My Tinnitus Keeps Switching Ears: Does It Mean My Tinnitus Could Be Temporary?

I have had tinnitus since November 3rd when I was extremely stressed and suffering from lack of sleep. Usually its in just one ear at a time but sometimes both. And at times it is gone in both ears.

I took Amoxicillin from October 13th - 23rd for infections in both ears.

I was taking NSAIDs (Ibuprofen or Naproxen) for about 10 months before the first tinnitus incident. (I stopped as soon as I found out they could damage my hearing).

The tinnitus changes loudness and pitch if I turn my head, clench my jaw, or even if I stick out my tongue. I have chronic neck pain and at times it is really bad. Also my jaw hurts.

Anyway, my question is: Does the fact that my tinnitus switches ears mean that it is most likely temporary or permanent?

 

I don't think that it's possible to predict whether it's going to be permanent or temporary. You are early in, it might go either way. Having said that, mine which was fluctuating a lot, switching ears, changing volume, pitch, characteristics ended up staying, but stabilized after some months.

 

Is it easier to ignore now that it has stabilized?

 

Yes, it is. Unfortunately still changes in volume, it's reactive to loud-ish noises, but other than that it's better.
(I have two other tones, but those are a whole different story.)

 

Thats good.

It seems that the more you try to fight it, the worse it gets.

I have noticed that people tend to post on this forum for a few months or up to a couple of years and then no more. I guess that they either get used to it mostly or it goes away. But I know there are many exceptions.

 

Has it got any better? I am nearly 3 months in from fluid in the ear it has gone lower in tone but I am still worried as the doctor said there's no fluid left and my hearing is fine. However I feel like I can still feel the fluid.

 

I am only 24 days since beginning of tinnitus. Now I can go to sleep without background sound. I was prescribed Xanax and Remeron.

Worrying about it doesn't help. It may be with me for the rest of my life or it might not. I have accepted that.

 

It comes and goes. I find it's best for me to keep active. Usually when I do, after a while I notice complete silence (no tinnitus) and then carry on.

Whether I have the ringing in my ears is not up to me or anyone else. It just happens, or doesn't. I'm OK either way now.

 

If it comes and goes, I'm sure that's a sign of healing.

 

Maybe so. My tinnitus took the day off today for the first time since I got it on November 3rd.

My tinnitus came on during a time of extremely high stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep 3 1/2 weeks ago. I think those things triggered it.

Xanax, Remeron, and some improving life circumstances have put it to rest mostly. And yesterday I was informed that my 96 year old mom tested negative for COVID-19. She is in a long term care facility which had a recent COVID-19 outbreak.

Also I had been taking the maximum dose of Ibuprofen or Naproxen Sodium for 10 months. I stopped taking those. In addition, I cut my dose of Lexapro (an SSRI) from 20 to 10 mg daily.

I took the 'try everything at once' approach to reducing/eliminating tinnitus. My plan is to stay on the same plan for a while.

If I manage to have minimal or no tinnitus for a while then my first goal will be to back off of the Xanax VERY slowly.But I will never take another Ibuprofen or Naproxen again! And I will do everything I can to not get in a mental rut like I was in around Nov. 3rd.

It is also quite possible that tinnitus will come back. Hopefully not, but if it does at least I know that it may take a day off every now and then! One day at a time...

 

It's back in my left ear. Sometimes its in one ear or the other and sometimes it seems like its a buzzing electrical sound in my head.

 

All your symptoms sound like TMJ. If you go see a chiropractor and practice good posture (especially around your neck and jaw), it should go away.

Disclaimer: not a medical professional in any way. Just pattern matching based on what I've read. Probably a good idea to see a chiropractor anyway for that jaw pain. You're lucky your tinnitus isn't noise induced like mine is, which can't really be treated for.

 

It could very well be TMJ related. If I move my lower jaw from side to side it changes the pitch and volume of my tinnitus. Dirak, does your tinnitus change if you move your lower jaw?

My jaw hurts the most when I am stressed. Also, I have had constant neck pain for the past 30 years (I'm 63). The neck pain is about a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 and maybe its related to TMJ? I have learned to ignore it most of the time. But I am overdue to see a chiropractor.

Today was strange. I woke up with baseline tinnitus and about mid-day while on my way to the auto parts dealer my tinnitus went away for several hours.

I am getting to the point where I can mostly ignore my baseline tinnitus, but if it goes away I notice the silence! It's so nice but then I start wondering if/when the tinnitus is going to return.

I would estimate that I have silence or near silence about 10% of the time.

As you suggest, it could be TMJ. It could also be from long term use (1 year) of Ibuprofen, ear infections, or age related hearing loss. I stopped the Ibuprofen immediately after the tinnitus developed.

But I have done a good job of avoiding loud noise all my life.

 

@brettbolt, I think any improvement in tinnitus — whether it quietens downs and/or shifts ear — is a relatively positive sign for the long term. It's always hard to tell but I would take fluctuations as a good sign.

 

Naw, mine doesn't change when I move my jaw unless I clench my jaw really tight, but my circumstances are different. My tinnitus is noise induced, and I'm physically fit as can be (great body fat %, athletic, great posture), and young (early 20s). I'm only 3 weeks in and my tinnitus has been fading week by week, so there might still be a chance that this goes away for me. Hopefully it goes away for you as well.