To think this tinnitus might go away.

[BadgeringBastard]

I sort of know how this will go, but any glimmers of light… 6 weeks in to sinus infection that’s cleared and left fluid in middle ear. Doctor said it can take 3 months to clear - totally fine but I’m driving myself mad with the tinnitus.

I know loads of tinnitus is permanent but might this go away, given that I haven’t yet cleared the cause? I can’t sleep. And I co-sleep. And I’m literally shaking in my head with anxiety at bedtime. I’m such a mess.

I think there’s a good chance as there is still fluid that will hopefully resolve but I’m not a doctor. I have had short term tinnitus before but usually just a day or two. DH has it permanently in one ear and is used to it. Sometimes it’s louder than usual if he has a cold.
Is there nothing the gp has given to help clear it? Sleeping on that side? I had labrynthitis once and occasional BPV afterwards and some head exercises helped. Think it was called the Epley Manoeuvre and I got it in YouTube. Worth a try to see if it helps drain. Good luck.

I had the same thing. Try Otovent. You can get it on Amazon. It worked for me.

Oh yes. I agree with Otovent. DH has the balloons. They helped.

Audiologist here. Tinnitus is usually linked to hearing loss (but not always). It’s usually permanent because hearing loss is usually permanent. If you’ve got a temporary hearing loss - such as due to fluid - then once it’s resolved the tinnitus should go. That was very long-winded but basically yes, once the fluid has gone then the tinnitus should resolve too.
In the meantime, it’s easier said than done but try not to give it your attention - tinnitus thrives on the stress hormone cortisol and is also louder when you’re focusing on it. Try playing some white noise at bedtime so that your brain is distracted, or stick a boring podcast on. It will always sound louder in silence, which is why it’s often worse at night. Meditation/relaxation/deep breathing can also help. Hope it settles for you soon.

Thanks @Foxymoxy68 I’m doing hourly ear popping and steroid nasal spray. Urgh, fingers crossed. I can still feel it all popping and then fluid-y and it’s definitely better when they’re open and worst when lying down so I assume it’s all affected by the fluid. Thanks @greengreyblue. Sometimes I can approach it reasonably but it takes so much extra effort.

Also agree that Otovent may help. The Epley manoeuvre won’t as this is to treat BPPV which is unrelated to middle ear effusion.

I could have written this. I got a stronger drop last week, rinsing and popping and after 2 months the fluid has finally shifted. Think I've given myself tmj with the tension though 🤦🏼‍♀️

Yes that’s how DH describes his. Crunching and popping. He had Eustachian tube dysfunction. He had a camera up his nose and down the throat. He also has high frequency hearing loss so the tinnitus comes with that as pp said. It did improve once the ETD had improved.

Oh yes @Snoopy1991 that reminds me. Hearing test showed normal hearing. (When upright after walking when the fluid is always better) I think it’s unilateral - which can also be a red flag I know - but ENT consultant said that’s also the ear with the most fluid.

@halfshutknife Oh did you get the tinnitus too? Did it buggar off?

I got tinnitus about 18 months ago after Covid. It does settle down a bit in time and/or you get used to it so it doesn’t bother you so much. But the first months were miserable. Hopefully yours will go away in a short time, but if it doesn’t, don’t worry, you will be okay with it. I took sleeping pills and Anti-anxiety pills for the first couple of months to help me with it. It gets worse with stress, illness and lack of sleep, so I am more careful with those than in my pre-tinnitus days.

I got it on and off. Not all the time. Strangely I mostly had it when I was in the car. My fluid has only gone in the last 2 days. In the past 2 months I've had 2 courses of antibiotics, dry needling, facial massages basically anything I can throw money at and I've concluded steaming my face was the most effective 😂
Also google nasal spray technique. I hadn't been pointing the spray properly.
Hopefully it shifts for you soon.

@halfshutknife I think mine is on and off but definitely there when reclining or lying down. And I’ve got a facial internal vibration when lying down before I go to sleep which they think/ thought was full sinuses but now I think it’s the anxiety.

Oh sorry to hear that @sonjadog. Did you have any ear infection/ fluid too or did it just happen?

It def sparks anxiety for sure.
I've heard so many people with sinus infections the last few months.

It just happened. It is related to muscular pain for me. I got it about 1 month after covid.

Try regularly chewing gum -the movement of the jaw will hopefully move the fluid along. Also white noise will help. I really hope this gets better for you

I feel your pain, OP. Tinnitus is awful!
I have an ear wax blockage in my ears and very narrow ear canals. I have tinnitus in my left ear and it’s most noticeable at night. I absolutely hate it and I hope that once the wax has been cleared my left ear will stop ringing!

@Snoopy1991, is there a chance that once the wax is cleared my tinnitus might go?

Good luck @funinthesun19. Keep me updated. I desperately hope to be coming back in a few weeks to say it’s all gone. 😞

Try not to think about your tinnitus at bedtime, it makes matters worse.

Seconding white noise - I had anxiety-related tinnitus (because I 'tuned into it' and panicked) for about a year, but white noise helped me get rid of it and in OPs case if it is due to fluid, it will at least help cover the tinnitus.

Try “sleep sounds” on Apple Music. It’s very relaxing spa music and will help distract you from the sound of the tinnitus. Sorry this is happening to you it’s awful

When my tinnitus ear does pop on its own - which it’s blessedly started to do occasionally at last - I can go into a quiet room and it’s not there. The sound itself sits within the pocket of pressure and is far worse lying down - all of that, plus no hearing loss, must point to it going away when my ears are finally sorted right? (She said, grasping at all the straws!)

Thanks all. White noise drives me potty but I’ve got a humidifier that covers it for the most part.

@Echobelly did it totally go?