Tinnitus After Giving Birth

Hi everyone,

I'm 33 years old and I gave birth to a beautiful little girl 2 weeks ago. However 6 days after her birth I started to experience what can only be described as the roar of a jet engine in my ears. They felt full and blocked. My regular doctor couldn't answer as to why this had happened and said they would speak to a specialist.

The following day it was so bad that I presented my self to the ER and they did a CT scan which was normal. They couldn't answer as to why I had this noise going on in my ears.

A few days later I went to my regular doctor again and they said they thought it was eustachian tube problem. I told them I had not been unwell with cold or flu or anything but they still suspected this. They started me on nasal steroid spray and antibiotics alongside Betahistine for any dizziness. I'm on day 4 of taking this, yesterday I saw an ENT specialist privately who told me that my ears looked normal and did an audiogram which showed my hearing was also fine. He said that he thought it might be a type of migraine which I thought was odd considering I hadn't had any head pain. But they said i should be seen by neurology, they said there is a chance that I have Meniere's but I haven't had any vertigo and I don't have hearing loss so he said this was unlikely.

Now the roaring noise in my ear has improved slightly however I have now developed (after googling) diplacusis, certain voices sound like robots which is horrendous. My ears still feel kind of full.

I contacted my regular doctor again today who said they still suspected eustachian tube problems and that is likely that after giving birth all the hormone changes and fluid have impacted on my ears and it will settle with time.

My concern is the ENT didn't even mention this and I purposefully didn't mention it.

I have now paid for a consultation with another ENT consultant tomorrow (video consult due to COVID-19) to see if they think the same.

I'm so down about all of this, it's even tougher after having a baby and the sleep deprivation that comes with caring for a newborn.

It's made me very depressed and I don't know how much longer I can cope with it all xx

 

@Kirstystired I ran across an article about Susanna Reid getting tinnitus after giving birth. Hopefully there are some tips for you. G-d bless. Google Susanna Reid Tinnitus.

 

Thank you, I'm going to have a look at it now.

 

@Kirstystired

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby.

Your story sounds exactly like mine minus the giving birth (my youngest is 14 lol)

Hearing test fine, ENT says ears look good, was then told could be ‘vestibular migraine’ or early onset Ménière's even though I don’t have vertigo. Was then told it could be because I was B12 deficient or silent reflux which I have, this was because there was evidence it has affected my larynx. So otherwise they had no idea.

My tinnitus has changed dramatically over the last year, more of a hum/buzz now that
can be in m ear or head, it’s also reactivate to sound sometimes and can disappear depending on head movements.

It does get better with time, whether the sound declines or your coping mechanism kicks in either way try to relax and not get anxious, easier said than done I know.

Enjoy being a mum, enjoy your wee one, don’t let this demon keep you from being the best mum.

Denise x

 

Thank you for your replies.

Sorry to hear you are suffering too. Your post was so positive and was really nice to read when I was up during the night with the sounds in my head.

I've spoken to a London ent clinic consultant today who thinks its eustachian tube problem or a problem with the cochlear (possibly a blood clot ) treatment is the same for both and advised that I take prednisolone for 10 days and continue with steroid nasal spray. Xx

 

Usually, I always lean towards noise exposure as a culprit when folks tell their story on Tinnitus Talk. But, in your case, perhaps consider the complications from an epidural (if applicable...).

 

@attheedgeofscience thank you, I will x

 

Hello, take into account that hearing problems take a long time to settle... even a minor hearing infection can take up to two months to clear completely and it affects to the way we perceive sound, in can produce up to a 30 dB threshold shift (feeling of being deafened) but then it can just go away by itself and things come back to normal.

Good luck!

 

A counsellor I was seeing told me she got tinnitus immediately after giving birth 30+ years ago. The fact that is still alive and kicking tells us something about the resilience of people. Don't give up and do your best. It's not ideal, but such is life.

 

Just an update
So I've finished the 10 day prednisolone, it helped with my symptoms. However now have buzzing which alternates between each ear.
Consultant basically said nothing can be done and that I should try CBT. He said it might self resolve but just don't know when. I have had some episodes of quiet , although very short lived but im hoping that this means progress xxx

 

@Kirstystired

buzzing is good. Usually the healing process goes 1) ringing 2) buzzing 3) hissing 4) silence

sometimes a soft hiss is the best you’ll get, but I’ve seen many stories of people’s T that kept healing after the hiss and they got silence back

Good luck and congrats on your child

 

I'm 5 weeks in from developing tinnitus shortly after giving birth to my daughter.

Just wanted to know people's opinions/experience/advice:

I initially had a jet engine type noise, very loud in both ears with ear fullness. This lasted a couple of weeks and was given prednisolone for suspected eustachian tube dysfunction /inner ear problems due to hormonal changes from pregnancy. I did a 10 day course of prednisolone which helped quieten the jet engine noise but I then developed diplacusis which resolved about a week ago (thankfully).

