Re: Struggling with Tinnitus & Hyperacusis for 6 Weeks

How is your hyperacusis? I am really struggling.

 

I'm sorry I missed this. The hyperacusis is still very much there, but slightly better. It was so bad in the beginning I doubted whether or not I could live with my family. They still are loud, but maybe we've found a way to work with the hyperacusis. We've settled into a routine. They still forget and I try to gently remind them. For a long time I was just flat out angry when someone mad a loud noise.

How are you?

 

27 weeks from Acoustic Trauma (March 2021)

-Not much to report, still have both tinnitus and hyperacusis.
-Developed a double ear infection and strep after the Pfizer vaccine.
-Started wearing the custom ear molds because they aren't as visible as the bright orange ear protection.
-Ringing, high pitched electric static and occasionally Morse code in the left ear with the acoustic trauma.

 

Hi @twa, I hope you’re getting better. I have been going through almost the same symptoms as you describe and my timeline matches pretty closely. I got tinnitus in January 2021 from Wim Hof breathing exercises along with some other members of this forum.

I find it interesting that even though our onset was caused by different means, we are having the same symptoms. I have: fullness, TMJ tension, neck tension, headaches, ear aches, head and sinus pressure, especially when bending over, and of course tinnitus. My tinnitus has changed from the high pitched ringing to almost exclusively high pitched static. It is about 15-16 kHz. I have used the ACRN generator at 15 kHz with some success, at least temporarily.

My hyperacusis was much worse in the first two weeks, then slowly started to get better. Some noises still startle me and sometimes I can feel my eardrums reacting to noises, even if they are not loud. It’s not painful but a slightly unpleasant feeling like I’m worried something worse will happen. I also get occasional ear flutters which I guess are caused by TTTS. They are much better now but seem to be worse when dealing with anxiety.

Omega 3 fish oil seems to help as does Magnesium if just a bit. I’ve recently been trialing some B vitamins to see if that will help resolve some of the symptoms, especially high dose B1. The tinnitus, as it is now, bothers me much less than the other symptoms and I’m hoping that they will all resolve with time.

As another note, check out @MrC6688's posts in the Wim Hof thread. He used some Ayurvedic medicines to treat his tinnitus and saw some amazing results after two days but discontinued until he verifies that they are safe (citing an increase in blood pressure). Once he confirms back, I too will likely try the treatments as they seem very effective; he said they dropped his tinnitus to basically nil within two days.

Do you think histamine phosphate has helped you at all?

 

I'm sorry you are going through this too. I think mine started in September 2020, but I didn't realize fully what had happened for a few weeks until October 2020. I tried the histamine phosphate, but I had so many things going on at the same time that it was too much to deal with also. It caused a full on histamine response. My face would turn red, I would start sneezing uncontrollably. Oddly enough the otologist said it does not act on the same histamine receptors as allergies. I wonder now if they know what they are talking about.

I've also noticed that Omega-3 fish oils help in general. My tinnitus is still going and today it is ringing quite a bit. I much prefer the electric static sound. I would say overall, the hyperacusis is much better. I used to cringe at every truck I heard all day long. Now, I can enjoy time at home and not be affected by trucks passing behind my house during the day. Car doors shutting do not send me into a state of panic like they did initially.

I hope you are starting to feel better. Let me know how your treatments are going.

twa

 

28 weeks from Acoustic Trauma (April 2021)

-Tinnitus is the same.
-Hyperacusis is better (7 months).
-Headaches are better.

 

It’s nice of you to keep updating this thread, should be helpful for future site visitors.

I had hyperacusis after my sudden hearing loss, and it gradually improved over the course of a year. Managing my reaction and my anxiety toward it helped quite a bit.

By any chance, do you have a therapist? I’ve found CBT helpful. I can’t control my hearing loss and tinnitus, but I can have some control over how I emotionally respond to it. Wishing you continued healing, too!

