Very Confused and Concerned :(

[M4rk]

Good evening everyone,

I'm desperately reaching out to anyone who may be able to offer a bit of advice.

I've suffered with poor hearing and tinnitus in my right ear on and off now for 8 years, it feels clogged and muffled with a ringing noise and is incredibly frustrating but not particularly painful.

I've been to the ENT department recently and had a CT scan but when I had my meeting last week they said they couldn't find anything so would sign me over to audiology who would give me a hearing aid.

I'm very confused by this as some days (although not many anymore) it isn't bad although the tinnitus never goes away anymore. How is a hearing aid going to help? When I asked what it might be they said possibly stress but surely I haven't been stressed for 8 years :/

Any help or comments is greatly appreciated as I do feel slightly palmed off by the specialist.

 

[GregCA]

How is a hearing aid going to help?

It's going to help your hearing, and maybe make the Tinnitus sound less prominent. The HA may have some masking features to try and target T too.
That's the theory anyway.

 

[glynis]

Hi M4rk,
They must think your hearing loss and stress caused your tinnitus and tinnitus can make hearing fluctuate.
The good news is your scan is clear and nothing nasty shown.
You might have a bit of Eustation tube dysfunction too but better checked with a camera tube up your nose.
A hearing aid can make all the difference to people who find their tinnitus troublesome with hearing loss...lots of love glynis

 

[M4rk]

Many thanks for your replies.

The bit that I found strange was that some days my hearing is fine although recently I always seem to have the tinnitus. At the moment it's really bad and the only way I can describe it is as if I've got a hear defender on one ear.

Yes I was relieved by the CT scan. My wife was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July which sparked me to get the CT scan, she is only 37 and currently undergoing chemotherapy.

 

[M4rk]

When I first saw the specialist he did put something up my nose so I'm assuming that was to check that? Trouble is it isn't always bad. I began to wonder if it was liquid but the specialist didn't seem to think so.

 

[glynis]

Do you have sinus problems or allergies that could create more mucous in your tubes ?...lots of love glynis

 

[M4rk]

Hi Glynis, not that I'm aware of. I have regular sneezing fits for no reason at all but I've always had that and the hearing issue is around 8 years old now.

 

[glynis]

Try a basic allergy tablet as wont hurt to try it and just might help you as will clear any unwanted mucous in your tubes making your ears less full....lots of love glynis

 

[snow47]

Try a basic allergy tablet as wont hurt to try it and just might help you as will clear any unwanted mucous in your tubes making your ears less full....lots of love glynis

I think in these years you knowledge about T is better than doctors .

 

[glynis]

Thank you @snow47......lots of love glynis

 

[GregCA]

The bit that I found strange was that some days my hearing is fine although recently I always seem to have the tinnitus. At the moment it's really bad and the only way I can describe it is as if I've got a hear defender on one ear.

Did you do a hearing test? What does your audiogram look like?

 

[M4rk]

I did do an audio test and they said that my hearing was much worse than my other ear but I didn't see any actual results I'm afraid, sorry.

 

[GregCA]

I did do an audio test and they said that my hearing was much worse than my other ear but I didn't see any actual results I'm afraid, sorry.

What's stopping you from getting your audiogram?

 

[M4rk]

I could ask for it, I hadn't thought about it before as the results wouldn't mean anything to me.

 

[GregCA]

I could ask for it, I hadn't thought about it before as the results wouldn't mean anything to me.

I suggest you get educated on this. It's an important part of your health and well being. Nobody has the incentive that you have to drive the process through a resolution.
Don't expect doctors to chase you down to try and diagnose/cure you. You need to drive, question, challenge. Be active, not passive: the solution isn't going to fall down from the sky one day.

Take your audiogram, and ask the doctor to explain to you what it means. Read up online: there are tons of resources available to understand how to read them.

Sorry if this seems a bit of tough love, but it's a really important topic (at least for me). I don't mean any offense. God helps those who help themselves (funny it comes from an atheist).
8 years! Wow! You're a patient man!

Good luck.