The tinnitus then stayed the same volume but then began to quieten down in my left ear but became louder in the right ear. However, a few days ago my right ear became quiet and now I have a buzzing noise in my left ear. Over the last 2 days it has changed to a morse code type buzzing. If i put an ear plug in my ear it quietens down but is still there.

During the day it's still quite loud, I can hear it when talking to people when in a room with ambient noise. It's then obviously quite loud at night when I'm up feeding my daughter.

I've had two audiograms now which were normal apparently. My pressure test was also normal and I've now been diagnosed with idiopathic tinnitus. I'm relieved there is nothing serious going on but a bit frustrated that this has appeared to have come on for no reason.

I am very lucky compared to others which I'm grateful for but I'm hoping that I'm making progress.

Xx

 

Did you get an extended audiogram? They tend not to go up to 16 kHz, but those levels are actually pretty important, and could be where your hearing loss lies. Then again, at this point it's probably better to just give it time. Take this as a lesson for your kids though, be certain to let them know how precious hearing is, and go over how loud things should actually be to be safe, and to wear protection when it's not.

 

It must be rough to have a rare case to when giving birth to a child would give you this piece of hell i hope your recovery goes well im about 4 months in with my t due to noise exposure from my headphones its quite now even in a slient room i barely hear at times but hope it doesn't distract you from being a mom and god bless you and your daughter and hope your tinnitius remains slient

 

Hi @Kirstystired -- I'm sorry to hear how your tinnitus arrived at what should be a time of celebration for you and your family. -- From what I can gather, there's always a reason things happen; it's just up to us to find out what those reasons are. In the case of tinnitus, it could be any number of things.

Did they give you any drugs during the delivery of your child? Anything else out of the ordinary during this time period? Perhaps something to consider is tinnitus can be caused by thyroid dysfunction. And thyroid dysfunction can be caused by iodine deficiency. And iodine deficiency can be caused by pregenancy and breast feeding, as the fetus and young infant have very high needs for iodine (because of rapid growth cycles and the facilitation of apoptosis).

I've heard some women who suffer from post partem depression can improve once they restore normal iodine levels. Some naturopathic doctors believe most people (and especially new mothers) need far more iodine than the recommend minimum daily requirement, which I believe is less than 1 mg/day. These doctors often recommed as much as 12 mg or more per day. Anyway, just a thought. Stress can also cause tinnitus, and I've heard pregnenacy, child birth, and infant care can be stressful!

 

Also consider iron studies and vitamin D levels.

 

Hi @DebInAustralia I took your advice and got a higher frequency hearing test. According to the audiologist my tinnitus is not due to noise exposure but stress like the ENT said. I don’t suppose you would mind if I sent you my hearing results? I have a hard time trying to read them. How are you doing? I always see your comments popping and you are so kind and helpful towards everyone x

 

Thanks for the replies. I really do appreciate it.

Some really useful advice!! All of it makes perfect sense to me. Yesterday I couldn't hear the tinnitus until I went to bed, however today it's back with a vengeance. I wonder if there is a stress element to this because today I've been very tired and feeling a bit stressed. I will start taking some supplements to see if this improves things.

@Brians81 you are absolutely right it is living hell. I'm so glad to hear you are on the route to recovery.

My labour was actually quite stressful and I was pushing for quite a long time. Nothing significant happened from when I gave birth to when the tinnitus started that I can think of. I was very anxious during my pregnancy having suffered multiple miscarriages in the past i had convinced myself that something would happen to the baby. I calmed down a little after she was born but wondered if there has been some sort of depression/anxiety element to the tinnitus. I'm not sure but I really wish it would clear off so I could enjoy my maternity leave with my baby.

My very close friend also has terminal cancer and this has been a source of distress for me recently xxx

 

@Kirstystired -- If you're considering supplementing with iodine, I would suggest the following book. She also has a website which hosts a forum on thyroid health. The author was able to overcome breast cancer by supplementing with iodine, and many other women have done the same (ovarian cancer as well). Perhaps your friend might find it of interest as well. -- All the Best... -- @Star64 (Hi )

The Iodine Crisis: What You Don’t Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life by Lynne Farrow

The Iodine Crisis by Lynne Farrow (Book Review)



Book Review by Jeffrey Dach MD

If you are a woman diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease or breast cancer, you need to read this book. If you are a woman who undergoes repeated breast biopsies or breast cyst aspirations, then you need to read this book. If you are a breast cancer survivor, then you need to read this book.

As an interventional radiologist for 30 years, my job was to read the mammograms and perform the procedures, the breast biopsies and needle aspirations. Some women had multiple cysts and nodules and returned to the department every year for repeat aspirations and biopsy procedures. They would always corner me in the reading room and ask, “Doctor, what can I do to make these cysts and nodules in my breast go away”? And for 30 years I would throw up my hands and say “we just don’t know”.. .

