A Pattern of Tinnitus Coming and Going Away: Now Accompanied by Ear Pain and a Build Up of Ear Wax

Hi everyone. I hope you’re all having a good Sunday.

I started having tinnitus around 2008. There was no particular reason and it seemed to go away by itself. I had a repeat in 2012 when I was sent to an ENT specialist. They couldn’t find any particular cause and once again it went away, only to return very severely in 2016.

It seems to be following a four year pattern, as I have had it again for the past month in my right ear accompanied by a lot of pain. I saw my GP two days ago and she could not even see my eardrum, due to a build up of wax. I obviously hate the constant ringing in my ear and the pain, but the worst symptom is feeling completely spaced out as if I’m not really here. I feel as though I’m in a constant dream-like state and it really scares me. Can anyone else relate to this feeling please?

Thanks for reading,
Alison.

 

Not so much the feeling but there are times when I feel spaced out. Now let's take a moment talk about that wax build up. For what it worth if you search this site you will find people who have had wax removed by any means they have developed serious tinnitus. My suggestion is is pure olive oil which you should find in health food shop. Olive oil that we use most of it contains bacteria and should be avoided. A few drops of warm oil will loosen the wax. The last thing you want is for some eejit to remove it in a solid form. Hope this helps.

Elmer

 

It's probably a good idea to get that earwax removed, since it seems like it could actually be the problem here. I also had tinnitus caused by earwax impaction long ago before getting it permanently 10 years later.

DO NOT let them use the syringing method, and be very careful with the irrigation method as well. They can cause tinnitus. Insist on manual removal with a tool if possible.

And sure, tinnitus makes you spaced out. It can make life feel very surreal, I'd say that's normal. I guess the amount of conscious and unconscious attention we give to the tinnitus sound makes the brain tired. Perhaps the brain can't rest even when we're asleep since our audiotory system is active at all times.

 

HI @ALISON MANN

Many things can cause tinnitus including a build-up of wax. It is important to have this removed as it can cause tinnitus and possibly the spaced out feeling you speak of. The removal of earwax should be done correctly and with caution otherwise there is a risk of making the tinnitus louder. Apply eardrops using a Pipette or Earol which comes in a convenient spray 3x a day to both ears for 7 to 10 days to thoroughly soften the wax, before it is removed either at your GP surgery by ear-irrigation or at hospital ENT using Microsuction. I strongly advise you not to go to specsavers or any high-street clinic to have the wax removed. Get this done via the NHS as I assume you live in the UK.

Hopefully this should stop the tinnitus and the spaced out feeling. Exposure to loud noise can often cause tinnitus and typically, it results from listening to music through headphones/earbuds at too high volume. If you are not a regular user of headphones/earbuds and don't use a headset, nor exposed to other forms of loud noise then you probably don't have noise induced tinnitus. However, I advise you not to listen to music through headphones for now even at low volume. Please click on the links below and read my articles that you might find helpful.

I am hopeful that once the wax is removed you'll be okay, but please take the precautionary measures of applying ear-oil in the manner I've suggested to each ear before the wax is removed.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

 

Thank you all for your advice. I’ve been putting olive oil in my ear for the past few days, so hopefully it will start to help soon. I have suffered from vertigo for many years, so have no desire to have my ears syringed as squirting liquid into my ear has induced severe vertigo in the past.

When I’ve suffered tinnitus previously I haven’t felt as surreal as I currently do, nor have I had the headache that I’m experiencing. I never listen to music through headphones and have not been anywhere noisy, so I guess that it’s being caused solely by the build up of wax.

I shall be patient and hope that things improve soon.

Thank you again for your kind words,

Alison.