Desperate for Advice: Recurring Pressure Episodes, Reactive Tinnitus, and 4-Year Struggle with Unexplained Ear Symptoms

DimLeb

Member
Author
Jun 20, 2021
386
Tinnitus Since
03/2021
Cause of Tinnitus
Idiopathic Cochleopathy or Maybe Loud Music
Hi all,

I'm desperate for any guidance or even just a few words of encouragement. I feel completely lost. My story is long and complicated, but I'll try to explain it clearly.

For the past 4 years, I've been dealing with tinnitus that is usually mild but unstable. I also get loud sound bursts that last about half a second, muscle spasms in the ears that respond to sounds or happen on their own, recurring pressure or blocked sensations, possible problems with the Eustachian tubes, brief one-sided tinnitus, occasional imbalance, and dizziness. It feels like I've experienced nearly every possible ear symptom, and no one knows why.

The symptom that worries me the most is a repeating episode that comes every few months. One happened in October 2023, another in October 2024, then again on June 1st, and most recently on July 22nd. There have been more episodes too. During each one, one of my ears becomes full or clogged, and I sometimes notice a change in hearing, a bit of hearing loss, a new tinnitus tone, or increased sensitivity to sound. I never get spinning or actual vertigo, but the other symptoms are still very distressing.

Usually, these episodes last about an hour, and then things return to normal. But yesterday's lasted about 5 or 6 hours. It brought on a severe metallic tinnitus tone around 4 kHz. It reacted to ordinary sounds like running water, voices, or even the sound of my feet moving across the floor. In silence, it disappeared, but when it was there, it was unbearable. I genuinely started thinking about ending my life.

It really seems like something related to fluid pressure in the inner ear or some unusual form of Meniere's disease. But my ear doctor completely dismisses that. He says it is probably due to mild migraine activity, blood flow issues, autoimmune factors, or just stress. He keeps saying it is nothing to worry about.

My hearing tests usually show no hearing loss up to 16 kHz. I take several vitamins every day along with Betaserc, but none of that has helped. I also once had an episode in 2022 where I heard some sounds differently in each ear. That lasted only a few hours, but I thought it was worth mentioning here.

Sorry for the long post, but I really wanted to be as accurate and detailed as possible. Thanks so much for reading.
 
Welcome to the forum. Tinnitus often comes with unstable ears, which can lead to new or changing symptoms that can be very frightening. This can cause significant emotional distress, making it even harder to live with tinnitus and possibly hyperacusis.

I want to share my success story with you to offer some hope. I also included some strategies that helped me, and I hope they might help you in some way too.

Hang in there. Take care of yourself, and may your recovery come quickly.

 
Welcome to the forum. Tinnitus often comes with unstable ears, which can lead to new or changing symptoms that can be very frightening. This can cause significant emotional distress, making it even harder to live with tinnitus and possibly hyperacusis.

I want to share my success story with you to offer some hope. I also included some strategies that helped me, and I hope they might help you in some way too.

Hang in there. Take care of yourself, and may your recovery come quickly.

Well, I am not new to the forum. I actually posted my first message around this time four years ago, and I am well aware of your post. I read the forum almost every day, especially now during these desperate times. I am truly sorry for the unfortunate things that have happened to you. Positivity and habituation sound good in theory, but unfortunately, if you are hit every now and then with disturbing events like what I described in my post, that approach becomes almost impossible.

Anyway, thanks for messaging!
 

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