Worried About My Tinnitus Getting Wore When I Get a Cold Again

[Sarah200]

I know it is stupid but I have been really worried about my tinnitus getting worse when I get a cold again. Since my tinnitus was caused by a cold I'm worried that everytime I have a cold it will just keep getting worse?

I've not had a cold since the one that caused my tinnitus back in 2017 but it's the only thing I worry about. I know I shouldn't worry but I can't help it when it's what caused my tinnitus.

Has anyone on here whose tinnitus was caused by a cold ever had another cold and was fine?

 

[JohnAdams]

Keep hand sanitizer on you at all times, and use it everytime you touch anything public and also periodically rub it up your nose and dont just touch your face out of habit. go you start to feel a tingle up your nose, snort a little vodka. It burns but I feel like it really works.

 

[Tinker Bell]

My hearing loss and tinnitus was caused by a cold. I've had several since without any further long term damage. It does spike my tinnitus when I'm sick, but that is not unusual even for people without chronic tinnitus and hearing loss.

Rather than snort vodka . . . I take vitamin C and B12 when I feel a cold coming on.

 

[Sarah200]

Thanks @Tinker Bell, I'm fine if it spikes but just worried if it stays like that so it's good to hear that you haven't had any further damage from colds. It gives me hope that I could be fine.

I shall make a note of vitamin C and B12 recommendation, I couldn't do the vodka thing anyway as I don't drink due to medication I'm on.

 

[MidnightOilAudio]

I know how you feel. I got my T from a cold/ear infection and was absolutely terrified afterwards about how my T would react to future colds. Having small children around me, there is never any shortage of germs.

The good news is, in the time since I've had T (coming up on 4 years), not one single cold of the 10+ I've had in that timespan did anything to my T. The two things that helped me overcome the fear were

1. Be well prepared for your cold. Keep medication on hand (in my case, Allegra-D) to reduce sinus congestion and be sure to limit the duration of the cold and it's severity when it does hit. Rest all that you can, drink plenty of fluids, all that jazz that us responsible adults know we should do but normally don't. Then the cold lasts 7+ days and we wonder why.

2. Realize that I had dozens of colds in my life that did NOT lead to me getting T.

 

[Sarah200]

I know how you feel. I got my T from a cold/ear infection and was absolutely terrified afterwards about how my T would react to future colds. Having small children around me, there is never any shortage of germs.

The good news is, in the time since I've had T (coming up on 4 years), not one single cold of the 10+ I've had in that timespan did anything to my T. The two things that helped me overcome the fear were

1. Be well prepared for your cold. Keep medication on hand (in my case, Allegra-D) to reduce sinus congestion and be sure to limit the duration of the cold and it's severity when it does hit. Rest all that you can, drink plenty of fluids, all that jazz that us responsible adults know we should do but normally don't. Then the cold lasts 7+ days and we wonder why.

2. Realize that I had dozens of colds in my life that did NOT lead to me getting T.

Thanks I'm so glad there are people who have had colds and been fine, makes me not worry as much. I always have sinus issues, even when I don't have a cold and tried everything, but nothing has worked for me.

When I get colds I normally take Sudafed. Do you think that will be ok to take?

 

[Deamon22]

That is also something that worries me alot, i somehow was thinking that every cold from now on makes it progressively worse. However it is reassuring reading the comments. Thanks everyone=).

 

[MidnightOilAudio]

Thanks I'm so glad there are people who have had colds and been fine, makes me not worry as much. I always have sinus issues, even when I don't have a cold and tried everything, but nothing has worked for me.

When I get colds I normally take Sudafed. Do you think that will be ok to take?

I always have sinus issues as well. Sudafed (the over the counter variety) is good, but I would go for Allegra-D since it has more of the active ingredient in Sudafed. It's the stuff they keep behind the counter, because they need to regulate how much of it is sold to one person (the active ingredient in it can be used to make a form of methamphetamine).

 

[Sarah200]

I always have sinus issues as well. Sudafed (the over the counter variety) is good, but I would go for Allegra-D since it has more of the active ingredient in Sudafed. It's the stuff they keep behind the counter, because they need to regulate how much of it is sold to one person (the active ingredient in it can be used to make a form of methamphetamine).

I'm worried I won't be able to have allegra-D as I'm already on antihistamines which is one of the ingredients. I take two a day?

Also I couldn't find it in any of the pharmacies here, does it go by another name in the UK?

 

[MidnightOilAudio]

I'm worried I won't be able to have allegra-D as I'm already on antihistamines which is one of the ingredients. I take two a day?

Also I couldn't find it in any of the pharmacies here, does it go by another name in the UK?

Not sure if it goes by another name in the UK.

Perhaps you can have a friend purchase some ahead of time for you and just keep it on hand? Also, check with your health care provider about the drug interaction between it and what you're currently taking.

 

[Sarah200]

Not sure if it goes by another name in the UK.

Perhaps you can have a friend purchase some ahead of time for you and just keep it on hand? Also, check with your health care provider about the drug interaction between it and what you're currently taking.

I'm seeing my GP next week so I'll ask about it and see if there are any interactions.