Hello Lady Di!
This is my first post on the forum so I hope it's a constructive one!
I'm also in the middle of my first cold since developing T, so you have my sympathies. I'm a pharmacist, so right now I'm giving myself the same advice I would give to any patient who consults me in these circumstances.
Firstly, to deal with the increased tinnitus. Any upper respiratory tract viral infection can cause congestion, inflammation, reduced drainage, catarrh and any number of other unpleasant changes in your ear-nose-throat fluid equilibrium. This can dramatically alter those features of your hearing which depend on conduction through bone, tissue and fluid. I'm guessing that right now everything sounds dreadful, and your tinnitus more dreadful than ever, but stay optimistic. There is every reason to believe that your tinnitus, like everything else you are hearing, will settle down to pre-cold levels once all these systems have had the chance to get back to normal, ie, gradually, during the 2-3 weeks after the cold has gone.
In the meantime, what might help?
I would recommend trying an oxymetazoline or xylometazoline nasal spray. Brand names in the UK are things like Sudafed or Otrivine- might be different in US. Try to get one in a proper metered-dose spray, but without menthol etc which can stimulate nerve ends- great for a cold, unless you have tinnitus! This should help all the small blood vessels etc get back on the job of keeping your ENT fluid systems properly drained, and your perception of your tinnitus should abate a little. (I should say here that menthol in sweets and steam inhalations is absolutely fine in tinnitus, just not a solution of it squirted energetically up your nose!)
The sprays are not a treatment for tinnitus, just a useful tool when tinnitus is aggravated by congestion.
Speak to the pharmacist on duty when you buy it to make sure you know it is safe for you, eg, if you are taking medication or have other medical conditions. Limit yourself to four or five days use, after which it is wise to have a break of at least a couple of weeks. In the UK these sprays have an absolute maximum duration of use of seven days. If you go beyond this you are at risk of developing rebound congestion, which makes you want to use the spray for longer, which causes rebound... the cycle can be habit forming, so stop at 4-5 days!
And finally, my favourite home remedy. Take a quarter of a lemon and squeeze the juice into a mug. Add a big dollop of runny honey. Top it up with water from the kettle and give it a good stir.
Something magical happens with this formula. It only happens with real honey, and juice squeezed straight from a real lemon- honey & lemon lozenges or cough syrups just don't measure up. The acid in the fresh lemon reacts with the honey to release organic peroxide compounds which are antiseptic, soothing and taste great. Hug the mug for comfort, inhale the steam to clear your sinuses, and let the soothing honey and lemon trickle over your sore throat. This should bring a few minutes welcome relief and make you feel a bit less miserable.
I'm off to take my own advice...
Member
), but it's nice to complain to/with people who understand!! I too have a bad cold and my T is going Richter!! What's up with that 
?? Anyhow, lots of fluids, sleep and hot tea with honey and lemon!!
