Hearing problems

[Billleivers]

Not sure if anyone else is going through what I'm going through right now but any help/support would be appreciated! I've had hearing problems and tinnitus in my right ear for years and lived with it quite happily. However, my left ear had been blocked for 3 weeks now and it's driving me crazy! Massive tinnitus sounding like a waterfall! It's been diagnosed as Eustachian tube dysfunction and I've tried everything advised by doctor and online sources (and some not necessarily advised!) but no solution. Both ears seem to blocked and it's robbed me of almost all of my hearing in my good ear. Lower frequencies are just a mush and distorted (which is a bit of a bugger for a bass player!) so it's uncomfortable listening to music and impossible to play.
I've got a lot of rehearsals and gigs looming with my 2 bands but can't see me being able to do any of them at this rate. Band mates are so far very understanding but this can't go on for much longer. Will get to see the doc again as soon as poss but it will be the same message - keep on with decongestant spray and inhale steam. Thinking of getting a private ENT appointment as NHS appointment I gather could be 8 weeks.
Having trouble seeing any light at the end of the tunnel right now and getting really uptight about it.
Anyone else had this problem and if so, how did you resolve it? I'd really appreciate any ideas/support/advice as I'm starting to contemplate life as an ex bass player, something I dread.

[T-Bay]

I am sure this will have been advised/ tried but menthol crystals can work well, but Sudafed type drugs work better in my experience. Go back to the GP/ consultant and keep at them. Sadly hospital budgets are being squeezed by the day so they are keen to to do the cheapest way/ hope it goes away if they can and can need a gentle prod to take it more seriously.

If the outer ear is blocked then good old olive oil works but does take a time, I help it along with warm water and a washing up bottle with a tube attached, it's frowned upon by doctors now but works for me every time and I balance the small risk against the hell I suffer when my ears are blocked.

[Thunderbird]

[quote name='Billleivers' timestamp='1492351269' post='3279585']
Not sure if anyone else is going through what I'm going through right now but any help/support would be appreciated! I've had hearing problems and tinnitus in my right ear for years and lived with it quite happily. However, my left ear had been blocked for 3 weeks now and it's driving me crazy! Massive tinnitus sounding like a waterfall! It's been diagnosed as Eustachian tube dysfunction and I've tried everything advised by doctor and online sources (and some not necessarily advised!) but no solution. Both ears seem to blocked and it's robbed me of almost all of my hearing in my good ear. Lower frequencies are just a mush and distorted (which is a bit of a bugger for a bass player!) so it's uncomfortable listening to music and impossible to play.
I've got a lot of rehearsals and gigs looming with my 2 bands but can't see me being able to do any of them at this rate. Band mates are so far very understanding but this can't go on for much longer. Will get to see the doc again as soon as poss but it will be the same message - keep on with decongestant spray and inhale steam. Thinking of getting a private ENT appointment as NHS appointment I gather could be 8 weeks.
Having trouble seeing any light at the end of the tunnel right now and getting really uptight about it.
Anyone else had this problem and if so, how did you resolve it? I'd really appreciate any ideas/support/advice as I'm starting to contemplate life as an ex bass player, something I dread.
[/quote]I am suffering exactly the same problem as you right now I've been to the doctors and they said use decongestant and steam etc it's helping a little but not much my doctor seems to think that it will sort itself out in a few weeks it's been four already so I think it will be a hospital referral in the end

[mep]

That's quite a set of problems. I have suffered from blocked up ears before and usually both at the same time or one then the other in quick succession. I did by an online ear syringe which is a small plastic bottle which concertinas in and out. It worked really well and first time to clear my ear after using some bicarbonate of soda drops to loosen the wax.

[bazzbass]

I used to get my ears syringed by the doc every year or two. Just a big syringe filled with warm water. Then they introduced a new improved method involving a pistol grip device with a tube you put in the sink filled with water.....doesn't work, my ears were more blocked. Progress lol

I bought a small syringe to do it myself.

[T-Bay]

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1492357193' post='3279634']
I used to get my ears syringed by the doc every year or two. Just a big syringe filled with warm water. Then they introduced a new improved method involving a pistol grip device with a tube you put in the sink filled with water.....doesn't work, my ears were more blocked. Progress lol

I bought a small syringe to do it myself.
[/quote]
Most GP surgeries refuse to do even that now, the idiotsbthat run this country decided that the RCN insurance system was a 'monopoly' so introduced the free market, what resulted was an increase in premiums and a list of procedures that were counted as being too risky. Ear syringing being one of them. Now a consultant has to carry out what is delightfully termed an ear toilet and suck it out which can be very painful. I just diy it now.

