I have been experiencing tinnitus for a long time but it used to be on and off. Since August it has become increasingly noticeable and constant.It seems to be worse in the evening or perhaps I’m noticing it more when its quiet. I have had a thorough initial examination a couple of months ago. I didn’t mention MS but did take a list of symptoms. The doctor didn’t find anything but made it clear that she wasn’t dismissing my symptoms either. At the moment, I’ve got the worst cold I’ve ever had, on the tail of a sickness bug. I’m exhausted and my face is aching, still get the odd cramps behind my shoulderblade and weird tingles on my scalp but its the tinnitus thats driving me slightly bonkers. Add to that my ears have been ‘popped’ for the last 4 days, only occassionally unpopping for a short while. Back to the doc soon but what do I say this time? I’m reluctant to go now with the festive season looming. The type of tinnitus is both ears, constant high pitched sound overlayed with a lower, rushing note. Any advice?
Hi Reiki, I really sympathise with you as I’ve been coping (sometimes not coping well) with tinnitus for past few years. It’s with me all the time. High pitched and also a hissing/rushing sound. It’s much much worse when I’m dealing with anything else… like a virus… and also worse when I’m very tired, stressed or my MS symptoms are bad. Mine is also worse in evening, partly I think because I’m tired and partly because I’m less destracted and more aware of it.
I also sometimes get a ‘fluttering’ in my ears and sometimes the sound of a clock with a high pitched tick.
I was dx MS in 2008, have seen an audiologist and they seem to think it’s MS related as it goes up and down with my MS symptoms.
However, if you have not been dx with MS (?) you should not conclude that it means MS. There are a million things that cause tinnitus and some of it is temporary.
This site might give you more info: http://www.tinnitus.org.uk
From the tinnitus sites and forums I have been on I hardly ever come across anyone with MS related tinnitus… so it is obvious that there are many other causes and it is not all that common with MS.
Go back to GP with the symptoms you are still experiencing now and the tinnitus. You should get it checked out.
As for living with it long term… hmmm… it’s challenging. But I will say that it doesn’t drive me as mad as it used to, so I suppose I’m sort of used to it.
Hope this helps,
Pat x
i have had tinnitus for as long as I can remember, it is made worse now that I am deaf in my right ear after a suspected CVA, as it is all I can here. but oddley you just get used to it.
Hi I’ve had tinnitus for about 2 years since losing my hearing overnight It never goes away is ishigh pitched noise and out of tune radio noise too. As the previous person said u do get used to it.
Hi,
I’ve got tinnitus. I’ve had it for nearly five years. I think I have it as a side effect of St John’s Wort. I started taking this five years ago. I got it really bad at the beginning of this year. I think that this was a reaction to taking too much B12. My tolerance too it was really low as I stopped taking SJW and I got really depressed. I am back on SJW and I still have tinnitus. I know that it gets worse when I take too much Vit B12 but it doesn’t seem to bother me that much now as I am not so depressed. I also notice I get inflmation in my ear when the tinniotus is bad. I should imagine that this is the cause and is a reaction to the excess B12. So it could be that you are having a reaction to something that you are taking or eating.
I know it is a really horrible thing to have when you are very sensitive to it. I hope it gets more bearable soon.
Hi,
I’ve got tinnitus. I’ve had it for nearly five years. I think I have it as a side effect of St John’s Wort. I started taking this five years ago. I got it really bad at the beginning of this year. I think that this was a reaction to taking too much B12. My tolerance too it was really low as I stopped taking SJW and I got really depressed. I am back on SJW and I still have tinnitus. I know that it gets worse when I take too much Vit B12 but it doesn’t seem to bother me that much now as I am not so depressed. I also notice I get inflmation in my ear when the tinniotus is bad. I should imagine that this is the cause and is a reaction to the excess B12. So it could be that you are having a reaction to something that you are taking or eating.
I know it is a really horrible thing to have when you are very sensitive to it. I hope it gets more bearable soon.
Hi,
I’ve got tinnitus. I’ve had it for nearly five years. I think I have it as a side effect of St John’s Wort. I started taking this five years ago. I got it really bad at the beginning of this year. I think that this was a reaction to taking too much B12. My tolerance too it was really low as I stopped taking SJW and I got really depressed. I am back on SJW and I still have tinnitus. I know that it gets worse when I take too much Vit B12 but it doesn’t seem to bother me that much now as I am not so depressed. I also notice I get inflmation in my ear when the tinniotus is bad. I should imagine that this is the cause and is a reaction to the excess B12. So it could be that you are having a reaction to something that you are taking or eating.
I know it is a really horrible thing to have when you are very sensitive to it. I hope it gets more bearable soon.