Having a Bad Cold / Sinuses Full — My First Illness-Related Spike

Hi all,

If you look at my past history I only ever posted once, basically when I was venting and moaning! But now it's been over 2 years since I developed T and, for the last year or so, life has been good. I achieved almost complete habituation to the point the noises no longer bothered me and I got my life back on track.

But now I feel like I'm being dragged right back into this. Over the past few days I've developed a bad cold and all my sinuses have become blocked, meaning that I've now got that horrible full/blocked feeling back in my ears that just doesn't go away. Thinking logically, I know that the feeling has reminded me of how bad everything was and has meant my anxiety has returned. Because of that I've also started noticing the noises a lot more again and my ears have gone back into what I call "sensitive mode".

My question is this, is such an occurrence normal for people with T when they get a particularly bad cold? Plus, is it likely to receede (similarly to stress spikes) when the cold goes away?

Thanks for taking the time to read this,

Michael x

 

Really struggling with this atm, so any replies would be greatly appreciated

Michael x

 

Hi Michael, sorry to hear your having a rough time. I am as well for the same reason, sinuses been bothering me lately so my T has ramped up and the anxiety reared it's ugly head at me once again. I'm about 1,5 years in and yes I have had a cold induced spikes earlier that went back down. But still I do feel slightly stressed over my spike at the moment, as I'm always scared that it will not subside in the end. I do think it's easy for us to emotionally connect to how panicky we first felt when first developing T, so I think your reaction is perfectly normal. Try to stay busy as much as possible and just take it one day at a time. Good luck!

 

Hi Michael,
A virus in your system and nose can spike tinnitus as your ears and nose and throat are all connected.
Try a mucous linctus and steam inhalation.
This spike will pass so try stay calm and not let anxiety take hold.
Lots of nice treats keep your chin up...lots of love glynis

 

Hi Michael - I am going through this very thing at the moment. A sickness brought upon my T (onto existing hyperacusis) and now a new cold has spiked my T into an insanely invasive tone that pulses back into life when I'm not careful, or even if I'm doing nothing at all.

For me the anxiety is about the idea of the sound never changing. Always being there in the exact same way. But the sound, it changes--even if it's just our minds doing the changing. Cold comfort maybe, but that thought "takes the edge off" for me.

Hang in there, you're not alone.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm coughing less and my nose isn't running anymore, but the top of my nose & forehead still feel full of pressure, so I assume that's why my ears are still full and loud. All I can do is wait it out...
I read somewhere that the ears are the last part to go back to normal after a cold, so that's calming me down somewhat. It's also helped to read that this is a common temporary phenomenon for T sufferers during a cold.

 

hi there,

I have had a sinus type infection since 26th December, and it has increased my Tinnitus greatly. Im told it may take 5 weeks to 3 months for my Sinus to clear, but it depends on which doctor you talk to.

Having had low Tinnitus previously, just like you this has knocked me for six. I am going through the worst time I have ever experienced.

Frustratingly, asking a doctor what may cause the Sinus infection they dont seem to really know.

All the best you.

Kind Regards.

Chimp.

 

Same for me, nose and head feels full. But no sneezing or coughing.

 

Any follow ups? I'm going through the same situation. 10 days post head cold but spike is hanging on. some days better than others but definite spike from my baseline of the past 8 years. If you went back to baseline T, how long did it take? Thanks