatdidyousay]

Sirens are awful.

I never recovered from my exposure last year to multiple fire truck sirens blaring from directly in front of me at a parade a year ago. It wasn't just a brief "passing by," either. The parade traffic was held up and so the trucks stood there blaring the sirens and beeping the horns for about 5-8 minutes straight. Some people were running off holding their ears, but we were really tightly packed in with a bunch of people and were basically stuck in the spot we were standing.

Just one fire siren at 10ft is supposedly 124 - 129 dB and there was a whole fleet of them on the street directly in front of us.

And even before the sirens, there were quite a few marching bands that playec and loud motorcycles and muscle cars that rev'd their engines very frequently.

I used to have tinnitus that was mainly only heard while laying in bed or a silent room, but now I can hear it even with background noise and my hearing in general seems a bit more muffled as well.

 

[vermillion]

It definitely will reduce inflammation / hair cell death, but the rebound immune reaction causing fallout damage is what I'm worried about or screwing up the ionic balance of the inner ear (Prednisone does have some mineral corticosteroid activity unlike Dexamethasone).

May you explain a bit more on that, Matchbox?

 

[vermillion]

Overall compared to pre-fire alarm I'd say I'm worse.

Due to the steroid course?

 

[GBB]

Due to the steroid course?

I think just damage from the noise. I'd say now most days are better than my prior comment (annoying rather than debilitating), and some days are still straight up debilitating.

 

[vermillion]

I think just damage from the noise. I'd say now most days are better than my prior comment (annoying rather than debilitating), and some days are still straight up debilitating.

In that case I wish for your good days to become more and more and more.

It is very important that you got some improvement GBB.

Are you still on Keppra?

 

[GBB]

Are you still on Keppra?

Yes, I've been on it about a month total. It seems to help marginally.

 

[vermillion]

Yes, I've been on it about a month total. It seems to help marginally.

More specifically?
To what extend?

 

[GBB]

More specifically?
To what extend?

With not spiking as much when being on calls for work, listening to music, etc... so reactivity.

 

[vermillion]

With not spiking as much when being on calls for work, listening to music, etc... so reactivity.

That is actually great!

How did you convince your doctor to prescribe Keppra off label?

 

[GBB]

That is actually great!

How did you convince your doctor to prescribe Keppra off label?

It is my neurologist who I see only due to debilitating tinnitus. I suppose I was fortunate she is open minded. I print out studies and we'll discuss whether she is willing to prescribe based on the evidence therein. She draws the line at invasive procedures however, e.g. Botox, PRP, or else I'd have done that by now.

 

[vermillion]

It is my neurologist who I see only due to debilitating tinnitus. I suppose I was fortunate she is open minded. I print out studies and we'll discuss whether she is willing to prescribe based on the evidence therein. She draws the line at invasive procedures however, e.g. Botox, PRP, or else I'd have done that by now.

Is PRP invasive?

Do you happen to be able to share those studies with me, including the one with Keppra (if there's any)?

I'm going to see a neuro in March. I need to do some preparation.

 

[GBB]

Is PRP invasive?

Do you happen to be able to share those studies with me, including the one with Keppra (if there's any)?

I'm going to see a neuro in March. I need to do some preparation.

For Keppra I had no studies, just anecdotal evidence of others. I used studies for Pramipexole, Mirtazapine, and Nortriptyline.

 

[vermillion]

For Keppra I had no studies, just anecdotal evidence of others. I used studies for Pramipexole, Mirtazapine, and Nortriptyline.

Were these of any help for you?
Especially Mirtazapine.

 

[GBB]

Were these of any help for you?
Especially Mirtazapine.

I wouldn't be able to sleep at all without Mirtazapine, so that's essential. The others seemed to help slightly - I've tested getting off them a few times and my tinnitus seems to get louder when I do, so I have to admit there does appear to be an effect.

 

[PeteJ]

Fire alarm went on in my building early this morning waking me up. Quickly put on my earmuffs which are beside my bed. But, I was exposed for about 3 seconds or so.
Dunno how many decibels it is. You/somebody said probably 80 dB on average?

I took Magnesium bisglycinate before leaving the building.

It's really difficult to obtain/be prescribed Prednisone in my country.

Just waiting in the hospital/ER takes hours. My family doctor won't prescribe it so my only hope would be an ER Doctor - I tried a year ago at ER and the Doctor wouldn't give it me.

Should I bother trying (again)? The wait will be hours. I brought my dog with me.

It might work as long as you try it within 48 hours?

I don't want my dog in the car for hours so if I go, I would probably go 2-3 hours from now.

I think I have a spike - my tinnitus is severe but it seems worse somehow. Fucking hell. :-(

How can it spike like this when I used Fucking earmuffs?!?!?? :-(

 

[PeteJ]

Some of the tones just disappeared.

My tinnitus is still horrible but it's like the "new spike" alleviated. It was so weird!

Welcomed but my tinnitus is still horrible. I guess it's nearly back to baseline. I hope it doesn't worsen again. My ears hurt though - the fire alarm caused a definite spike and hyperacusis (I guess the spike bothered me more even though both ears especially the right one hurt).

It's so weird when it's an abrupt, sudden change (of your tinnitus).