Dang ringing in my ears, anyone else?

[david.avery]

Hey all

I'm 37, and I've been diagnosed with Tinnitus, stemming from a very very bad ear infection over the summer. It was nasty, I woke up at 3 am with the feeling that an alien was trying to exit my head through my ear. So bad, I drove myself to a ER to have it looked at.

Anyhow, my eardrum ruptured, and I lost all hearing in that ear for two months. The hearing slowly returned, and is probably at 75% of what it was. What also came is a very loud 5KHz whine in my head.

I am seeing a specialist, and even had an MRI to make sure there were no turmors in there affecting my middle ear. Nothing there, but I am pretty unhappy, especially when I am in a quiet environment. The opinion is that the hairs in my cochlea were damaged by the severe infection.

My doctor states that there are no real solutions for this, so I wanted to pick your collective brains. Has/does anyone had/have this? Did it go away in time, anything you can suggest (excluding wearing a hearing aid or bio-feedback witchery)

Thanks

-DMA

[Victor]

Yes - I had the same thing at around age 27 (am 35 now). Mystified as to what bought it on but it got so bad that I ended up with Menier's syndrome and could not stand up for a couple of weeks. I to had the MRI scan to make sure there where no tumors or anything else untoward. Very hard to explain to someone who has not had it - but I can assure you it's the worst feeling I have ever had.

Anyhow, gradually, it just wore off and went away. You should (if you are not already) go see a ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialist.

[RickM]

Wow, I can't help but I hope things work out for you. Sounds like the constant whine would drain you completely.

[david.avery]

Thanks Victor

Yes, I have a new relationship with Dr. Wang, my ENT, who ordered the MRI. Thanks for the feedback, I do hope it goes away!

BTW, MRI's suck, I would rather get a root canal!

[Victor]

The worst thing was the selection of "Music" they had available while being shoved down that hole. Somebody euthanise Celine Dion, Shania Twain and Michale Bolton.

Best of luck I hope it just heals naturally for you too.

[Instrument 41]

I have that ringing in both ears. Caused from having 22 sets of tubes in my ears back in the 60's. I have just learned to ignore it. It gets really bad at night when I lay down to go to bed. I swear if other could hear what I hear they would go nuts.

[M.D. Holloway]

Had a buddy get the same thing after he stuck his head in the speaker at a Twisted Sister concert at Toads Place in New Haven CT. This was back in 1980. He still has a dull whining. He says he is used to it and it only bothers him if someone mentions it.

I make it a point to call him up and ask him about it every month or so. What can I say, I'm a concerned friend!

[Schrup]

I've been dealing with it for about 20 years. I think mine was caused from buttrock concerts & F-16s. I've gotten used to it, the only time it really bothers me is when I try to go to sleep. I have a police scanner I keep on my night stand with an ear bud to help me get to sleep.

[Rodeo]

Originally posted by Schrup
I have a police scanner I keep on my night stand with an ear bud to help my get to sleep.

That explains the avatar ...

[Wrecked944]

My ears ring as well. I find that ginko actually reduces the ringing. I am usually skeptical of "herbal " remedies - but this one is for real. Also noticably improves my memory.

I recall an article from a relatively reliable source a few yeas ago (maybe CNN) that said a new therapy was being developed - some sort of "phase cancellation" therapy that would stop the "cochlea hairs" from freaking out. I wish I still had the link...does it sound familiar to anyone?

[einreb]

Originally posted by david.avery
Yes, I have a new relationship with Dr. Wang.

Any relationship to my dentist? Dr. Dong?

-b

[M.D. Holloway]

in the ear, in the mouth.... 220/221 - what ever it takes

what the heck is his wifes Ob/Gyn named?

[Drago]

Mulva or Delorese, I can't remember which.

[Victor]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
Had a buddy get the same thing after he stuck his head in the speaker at a Twisted Sister concert ..

ROCKIN' ROLL!

[david.avery]

I wish it was from something stupid I did, like wearing a Marshal stack for a hat, or revving a 911 to 9K with open pipes, but it's from nothing.

The scary thing is that something like this can come along and grab one of your senses. I know there are worse things out there, but it is not fun trying to sleep when you have a tone generator built-in to your head.

[KevinG]

I've had Tinnitus for about 30 years now. I hope yours is only temporary - mine obviously isn't.

Mine is definitely due to having an a**hole for a roommate in college. We were fooling around in a WW2 jeep hunting ground squirrels with 22's. He couldn't wait his turn and let loose with 6 hot 357 rounds about 4 inches left of my ear. Lots of pain and a ringing that has never gone away.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Coworker of mine has it from years and years of loud concerts.

She keeps the TV on all night.

[tdatk]

I have pretty much constant ringing in both ears as well and have sought relief for 10 + years with 0 long term results. Don't throw away any more money at it,as I am throughly convinced that MOST doctors can't fix anything other than draining your bank account. I only seek "medical advice" if it's bleeding or proteuding through the skin type of injurys anymore as the system no longer works.

In other words, or in the advice of my current physician..... "You'll just have to deal with it ... you are getting older you know"
rant over

[campbellcj]

Damn, now I feel really lucky to not have the tinnitus. I too had a perfed T.M. (eardrum) several years ago, due to a gnarly infection. Couldn't hear or swim for months and sleeping was difficult. However, the membrane healed eventually and I don't have any residual ringing or pain, but I do have pretty serious hearing attenuation at some frequencies in that (left) ear. I don't think the loud music and loud cars over the years have helped either... It is basically bad enough where it's a struggle to hear the TV or conversations at normal volumes if I plug the other ear -- which thankfully is still in very good shape.

Sorry, I know my post didn't help your situation one bit, but this is a topic I follow pretty closely (esp. as I am still around the loud music, loud cars, firing ranges, power tools, airports....)

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I got it from various sets of tubes in my ears as a child, 100W full stacks and also way too many punk and industrial shows.

Sometimes it's rather painful, most of the time its ignorable