I Don't Know What's Happening

Hi folks, so to start bluntly, 2 years ago I had a serious head injury, lost my sense of smell, hearing loss and mild tinnitus. The tinnitus and hearing loss I didn't notice until I realized I couldn't wear headphones and my whistling was echoing. Long story short, its gotten a lot worse and strange the last few months, it feels like hearing loss and a sensitivity to loud sounds at the same time, I'm so confused.

I didn't think to wear hearing protection at work for a couple months which was a mistake, a couple dizzy spells later and my eyes were twitching back and forth uncontrollably a coworker drove me home where I threw up and went to sleep, I've googled and found out nystagmus is a thing I never knew about before. Wasn't vertigo because everything was going side to side and I video tapped my eyes doing this. It didn't come on suddenly but built up for a couple hours.

I went to the hospital since I'm in a rural area and that's all there is. Triage doctor seemed to google on her phone and recite the wiki page for menageries to me and prescribed me a medicine that doesn't exist anymore.

This was all 3 months ago and hasn't happened since, I wear my ears at work. Sometimes my tinnitus fluctuates intensity, the last few days I've barely been able to hear over it and tonight I can't even watch TV it's so loud and so much hearing loss. I'm not an anxious person but it's horrible sometimes thinking it's going to get really bad again and not go away.

 

ER or Urgent Care are not going to be able to do much IMO. They triage and move on to the next emergency.

I would go see an Audiologist and ENT to get a true diagnosis and a plan.

It may also be advisable to look into talking with a therapist to learn how to cope. There is really no down side to this.

...and welcome to the forum !

 

@Kschnitz
I'm sorry to hear about your struggles, sounds very frustrating.
I agree that you need to see an ENT / Neurologist for your issues and not a general doctor in triage. Sounds like you've got a few things going on.
The hearing loss may be what's making the tinnitus seem so loud.
Have you had a hearing test done?
Keep in touch, and please see a specialist as soon as you can.
Sam.

 

Even though I'm not a fan of ENTs you'll have to start somewhere. Next try to keep your body and spirit in check especially when T starts to change it's difficult to deal with. I know mine changes. You have to keep your wits about you that way you'll be able to move forward your body will move and your head will come along.

 

@Kschnitz Have you seen an ENT to study middle ear problems? This can accompany concussion with tinnitus. In post concussion tinnitus situations of more than six months, besides hearing, there may be neck and cranial nerve problems. What tests have you had? If a problem is found within the neck, then therapy may make a difference.