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Suggest Treatment For Ringing In Ear When Diagnosed With Tinnitus

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Posted on Mon, 31 Aug 2015
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
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (56 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
tinnitus treatment

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns

You have been having marked elevation in your tinnitus recently. Unfortunately there is very little we can do to help reduce tinnitus. My best thing to offer is for you to get a sound machine at night. The light sounds from rain or ocean waves will distract your brain to listen to the sounds rather than the tinnitus. Since you have been covering your head and only listening to the tinnitus you have actually worsened the problem. Try using white noise from a sound machine to help distract your brain.

I hope this answered your question. Please contact HCN again with your health care concerns and questions


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (1 hour later)
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
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Tinnitus is inner ear damage

Detailed Answer:
Tinnitus will not go to the opposite ear unless there is damage to the opposite ear.

Unfortunately even with surgery there is no grantee to reduce the tinnitus.

I forgot to ask if you are taking Aspirin. If you are stop as this can make tinnitus worse.

I really think using a sound machine at night will help you focus less on the ringing.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (3 hours later)
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
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (40 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Noise canceling head phone

Detailed Answer:
I just had a patient last weekend who also has significant tinnitus and he recommended using noise canceling headphone to help suppress the ringing

Try this it might work

I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns and questions
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ronald Schubert

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 2407 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Ringing In Ear When Diagnosed With Tinnitus

Brief Answer: tinnitus treatment Detailed Answer: Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns You have been having marked elevation in your tinnitus recently. Unfortunately there is very little we can do to help reduce tinnitus. My best thing to offer is for you to get a sound machine at night. The light sounds from rain or ocean waves will distract your brain to listen to the sounds rather than the tinnitus. Since you have been covering your head and only listening to the tinnitus you have actually worsened the problem. Try using white noise from a sound machine to help distract your brain. I hope this answered your question. Please contact HCN again with your health care concerns and questions