Blocked ear and tinnitus. It’s affecting my mental health.

[Jaffa1989]

just over a week ago I flew to Spain with a cold and ended up with an ear infection. I was given antibiotics there and the pain subsided but the ear has remained blocked since the end of September. I’m now back from holiday with a blocked ear and quite loud tinnitus like a piercing ringing. I have since been prescribed stronger antibiotics and a steroid nose spray and it seems to be fluid in my eustacian tube which hasn’t cleared. My fear is this ringing. It’s SO loud and all I can think about and I’m petrified this is for life now. I wonder if anyone had experience of tinnitus with ear infections that went away or atleast got quieter? I’m a mum and work and it’s really affecting my daily life. Thank you.

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Just replying as feel you need some support - but I haven't had the same experience.
I have tinnitus all the time - but not had it because of an infection. Mine changes all the time so am sending you best wishes that yours will either go away completely, or change to something more bearable before doing so. I am guessing once the infection has calmed down, so will the tinnitus as you have never had it before.

I have had tinnitus for years. Recently I’ve had another noise which comes and goes and is much worse than the original low level hum.
Not sure if it’s related to my acid reflux or Menieres!
it drives me mad sometimes esp as bedtime. I need to have background noise on most of the time.
I hope yours goes ASAP.

If it is because of an infection, it will most likely disappear when the infection clears up.

Focusing on it will make it worse, ignore it as best you can and hopefully it disappears with the infection. Not being unsympathetic ( have it myself) but this is the best way trust me.

Thanks all for responding I really do appreciate it. I just was not prepared for this at all and it’s taken me to quite a dark place but I have a little boy that is pulling me through. I really do hope it gets atleast a bit more bearable when the infection subsides 🙏

I have had problems with my ears all my life. I am not a doctor, but the issue you are describing is quite common with an ear infection. It could even be a mild case of glue ear - yes, adults can get this as well as children. The nasal spray should help. Give it a few days and if you are still not better by the end of the week, go back to your doctor. There is no reason to be too concerned at this stage. I am sure that you will feel much better very soon.

I get it as I experienced the same. A week after a flight my ear felt like it went bang. Plus covid at same time. Has antibiotic ear drops as well as oral ones. Nasal spray too. Was a perforated ear drum and took over 12 weeks to feel better. Tinnitus was ruining my life with it. Crazy as was in the ear I could still hear out of rather than the perforated one but could have been the perception of sound. Thank god its much better now.

Thanks again all. I’ve had an awful nights sleep but I’ve just got to remember it will get better whether it stays or goes. I appreciate you all for responding x

I've had tinnitus for years. It gets much worse when my ears are blocked or I have Eustachian tube dysfunction or a cold etc and then it gets better again ,back to the previous level.

You will also attenuate. Meaning your brain will adjust to the noise and make it less obvious/quieter over time.

Or as it's infection related it could well go away once it's resolved.

Try not to worry about it if you can. Stress definitely makes tinnitus worse.

@CrazyAndSagittarius thank you for responding. Part of me thinks did I have this before and it’s just gotten louder but I can’t remember as I obviously didn’t let it bother me. Hopefully once the infection settles it will atleast get quieter.

I had something similar recently following a sinus infection and totally understand how you feel. Mine lasted for about six weeks and eventually cleared after a course of antibiotics, although I'm not sure whether they helped or whether it was viral and already on its way out. My ears have been fine ever since and I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't recur next time I have a cold as it was awful and really got me down. You have my sympathy, I hope it clears up for you soon.

If you're having trouble sleeping then playing white noise on a loop can help 'tune out' the tinnitus. Hope it passes for you soon.

I had exactly this and spoke to an amazing pharmacist who gave me an ear balloon. It's usually for kids. On his advice I used it 4 times a day and after 48 hours the ear unblocked and the tinnitus went with it. Intermittently my ear gets blocked usually after a cold and I use the ear balloon. It always works for me. Hopefully you can get one, try it and it works for you too. It's absolutely horrible having a blocked ear and very disorienting.

I used a kids one but here's one for adults! It's magic!

amzn.eu/d/idUR6MW

Thanks again all for your messages I really appreciate all your support! I have ordered the balloon so will give that a go! I think the meds are helping the unblocking slowly. Tinnitus still there but can only hope it goes.

Hi @Jaffa1989 how are you getting on? I’m in the same situation (only one week in though) but my anxiety is crazy. I hope you’re better. If not how are you coping?

@MrTumblesSpottyBum I’m so sorry for my late reply. I still have tinnitus. It has changed slightly to a lower tone which is very slightly more bearable? Tbh it’s still a big challenge but I am having some better moments. From what I understand it can take a long time to adapt to it. I’ve been told I have eustacian tube dysfunction and it’s just a case of waiting it out till it gets better so we’ll see what happens over the next few months. I’m no where near back to normal but I’m better than I was the first couple of weeks. Please reach out if you want to x

You poor thing. I have pulsatile tinitus and my goodness, if I focus on it it drives me mad as all I can hear is my heart beat whoosing! I play music to fall asleep to and my alarm in morning if radio so that instantly my hearing is listening to something else!

Sorry to hear you still have it. I think it took about 3 months for me to get used to it to a point I could function normally in life and without being medicated. To be completely okay with it took maybe 18 months, but I was living completely normally long before then. It will pass and you will adapt. But it is very, very hard at the start, I know.

@sonjadog and @ivfjourneyandme thank you so much for messaging again. I feel a lot of comfort in the fact that people have been through this and come out the other side. I have now worked out I had tinnitus before to an extent but it must have just got louder due to everything that has happened. Hoping either way I will get used to it or it will calm down again at some point 🙏 it’s the anxiety over everything tbh. I just need to get that under control and I will feel a lot better about it I think!

I suffer from horrific health anxiety. Usually as under control as can be, but due to upcoming IVF and medical exams etc needed it’s spiking which is making the heart beat in ears 10x worse 😔

@ivfjourneyandme I’m so sorry to hear that it must be really hard. My little boy was born via ivf so if you ever wanted to talk or have any questions please feel free to reach out ❤️

Hello thanks for the update @Jaffa1989 I agree the anxiety & lack of sleep makes a big difference to the volume and the ability to cope with it. I had a couple of weeks of feeling like I was actually going insane with it but coping better now - using the blue Nytol for sleep a few times gave me a chance to catch my (mental) breath. My doctor also prescribed amitriptyline but I don't really want to take them so saving them up in case of a really bad patch. He also suggested talking therapy which I will look into. Have you seen your doctor about the anxiety? Luckily there's a tinnitus support group in my town so I went to that too. When it's getting on my nerves I either go for a walk if I can or listen to water sounds on YT (for Xmas I got Shokz bone conducting headphones that don't go in your ears). I've read tinnitus can be worse in Winter so fingers crossed yours improves as Spring gets closer X

Hi @Jaffa1989 - can I ask how you are now? Did your ears unblock? And how is the tinnitus? Going through a similar thing at the moment and desperate for some positivity! Xx