At what point should I be alarmed?

I've been dealing with this ringing on and off since last year. I had a bad episode where one ear was clogged and ringing for several months. I assumed I had an ear infection since the incident stated with a sharp pain in my left ear. My doctor told me it was a mix of allergies and getting old and I could learn about masking devices. She did prescribe something for swimmers ear since she saw irritation. The ear finally unclogged and the ringing toned down a few months later and life started to normalize. A few months back the ringing came back. I also noticed I have been having issues hearing. I went back to the doctor and after an in office hearing test that showed loss of low frequency hearing she sent me to an ent. The audiologist at the ent confirmed the low frequency hearing loss. The ent told me that the ringing was not caused by allergies but by fluid in the inner ear. I am now on a low sodium diet and diuretics. I have an mri scheduled next week.
Last week I woke up with the ear pain in the left ear again. The ringing has taken on a whole new intensity. It is so loud and high pitched it sounds like an alarm in my ear and I'm feeling dazed and confused. In addition I have a twitch in my left eye and a bad neck ache. When I try moving my neck the ringing changes and the eye twitches more. To top things off I also have a jaw ache on the right side and the right ear is ringing and clogged.
I have no trust left in my primary care doctor. I'm at a higher level of misery than usual and I'm scared that I may lose hearing in my other ear. I don't know if the neck ache and other new symptoms are something I should be more concerned about or if I should just wait this out until my mri next week. Is this multiple issues converging on my ears?
If anyone has any advise I'm willing to listen - as much as I can anyways.

 

I'm very sorry to hear about this but have any of your doctors said anything about menieres disease. I don't mean to alarm you but you should get that ruled out if you have not. Also stress can exacberate the ear pain, which can be caused by tensor tympani syndrome but this usually dies down over time. It did for me. It's good that you are getting the mri done hopefully that will answer some questions, I would search online and find a specialist unfortuantley primary care doctors are usually not very helpful when it comes to these things please keep us updated and good luck

 

The doctor and audiologist both suggested meniere's which is why I'm on the low sodium diet and diuretics - 3 weeks now. The change in the frequency and intensity with the other symptoms combined with the existing issues are what's scaring me. I also know I am a tooth grinder - my dentist made me a sleep guard but it's so tight I don't wear it because it hurts my jaw. The low sodium diet appeared to be helping but then it all came back with a vengeance and brought new symptoms and issues in the other ear. And I know the stress over the ears is not helping the ears....
I'm only 40, don't listen to loud music and I've almost dealt with the issues in one ear - but now that the other ear is having issues - I think I'm going to lose it...

 

Try not stress, easier said then done. Butonce you know what's going on you'll have a better idea of how to handle it all.

 

Sorry if I come off as crazy. I refuse to lose hearing in both my ears. Someone has to know how to fix this.

 

You don't come off as crazy just someone looking for answers which I wish ihad for you

 

The sudden change in symptoms and intensity is freaking me out a bit. I tried to take a nap earlier and the sound intensified to the point where it woke me up. I may be having a migraine and it's intensifying the sound? Or a sinus infection?
It's amazing how debilitating a stupid sound in your head can be. I've had to take so many days off from work.

 

And if it's not the sodium thing I'm going to be pretty ticked. I miss salt.

 

Keep in mind that doctors sometimes say Meniere's when they really mean a more generic problem (known as endolymphatic hydrops). Meniere's can be pretty brutal, though it tends to burn itself out after a while. But it is relatively rare. You don't qualify for a Meniere's diagnosis. The hallmark is episodes of extreme vertigo--room spinning or you spinning, falling down, unable to function.

Instead there is a range of things confusable with Meniere's. None are as bad. Some are quite treatable, such as secondary endolymphatic hydrops caused by allergies.

I would see a neurotologist. That is an ENT who has specialized in the inner ear. Most will identify themselves as vestibular or balance experts.

Another thing that sometimes fits your symptoms is migraine. This is not the headache kind, but a type that affects the inner ear.

Salt restriction and diuretic may help if it it any sort of hydrops.

Of course, it can also just go away...

Jim

 

Thank you. I'm a little more coherent today. I don't have vertigo. About 5 years ago I had a 2 month spell of extreme vertigo where I would get up and my entire body would just wretch around from the spinning.
This morning the symptoms have subsided down, but there is still running in both ears - louder in the left but nowhere near the alarm that was screaming last night. Everything sounds underwater today. I'm always worried when the loud ringing thing happens - that that's the sound of those precious little hairs in my inner ear screaming out as they are dying.
I will see what they come up with at the mri and the follow up appointment the week after.