After I retired from radiology and returned to clinical medicine in 2004, I attended medical meetings and listened to David Brownstein MD and George Flechas MD speaking about the health benefits of Iodine supplementation.

Iodine is the answer to fibrocystic breast disease. Iodine is the answer for breast cancer prevention. Iodine is the answer I should have been giving to all the women over the years I worked in the hospital X-ray department, but didn’t. So I am making up for it now. We routinely test for Iodine level, and give Iodine supplements to every woman in my clinic. I consider this extremely important.

 

You will get used to the fluctuations. It may take awhile but you will be better. As a parent of two stupid question but are you sleeping well? I would even put good rest above stress in helping with the sound. Also as a male I feel weird saying this but I am guessing there could be some hormonal changes and once those settle down that could help.

 

I think your tinnitus was the cause of the stress from the labor you gave most births are stress induce anyways because you are pushing out a baby and the body is reacting to the pressure you are giving and as well with the stress that comes with but that's my hypothesis take care and hope you can recover and try to be a mom with mild tinnitus and as for me being recovered meh I'm just going through the soft part of it my t I'd barely noticeable and with hearing aids it helps to not noticed it much more while I do my activities but anyways have great day hun and may God be with you ✝️

 

Hi everyone,

I'm nearly 7 weeks from developing tinnitus which isn't very long in the tinnitus world at all. Just wondered what people's opinions were of my tinnitus now.

About 10 days ago my right ear tinnitus became quieter but tinnitus has remained in my left ear and is like a humming noise which stops when I talk, and if I plug my ear it is 90% quieter.

I was told by my GP and ENT that I may have ETD due to hormonal changes. It's got better but the tinnitus in my left ear is still quite loud and although I'm still getting on with life as best I can I wondered if any of this might mean progress in the right direction. I have been using an ear plug at night as it makes the tinnitus quieter but I try not to as I am trying to get my brain adapted to the tinnitus as best i can. I know that no one can predict the future or know for sure what is going on but would appreciate any advice or anyone's opinions xxx

 

Hi Kirsty,

Hope you are well!

It seems that we both developed this roughly around the same time.

Mine is most likely ETD or / and ear infection caused.

For 5-6 weeks, my tinnitus was semi-constantly switching ears, but it seems to have mostly settled in my right-ear which had the ear infection.

The left occasionally freaks out, but then calms down and stops.

Over the course of 8 weeks, the right has basically transitioned from:

Metal Drill Drilling Into Metal >
Chicks In A Nest > (strange I know )
Metal Drill Drilling Into Metal > (bring back the birds! )
RC Car Battery Powering Down >
Angry Ciccadias >
Annoyed Ciccadia >
Glass-Like Ringing >
Muted Electronic Ringing / Electronic Ringing / Intense Electronic Ringing (switched between the three) >
Muted Buzzing <<< currently were I am.

Getting quieter is a good sign, and since you know that this is either due to hormonal changes or ETD you know the ear is not damaged.

I'm doing my best to just accept it for the meantime, with lots of sound therapy (music, podcasts and background forest / rain ambience on my TV), steam inhalation, and staying relaxed as best I can.

I'd advise the Rain Rain app for night time, paired to a Bluetooth speaker, if you need help sleeping at night - it's what I use.

If you're using an earplug, make sure you clean it every night - you don't want to get an outer ear infection by accident

Occasionally I turn the bathroom tap on for a little to "turn off the noise" for a quick 2-minute break from the buzz, and then carry on.

Ears take forever to heal it seems, but hopefully, we'll become either gradually habituated to it or it'll just fade away slowly.

All the best!

P.S Blood pressure might also be a factor in mine, as well, so I'm going to start investigating that now - maybe it will help you?

 

Thank you so much for your reply.

Sorry to hear you are having troubles too. I'm desperate for this to go.

I've been told yesterday that my tinnitus is likely due to stress by NHS ENT consultant. He said he anticipates it will go as there is no damage to my ear. He's prescribed me amitriptyline to see if this will help with sleep. Evenings are my worst time and it's at this time I find the tinnitus most distressing xx

 

Hi,

3 months in with tinnitus after having my daughter. During the day it's relatively quiet but at night it's bad and tonight it's particularly bad! Trying to be strong and positive but it's wearing me down...

 

I am dealing with new tinnitus and sound distortions as well. 4 months in and have a 1 month old. I understand the struggle ❤️. Just try and remember we are still in early stages right now and take each day and moment as it comes. I try and tell myself ‘I don’t have to live for and figure out tomorrow today, so I’m not going to think about the future’ and that helps keep me present and less stressed.

 

Sounds like a classic noise injury: roaring tinnitus, distorted voices. I'd wager it's due to cochlear damage, there must've been some "straw that broke the camel's back."

 

Thank you for this!
Congratulations on your baby!
Very wise words @Kendra, I appreciate it xxx

 

@Kirstystired, how are things with your ears?