First post here :).

Hi,

Let's start then . I googled for information and came across this wonderful resource of information. I have some healthissues going on which are under control by now (thyroïd, heart, depression and ocd). And since years I have tinnitus in my both ears. I was also diagnosed with Ménière disease in january 2013 after some violent onset's of vertigo. I went by myself to the ENT-specialist since I knew it had nothing to do with my neck (like my housedoctor first thought). My neck is quite tensed though, for which I do soft exercises to keep it souple. I also follow taï-chi for nine years and I can't recommend it high enough. I am 40 years, female by the way...

Since about 8 days I suddenly developed something 'strange'. I came back from the taï-chi class on saturday and suddenly my right ear started to whistle when I hear (harder) noises, sounds, voices, even my own voice produces whistling in my ear. Flushing the toilet (pardon). Closing a closet, closing a cardoor. Listening to music. It's truly a nightmare. Sometimes I do feel depressed with it... I went to my ENT, he did some investigations. I had an MRI and a CT-Scan in 2013 which was completely clear. He thinks it might be an infection of my inner ear. So he gave me Celestone 1 mg, in the morning, which I take now for 5 days (after three days I might notice a change, which didn't). No change. I must say that before I got the sudden onset of intolerance to sounds, whistling on sounds, my right ear was sometimes feeling full (like swimming under water) and sometimes whistled very hard. I have the Ménière in my left ear (btw).

When the pills don't work I will get myself a hearing device, since my ability to hear is slowly fading away (especially left, 'my sweet Ménière ear') and I would love to have something that masks my sometimes violent tinnitus. It will be a relief...

I am still doubting if it is 'reactive tinnitus' or 'hyperacusis'. If someone can explain me the difference please feel free to do so . Thanks! My ENT speaks of Hyperacusis, but the whistling on sounds makes me doubt...

I have some apps on my Iphone which helps me. I have one playing right now while typing this story on the forum. Here they are: Tinnitus therapy lite from Sound Oasis (the best in my opinion, has a paid version as well but untill now I am doing it with the 'lite' version), Tinnitus from Phonak and one to let others hear what you're going through: Tinnitus from Appfanz (onemob).

I live in Belgium.
Thanks for this forum!

 

Ménieres Disease is definitely not fun. It is typically diagnosed when 1) there are signs of "reverse ski slope" on an audiogram and 2) episodes of vertigo.

I have myself been through a two month period of cold laser therapy. From my experience with this therapy, I know of other patients with Ménieres disease who benefitted from the same treatment. There will undoubtedly be people on this forum who are opposed to the therapy claiming that it is a scam. Which is why I have posted audiograms here (and the results speak for themselves):

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/my-introduction.1862/#post-39035

The problem that I have with hearing aids is that they blast the (inner) ear with noise, when it is usually noise that created the hearing loss in the first place. How smart is that...? I therefore advise you to do everything you can before opting for hearing aids. Intratympanic steroid injections for Ménieres disease is another option that not all ENTs are aware of. Typically you would need 2-3 injections to halt the progress of the diseases/symptoms. You need to seek out an ENT specialist who knows his/her business. Not all ENTs do.

Reactive tinnitus = tinnitus which is irritated/increased by certain noises.
Hyperacusis = "pain" from certain noises

Take care.

 

Maybe some cases of Meniere are actually bening paraoxysmal positional vertigo, which can be treated? I just spoke about this with a local famous T doctor. Here's my post about it:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-and-tinnitus.4036/

 

No. An ENT would know the difference (and ensure that the paraoxysmal positional vertigo is treated).