2 Weeks with Tinnitus in Right Ear, Day 2 in Left

Hi everyone!

I had stumbled upon this forum a number of times in the last few weeks (reading mostly about how tinnitus is permanent) and kind of hid away for a bit. I thought since it’s been 2 weeks it’s about time I introduce myself to everyone since I believe that tinnitus might just be in my life forever.

The way I got tinnitus was actually an odd and maybe funny story to some. I was at my best friend’s house, watching a funny video, when I laughed and swayed my head back because I couldn’t breathe (video was hilarious). As a result of swaying my head back I banged a side of it on the corner ledge of my friend’s windowsill (very sharp, very painful). All I felt was pain from the hit, no ringing, no dizziness actually. Just applied some ice and went about my day. WELL, next day comes around and I started to feel dizzy; basically had all the symptoms of a mild concussion so I decided to go to the ER. I described pain in my left ear but no ringing, just a sense of fullness and a sharp pain deep in the canal. The doctor explained this was normal and a symptom of the concussion. I was told to limit my screen time and listen to music at moderate volumes. So I did! 4 days later I woke up in the middle of the night to intense ringing in my right ear... and so it began.

I woke up. Ringing still there. I thought maybe it would go away in a few days, or maybe that it would come and go, but I heard it 24 hours a day... After about 10 days I had a mental breakdown. I drove off in the middle of the night, and while driving down the highway I screamed and cried because all I wanted was for the noise to stop. I probably shouldn’t have screamed because I woke up the following morning with ringing in my left ear. I now have tinnitus in both ears and am extremely worried and sad that I might have to deal with this for the rest of my life. I’m only 20 years old, so thinking about missing out on concerts, movie dates, and my 21st birthday the way I wanted it to be, really sucks. Not to mention my ringing is always accompanied by fullness in my ear, so that’s fun. My doctor is a really cool guy, he suffers from tinnitus in one ear and assured me that the ringing would go away, but after so much trauma (especially with the screaming) I feel like there is no hope. I can’t sleep, I can’t concentrate, and I worry as to how I’m going to be able to finish my senior year of college with this. I was so depressed about it I almost thought about dropping out of college because it seems impossible to focus nowadays.

Nonetheless, the ringing had interfered with my life and my relationships. I have thought about suicide many times especially after reading that there is no cure. To those that have dealt with this for years and years, I respect you so much. Not a day has gone by where I have not cried or thought about ending my life. My hope is pretty much gone at this point. However, life is so beautiful, I don’t want to give up due to a ringing in my ears. While it is annoying and bothersome, I want to be able to fight tinnitus’ ass by not letting it bother me, one day at a time.

This is a little out of topic but does anyone experience popping in their ears with tinnitus? My ears constantly feel full, almost as if something in my ear was inflamed :/

 

Contrary to what you may have read, the majority of tinnitus cases do resolve themselves in time!

Two weeks is such a short space of time, I honestly wouldn’t really worry too much at this point.

Have you been tested for hearing loss?

 

Hi! Thank you so much for the response. As of right now I have not been tested for hearing loss, as it takes weeks to even be able to see an ENT or audiologist :/ I had a lot of earwax in my left ear so I thought the wax could have caused the ringing; I went to my doctor and had a cleaning. As of right now my ear hurts like crazy and I want to cry, te ringing got worse so I’m hoping the cleaning didn’t permanently damage my ear. Hoping for the best as well, thank you x

 

Hey man, don't worry too much about it. Since you don't have a history of noise trauma your chances of recovering is quite high. Give it time.