 

Yes I do. Thanks so much! You too~

twa

 

It is good to hear that your hyperacusis is getting better. Mine, too, seems to be improving a little. Not sure whether it's the new physiotherapy or a natural occurrence but I noticed that in the early hours of the day I seem to be able to tolerate noises a little better. This "tolerance" gradually fades over the course of the day, but at least I'm getting to look forward to a couple of good hours in the mornings

 

30 weeks from acoustic trauma (April 2021):

• Pfizer vaccine #1 March 17, 2021
• Woke up with dizziness
• Strep and liquid in both ears after the vaccine
• 10 days antibiotics
• Felt better, mainly having electric static
• Pfizer vaccine #2 April 9, 2021
• Tinnitus increased to a ringing tone
• -Woke up with dizziness, dr prescribed a steroid
• Debating on taking steroids
• Ringing and static
• Hyperacusis increased also
• Previously doing better with tinnitus (static) and hyperacusis
• Dizziness has been most of the day

 

31 weeks from Acoustic Trauma (7 months, April 2021)

-Set-back from Pfizer vaccines
-Vertigo and vomiting
-Ears started burning again
-Pain in temples again
-Tinnitus was a static mostly, since vaccine more ringing
-Steroid has helped dizziness, but still present
-Emotional response better
-Headaches better, not like in the beginning of tinnitus/hyperacusis
-Dizzy upon getting up in the mornings especially

 

32 weeks from Acoustic Trauma (May 2021)

-Vertigo/Dizziness started 5 days after 1st vaccine & resolved/13 days after 2nd vaccine
-12th day at home with vertigo/dizziness, improving slowly
-10 days on steroid pack
-Head/neck pain
-Increased tinnitus back to ringing/static
-Hyperacusis is still at increased level

 

33 weeks from Acoustic Trauma (May 2021)

-Dizziness/vertigo since the 2nd Pfizer vaccine
-18th day with dizziness
-2nd worst day with frequent dizziness
-Increased Vitamin C and Meclizine today
-Tinnitus ringing all day, usually moves to white noise/airplane engine
-Mild ear burning/neck pain
-All of these symptoms have been since 2nd vaccine

 

Sorry to hear that.

Is your hyperacusis still intense?

 

It is slowly getting better.

 

34 weeks (7 months from Acoustic Trauma)

-dizziness/vertigo from COVID-19 vaccine for the last 4 weeks
-tinnitus has been a high pitched ringing since vaccine
-increased floaters since the vaccine
-some jaw pain and headaches, but better than 7 months ago
-home for the last 4 weeks because of dizziness

 

Hey there, sorry you are having these problems after the vaccine. I have had both shots now and have not had any severe reactions. I would say a slight increase after my first for a few days, and possibly a bit after my second, but nothing discernible.

There are some things you can take that might help with the side effects of the vaccine, I believe one was Quercetin and Zinc. Have a look at some of the vaccine forums and I’m sure someone can guide you to something that could help.

One thing I have found to help is B1 (thiamine). I take 400 mg a day and while it spikes my tinnitus a bit, I feel like it is healing and helping my other issues and keeps vaccine side effects down. Start with 100 mg and increase from there to see if it helps.

 

Thank you for the suggestions. I appreciate the help. I tried Quercetin at the beginning of the pandemic and it caused heart palpitations for me. I do need to get back to taking Zinc, it's a good one. I have a B-Complex that I stopped taking because it tastes horrid, but that is a great one. I am on a forum for people with dizziness/vertigo after the vaccine. Sadly, so many have had vestibular/ear issues after the vaccine. With recovering fom the acoustic trauma, my ears must have been still healing when I had the vaccines. Glad you are doing well without any side effects. Thanks again.

 

13 months (since acoustic trauma/shock)

-Still have dizziness and vertigo since the vaccines 3/21 & 4/21, but much better.
-I have occasional ear pain.
-Hyperacusis is better after a year, I can go to restaurants (with earplugs).
-Headaches are pretty regular, especially with weather changes.
-Discontinued AIP diet after 10 months.
-Tinnitus is at the same level, but my tolerance is better.
-Ear burning is very rare now.
-Temple and face pain are rare.
-Crying is only occasional. For some reason the anniversary of the tinnitus/hyperacusis and my birthday set me off.
-Started a doctoral program/started teaching college classes (really quite amazing, if you think about it).

