Tinnitus for 2 Weeks — This Is My Life Now?!

Where to start finding treatment for this maddening condition. Please point me in the right direction! Went to an ENT today who offered no help or suggestions. Thanks.

 

I would find a different ENT and audiologist for a start. Inquire about corticosteroid treatment.
In the meantime, eat healthier, work out a bit more, get an audiogram, relax, try and do things that you enjoy.

 

Thank you. I'm generally in good health. Do need to exercise more. I'm a "Fishatarian" so generally eat fairly healthy. I will get a second opinion. The one I went to today gave me a hearing test which showed a slight loss of hearing at certain tonal levels....to which I said "of course! I have ringing in my ears thT is affecting my hearing!
What is corticosteroid treatment? Thanks!

 

Slight hearing loss can be a cause for tinnitus.

Corticosteroids are drugs that fight inflammations in the body (among other things).
There is some evidence that tinnitus caused by acoustic trauma or recent ear infection can cause inflammation in the region of the inner ear.

You'd normally get a standard anti-inflammatory drug to fight that off, like aspirin or ibuprofen, but these drugs have a bad ototoxic reputation. Corticosteroids like prednisone or dexamethasone do not and they have helped some people during the early days of tinnitus onset.

 

Very interesting. Makes sense. The only acoustic trauma I can think of is that I recently started flying a couple times a month for my job and have noticed a noticeable amount of pressure in my ears at takeoff and landing. It can be challenging to get them to "pop." Back in January, I flew while I had a bad cold and the pain and pressure (clogging) were unbearable when I landed. Eventually it cleared up.
Can I ask what your background and experience is with Tinnitus? Thanks very much.

 

I am not a doctor if that's what you're asking.
But like many members on this site, I'm getting there

 

nac, dexamethasone, hbo, shae clinic, retigabine, magnesium

 

Are these all drugs you have tried and/or had positive results from?

 

Hey Jonathan I was I similar boat to you a few years ago, they told me there was no cure, and the easiest thing was to get hearing aids which blocks out T and amplifies sound. But hey I don't believe everything they tell me they even admitted that they have limited knowledge on this stuff. That means there are lots of non doctor medicines out there that could work. To me its not the heating loss that seriously bothers me its what comes with it~ T and ear pain.

 

Agree, you should seek out an ENT specialist who will put you on a course of cortiosteroids, like prednisone. Do this immediately. The window of opportunity, is to wait no more than 14-20 days from the onset of T, for it to help. I waited 50 days and had an Intratympanic injection done and it didn't do anything. This Tapered course of Prednisone, could be a positive game changer for you!