24/7 Tinnitus for 6 Weeks (ish) — From Stress, Doxycycline or Hammering Nails?

Hi Guys,

Guess I’ll start with the basics. I’m a 29 year old female who has been suffering from ongoing and sporadic joint/nerve pain for the past 2 years. Apart from this, I would consider myself heathy, within the normal weight range and enjoy physical activity when my body allows.

I have had a relatively quiet 5 years since becoming a mum. However, I have been under quite a bit of stress the past few years. To explain a little, I lost my mother in law to brain cancer after being her primary carer for almost a year when my partner was working in a different city. My brother then suffered a brain haemorrhage in December 2020. I have also been studying at university, raising my daughter, running my own business, and dealing with this ongoing (and annoyingly still undiagnosed) chronic pain.

My tinnitus began almost 6 weeks ago. At the time I was on Doxycycline for suspected Lyme disease although I only took 4 tablets before onset and then ceased the treatment and opted to have a test done and wait for results. I also developed a shingles rash a week after the tinnitus began which was later treated with antivirals.

I don’t know if these are just coincidences as I think my tinnitus was caused by hammering nails to make a raised bed (outside), as I first noticed it about 30 minutes after this. Does anyone have any opinions on what they think is the most likely cause? Maybe a mixture of all 3?

I also drive a van which using my dB meter measures between 80 - 90 dB at times :O! I say this is used in 30 minute stints for about 3-7 hours per week. Although the weeks before my onset I did not use it at all as the weather was good (cycling). I have also never had ringing, ear fullness, etc after driving.

Initially my tinnitus started in my right ear, it was reactive to the sound of water. High pitched pure tone. The reactivity calmed down then about a week later a new tone higher in pitch came into my left ear. Currently, during the day I only hear noise in my right ear (although the left plays up an night) I would say it has improved, can be masked more easily and sounds more like computer fan, although I’m not sure if I’m just getting used to it? When I put ear plugs in it still seems pretty loud. Particularly bad when trying to sleep hence my post at 2:30am. Both ears feel full/clogged/irritated.

I do not use headphones and hardly listened to music now. However, before my daughter I was a regular at clubs (weekly for 3 years) and of course the after party’s which lasted days after. I don’t ‘remember’ any ringing after/during this time.

I would appreciate any advice particularly on when to wear ear plugs. I live on a Main Street in Glasgow. It’s noisy - sirens, cars beeping, lost of events, people singing etc. Should I use them every time I go outside?

I am thankful that it’s not as bad as some peoples, and am also grateful to have such a wonderful daughter who has not raised her voice once and been so loving. The only respite I get from this horrible thing is my time spent one on one with her. In fact, the other night we were playing, I was putting on a brave face, when she just turned to me and said - “don’t worry mum your ears will get better, they just need to rest”. I am so proud of her. I suppose having knowledge of this condition will at least allow me to take the necessary steps to protect her in the future.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Hi honey. Sorry about your trouble and family health.

Sounds like you have some good things in your life and the reactivity going away is a big bonus too.

The hammering could very well be the trigger, but hammering outside isn’t that loud so you would probably have had another thing happening sooner or later to trigger it. Be careful outside around traffic and such for a while.

It would be a good idea to wear those earplugs on the streets for some months.
Or if you don’t want to, at least over the ear headphones. They do take up some higher nasty frequency like sirens and circle saw if you were to pass it accidentally. I’m probably the only one here to suggest over the ear headphones --- of course they are not earmuffs.

If you go that route, find some headphones that sits well on you. I have Bose and they go all around my ears and sit closed to my skull, going also behind the ear.

I find driving with headphones nice to take some noise away. But during motorcycle season I drive with earmuffs. Which is horrible btw

 

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. This is really driving me crazy. For some reason, not knowing what caused it is really weighing me down. Cumulative noise exposure is what my gut is telling me, but then I have been under so much stress to the point where this level of stress now feels ‘normal’ but when I look back I have definitely changed a lot in the last few years. I hope my ears can hear to a point where I can live a bit more normally or at the very least sleep without medication...

I appreciate your opinion on headphone usage although there seems to be those who are extremely against it. It’s all a bit confusing. To be honest I’ve never been big into headphones but might give them a try to take the edge off those sounds. The earplugs have been ok, but I find it really difficult to interact with my daughter while wearing them, her voice just gets lost in the tinnitus noise which must be frustrating for her. I also worry about her getting lost, with one of your senses dulled it feels a bit scary since we live in a busy city. I am also not able to figure out how loud I am talking/if she is just ignoring me ha!

Earmuffs on the bike sound interesting! My motorcycle days were over the moment I found out I was pregnant. Although, I have been wearing ear plugs while on my bicycle but that also takes a bit of getting used to.

Just never realised how loud the world is.

 

Hi again

Yeah it’s flicking loud and unfair...

I was maybe not clear enough.

I meant use headphones as protection. Not playing anything!
I would hesitate to use noise cancellation too. Just keep it dead.
You’ll find it easier to hear your daughter and not so claustrophobic as earplugs. Although earplugs are safer.

Also I don’t drive motorcycles

I’m an extreme case so I use earmuffs inside my car because of the motorcycles. If you’re not very sensitive to noise that’s overkill probably. Except if your vehicle is very loud.

 

Hi @Exit. Sorry for the late reply. Not much has changed apart from I now hear my heartbeat in my right ear! Is this common after high pitched tinnitus onset? My GP said I shouldn’t be concerned and I am probably just paying too much attention to that area? But why only the right ear? That ear also feels full and sore. Although my ear looks ‘ very healthy’.

I was prescribed Amitriptyline for sleep and to calm my nerves but am afraid to take it. Do you know anyone with experience of this drug? Have you ever taken any anti anxiety medication? Wondering which one is best. Any advice?

To add insult to injury, I have just been offered my dream job and looks like I will have to decline the offer as I cannot imagine myself taking on anymore stress. This is a nightmare.

Sorry for the long list of questions. Feel like I am on a slippery slope just now.