Suggest Treatment For Ringing In Ear When Diagnosed With Tinnitus

Question: Hi Dr. Rynne, ...may name is XXXX and I live in Fort XXXXXXX I have tinnitus in my right ear and constantly have light ringing in my ear. Over the past week, beginning last Friday, July 31, 2015 I've experienced an amplification of the ringing causing me to not sleep for the past four days. At best, when I do fall asleep, it's only for 2 - 2 1/2 hours and not being able to fall back to sleep. My primary doctor checked my ears and said that they look normal, back on July 30th and was unable to get a referral. So, I went to the emergency room at Broward County Hospital and was check by a doctor and PA, and had a CT IAC w/o Contract taken. The evaluation for cholesteatoma was negative. The findings were: (1) Right middle ear cavity is unopacified. (2) Middle ear ossicles are normal appearing. (3) Tympanic membrane is normal appearing and not tickened. And (4), no opacification of the mastoid air cells or external auditory canal. Basically, no erosions were identified. The left middle ear was all normal. THE RINGING IN MY EAR IS AMPLIFIED AND VERY DISTRACTING WHAT CAN I DO TO GET BETTER SLEEP AS WELL AS REDUCING MY DISTRACTION IN MY RIGHT EAR? THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND IT HAS EFFECTED MY WORK AND WELL BEING. V/RXXXX

Hi Dr. Schubert,

If my tinnitus gets any worse, I would rather be deaf in my right ear. Following my hearing tests, I would like to evaluate that option and see if this medical application is available? Also, can tinnitus transfer or develop in the opposite/good ear?

Thank you again, for your recommendation to create white noise to reduce/eliminate the ringing (tinnitus) in my ear. I really appreciate your immediate response.

Very Respectfully,

XXXX

Dr. Schubert,

Thank you so much for providing me with the above information. My past was filled with a lot of adventure being a scuba diver that suffered from symptoms of barotrauma that caused clogging of my ear, ear pain, hearing loss, dizziness, and ringing in my ear (tinnitus). However, there was no hemorrhage from my ear, only from my nose that filled up my mask completely with blood. I was on antihistamines for my Summer allergies at the time and the medication I was taking wore off during my dive. When I ascended, I had reverse-pressure or implosion effect on my ear drum. I also was a Field Artillery Officer upon graduation from college and was around loud noises and explosions at that time as well. So, I guess these two main events probably lead to my related tinnitus issues. When I retired (early retirement) my ears won't bothering me. I wished I was more concerned about my hearing when I separated from the Army.

As for aspirin, I was on an "Aspirin Regiment" due to my previous AFIB that I experienced from a serious car accident and again passing a kidney stone. Because I was experiencing severe blood vessel ruptures in my left eye, my doctor back then cited to get off my aspirin regiment. When I sneezed or cleared my nose in the shower I would later see my left eye with ruptured blood vessels that would redden half of my white/sclera part of my eye.

I really appreciate your guidance and recommendations Dr. Schubert!

Thanks again for all your support in my current medical condition...

Very Respectfully,

XXXXX