I Was Starting to Come to Terms with My Tinnitus Before This New Intermittent High-Pitched Noise

Hello everyone!

I've had tinnitus since spring last year. I'm not sure what caused it, the only thing that comes to mind is the flu I had shortly before, because my ears and nose were really stuffed for several days. I've been to different ENTs several times since then, and my hearing and my ears seem to be fine.

My tinnitus has been fluctuating since day one, and it has never been one consistent noise, but it always stayed in the same (mid) range and at times I could barely hear it unless I was in a very quiet room. It would get worse with white noise—it didn't necessarily result in a spike, but while the white noise was going on it almost seemed like my tinnitus was competing with it, and was distorted by the white noise. I don't have any problems with other sounds (TV, radio, people talking, etc.)

A few days ago I started to get this intermittent high-pitched noise, which would come and go throughout the day.

Well, today I woke up to my "normal" tinnitus. It was even pretty quiet for the first thirty minutes or so. And then suddenly I got the high-pitched noise, but this time it was consistent; close to what those unaffected would call "typical" tinnitus.

I was getting better at coming to terms with my "normal" tinnitus and trying to accept it. This new sound is virtually impossible to mask for temporary relief too, unless I put on headphones and turn up the volume, which is obviously less than optimal and not something I want to do. I haven't done anything different, though I did start to take CBD oil this week. My "normal" tinnitus has gotten a little worse before that, though, so I'm wondering if it's connected to that. I'm genuinely at my wit's end.

 

HI @corvaori

I have a feeling that your tinnitus is noise induced and not caused by flu. Before the onset of the tinnitus, if you were a regular user of headphones, earbuds or headset. If you listened to loud music at home, in the car or subject your ears to other forms of loud noise, then I suspect you have noise induced tinnitus. Exposure to loud noise and regularly using any type of headphones are the most common cause of tinnitus. If you are still using headphones even at low volume and you've noticed that the tinnitus is increasing, then I advise you to stop using them.

Please click on the links below and read my posts that you might find helpful. Additional posts that you might find helpful, are on my started threads: Tinnitus, A Personal View, Hyperacusis, As I See It.

All the best
Michael

New to Tinnitus, What to Do? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Will My Tinnitus Get Worse? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Hey coravori. I am really sorry to hear about how much this has been affecting you, despite the progress you had been making in terms of habituation.

Unless you've had any major traumas you can think of recently, as in within the last two weeks, or have ingested anything potentially harmful to the ears (i.e. certain medications or substances), then this may very well be just an intermittent but debilitating spike. I wouldn't be too worried of this becoming the new norm unless it sticks around for a few weeks.

The fact that, despite dealing with this new noise, you are experiencing changes and variations is likely a good sign that this may reduce in either frequency or intensity. I would not lose hope, and there's perhaps things you can try to make your situation better. Not sure what your diet, exercise, or sleep patterns are like, but improvements in each of those three tend to yield good results. If they don't affect your symptom, they should help with the mood.

CBD oil doesn't tend to cause intensities of the symptom, and when it does, it typically has THC involved. If yours has THC in it, I would probably advise foregoing it for a few days to see if things calm down. If it doesn't, you could try that as well, or you could keep going, as it already takes time for it to build up and produce its beneficial effects.

I really do hope things calm down for you, since you were already on track to recovery. Many others will tell you that spikes can appear at random and seemingly at will, so just try to fight through it as best you can.

 

I mean, I don't know. I think most people have used headphones in their lives or listened to some louder than average music. But since I've had my ears and my hearing checked by more than one ENT and both are supposedly fine, there's really no indication that it was noise induced... It's not so strange to me that the fact that my sinuses were clogged to the high heavens could have caused the tinnitus. There are certainly other people who seem to have made similar experienced after a cold or the flu. Nonetheless I might try to get an extended hearing test to see how my hearing is doing in the high frequencies.

 

Thank you! So far it's still going on but I'm trying to remain positive. I haven't used the CBD oil in a couple of days to see if that changes anything, but it didn't, so I just might go back to using it again. The website says, "Our CBD oil 10% is not psychoactive because its THC content is less than 0.2%" so I'm assuming that's okay to use!

 

If you regularly used headphones or earbuds to listen to music prior to the onset of the tinnitus, then the tinnitus could be noise induced. If you were not a regular user of these devices, then something else probably caused it. It is not unusual for someone with noise induced tinnitus, to have perfectly good hearing results at ENT. A hearing test will not necessarily show noise induced tinnitus. However, there are some clues: certain sounds or all sounds tend to be sensitive to the ears or sound distorted even painful at times. Some people may not experience these symptoms which indicate hyperacusis.

If the tinnitus isn't noise induced then clogged sinuses that you've mentioned could be responsible. ETD (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction) involves the sinuses and is a known condition to cause tinnitus and hearing distorted sounds.

All the best
Michael

 

Not necessarily. CBD oil without THC spiked my tinnitus greatly. I've mentioned this a number of times as have others.

We really need to dispel the myth of CBD being this cure-all because it is NOT. It does help some people with some things, but it can really spike tinnitus in others.

 

I see. I've just today read that up to 30% to 50% of hair cells can be damaged or destroyed before changes in your hearing can be measured by a hearing test, so who knows. If that were the case for me, I could at least be hopeful for something like FX-322, I guess!

 

The only reason I'm willing to believe that it wasn't the CBD oil is because it's an additional, new noise instead of just a spike, honestly. How long did the spike last for you?

 

Any new treatment for tinnitus I welcome. Please try and not put all your hopes on FX-322, or any other treatment, until they have been tried and tested. Someone I used to know did this, even though I advised him not to and the outcome wasn't good. Concentrate on treatments that are available now. If you are able to see an Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus management my advice is to make an appointment. Please read the posts in the links I have previously sent you and those in the links below.

Try not to read too much about tinnitus and hearing damage. You have been seen by more than one ENT and your hearing is fine according to what you've said in your post. There is a lot of negative information online about tinnitus. The best thing you can do, is keep away from tinnitus websites and Google. Incorporate positivity into your life that is the way forward and seek the professional help I have mentioned if needed.

All the best
Michael

The Habituation Process | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Acquiring a Positive Mindset | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Well, I had spikes multiple times from it because I tried it more than once. The first time I used a very small amount from a health food store. Spike only lasted half a day and consisted of louder and more intrusive tinnitus. The other times I tried different variations of CBD the spikes lasted maybe half a day or so as well. One spike brought on a a new noise (or as I call it, a new pitch).

 

I am experiencing a spike from CBD oil which I tried for anxiety. It has been a full day and very upsetting but will try to keep from spiraling on it. But pretty sure that was the cause - nothing else introduced - it makes the tinnitus more intense and can’t wait for my body to purge it. I expect it may be 1-3 days to ride this out - I’d be happy if that’s where it ends.

 

Hi @corvaori, may I ask you how are you doing now? And what did you mean by "intermittent"? I hope you are doing well.

 

@BuzzyBee, is it generally the case that CBD oil only causes a temporary tinnitus increase?

Although I recently had a brief issue with loud sound from a maxed out volume on iPad during a Zoom meeting, I'm starting to think it was rather the CBD oil I started 4 days prior and that I'm still using. I'm using it as a hopeful treatment/help for MEM and to calm my internal nerves down.

Online there seems to be some articles claiming tinnitus can occur from CBD, but not why or how exactly. I'm considering instantly stopping it as it's brought back a more sharp, high pitch and reactiveness that is very bad.