Ringing Ears for 40 Years — Now: Various Types of Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, Vertigo, Fullness

My tinnitus began to worsen in 2020. I've had ringing for 40 years, but I had learned to tune it out.

Four years ago, I began to get loud rumblings and fullness in my right ear. This went away but came back 9 months later. Since them my symptoms have been:

• Various types of tinnitus, including rumbling, whooshing, and very loud tones
• Hearing loss
• Fullness/pressure in the ear
• Vertigo/balance problems

Intratympanic steroid injections helped, but only temporarily. I may try to get more. I did a balloon sinuplasty last November but I think that actually worsened things, leading to hyperacusis.

In the last month, things have really gotten bad, to the point that I am now 95% deaf in my right ear. I'm scared my left ear may eventually be affected, leading to complete deafness.

I'm seeing my first neurotologist in early March. What should I ask him? What treatments should I inquire about? I've heard about CBT, TRT, sound generators, Clonazepam - what else should I ask him about?

Some of the stories here are very scary, so any hopeful advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Mark

 

Sounds like you have Ménière's Disease.

 

Sorry you’re suffering like the rest of us. It sure seems hard to shut off the ear/head noises. I didn’t know they still did Intratympanic steroid injections. I had them done in 2010 & 2011. I have sort of a static noise more so in my left ear. It’s almost talking volume and I hate it.

Good luck in your neurotologist visit in March. I’ve heard they are a step above an ENT.

 

That's been discussed but never officially diagnosed. Are there other things I should ask about during my visit?