Not Sure How Severe It Is

Hi all,

30 year old male here. I've appreciated being able to read through a lot of different accounts of tinnitus experiences in the last few days. Some of it has scared me and some of it has given me optimism. In fact, I really don't feel like I deserve to be 'introducing myself' because I've only had this ringing in my ears for about 2 weeks now. But hey, it's better to catch it early, right? Or maybe it makes no difference. I dunno..

I've had issues with my ears on and off for about 7 or 8 years now. I get a build up of wax so I've had to put drops in to loosen it and then syringe them out a couple of times a year. This was pretty standard for the first 4 years but then started getting more serious ear infection sensations with it. I was told by the doctor that it was an infection of some sort (nothing serious) and to use some cortisone ointment or some drops now and then every time it felt like it was flaring up and hopefully it would go away. Sometimes my ears were fine for months and then they would just suddenly start feeling sore or producing a small discharge and they'd be a problem for me again for a few days or weeks. Then I'd get back on a course and they'd eventually come right again.

Recently they started getting painful again - tightness, a feeling that they were getting an infection in the ear canal or something like that. I had been using this ointment prescription for about a year which worked, but obviously kept on coming back regardless. The ENT specialist told me this time that it seemed to be a dermatitis condition and that it would not go away and that it just had to be treated whenever it reoccurred. I was told I should not get it wet as moisture allows the condition to grow. Then he proceeded to 'mop' my ears out. It was quite uncomfortable but hey he's a professional. He went pretty deep with his mopping tool and it was uncomfortable but I just assumed it was all good. My ears were already pretty clear because they had been cleared a few weeks before and wax was no issue. After I left, feeling a bit dejected that I was now subjected to a life of ear dermatitis and could never get them wet, I started hearing a loud ringing now but obviously just associated it with an initial sensation from having them tended to.

2 weeks later it hasn't gone away and I'm pretty worried. They've never had ringing before but my logic tells that this ENT doctor has damaged my ears and given me tinnitus! Is that a possible scenario or am I being paranoid? Sure it was uncomfortable (more than usual) but I assume he was just doing what he always does and there was no real chance that he would actually go deep enough to damage my ear drums?

My other theory is that it is just a result of all these drugs that have been used throughout the years and this particular visit just happened to trigger the ringing? It's all a bit weird and I feel very hopeless and miserable. I can hear the high pitched ringing quite loud at night. During the day its less noticeable. My ears also feel partially blocked and I get constant popping and crackling sounds when I open my jaw and move it around. Which all gives me hope that this is all just related to some sort of blockage and not actual damage. But Im just guessing at this point.

Anyway, I'm going on far too long. Just wanted to say hi and tell my shitty story. I'm trying to stay positive but I'm naturally a worry-wart like a lot of us I guess.

 

Is it bothersome to you??

 

Sorry to hear that, I think your assumption is plausible. The ENT was the trigger, the ear problems were contributors...it's often the perfect storm that causes T.

There have been people on here for whom T started with syringing...

However, you will adapt to the ringing at night eventually and sound machines are very helpful in the beginning. If your ringing is milder during the day, give it some months and you will adapt too - when I have lower ringing I can go for several hours without noticing. Today it's screaming so it's not slipping to the back if my consciousness which it does on quieter days, but this has taken a year.

Stay strong, keep busy, don't sit at home listening to it x

 

Well yes because it is new. But also because of the crackling and popping I feel like I want them to clear before I potentially start going insane with the constant ringing... its kind of like a distraction for now in a way.

I hate feeling like it might be getting better and then realising soon afterwards that nope, it's just as bad as it was at the beginning.

 

I'm in the 2nd month and it's quieted down...I find it extremely bothersome but I try to keep busy if you can. Don't sit in the quiet for too long and try to keep your mind distracted. White noise helps me and keeping the tv or music on helps too.

 

In a weird way, I have already sort of adapted to it. Its like I have accepted my fate already despite it having only been about 2 weeks. That sounds so defeatist, but it just feels like a better option than to constantly be worrying about it which is what I was doing for the first week.

Thanks for your responses, I will be interested/nervous about where I will be with it in 2 months. My worst fear is that it gets worse somehow. The crackling sound in both ears when I move my jaw has not really gone away either. I feel like I have all of a sudden got the smorgasbord tinnitus experience overnight. Sigh.

 

This will happen only if you accidentally get exposed to a loud noise. Most likely you will feel better in about a month, and then continue improving. Ears take months to heal...