Woke up with ear noise at 3.30 am

[Billster]

Bad news for me tonight. At 11.00pm I noticed a sudden noise in my right ear, not really loud, but not to be ignored either. Btw I had a day off yesterday, so no music involved.

Anyway, I thought it´ll be gone by the next day, so I fell asleep. When I woke up at 3.30 am I noticed the noise is still there. So I packed my stuff together and went to a hospital, but they couldn´t help me really because it was (obviously) in the middle of the night.

Today I saw two doctors and the first one gave me pills to strenghten blood circulation in my ear. Tomorrow and the day after that I´ll visit two more doctors, because I don´t want to miss a chance.

Half an hour ago the noise was gone for maybe a minute or so, but then it continued nonetheless. Any sluts around with a noisy ear ? Please share your experience

Bill

[wallace]

I had some issues with my ears last year and was worried. Occasionally I'd wake up with some pain in my ears. I was using a lot of headphones so I stopped that for a while, and also when to see an ENT guy. They gave me several listening test (I did better than average) and said that I didn't have any hearing loss. Then (this was kind of weird) they vacumned out my ears with a special tool, which was very close to my eardrum. They also had it on a monitor so I could watch the whole thing on Tv. Basically, there was just a lot of wax (nasty as it sounds) stuck to the side walls.

After that, my hearing seemed much more open. It was nice. Have you had any kind of sinus problems lately? That might be the cause of it. It's a pretty complicated network.

[Steved]

I have tinitus. Ringing in both ears. I got used to it and have learned to compensate. It's the worst when I don't get enough sleep or it's dead silent.

[Reggie Love]

I have suffered from occasional tinnitus for some years. It comes and goes, tends to be right ear specific and is worse when I am tired or stressed.

I find if I sleep well, eat well and don't overdo the booze then it is only very occasional. Mistreat myself and it's pretty much constant.

No miracle cures as far as I can work out... although a source of low intensity noise such as a 24 news channel on low in the bedroom can help you get the sleep needed to put things back on an even keel.

[Billster]

Hey guys, thanks so far ! This morning I woke up and the noise is gone !!! I guess this should be a post for the good news channel, but since I started in the moan zone...

So this was a 24 hour affair, but I gotta treat it as a warning shot. My way of life isn´t exactly healthy, if you know what I mean. I bet you do, Reggie Love, huh ? The last six months were very stressful for me since we build an extension to our house, I have a two year old kid and a lot of work...add no sports, fast food and a beer or two (after all we´re beerslutz, ain´t we ?! ) and you know what I talk about.

Originally Posted by wallace

I had some issues with my ears last year and was worried. Occasionally I'd wake up with some pain in my ears. I was using a lot of headphones so I stopped that for a while, and also when to see an ENT guy. They gave me several listening test (I did better than average) and said that I didn't have any hearing loss.

I forgot to tell : I had to do a listening test yesterday and I was a bit afraid, but I also finished better than average.

Originally Posted by wallace

Then (this was kind of weird) they vacumned out my ears with a special tool, which was very close to my eardrum. They also had it on a monitor so I could watch the whole thing on Tv. Basically, there was just a lot of wax (nasty as it sounds) stuck to the side walls.

After that, my hearing seemed much more open. It was nice. Have you had any kind of sinus problems lately? That might be the cause of it. It's a pretty complicated network.

A friend of mine also did that and he said it´s worth it. Gotta try that, too.

Originally Posted by steved

I have tinitus. Ringing in both ears. I got used to it and have learned to compensate. It's the worst when I don't get enough sleep or it's dead silent.

I got a taste of that last night and I also have a friend who tells the very same thing. That´s so bad I felt like my head was imploding when it was dead silent. I hope I can avoid that in future.

Once again, thank you guys ! I hope there´s a better help for hearing related issues in future.

Take care,
Bill

[Jonboy79]

When I was 14 I had a 4 hour shooting session with a .44 magnum. Needless to say the extra pop of the magnum bullets and the lack of any ear protection what so ever has done permanant damage. The entire next day it sounded like people were talking to me in a really long tunnel and I was really scared. I'm 26 now and my ears still ring everyday. Weird thing is my hearing is still fine even with the ringing I have dog like hearing. I am however very concerened about future damage.

