TINNITUS

Chord

I have this ringing in my right ear, occasionly left ear but only seldom. the noise I get in my right ear is a lot more overwhelming, and the sound I get in my ear is the same sound all the time.
Let me tell you the story of how I came to get this “tinnitus” so you can draw your own conclussions which won’t be much. But I have to learn to deal with it somehow cause the doctor said I have it and nothing more can be done.
My first experience with tinnitus was in July 2006 during severe anxiety and mental problems. I mixed small lump of hash mixed it with tea and drank it down before I went to bed. That was fine I went to bed then and fell asleep don’t ask me what time I woke up at, but I woke up during the night hearing things, seeing things, in panic attacks, I couldn’t feel any control my body, vison, sound everything was distorted. I remember blacking out 3 times, one time when I was standing, but I still stayed on my feet. Then I layed in bed, and I blacked out again couldn’t feel any control over my body whatsoever. I thought my head was in my stomach, and I could hear a faint voice that sounded miles away which was one of my parents who was in my room telling me to “wake up wake up” and I can still remember saying to myself I can’t wake up but I’ll have push myself to wake up, and to me it felt as if I had to force my eyes open to get back in control and I did.
I remember somehow after everything I got asleep. But the morning was something I’ll never ever forget...The pain I had in my head was unbelievable...the whole head was in agony...It felt as if my brain had burst in my head..it’s then that the tinnitus first appeared. I slept the whole of that day but anytime I woke up, it was the same brain pain as before. It was incredible I couldn’t keep my eyes open. The pain was so intense. I got through 2 weeks of pain...hullicanting...noise in my head...till I finally went to see the doctor just couldn’t cope. He was a foregin doctor and he prescribed me Effexor which is an Anti-depressant. I have to say it worked wonders and saved my life. However anytime I tried to withdraw from it the one thing that kept coming back was the “tinnitus” louder, and more stressing. I’m now off it months and the tinnitus is still here worse than ever. I’ve been to the doctor three times and I was sent to an ENT doctor. She examined my ears did a hearing test everything was perfect. She said I had tinnitus and had to learn to cope with it. I then rang a tinnitus help line number and told them I had tinnitus and it gets louder in my right ear when I push out my lower jaw, or tilt my head to the right, which is something I also noticed only a few months back but I’ve no pain or nothing like that. They said go to see your GP again and the should do an MRI scan on the neck and jaws. Went back to see my GP told them about the neck and jaw thing he sat me down pushed a few points in my neck and jaw every thing was fine I had no pain or movement problems. He couldn’t explain why the ringing got louder in my right ear when I pushed out my jaw or tilted my head to the right, but he kept saying I had tinnitus and it can’t be cured. He was all against MRI scans he said it wouldn’t be of any use, maybe he was right. I’m 21 and have a long life ahead fighting this thing because it’s tough even righting this the noise in my head. I’m think about going back on the meds again just to rid the noise.
Any suggestions for me since you’ve read the whole story?

DonnieBrasco

hello,
firstly, my sympathies to you for your troubles. tinnitus can be really distressing.

It is a bit surprising that you were not sent for an MRI scan, or referred to a specialist, as far as i know an external examination wouldnt disclose inner ear problems and seeing as nothing was identified by the external examination, maybe it should have been the next course of action. My understanding of tinnitus is that it doesnt just arrive, generally its a symptom or biproduct from another illness... like a burst or damaged ear drum or inner ear problems or worse.
Have you ever had problems with your hearing before the incident in 2006? Any throat / nose issues before? how about swimming, ever suffer from trapped water? any feeling of pain (apart from the noise) or any feeling or trapped material. headaches ?
did you listen to your ipod etc at high volumes before the incident in 2006?

in my opinion you should continue to get to the bottom of this. Also continue to pay close attention to any improvement or worsening of symptoms. At its best, it may well pass. At its worse it could become very serious.
there is an ear specialist consultant based in the Charlamont clinic in portabello in dublin. Its behind the barge pub along the canal. You may need a letter from your GP to be referred there. The clinic has the facilities to perform an MRI. You'll probably have to pay around 100eur consultancy fees and maybe another 200 for the scan. The same consultant also operates a 1 day clinic in the bon secours hospital in dublin..near botanic gardens..on a thursday.

You did also mention mental illness problems, i have no clue about this but it seems reasonable that they could be related.
If you can, stay off medication that you are taking for tinnitus unless you have to. It muddy's the water when trying to monitor its progress. Keep a log or diary about everything you can about it.

good luck.