Are Ears More Vulnerable to Noise-Induced Damage When Infected?

I'm going to my first concert tomorrow since T and I've had a bit of pain in my left ear which is worse when I lean down making me think it might be a bit infected. Will this put me at greater risk? I don't see how it could really but worth asking!

Thanks for any help.

 

Do you have to take the risk? Skip the concert to be sure nothing happens?

 

@geg1992 I do have to say that I think personality has some kind of connection to all this; the people I know who have had T for a long time and continued to go to shows without trouble, are not the kind of people prone to sitting around obsessing over every little sensation and change. That is, even if you go, protect your ears, and don't harm them physically... if it causes you to become more obsessive about your T and monitor it more, then it might seem like it's made it "worse" anyway, and this is a case where perception really crafts reality.

Because I am also prone to rumination, I don't go to shows the way I used to, by a long shot! I also wouldn't let my ear stuff hold me back from one if one of the handful of bands that I've followed for decades happened to be playing near me... but that's a personal decision (and if it turned out to be an "unreasonably" loud show, I would definitely turn around and leave). Point of fact I think I've been to maybe a half dozen concerts in the half dozen years since my T became an obstacle, and prior to that I probably went to one a month.

 

Thanks for your input as always and j agree completely. There's two kinds of people with tinnitus, those who obsess and those who don't. Unfortunately I obsess too much. I'm taking a decibel meter so hopefully that will give me guidance. I really don't want to miss this, though. Even if it's just a few songs - it's a 2 hour set mind you!

 

@geg1992 could you let us know how it was and if aything changed afterwards?

 

It's tonight, I'll let you know!

 

I still wouldn't do it mate,trust me I learned the hard way and once the damage is done there's no going back.But of course,that's completely your call and I wish you the best.

 

I think T in general makes the risks so much higher not infections. But the fact you are still on this forum and having to ask the question suggests you are not confidant that it will not harm you.

 

Hi Zora. All went well and had a fantastic time. No real spike, maybe slightly louder but that's to be expected and I'm sure it will settle down.

 

Glad to hear that did you measurenhow loud it was ?

 

It was mostly around 97-102db, and went up to 115ish when there were explosion things for effect.

The earplugs and ear defenders worked well although didn't block out very much of the bass frequencies.

 

@geg1992 you wore the -33db reduction foam plugs?

 

I wore those with ear defenders on top.

 

I really appreciated this topic. I am a musician (drummer) who is scared to play now that I have T (18 months now, and not bc of my own playing). I just joined a new group and I will probably put two of the -33 db foamers in each ear, but I don't want this to get worse. We'll see.