[Billster]

Originally Posted by Jonboy79

When I was 14 I had a 4 hour shooting session with a .44 magnum. Needless to say the extra pop of the magnum bullets and the lack of any ear protection what so ever has done permanant damage. The entire next day it sounded like people were talking to me in a really long tunnel and I was really scared. I'm 26 now and my ears still ring everyday. Weird thing is my hearing is still fine even with the ringing I have dog like hearing. I am however very concerened about future damage.

You better be ! I don´t wanna sound like your mother, but you can´t be careful enough IMO. As I do a lot of dance music, it happens that I go to a club every now and then - the devil on my shoulder keeps telling me "pull out the plugs - you won´t need them and it´ll sound so much better..." and the angel on the other shoulder insists "Are you ****in´ nuts ?! Don´t you dare..." Well, I leave ´em in most of the time.

Ah yeah, and when I was 14 I puked in my sister´s car, but that´s another story...

Bill

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by Billster

the devil on my shoulder keeps telling me "pull out the plugs - you won´t need them and it´ll sound so much better..."

i have the custom molded earplugs plugs... forget who makes them (they're called ER15's, i think). they cost me around $100, but i can go to any show i want, sounds 95% the same as if they're out. the band is just down 15dB. they're one of the best investments i've ever made.

--jon

[Steved]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

i have the custom molded earplugs plugs... forget who makes them (they're called ER15's, i think). they cost me around $100, but i can go to any show i want, sounds 95% the same as if they're out. the band is just down 15dB. they're one of the best investments i've ever made.

--jon

Yep. I use 'em too. Mine are made by Westone. I can change the filters on them to different levels of db reduction. I use 15db reduction most of the time.

I know I spent $300.00 on the exam, consultation, mold of my ears, and the plugs. Maybe the plugs themselves were only $100.00 like yours.

[pan60]

i have had pain and noise in my left ear for several years now, no relief.
my doctor seems to think it is from allergy problems.

[Nutmeg II.]

I have a very high tinitus in both ears + 1 or 2 aditionals in my right ear.

I do use ear mold type protectors for years, but wile we hit the rehearsal break I unpluged them and right in that moment the sax player put his clip mic into the PA.
That was the loudes feedback I ever heared. Well shit happends.

Beside this stereo tinitus I hear up very high like a bat and down to were elephants hear...

But now to what I realy want to say:
Tinitus is not necessarily from loud signals stressin/damaging your ear!
My other two tiniti are from my back problems.
When I out-strain my spinal column it will put pressure on the blood fessels that support my ear, and there for the ear get's not enough blood...

Stress is another reson to defelop a tinitus.

So is high blood pressure. (When you realy could hear the blood pumping through your ear you might have a tinitus from that).

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by Steved

Mine are made by Westone. I can change the filters on them to different levels of db reduction. I use 15db reduction most of the time.

yeah... that's them! they work great!

Originally Posted by Steved

I know I spent $300.00 on the exam, consultation, mold of my ears, and the plugs. Maybe the plugs themselves were only $100.00 like yours.

i knew the doctor. that combined with her "industry discount" meant that i basically got the exam for free. (and my response in both ears is still flat! woo hoo!!)

--jon

[Van-C]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

i have the custom molded earplugs plugs... forget who makes them (they're called ER15's, i think). they cost me around $100, but i can go to any show i want, sounds 95% the same as if they're out. the band is just down 15dB. they're one of the best investments i've ever made.

I live in Geneva, Switzerland. Do you know if such a Company does that in Europe? BTW the one you were talking about is Protectear, with representatives in USA and Canada...

[Alexi]

Stress was the main reason for my tinnitus..........got it when i was 16 but today i don't really notice it anymore (22 now) only when i wake up in the morning.

[Billster]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

i have the custom molded earplugs plugs... forget who makes them (they're called ER15's, i think). they cost me around $100, but i can go to any show i want, sounds 95% the same as if they're out. the band is just down 15dB. they're one of the best investments i've ever made.