 

Quite astonishing if you ask me. I’m curious what field are you teaching?

 

Hello @twa, that’s fabulous news.

You’re doing so well.

Are you still wearing earplugs all the time, when driving, work anywhere outside your home etc?

And yes I understand the crying, I do it often.

Have you tried in-ear sound generators?

Xxxxx

 

@ZFire, how are you doing?

 

@ZFire, thank you! I teach reading and writing to college freshman.

 

@Eleanor89, thank you! It's been a challenge. I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, then just kept pushing forward. I do still wear earplugs outside my home. I wear musicians earplugs now, which are less noticeable. I never tried in-ear sound generators. For me personally, it didn't make sense if I was trying to heal and protect my ears, why would I place sound inside my ears? I decided not to order them or use a sleep pillow with sound.

 

@twa, I hope you are well. I am new to Tinnitus Talk and saw a post where you had mentioned you had regenerative PRP with great results. Just curious if that was to your cervical spine?

I have done 4 years of prolotherapy that took me from severe chronic pain to functioning everyday but I never treated my upper cervical (a special imaging X-ray is needed for that) and I am hoping that is the cause of my recent onset of tinnitus. I have an upper cervical PRP scheduled in the next couple weeks.

 

@IntotheBlue03, so sorry I missed this post. Only a year late! I did PRP in my lower spine. It hurt terribly, eventually it got better. I had about 5 years without much pain. It is starting to hurt some, but I'm doing lots of interventions like stretching, walking, infrared, STIM.

Hope you are doing well.

Twa~

 

27 months after acoustic trauma

• I rarely have headaches or warm ears.
• The hyperacusis is much better, but still there.
• The tinnitus varies from day to day, but better.
• I had my first moment without tinnitus a few weeks ago.
• I am now half-way through my doctoral program.
• This is my second year teaching college.
• I lead a pretty normal life, except without loud events.
• I've learned to make accommodations.
• I still have vertigo/dizziness since both vaccines in 2021.

I came back to update my log so that someone who is newly afflicted with tinnitus and hyperacusis can see my timeline. I pray that it will help you move from despair back to life.

Much love,
twa

 

@twa, thank you for the update! Yours was one of the first posts I read on Tinnitus Talk after my onset last year as we have pretty much the same causes (child scream in ear) with no hearing loss. I'm happy to see life has been relatively normal for you now.

I have a couple of questions for you if you don't mind. Do you feel like your tinnitus ever decreased in volume since the onset? And did the ear fullness you mentioned in the beginning ever resolve completely?

 

Hi @Ngo13, thank you for your post. It sucks to acquire tinnitus and hyperacusis from a child's scream in the ear. I went through a lot of emotions, not wanting to blame my child, but at the same time being very angry that the event occurred. My thought was, if I had just done this or that, it would not have happened. I had to get over it and move on. I have learned to make accommodations with my new life. My favorite past time used to be going to movies, I went with my kiddo every week. Now he does this with his dad. :-(

You asked about a decrease in volume. I really think my tinnitus varies from day to day depending on the weather, my stress level and especially, recent sleep. Yes, ear fullness has resolved. I still feel stopped up with allergies sometimes. I can definitely tell when I've eaten dairy, fluid increases in my ears.

Overall, everything is much, much better compared to two years ago. I was completely devastated, but I've learned to work around it and go on with life for the most part.

Best to you,
twa

 

31 months since acoustic trauma

Life has been pretty normal during this past year. I'm finishing up my doctoral classes and beginning to write my dissertation. I finished teaching my 2nd year of college classes. I recently have had a setback.

• I went to several loud graduation parties, without issues.
• I finished the end of school for the classes I teach, my doctorate classes and my kiddo's school year.
• I started getting increased hyperacusis.
• My right ear started feeling more pressure.
• I woke up one morning with distortions like a high pitched flute when people talked or the radio was on.
• I went to the PCP and my ears are clear.
• I started steroids and antibiotics.
• Pray for me. Keeping you all in my prayers for improvement.