Why Do I Have This?

[Saturn]

Hello, I'm new and I'm going to search the threads but I would like to post my case and see if anyone has some answers.

In August this year, I had an ear a double ear infection. After it cleared up I was left with this constant whooshing Sound in my left ear only, it resembles like a heartbeat sound. There is no pain associated with it. Sometimes some pressure but that's rare.

In September, I went to my Doctor and told him what was going on with my ear and he told me to take antibiotic and then gave me a referral to the ENT if the antibiotics don't help. I kept putting it off hoping it would just go away.

In Now it's been 5 months. Scheduled the appointment for the ENT and I went today and he checked my ear said nothing bad there and did an audiology test which came back kind of normal. Just a few minor issues. He told me my hearing was on the low side of normal but this is a degenerative issue of the ear hairs. That my brain will eventually block out the sound. And that he has to monitor my hearing each year.

It is not painful, but a constant sound in my left ear, in the day time I can block it out but before bed I always hear it.


I should have asked more questions because what the hell. I just have to live with this and I have next to no explanation. It's pretty frustrating. It's not like a normal ringing sound that you have on and off. I have had that- this is like a loud muffled heartbeat whooshing on a daily basis.


So please if anyone has any experience with this I would love if you could help me out. I'm going to keep trying to do some research.

I included a note I wrote for the doctor but I left my house without it. Which was stupid. Basically reiterated everything I already said but just in case I missed anything.

 

[Onsdag]

I just have to live with this and I have next to no explanation.

Dude, this. You explained tinnitus in one sentence. Afraid none of us have answers, sucks....

 

[newbieT]

@Saturn Sorry to disappoint you but he's right there are no definitive answers in T. No one can tell you if when or how your T will change. And unless the cause is obvious like sudden noise trauma, it is hard to pin down the cause as well.

The best course of action is to look for things to avoid like caffeine, alcohol, ototoxic drugs and loud noises to risk worse tinnitus.

Also ENTs are useless (not their fault). I told my ENT that I read there isn't really anything that can be done about tinnitus and he nodded and said that's correct.

 

[DebInAustralia]

We all want answers, to make sense of difficult situations.

My t started after an ear infection that was treated with an ototoxic medication; cipro.

Which antibiotic did you take?

I think the ear infection and possibly an ototoxic antibiotic (?preexisting hearing loss) would have contributed to your current situation.

It was explained to me in the beginning that when there is a loss of external input to the brain (as in the case of conductive hearing loss), your brain will dial up its listening volume, at which point you have met your t. (in the event of a preexisting hearing loss)

Is your t somatic? can you modulate your PT with facial movements?