Has anyone had sudden tinnitus like this, and did it settle?

[BuzzBuzz1234]

I’ve had it for a few days and it’s driving me mad. It sounds like a swarm of wasps in the other room constantly, and every so often I’ll get a loud buzz in my ear and jump out of my skin. I’ve got the GP tomorrow, so hopefully I’ll get some answers. Has anyone had anything similar and does it go away? I’m struggling to work, I feel on edge.

Ive had it for the last 13ish years unfortunately, never found anything that makes a difference

Is it just in one ear? If so it needs urgent ENT assessment and I’d head to A&E tonight, OP.

DD (20 at the time) woke up out of the blue one morning with very loud tinnitus and hearing loss in one ear. Saw audiologist/GP who said that it was just wax and things would settle. Fast forward one week we went to see a private ENT as I felt that something just wasn’t right.. turns out that she had a condition called Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss which needed urgent steroid treatment. If things go untreated for over 48 hours your chances of getting rid of the tinnitus massively decrease and it can become permanent (which unfortunately it did for DD due to the GP’s ignorance..)

I woke up with tinnitus and 3 years later it's still here. No hearing loss but living with the constant buzzing can be very tiresome at times!

When I first had it it was as loud as a fire alarm, I couldn't sleep. It was awful. Nothing would drown it out.

After about 3 months it really quietened down and now I can only hear it at night. I hope GP is understanding.

I’ve had pulsatile tinnitus in one ear for three years. MRI clear. Never goes away.

I think both, it’s really bloody annoying and I’m so scared of wasps so it’s driving me even more mad. I will mention this condition to the GP as I’ve noticed over the day most sounds are sounding different 😣

I'm about 7 years in with my tinnitus which only occurs at night. It was stopping me sleeping but I take amitriptyline now and it's really helpful at sort of blurring it so I can sleep.

I have had it for years. Out of the blue and it never ceased. It is maddening.

The Dr said I have an ear infection, so hopefully this is the cause and it will stop after the 5 day treatment 🤞🏼

Hope it does clear up, OP, but sadly tinnitus effects a huge number of people and like other "growing older" things, like eye floaters there doesn't seem to be much research into cures so we're told to "live with it - you get used to it."

Well I have both tinnitus and lots of floaters in both eyes and yes, sometimes you forget to remember they're there (sounds odd but sufferers will know what I mean) but at other times you can't help noticing them and the constant "interference" can be very depressing.

Sorry OP that was a bit gloomy! I think my message is don't be fobbed off - do all you can to see a specialist if the symptoms don't disappear quickly by themselves.

Funnily enough just from reading this thread I can now hear my pulsatile tinnitus.

Normally I don't notice it from one week to the next these days, except a bit when I first turn my light off at night. My brain must have learned to tune it out.

Slightly scared to read that you had an MRI for yours @DemonsandMosquitoes.

I had this also for many years, I lost 7 stone and it has all but disappeared. I still have a feeling of fullness in my ear and slight hearing loss but I don’t hear the whooshing noise anymore.

edited to add - the mri was also clear

I’ve lost two stone and my BMI is fine. Sadly made no difference.

Yeah definitely not weight related. It’s a mystery. I wouldn’t like any form of tinnitus but this buzzing is quite distressing. Every half an hour or so, I have to check the house for wasps because it sounds like wasps are trying to get out of a window. If I do need to live with it, I hope my brain can block it out because it’s been an awful few days. Sorry to those who have suffered for so many years, I had never considered it could have such an impact 😫. I’m mid thirties too, but I’ve since learnt even stressed teenagers can experience tinnitus.

GP’s are not ear experts - please go to a private audiologist (many do a free hearing assessment) for the best advice

Good point! I may book in with my local specsavers for a 2nd opinion.

I would consider looking for a local independent rather than a chain, and ask if they have tinnitus experience

(I work in the industry)

Aww I see. Yes, will do. Thanks for that x

And one last thing. If it’s tinnitus on its own, it’s ok to wait. If you also have sudden hearing loss go to A&E 👍

It’s also quite red and swollen inside, no build up. I’ve started on Dexamethasone/Neomycin/Acetic acid. All in one spray.

I'd definitely go for a hearing test and make sure you don't have SSHL. As another poster has said, oral steroids are needed asap if you do have it.

I developed bilateral tinnitus last year and it's rough. I have some sort of annoying hypersensitivity to low frequency sound waves so all fans, dryers etc cause a pulsing erratic rhythm in my left ear. It's beyond depressing tbh :( I hope yours clears up.

Update: 1 day of the ear spray and no buzzing this morning. Long may it last!