Sudden Hearing Loss with Tinnitus

Hi I'm new to Tinnitus Talk and I thought I'd tell you my story. I woke up around eight weeks ago with a ringing in my left ear, I also noticed hearing loss in the same ear. Not sure why it happened but I did trip the day before and banged my head plus also listened to loud music and was staying at a friends caravan for couple of nights and it was freezing cold but either way I now have tinnitus in my left ear.

I've had quite a few things to deal with in my life including a four year battle with cancer but have to say it's only been two months but this is the worst thing medical that's ever happened to me at least psychology wise- pure hell, but I'm hoping I'll get used to it with time.

It's not just the constant ringing as if something has taken over my head but I've a blocked feeling all around my left ear and I can't seem to concentrate especially if it's quite. I've started to listen to thunderstorm sounds (YouTube) at night to help sleep. My head seems blocked on left side and I now get headaches and pain also around the left ear. I keep pinching my nose to try and clear stuffed feeling in head this sometimes gives me a slight temporary release from blocked feeling.

Words I'd associate with this condition - claustrophobic, loss of control, heaviness, blocked heavy head feeling, no peace, no calmness, this condition is trespassing on private property i.e. my head.

Anyway I was lucky to see a Doctor within five days who sent me to an ENT specialist who gave me a hearing test confirming hearing loss, a twelve day course of steroids and an MRI which came back all clear. Doctor believes I damaged nerves when I banged my head he says ringing in ear may go in time but the hearing loss will be permanent.

So that's my story pure nightmare but I've little choice but to get on with it and I do realise that I'm lucky it's only in one ear I really feel for people who have tinnitus in both ear.

Going to read Tinnitus Talk but have a couple of questions - can a person get tinnitus, have it for 6-12 months, and then it just goes away? I think I read somewhere if you have tinnitus non-stop for three months the chances are it's going to be permanent? I'm just looking for some possible light at end of tunnel. I also read that going on anti-depressants can reduce the ringing? Is that true?

Anyway going to read up on Tinnitus Talk to try and get a bit of perspective from other people's experiences which I hope will help me cope with this terrible condition and this new existence I find myself having been thrown into. Thanks.

 

Warm welcome to the forum. There is no definite answers for individual sufferer of tinnitus. Some do have it for months and then it just fades or disappears. You can scan the Success Stories and you will find many such cases. So don't need to think if you have it for a few months then it is going to be permanent. Even if that is the case, many people do find ways to habituate to tinnitus, meaning they are not aware of their tinnitus most of the time even it is still ringing in the background. That is as good as it gets for many people. The main thing is to learn some helpful strategies from the success stories and see if they can help you. Then remain hopeful and positive that you will be well in due time. This will minimize the damage tinnitus can impart on one's life. Take good care. God bless.

 

Hi Billie thanks for reply appreciate the information have started reading the Forum and one post says you should not listen to podcasts through earphones if you have tinnitus? I'm a great one for podcasts and have continued to listen to them like in the gym or when out for a walk but NOT at high volume-
Is it the case that I should stop listening to podcasts through earphones altogether because it could make my tinnitus worse? Thanks

 

I don't believe using earphones at low volume for the short duration of a podcast can do damage to one's ears. If you suffer from severe hyperacusis, then it may be a different story. I used earphones at bed time quite a bit initially for masking due to the consideration for my spouse. But I set the volume low, lower than my tinnitus.

 

Thanks I think I'll continue with the podcasts at low volume