To start off, I'm 21 years old, healthy and happy, and have approx 15% hearing in my left ear from birth, and perfect hearing in my right. I have been to concerts, 20-30, usually never that close, but loud nonetheless. I believe myself to be an average or below average ipod user, usually go on stints where I wouldn't listen to my ipod for weeks, and the sometimes 4-5 days a week for 1-2 hrs a day on 50%-80% volume levels. I don't feel like I have been to outrageous to my ears, but then again I feel like I could have taken better care of them.
About a week and 2 days ago I realized a ringing in my ear, ironically just after I decided to being taking care of my ears. I believe it happened when I was listening to my headphones last monday (11/30), but tuesday I don't think I noticed it, and wednesday is when I began to notice it. My first reaction was to search the internet, and I began to read horror stories about tinnitus and how it has ruined people's lives, and it scared me to beyond imagination. I have immediately jumped to conclusions to what the rest of my life "could" be like, and I find myself worrying, crying, unable to get a full nights sleep, unambitious, sad, guilty, regretful, and all around an emotional wreck. I have been worrying my mother to death, which in turn makes me feel even worse and guilty.
Monday(6/7) I went to my family doctor, and explained my issue, she examined both my ears and found that she could not see the right eardrum due to wax. She flushed it out, examined the eardrum and explained to me that she didn't see any infection, but explained that my eardrum looked dull and grey rather than pink and red like it should be, and told me to call her in 72 hours if it did not go away. Those 72 hours have gone and past and the ringing is still there, but i'm fairly certain that it has become quieter? Or maybe I have already began to get use to it? This has made me feel better and more optimistic, but I still have at least one emotional downward spiral a day. I'm scared of the unknown, like if I will be able to deal with this, if it is even permanent, and the fact that I might have been able to prevent this if I hadn't been so naive.
So i've come here for whatever support I can find.
Also, is it to early to be certain that this is permanent? How likely or unlikely is it that this will get better or go away? Anyone have experiences where you or someone experienced the ringing diminish in time? Do I have young age to my advantage or disadvantage? I need help, and can't go see a ENT until I am back under my parent's insurance. What measures at all can I take to possibly help this situation? Ways to provide my ears with all means necessary to possibly heal? I have been running and eating healthy, taking vitamins, drinking plenty of water, and trying to keep myself optimistic.
All in all I find myself terrified of this situation, but mildly optimistic that this is not the end of the world, and if I must, I can adapt to it. I'm scared, I feel alone, and I feel like no one I know can relate. Help please.
Thank you as well
Re: Tinnitus, 21 years old, scared, help...
Hello, I seen your post there and thought I'd reply. I DON'T want to make you any more worried than you already are, but I reckon you have to get an MRI scan ASAP. The reason I say that, is, as I sit here and type this, I can hear the near-ultrasonic ringing that I've heard ever since I was about 5 years old. It comes and goes but in the last few years it has returned with a vengeance. I had a brain haemmorhage in 2002 and was diagnosed to have an 'Arterio-venous malformation'!I subsequently underwent Gamma-knife radiosurgery and it seems to have obliterated, (their own words!), the affected area! Since that though, I had a craniotomy and then fractured my skull in a bike crash. Head injuries seem to be a bit too prevalent in my life. YOU better get a neurologist to have a look. Please dont think I'm being anything other than genuine. Google 'neltek avm' if you are thinking I'm making this up !!! Good luck !!!
I'm not making a big fuss but I would caution against giving medical advice here. I am a medical research scientist and so not without some knowledge but nevertheless, I am not qualified as a practising physician and therefore I would never give medical advice of any sort on this forum. In fact it would not be ethical of me to do so, even if I were a medic.
I am a little skeptical of a MRI of the ear but I am not saying NelMa had anything but good intentions. Please however, lets leave medicine to the experts.
Jfisch177 - we are critical thinkers on this forum but you will not find us short of compassion. I suffer from chronic pain from a knackered leg from a motor cycle accident many years ago. At times it's scary but overall, it has become part of me. I am not sure if this is comforting but I am with you.
Thanks bunny, I dunno what i'm looking for, today has been a good day, and I need to stay positive because that is all I can do
Positive with a sense of humour - works for me.Originally Posted by Jfisch177
I must admit that I half expected the opening post to be a 'primer' for someone else to join the forum and post some advice on using herbal remedies or something...
As it seems to be genuine, I can only echo what Bunny says: if you have real concerns about your condition then get yourself to a real, qualified doctor.
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A reasonable source of general information on Tinnitus.
http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_inform...aflet/Tinnitus
Regarding medical advice, you'd definetly be best going to a medical forum, agreed! With hindsight, I may have gone into a few too many details there. I was only offering some advice. I'd still get a check up 2b on the safe side though. A skeptics forum is def not the best place for this subject though. 'Med-help'. . . . . Atb!!
...and with the ability to time travel I think your in for some interesting times
skb
I had a ringing in my ears starting a few years ago after years of watching too much TV through my headphones a little too loud. I've changed the way I watch TV now and I just live my ife day to day and the ringing is forgotten about. Sometimes, it becomes loud and then fades. In the night, I put on the classical music station low on the radio and that helps me sleep better.
Not sure if this is any good. It does come with a "caution warning" but interesting perhaps.
Spotted this. Don't know if it's old hat, crap or whatever. Might be of interest/help.....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8429715.stm
I sympathise with you completely. I had a similar situation a few weeks ago ... and when the ringing wouldn't stop after a few minutes, I had been more scared in my life (and my life has been pretty eventful). Mine was only a few minutes, I can see your situation is a lot more distressing and I hope you make it through ok.
I guess what I'm saying is a bit redundant, but I wanted to share and hopefully give you some emotional support.
I had a horrible, constant, screeching sound annoying me for years.
So I divorced her.
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