Struggling with Worsening Bilateral Tinnitus After Otitis Media

[samantha66]

Hi all, my name is Sam.

I started experiencing unilateral tinnitus in my left ear after an ear infection in January of this year. Although I took care of the infection, the tinnitus now seems to have spread to both ears.

I have been feeling extremely suicidal after all these months. I have found no relief from the sounds, and my mind feels like it is in constant torment.

I have been using earplugs in most settings, but I do not understand why I am now hearing the tinnitus on both sides. I know there is no clear answer to this, but I feel completely overwhelmed.

I am also unsure whether I might be worsening my condition without realizing it. The sound has gradually decreased over the past few months, but it is still very noticeable to me.

I am just looking for any advice, as it will be four months in a few days.

Thank you

 

[Brave Zebra]

The first few months are the hardest, but it usually becomes easier to manage as time goes on. I found that once I accepted my new reality, I started noticing the tinnitus less often, even if the volume stayed the same. I decided to stop caring because I cannot control it.

Give it time, and the noise may even fade to a more comfortable level. Keeping your emotions in check is important during the habituation process. Focus on how you react to the tinnitus, and take one day at a time. You are not alone in the struggle.

Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as Beta-Carotene, Magnesium, and Omega-3, are good for ear health, so you may want to consider including them in your diet.

Hopefully, with time, you will begin to feel better about your tinnitus.

 

[samantha66]

I am trying not to let it control my life, but I keep thinking about how I may have made it worse. I still have to work and carry on, but I received no support or appropriate advice from doctors at the onset. I feel a lot of regret and anxiety. I am hoping that, with time, I will be able to accept it.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[adpolandam]

I am trying not to let it control my life, but I keep thinking about how I may have made it worse. I still have to work and carry on, but I received no support or appropriate advice from doctors at the onset. I feel a lot of regret and anxiety. I am hoping that, with time, I will be able to accept it.

Thank you for the advice.

You are not alone. None of us received proper support—instead, we got unhelpful advice and faced a complete lack of understanding. I work too, and it is very difficult for me, but I refuse to give up. I brace myself every day, facing challenges like taking punches from Tyson at full force.

I am rooting for you. Stay strong!

 

[attheedgeofscience]

I have been using earplugs in most settings, but I do not understand why I am now hearing the tinnitus on both sides. I know there is no clear answer to this, but I feel completely overwhelmed.

It's not uncommon for those with a new onset of tinnitus to experience a worsening during the initial stages following an "auditory insult" (e.g. noise exposure, ototoxic medication, ear infection). The reason behind this phenomenon may be linked to the findings uncovered by researchers such as Prof. Kujawa. She showed that a trauma to our hearing apparatus leads to accelerated hearing loss. Essentially, a cascade of insidious processes inside the inner ear kicks off subsequent to an injury. This will linger on for some time.

I am trying not to let it control my life, but I keep thinking about how I may have made it worse. I still have to work and carry on, but I received no support or appropriate advice from doctors at the onset. I feel a lot of regret and anxiety. I am hoping that, with time, I will be able to accept it.

I cannot really comment on what to do in your situation. We all have to make our own decisions.

But... what I can say is, that, if I were to find myself in the same predicament as I did 12 years ago (when my existing tinnitus worsened considerably), my protocol for handling the situation would include something like the following...

First aid kit. To lessen the symptoms for at least a while, you would typically want to upregulate GABA and downregulate Glutamate. This can be achieved by supplementing with Taurine (pro-GABA) and Magnesium (anti-Glutamate). For dosage (Taurine), I would settle for the 3-6 grams per day range (which is somewhat above the daily recommended intake). For Magnesium, I would choose a variant that is mild to the stomach (e.g., malate) and stick to the recommended daily intake (perhaps a bit above). I would probably also consider NAC and Creatine.

The longer perspective. I would remind myself of the importance of ATP in cell biology. There are ways to boost ATP (e.g., through Creatine, Coenzyme Q10, low-level laser therapy). These days, I am now a bio-hacker and I continue to be reminded of the power of ATP: suppose, I have slept really poorly (rarely happens), all I need to do is irradiate my brain for a good 5-7 minutes and I can go about my day as if I had had my full eight hours of rest. The same thing can be achieved through a megadose of Creatine.

Good luck.

 

[samantha66]

You are not alone. None of us received proper support—instead, we got unhelpful advice and faced a complete lack of understanding. I work too, and it is very difficult for me, but I refuse to give up. I brace myself every day, facing challenges like taking punches from Tyson at full force.

I am rooting for you. Stay strong!

Thank you so much. The past few days have been better, and I am going to keep pushing for as long as I can. I hope you are doing well.