Tinnitus, Deafness and Ear Problems Support Group
This group is for those coping with Tinnitus (ringing ears or ear noise), hearing loss, and all ear issues. Join to find support and get advice from others.
Hi, I am new to the tinnitus support group, but I'm thinking I may have it and wanted to find out anything I could to help it go away. I've reseached it a bit and understand it's sometimes a cause of a condition, and to treat it you have to treat the condition. Well, I'm not sure what condition that would be for me, except anxiety, which I have pretty bad. But it's gotten better the past couple of days and the ringing in my left ear has not.
I started noticing it a couple days ago, but wonder if I've had it for a while and just ignored it. It's in my left ear and it's sort of a loud shrill pitch, but I only hear it when it's quiet and right before bed. Unless I'm focusing on it, then I feel like I can hear it too. It didn't seem like I had any pressure or anything, but today I'm starting to feel that way. Not sure if it's b/c I'm becoming anxious about it, but it feels slightly pressured.
I've read that taking gingko biloba and coenzyme Q10 may help reduce the ringing. Has anyone tried and succeeded with this? Is there testing to tell for sure if I have this? Does it often go away on it's own, or not often? If so, how long does it normally take? If I was to see a specialist, what kind of specialist would that be?
Sorry for all the questions, I'm very new to this and am searching for some relief. If anyone has any tips or advice, I'd love to hear it. Thanks in advance.
I started noticing it a couple days ago, but wonder if I've had it for a while and just ignored it. It's in my left ear and it's sort of a loud shrill pitch, but I only hear it when it's quiet and right before bed. Unless I'm focusing on it, then I feel like I can hear it too. It didn't seem like I had any pressure or anything, but today I'm starting to feel that way. Not sure if it's b/c I'm becoming anxious about it, but it feels slightly pressured.
I've read that taking gingko biloba and coenzyme Q10 may help reduce the ringing. Has anyone tried and succeeded with this? Is there testing to tell for sure if I have this? Does it often go away on it's own, or not often? If so, how long does it normally take? If I was to see a specialist, what kind of specialist would that be?
Sorry for all the questions, I'm very new to this and am searching for some relief. If anyone has any tips or advice, I'd love to hear it. Thanks in advance.
I hate to be the one to break the bad news to you, but I would say you have tinnitus. Tinnitus generally does not go away, and hopefully yours will not get any worse. There is supposed to be a treatment with steroids if your tinnitus is caused by a loud noise and it is treated right away.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/52640.php
As your ENT about this. There is treatment to in the form of retraining your brain, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and Neuromonics. Research both treatments for yourself, and also have a hearing test right away. Most people that have this condition also have hearing loss. If you have hearing loss, then get good hearing aids that are programmed to your hearing loss . Hearing aids have helped me.
I agree with the other posters...definitely see an ENT as soon as you can get it. Mention the steroid treatment to your doctor, as some ENT docs are more up on this "off label" use for prednisone than others. My first ENT did not prescribe prednisone for me, but a month later, another ENT did. However, it is widely thought that there is a rather short window of effective treatment -- a few weeks at most, so you have to act now.
Obviously, there is no guarantee that prednisone will lower or do away with your tinnitus, but for there to be any chance at all of it helping, I believe treatment needs to begin soon. A regular doctor could also prescribe prednisone, though they might not be as familiar with the recommended dosage for tinnitus, as again...it's a bit off-label to use prednisone for treating tinnitus.
I would like to add that there is still a good chance the tinnitus will resolve itself on its own. Right now, you have acute, and not chronic, tinnitus. Most doctors will not diagnose you as having chronic tinnitus until you have had it from 6 months to a year.
Hang in there, good luck, and keep us posted. :)