--jon

Wow, sounds interesting. Gotta check those out !

Bill

[Billster]

Originally Posted by Nutmeg II.

But now to what I realy want to say:
Tinitus is not necessarily from loud signals stressin/damaging your ear!
My other two tiniti are from my back problems.
When I out-strain my spinal column it will put pressure on the blood fessels that support my ear, and there for the ear get's not enough blood...

Stress is another reson to defelop a tinitus.

So is high blood pressure. (When you realy could hear the blood pumping through your ear you might have a tinitus from that).

I know, I haven´t been exposed to any kind of noise when the noise accured for the first time. In my case it´s a combination of stress and an unhealthy way of life I´d say. But I´m working on it...

[Nutmeg II.]

Originally Posted by Van-C

I live in Geneva, Switzerland. Do you know if such a Company does that in Europe? BTW the one you were talking about is Protectear, with representatives in USA and Canada...

Go to your local hearing aid shop (Hörgeräteakustiker or something like that).

[dasbin]

I'm starting to think that spending time around computers can contribute to tinnitus.
Constant low-level humming sound from the fans etc... and when you're away from one, your brain maybe wants to fill in the blanks?
Who knows really. But I do know that mine is worse after a day at the computer... and it can go away completely if I spend the weekend camping in the woods, away from any normal life noise.

[Fredrik]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

i have the custom molded earplugs plugs... forget who makes them (they're called ER15's, i think). they cost me around $100, but i can go to any show i want, sounds 95% the same as if they're out. the band is just down 15dB. they're one of the best investments i've ever made.

--jon

I got those aswell but the er25 for 25db reduction, best sounding earplugs aswell as most comfortable ones. I can highly recomend them.

[syntheasy]

The er25 are also sold in Italy, try to search with google Elacin.
About tinnitus: you have to check some behaviour that makes the differences:
Is the frequency always constant?
Is the level constant?
Is there any circustances you can hear better tinnitus?
Are you exposed to loud noise and music?
Do you hear with subwoofer?
Do you assumme drugs?
Do you have some neck illness?

With the right answers you can make a first diagnosis for the origin of tinnitus,
Luca

[heathen]

If anyone has had a sudden ear problem with tinnitus and vertigo (headspins) not form loud music or overindulging in anything is likely to have a virus of some sort resulting in the syndrome labyrinthitis, if the infection has gone that far you will likely have the condition for months or years even life,i had it 2 years ago (crescendo tinnitus hmmmm guess what that is,then mellowed into normal tinnitus after a week)and it lasted 6 months. Its not actually usually the ear drum by this point but is more likely from a sludge in the bottom of the cochlea or the actual audial nerve is inflamed.
Bummer.
I'm not a Doctor ,but im more than likely right.

[Mr Edit]

I am 23 and have prettty bad tinitus. Not sure why, I put the blame on either one all night rave with no earplugs or being extreamely Ill with glandular fever a few years back.

Either way, the ringing gets way worse when I've had a boozy or stressy week. sometimes its so loud that I can't hear the TV on downstairs. But then at other times it is nominal (still there but to no great distraction)

Interestingly though I get burst of every loud ringing, for 10 seconds or so, every now and then. Never really worried me that much but sounds similar to what you had.

I can live with it where it is now, but I really worry it will get worse as I get older!

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Mr Edit

... the ringing gets way worse when I've had a boozy or stressy week. sometimes its so loud that I can't hear the TV on downstairs. But then at other times it is nominal (still there but to no great distraction)

Interestingly though I get burst of every loud ringing, for 10 seconds or so, every now and then. Never really worried me that much but sounds similar to what you had.

I can live with it where it is now, but I really worry it will get worse as I get older!

All of that... true for me too.

[Billster]

Originally Posted by Mr Edit

Interestingly though I get burst of every loud ringing, for 10 seconds or so, every now and then. Never really worried me that much but sounds similar to what you had.

I have that also every once in a while. Everytime I hope that it won´t stay. The last couple of weeks have been rather stressful and the ringing was coming up at least three times. I guess staying cool though is the best thing you can do about it.

