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Skeezyks
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Unhappy Jan 23, 2022 at 08:13 PM
  #1
I've been maintaining fairly well recently... all things considered. Then today, for some unknown reason, my head began to feel stuffed up and my tinnitus went crazy! And along with it went my anxiety level. (They seem to go hand-in-hand.) I have no idea what caused it. I didn't do anything differently than I ordinarily do.

I first noticed, while taking my morning shower, my right ear felt "stuffed". I passed it off as probably having gotten some water in my ear. But, as the morning wore on, my tinnitus worsened. After my shower, I did drop a small copper tray on the tiled bathroom floor. And that certainly made a big noise. But it doesn't seem as though it would have been enough to cause this. I'm just sick about it and hoping it's a temporary setback. I'm doing my best to hide it from my wife. (There's nothing she can do. And it will just cause her to worry.) I do have a phone appointment with my pdoc tomorrow afternoon. And if I still feel the way I do now I'll probably mention it.

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Default Jan 23, 2022 at 08:59 PM
  #2
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Originally Posted by Skeezyks View Post
I've been maintaining fairly well recently... all things considered. Then today, for some unknown reason, my head began to feel stuffed up and my tinnitus went crazy! And along with it went my anxiety level. (They seem to go hand-in-hand.) I have no idea what caused it. I didn't do anything differently than I ordinarily do.

I first noticed, while taking my morning shower, my right ear felt "stuffed". I passed it off as probably having gotten some water in my ear. But, as the morning wore on, my tinnitus worsened. After my shower, I did drop a small copper tray on the tiled bathroom floor. And that certainly made a big noise. But it doesn't seem as though it would have been enough to cause this. I'm just sick about it and hoping it's a temporary setback. I'm doing my best to hide it from my wife. (There's nothing she can do. And it will just cause her to worry.) I do have a phone appointment with my pdoc tomorrow afternoon. And if I still feel the way I do now I'll probably mention it.
Definitely tell your doctor. You need to be tested by an audiologist. Possibly you may have a hearing deficit.

I have tinnitus since 2011. There's nothing they can do for it. When my mind is interested in something, I tend to forget about the tinnitus.
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Default Jan 24, 2022 at 05:22 AM
  #3
I'm sorry you are feeling this way. I hate it when my tinnitus changes or gets louder. Anything that makes it noticable is frustrating.

I do draw a line from stress to cringing my teeth to my tinnitus getting worse, but I have no way of telling if that could be a cause for you, too, and I think it is very good of you to discuss it with your pdoc.

Good luck!

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Default Jan 25, 2022 at 02:44 PM
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Smile Jan 26, 2022 at 05:19 PM
  #5
Thanks all for your kind replies. I did talk about this with my pdoc. (I asked him to increase my Clonazepam prescription a bit which he did. And that has helped.)

I've had tinnitus for... oh... around 15 years or so. (I'm also diagnosed with Meniere's Disease.) So it's nothing new to me. It was the sudden seemingly unprovoked upsurge that caught me off guard.

I have had all 3 of my Covid-19 shots. But that was some time ago. What I did have, just about a week ago, was a pneumonia vaccination shot. But it doesn't seem as though that would likely have been the cause of this. On the other hand, there's a ton of stress around home at the moment and perhaps that is the cause.

I've been looking, on-line, at information regarding hearing aids that supposedly help reduce the intensity of the tinnitus. And I may schedule an appointment at a local ENT practice that also provides hearing aids for tinnitus as well as for hearing loss. But I wondered if anyone, here on MSF, has had any experiences with hearing aids for tinnitus. If so, what has been your experience? Thanks!

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Default Feb 17, 2022 at 02:02 AM
  #6
That stuffy feeling could be swelling of the mucous membrane lining the eustachian canal that runs from behind the ear drum down into the throat. The fix for that is to take a decongestant, like pseudoephedrin (Sudafed.) Spraying a topical decongestant in your nostrils might also potentially help. Afrin (oxymetazoline) is the most long acting.

The cause is usually allergies, in which case an oral allergy pill (antihistamine) or nasal steroid spray (fluticasone) might both help.

Possibly, it could be due to an infection. It could be the residue of a recent upper respiratory infection, or it could be an infection specific to the eust. canal. If that's a possibility, you don't want to use a steroid spray without talking to an MD first. (Steroids undermine your body's ability to fight an infection.) Guaifenesin/Mucinex might also help. (Get generic.)

I've had that "stuffiness" in the ear feeling. An MD told me it was probably a seasonal allergy issue. I also get it from time to time for seemingly no reason.

Pseudoephedrine is a very useful medication. No need to buy Sudafed, which is the pricey brand name. Every pharmacy has a generic version. You have to sign for it and show your driver's license because it can be used to make "speed." The regular tablets are 30 mg each. Two of those tablets used just once a day for a week cured some sore spots inside my nostrils, probably due to dry air. It shrinks the little capillaries under the surface. In that sense, it acts as an anti-inflammatory drug, though it's never given that label.

There's a lot of people out there making money off of tinnitus. I'm skeptical about the products they offer. Honestly, though, I have not tried any. The audiologist told me a hearing aid would benefit me, in terms of hearing better. But I feel I hear quite well with no aid. Maybe someday I'll look into it. An MD who is a board certified ENT would be the best person to consult about any of this stuff. I went to one when I first got the tinnitus. He mainly just said: "This can drive you nuts, but only if you let it!" Mine was mild and not what I would call unpleasant. Since 2011, it has got a good deal worse. It's most annoying when I first wake up. Awful would be more accurate. Then, as long as my mind is occupied in something that really holds my attention, I lose awareness of it. Basically, the brain trains itself to ignore what it regards as a meaningless stimulus. It's similar to what happens when you develop "floaters" in your eye - another age related abnormality. At first, I kept seeing "gnats" flying around my head. Now I don't. My brain just filters it out of my consciousness. I wish it worked like that for age-related pains and aches.

I do recognize that I'm lucky and that there are different types and intensities of tinnitus. Some are terribly distressing and cannot be ignored.

Let us know, if you try a device and what you think of it.
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Default Feb 17, 2022 at 02:20 AM
  #7
Great advice @Rose76

Im so sorry youre experiencing this, @Skeezyks

I dont have any experience with tinnitus myself but I think it sounds absolutely awful! I couldnt imagine much worse than a constant sound that I couldnt get rid of.

I think @Rose76 has given some great advice for you and I would definitely see a specialist if you can!
I really hope it settles down again for you
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