Pregnancy and Pre-Existing Tinnitus

I've now had tinnitus for 4 months, so it doesn't look like it's going anywhere! I've habituated to the noise for the majority of the day, and it now only bothers me of I'm trying to sleep or relax.

One thing that is starting to play on my mind a bit though is looking to the future and the possibility of getting pregnant (not yet - neither myself or my husband are ready yet regardless of T). I've read that tinnitus is often caused by pregnancy and this obviously concerns me, as the raging hormones could hugely effect my existing T.

Has anyone been through this before, there seems to be quite a few women on the site now so I'm sure someone else must also feel like this.

 

Hello Ive also heard about tinnitus been caused by pregnancy but I do not think it happens very often. In the cases Ive heard of after regaining hormonal balance the tinnitus also left. It of course depends on what your Tinnitus is caused by. I dont think having T necessarily means that everything that could cause it will and that you have to live in fear all the time. Life is so unpredictable anyway. However if you are really worried then maybe wait 4-5 years and by then probably some better treatments will be available for Tinnitus.

 

Hi Stina, thanks for your reply

As my T was very likely noise induced and doesn't react to foods/stress as far as I'm aware I'm being hopeful!

I guess it's sort of like the panic I had (and still do to some extent) that loud noises would make my T worse and now I'm mainly over that I'm thinking of the next 'hurdle'.

I probably will be waiting years to try anyway, I'm only young and want to make a good start with my career first, but I think the waiting makes it worse, I don't want the baby now but I do want to know what effects it would have on me!

Like you said, I'm not letting T beat me!

 

Yes. Im also going through the same thing as you are. Im also scared about all kinds ofthings that could happen (like a fire cracker nlowing up next to me or smth). But worrying only make it more difficult to tolerate tinnitus. Therefore it is probably better not to think too much anyway. But I suggest you visit a good specialist and speak to them about it.
The thing with pregnancy is I think 1) hormons 2) blood flow (high or low blood pressure). So of course these things could cause or worsen Tinnitus but I think the cases are rather rare. Also, there is a good chance that it will clear up after giving birth.
You can look around in this board and you will find many ways to protect your ears from loud noises (plugs, defenders etc). If your T is mild, there is a good chance you will forget about it quickly and live your life us before (well maybe less concerts and bars ).

 

I have heard of people having tinnitus through their pregnancy but most of the time (and in all the cases I know) it resolves after pregnancy.
I've never heard anyone getting tinnitus from being pregnant.

I have 2 children and in all honestly, I'd be most worried about stress affecting the T temporarily. Although I'm the most stressed pregnant woman on the planet

 

I love how you say: I worry about stress. Its like doublestress then! (Unfortunately, I also do it )

 

I'm pretty sure stress doesn't actually affect my T, I've been under crazy stress at work and not noticed a change at all.

I'm also pretty concerned about the screaming baby/shreeking toddler/overexcited child, but since noise is a risk I take everyday I know I'd happily chance that.

The other big concern is sleep, although I don't think my T gets worse after a bad night sleep I do get really grouchy! It's at least really made me smile that my biggest issue is absolutely unrelated to T

 

I share SarahR with her concern that T could get worse during pregnancy or post-pregnancy. I would like to have a brother or sister to my daughter but my husband and I rally concern about my T and thinking carefully before we go ahead with this decision. If anyone had gone through this experience please do share it with us.

 

My T wasn't made worse by my two pregnancies (clearly this is anecdotal). I would say the most important consideration would be to see how you would mentally react to a spike, because you can't take the normal medications that you might otherwise if you weren't pregnant (anxiety meds or the like). I have noticed, now that I have kids, that my current spike (not pregnancy-related) is making me a less patient parent than I'd otherwise like, which is an added level of stress that I deal with because I don't want my kiddos to suffer for my illness.

Good luck!

 

Thanks alibee, I definitely agree with your thoughts on how you would deal with a spike.

The thing I'm most concerned about though is the effect of T on actual children. At first I must have been awful to my husband, but at least he understood what I was going through - children should not suffer because of my T!

 

My tinnitus started at 24 weeks pregnant and I never had it before then. I am 5 weeks postpartum and it is still ongoing...,only time will tell I guess

 

Well, I have tinnitus for one year. Just before it started me and my partner have decided to have a baby but it was obviously postponed until I heal. It's been a year, didn't really get better, neither worse so I am thinking about getting pregnant anyway.

Can anyone share her experience? I asked my gynecologist but he said that in his career literally he has not met anyone with T, I mean he had no patients mentioning it. I really don't know what to say because this guy is one of the best doctors in Belgium, he has a long career and a lot of patients. Hard to believe that out of so many people who suffer from T, none got pregnant.

 

I did not have tinnitus prior to pregnancy but I can tell you I developed tinnitus during my third trimester of my third pregnancy for an unexplained reason. They said it was either from mild hearing loss or pregnancy related due to hormones. Since then I have met several women who have either gotten new tinnitus during pregnancy or been pregnant while have pre existing tinnitus. Sometimes heir tinnitus spikes slightly sometimes it doesn't. I'm 5 weeks post partum and my tinnitus is still present but I'm hoping it goes away! My obgyn didn't have any info regarding pregnancy and T either but the ent said pregnancy can cause tinnitus.. So I could imagine a pre-existing tinnitus condition might be stressed due to a pregnancy and the hormones but I don't know that I would not get pregnant in fear of that happening. Children are truly a blessing

 

Mine started around 28 weeks pregnant. I am also almost 6 weeks post partum and so far my tinnitus is still here as well. From what I was told by the ent it could be months before it goes away or even months after I stop breastfeeding (up to 6 months after) so you are right! Only time will tell!

 

@SarahR

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for your post cause it is one of my biggest fear now that I have T. I think that's why I'm so depressed about it cause I'm afraid if I wanna be pregnant, hormones could just increase my T even if mine is noise induced (and moderate). I just have a slight increase just 2-3 days before my cycle begins so... But anyway a child is a true blessing.

 

... preexisting tinnitus and pregnancy has been on my mind lately. I found this thread and thought I would bring it back to life. As I'm sure I am not the only woman thinking about the future!

Any ladies with preexisting tinnitus, can you please share your pregnancy story and life with T and children now.

Hugs,

Jenni

 

Oddly, somehow my wife's pregnancy caused me to start to hear a lot of high pitched shrieking, cooing and giggling... but it didn't start happening until ~9.5 months after she got pregnant :-P

There is some strange evolutionary magic at work in all this. If someone in public claps or beeps a horn near me, I immediately feel anger -- but my kid can straight up scream into my ear and I just think "huh yeah she's a baby she has no idea." Note that this equanimity doesn't extend to other people's kids.

 

Haha!! Thank you for replying @linearb

 

That's so true! Maybe it's like the gross out factor. I am going nowhere near snot on other children's faces, but I don't hesitate to wipe it off my own kids' faces. Even to the point where I've used my own sleeve in a pinch once. And that extends to a million other gross things that kids do!

p.s. Learn from my mistake: always have Kleenex handy.

 

Kids are like farts: one can only tolerate their own.

 

Yes I am looking forward for replies from ladies with preexisting tinnitus.

I have tinnitus since two months. Before that I was on prenatals... as I had pregnancy in mind. I stopped taking prenatals as am taking ginko and b12.

Two months since T my panic has reduced 50% but T is same loud ringing.

My biological clock is ticking and have thyroid and do not want to postpone kids. But I am scared with T my anxiety is over the top some days. I feel I am a good place in career and life except T... I would highly appreciate someone sharing their experience with pregnancy with tinnitus.