Bill

[AcousTronic]

Wow, it's amazing how many of us have ear woes... I've had a slight ringing for a couple years now, that is starting to become more noticable, and am real careful of volumes these days. It's good to know that I'm not alone. I suppose it goes with the territory, since most of us come from loud bands in our early days.

[sasha222]

Originally Posted by dasbin

I'm starting to think that spending time around computers can contribute to tinnitus.
Constant low-level humming sound from the fans etc... and when you're away from one, your brain maybe wants to fill in the blanks?
Who knows really. But I do know that mine is worse after a day at the computer... and it can go away completely if I spend the weekend camping in the woods, away from any normal life noise.

i've had tinnitus for 10 years. noise induced.
most people think that just loud noises are harmful, but even low level noise such as fans for extended periods of time (6hrs+) can be damaging to your ears and can worsen tinnitus. thats why if i sleep with the ac on i wear earplugs. ears need rest too.

musicians plugs are a MUST for anyone exposed to loud music. they are expensive but totally worth it (cheaper than a hearing aid). i have the westone ones too. usually i just use the 15db filters.

[max cooper]

I feel like I really screwed up. I took my GF to the Stereolab gig a couple of nights ago. I had ordered a few pair of those Etymotic Research earplugs, and somehow in the chaos of the day I forgot to bring 'em.

The show started at a surprisingly reasonable level, and the sound was good.

After a while, it all went out the window. By the halfway point, it was way too loud and sounded like krap besides.

I left with my hearing totally muted. It'sbeen a couple of days, and there's been intermittent ringing and an overall muffled sound to things.

I think I hear damn well considering the damage I did early in life. I get intermittent tinnitus from fatigue; just starts up with no ramp. But my hearing is really keen nevertheless, so I feel lucky.

But it's depressing to think of what two hours can do. I used to know an AE who refused to come to our gigs. He'd say "You're crazy! I'm not going near that sh**t!"

I know that's probably a severe attitude, but I think it's a good one anyway.

[heathen]

Sounds like you did some damage, that intermitant tinnitus you mentioned is probably a viral infection you keep picking up,when stressed your immune system drops and these infections can manifest then,usually to kick you when you are already down. I mean the show you went too is a big issue but to keep the intermittabt one away try more vitamin c when you are run down as there is no cure for viruses. I get viral tinnitus when run down,eating well and taking vitamins seems to keep it at bay.

[Sqye]

Hey, Billster, and all you slutz - here's to your amazing ears and creative f&cked up brains And to all your health You guys are the best

[LX3]

Ears, tinnitus, and hearing loss are something I have a lot of experience with...

1) I absolutely second the consensus that you MUST minimise as far as possible your exposure to loud noise. Wear those earplugs. Carry them with you everywhere you go. It's not just those big gigs that'll get you - in fact, the sound levels in small clubs and bars and crummy rehearsal studios are frequently even more dangerous. Especially when a system that's too small for the job gets overdriven. Distortion is a real hearing killer.

But a couple of more off-the-wall things:

2) Amalgam fillings in your teeth. Maybe they're behaving themselves right now, but the longer you keep them, the more likely the mercury in them will destroy your hearing (and do lots of other nasty things to you). Believe me... I was sceptical about this for three months too long. Now I would give anything for a time machine so I go back and get mine dealt with sooner. One warning though - make sure you research this thoroughly before you rush out and have your amalgams replaced. Not all dentists are created equal.

3) Beware of seemingly innocuous drugs and other chemicals. On the list - virtually all antibiotics to varying degrees, Ibuprofen/Advil, aspirin, and others. Not only can they cause hearing damage directly, there are some substances that increase your susceptibility to noise-damage, even a couple of weeks or more after exposure to that substance has stopped. Wear your earplugs. One last little-known fact - magnesium citrate tablets are a really good thing to take daily.

Believe me, nothing, I mean NOTHING is worth damaging your hearing for. If a band member or anyone else calls you a wuss for wearing earplugs... wear them anyway, and see if they still think you were stupid in 20 years time.

For some great info, check out this site:

http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/articles.htm