Anyone had tinnitus that's fine away?

[FeatherySquawkington]

For some random reason I woke up middle of last week with tinnitus. Can't think of anything that might have caused it other than I have been getting dizzy spells on and off since the start of the year so presume it's ear related. I was managing to ignore it until last night when I suddenly panicked that this is it.....

Anyone else suddenly start with tinnitus that's worn off over time?

[FeatherySquawkington]

Title fail - gone away, not fine away..... 🙄

[TOFO1965]

I have had tinnitus for 25 years, it started sporadically but is now constant. Mine is in both ears, but different noises. One is like birdsong, the other a constant high frequency sound. I’ve accommodated to it, but like lots of things it’s worse if I tired. If I could go back in time I’d have worn ear plugs in loud situations and ditched headphones.

[Fluffetta]

Hi OP, bit more positive news from me. I had it for a few months a couple of years ago and it made me hate the silence. However it went away. Doctor said to try to distract myself, apparently most people if they sit and tune into the noises in their head will hear something so it’s about trying to teach your brain not to listen. White noise helps.

I’m no expert but mine has gone so there’s every chance yours will too.

[MyVisionsComeFromSoup]

My tinnitus is much better now I have hearing aids, which probably doesn't help you OP, sorry.

But, having had it since as long as I can remember, I've got very good at "listening beyond" it (which is a rubbish description, I know), a sort of "yes I know I can hear you, but I'm going to zone out a bit", and now it's only if I'm tired or particularly rundown it's harder to ignore.

But OP, when I was seeing ENT doctors about labyrinthitis a few years back, it seemed that tinnitus that comes on suddenly should really be investigated, might be worth speaking to your GP?

[Elieza]

I got that and dizziness from eating dairy. As I’ve gotten older my passages in my head have narrowed and the mucous created from eating diary can no longer slide easily through the passageways. So I get more bungee up and have dizziness and sudden dizzy turns.

If I stop eating dairy the problem goes away.

Is I go to acupuncture she can take the noise away too in one visit. Private £50 per session where I am.

[FeatherySquawkington]

I might contact my GP, not sure they will do anything though. I've not really ever been in loud situations and have never really used headphones either so I don't think it's a noise thing.

I'm getting anxious about this even already. I can only really sleep in quiet, so this is like torture!

[dryshampooer]

I had whooshing sounds in one ear - used to bother me every evening. Thought ear wax might be the cause as I've had problems with it in the past. My DH dropped olive oil in my ear every night for a week or so, and whooshing stopped!

[FeatherySquawkington]

My head feels a bit achy too today but possibly because I'm really focusing on the noise. Can it be a hormonal thing?

[NastyBlouse]

DH gets it intermittently. It seems to be something to do with neck tension, driven by stress and anxiety. He chills out, it goes away. Been like that for three or so years now (he's mid 40s).

[FeatherySquawkington]

Don't think it's ear wax. There seems to be two sounds involved - a high pitched static sort of sound then one that's a bit lower pitch than changes frequently, a bit like morse code!

[iklboo]

I listen to thunderstorms / sea sleep sounds at night which helps me sleep. Like @MyVisionsComeFromSoup I've learned to hear past it, so it's more background noise.

See your GP about it and the dizziness though. I have Ménière's Disease and it started like that.

[helips]

I get this every now and then...it comes and goes and I notice it more around my period and wonder if it’s hormonal. Apparently it’s one of many symptoms of peri menopause and I’m 43 so presuming it’s that! How old are you op?

[HotToCold]

I have whoosing in my ears

I went to the drs when it first happened (during lockdown)
Dr referred me.
I spoke to a ENT consultant Friday.
His booked me a MRI for the 30th 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Flaunch]

Mine comes and goes depending on how stressed I am.

Have you mentioned the dizziness to a Dr?

[FeatherySquawkington]

I've just turned 35. Spoken to the Dr about dizziness before and he said it was BPPV?

[Oblomov20]

Reading with interest. And sympathy. I only get very very mild and occasional tinnitus. But what I do have constantly is very sensitive hearing. I can hear everything, a text ping on a phone 100's of metres away etc. Drives me nuts. I hate it so much. It makes it utterly miserable. I hate it so very much.

[TheVanguardSix]

I have chronic tinnitus which started in my 40s. You do get used to it, believe it or not. And rest, low stress, plus good sleep combined make a big difference. When I am underslept and stressed, I am very aware of it.
My GP referred me to audiology for hearing tests and an MRI of the head. My audiology report showed hearing loss in one ear but it's very hard to get to the root cause of tinnitus.

I was very miserable when I first dealt with tinnitus but over the years (I'm nearly 50 now), I've gotten so used to it, I hardly notice it unless I am very stressed or I have a head cold.

I've heard good things about the Tinnitus Calmer app by Beltone.

[orangenasturtium]

BPPV is usually linked to head position @FeatherySquawkington whereas Ménière's Disease isn't. Is your dizziness triggered in a certain position? Vertigo, dizziness and tinnitus can also be caused by a tumour (usually benign). It's not common but you should get it checked out.

[FeatherySquawkington]

I think the BPPV was just him guessing. I've had another diagnosis of labyrinthitis too, does that cause tinnitus and does it reoccur?

[sd249]

I used to get Tinnitus and turned out it was caused by Low B12 - might be something to get checked? It also caused dizziness etc

[iklboo]

@FeatherySquawkington I think the BPPV was just him guessing. I've had another diagnosis of labyrinthitis too, does that cause tinnitus and does it reoccur?

Unfortunately yes to both.

[FeatherySquawkington]

Ok, I just had the weirdest thing happen.... I bent my head to the left to look through the front door peep hole (don't ask!) And the high pitched noise in my right ear suddenly got much louder then when I straightened my head it filled down to being quieter than it was before!! This gives me hope that it's something that might not be permanent..... I'm thinking a nerve or something?

[orangenasturtium]

It's called somatic tinnitus when movement causes the tinnitus to change @FeatherySquawkington. You can have somatic tinnitus from multiple conditions. You need to go back to the GP.

[peoniesandfreesias]

I have it in one ear only- it's a low sound like a bloody fog horn. It came on a few years ago in my late 40s so may be hormonal, I've never thought of that. I don't know if it fluctuates or it just annoys me more at certain times...at nights just now it's driving my insane so I tend to fall asleep with the radio on. I can't say it's annoyed me like that every night for 2 years so I'm not sure what's going on 🤔

[TOFO1965]

@Elieza

I got that and dizziness from eating dairy. As I’ve gotten older my passages in my head have narrowed and the mucous created from eating diary can no longer slide easily through the passageways. So I get more bungee up and have dizziness and sudden dizzy turns.

If I stop eating dairy the problem goes away.

Is I go to acupuncture she can take the noise away too in one visit. Private £50 per session where I am.

This is interesting, I’m going to experiment a bit now. I’ve had acupuncture for various things, but never the tinnitus. I shall try. Thank you :)