Hello Everyone, I'm a New Member Looking for Hope

Hello, I apologise in advance for any mistake I may make writing, since english is not my native language.

Anyway, my history is that just 5 days ago, while playing airsoft, one guy shot me at the top of the
membrane of my left ear (20-30 meter distance I think). It hurt a bit, and I heard a ringing noise that lasted for a few seconds, (around 5 if I remember), anyway, everything was fine until I got that ringing noise again after 6 to 7 hours of being shot, and got very nervous, that sound lasted until I went to sleep, the next 2 days the noise when on and off, also sometines I feel like a "stab" in my ear, it hurts a bit for a 1 or 2 seconds, and then the pain fades away, the problem was that yesterday, the noise was there for the whole day, visited a GP and she said something about a "head trauma" (sorry I don't really know if that was a correct translation), she told me that I have excessive earwax in my left ear and some on my right ear according to her. She told me to take some medicine for 3 days (espidifen), and then for 4 days take some ear drops, I have to say the noise it's a bit annoying even though I can somehow manage with it, my left ear feels "full" sometimes, and a few times a day I still feel like my ear is stabed for a second, I'm waiting until an auditory doctor checks me (in 5 days I'm going to for a check), I'm just telling my history in hopes that some one can tell me if this could cause a permanent tinnitus or what may have happened. Right now the noise is very mild, but I do worry that it may never go away.

On a side note, I've never been in a concert, just to some nightclubs and very far between, (like 1 per mouth), btw my noise is has a high piched tone (sorry for the wall of text and thanks for reading, just trying to give as much information as possible). The only time I may have exposed myself to loud music is during underground travel, when I used to use headphones to listen music, (max 8-10 volume, usually 7), and the duration of such travels are always around 30 minutes, (2 per day), haven't listened to music that much these days, just in case.

If you could somehow tell what chances do I have of getting permanent tinnitus I would appreciate, I know its early to say but I just needed to tell my history, and talk to people who have suffered similar situations. Summary I just want to hear you opinions, thank you.

 

Hmm...well I would say that your Tinnitus wouldn't be permanent...but you should get your ears maybe syringed/cleaned up by an ENT. And if i'm correct did the BB hit you in your ear?

Oh and...a good tip for you since your T is new, try to seek medical help fast and as hard it can be try NOT TO LISTEN OUT for your Tinnitus. I know it's hard but if you try to not keep your thoughts in it...well it gets better. And by better I mean quieter.

 

Yes, top of it, (at the very top edge of the left ear), and thank you for the early response.

 

That's very strange that a small BB hit to the ear would cause Tinnitus. Well my Tinnitus started weirdly as well so I guess we are in the same boat together. Well try to keep some noise like music when you're sleeping and keep yourself busy and see how things progress. I can't really give you any proper tips since i'm fairly new with T and young-aged. But just don't listen out for it, it will start fading away if you keep your mind off from it. I promise you that.

PS. I airsoft as well

 

Thanks for the response again, I really don't know what else could have caused this sudden T, since nothing besides that incident has changed, oh well, it's not too bad right now, (I feel like I just got use to it very fast, which is nice!) I'll see what happens. For now I'll just turn down the volume of all my devices when I use them and hope it's just some earwax that's causing it.

PS. Yep, Airsoft is awesome, too bad it's not very common where I live. I wish you the best of luck. And let's hope it doesn't last for long.

 

It may be a coincidence for BBs to cause that much damage. The game operators will be in big trouble if the BB shot at such distance can inflict such damage. The best thing is get ENT or audiologist to check if you have hearing loss or ear infection. Perhaps do MRI scan to rule out anything serious. If you can get used to it so fast, perhaps you should have confidence you will get better over time. If so, just try to ignore T and go about enjoying your life. This approach will help you speed up recovery. Good luck.

 

Just from the beginning of your paragraph, it's most likely not tinnitus. I suggest you just go see your ENT to get a checkup or something.

Hope I helped enough. :3

 

Thank you for the replies, for now everything goes perfectly fine, despite the noise of course, once I see the audiologist I'll write about my condition more.

PS, It's nice to have people to talk to about this symptom, felt a bit lonely this last monday when it started.

 

Hey, just got an idea. You should ask some drugs/medication from your doctor/ENT that could restore your hearing if you have lost any. I have a mild hearing loss in my Tinnitus ear but it's only on high frequencies so doesn't affect me really in everyday life. But you might have something or somewhat similar.

And yeah this community is pretty awesome gotta say. We aren't alone luckily.

If you're interested to read my story link is in here: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/sudden-tinnitus-and-slight-hearing-loss.11492/#post-144345

 

Well, now that I've been to an audiologist, all I can say is that I really had a lot of earwax, but (got my left ear completly cleansed, he said that my right ear has too much earwax to be cleansed in one session, so I'll have to wait until next monday), anyway, I think that it's highly probable that I got my ears damage because of constant exposure due to my usage of headphones... since I haven't noticed any real improvement. I guess I'll better start habituating then. Also once my ears are have no remaining earwax he'll do a hearing test to see if there is any hearing lost, all I can say is that right now my left ear hurts after all the removal of earwax and that I can still hear the ringing noise in my head.