Plugged Ears and Loud Tinnitus — Help!

Hi...it's been a year now since my nightmare began. It started after a microsuction procedure which caused an acoustic trauma. I have severe tinnitus (hear it above everything, even the shower), hyperacusis, TTTS and hearing loss (after 12khz starts a steep drop which is VERY OBVIOUS).

I am really struggling with all this as it doesn't seem to be getting better, I don't know what to do. My ears ring incessantly and I have a constant plugged feeling in my ears, my hearing seems muffled and not clear. I don't have vertigo but have bouts where I feel off balance or a little dizzy.

I'm worrying myself sick as I feel my situation is deteriorating. I have tried WNG and various medications but nothing helps. I feel that the noise trauma has not only caused hearing problems but also some kind of brain damage. I get nervous twitches a lot too, which I didn't experience before.

If you have any advice I am eager to read it. Thanks

 

Welcome to Tinnitus Talk.
Have you tried Betahistine to help with some of your symptoms ?
Tinnitus can cause your symptoms and even neck problems can cause it or TMJ.
Also have you had a MRI ?

Love glynis

 

Hi @glynis,

Thanks for your reply. Yes I have had a CT scan and a MRI, no acoustic neuroma. I think the acoustic trauma was so severe that due to the degradation of the cochlear cells, it has triggered something else...my feeling is I now have cochlear hydrops. My hearing can fluctuate with my ear pressure, and my tinnitus can also increase depending on the pressure in my ears. If I eat salty food this pressure seems to get much worse. I'm trying now to stick to a low salt diet and drink lots of water. My ears just feel so fragile.

I have to say that I am shocked that microsuction is a widespread treatment for wax removal. In my experience the procedure was extremely loud and provoked irreversible damage to my ears. It sickens me that doctors can cause such damage and that patients are not made aware of the possible risks associated with a treatment. I went in trusting a doctor, a specialist?! I was naive and paid a huge price for it :-(

 

This is horrible. I'm sorry @Blue28. What does your doctor say?

 

Thank you @SilverSpiral. The ENT that did the procedure is no longer my doctor, for obvious reasons. My GP doesn't really know what to make of it all.