[Guest bassman7755]

[quote name='mep' timestamp='1492355722' post='3279628']
I did by an online ear syringe which is a small plastic bottle which concertinas in and out.
[/quote]

Those are pretty useless IME, you want something like this .. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BDeals-Wax-Removal-Ear-Syringe4oz-Stainless-Steel-Surgical-Veterinary-Instrument-/262857878171?hash=item3d338cea9b:g:SAEAAOSwx6pYpzgr

[naxos10]

I have tinnitus and suffer with blocked sinuses (Rhinitis). I have been prescribed Beconase as on an ongoing prescription it does work, but I also use Sudofed style decongestants and menthol throat sweets in order to try and reduce the problem when I have a cold. There is also a decongestant spray called Beconese which does not have steroids in it and is vailble over the counter.
Unfortunately I also have damaged hearing so eventually I went to a consultant familiar with both problems and now have hearing aids chosen so as not to cause any excess problems with the tinnitus.
The tinitus itself can vary from bad to almost non existant and the brain can be trained to lessen the problem, it is worth talking with your GP to see if you can get refered to a consultant for this type of treatment.
It realy is a matter of finding the best compromise for your symptoms.

Edited April 16, 2017 by naxos10

[arthurhenry]

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1492357523' post='3279641']
Those are pretty useless IME, you want something like this .. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BDeals-Wax-Removal-Ear-Syringe4oz-Stainless-Steel-Surgical-Veterinary-Instrument-/262857878171?hash=item3d338cea9b:g:SAEAAOSwx6pYpzgr"]http://www.ebay.co.u...AEAAOSwx6pYpzgr[/url]
[/quote]
That seems a bit OTT. Otex make one which is more like a rubber bulb. It works well after a few days of using the drops. You can buy them in Boots.

Edited April 16, 2017 by arthurhenry

[Bolo]

With all ear related problems more serious than earwax or a common cold, get a ENT referral/appointment asap!
A GP doesn't have the specialist knowledge required for our complex hearing system.
Inner ear problems usually have nothing to do with wax build-up, please get specialist advise and ignore the internet.
I will graduate as an audiometrist in July, and I say don't f*** about with your hearing, it's damn hard to fix.

[Billleivers]

Thanks guys. It's definitely not outer ear wax build up. Just gonna have to get a private ENT referral so there's a fighting chance I can get it sorted it time to avoid total meltdown!

[Bolo]

There may be a reasonable explanation and simple fix. Or there might not be. Stressing about it will not help cure it but will keep your focus on the problem, making it seem worse than it may actually be.
Deep breaths, do what you can, accept what you can't change for the moment.

[essexbasscat]

A high street audiologist may be able to help with this one. I see one at least yearly for a check on hearing and microsuctioning to get rid of accumulated wax. It's reassuring to keep regular tabs on hearing

[darkandrew]

I'm in a similar boat; I have quite serious tinnitus in my right ear (sounds like a constant high pitched whistle in my case though) accompanied by a constant feeling of fulness also in the same ear. Occasionally my tubes can also become inflamed sometimes, usually the result of a cold, meaning that I can temporarily lose my hearing except for a fairly muddy sounding mush. Everytime so far, though, my hearing has returned eventually. I use a steroid based nasal spray (Avamys) twice a day and when I feel particularly blocked up I have found that a "bronchial dilator" such as psuedoeffedrine can also help. On the positive side, each time that my hearing's gone it has has returned to normal after a week or so however the tinnitus still remains as does the feeling of fulness and dizziness but after all these years, I've learned to pretty much ignore these and they have minimal impact on my life.

Edited April 17, 2017 by darkandrew

[Basszilla]

Funnily enough, my right ear is playing up right now.

I'm putting warm olive oil in to soften any wax buildup, and am hoping to book a gp appointment next week to get it removed.

The key thing is not to panic, which is sometimes easier said than done. Def get a referral to ENT though 👍

[only4]

I've been suffering very similar symptoms for a couple of years on and off just without the extreme tinnitus, all low end dropping out and feeling like my ear needs to "pop"
It's extremely painful when flying too.
The doctor recommended steam inhalation and decongestants but these made no difference. I was then prescribed a steroid nasal spray to cut down on mucus production, this also made no difference.
Next step was seeing an ENT specialist, firstly I had sound and vibration hearing tests including timpanic pressure test on my ear drum.
The results of these tests have lead to having 2 MRI scans and I am seeing the consultant tomorrow to discuss the results.
I'll let you know what he says.
I'd recommend going to a specialist.

[scoot]

Went to see "From The Jam" on Saturday night. Forgot my earplugs - my ears are still ringing now....

Edited April 17, 2017 by scoot

[Damonjames]

[quote name='only4' timestamp='1492453579' post='3280405']
I've been suffering very similar symptoms for a couple of years on and off just without the extreme tinnitus, all low end dropping out and feeling like my ear needs to "pop"
It's extremely painful when flying too.
The doctor recommended steam inhalation and decongestants but these made no difference. I was then prescribed a steroid nasal spray to cut down on mucus production, this also made no difference.
Next step was seeing an ENT specialist, firstly I had sound and vibration hearing tests including timpanic pressure test on my ear drum.
The results of these tests have lead to having 2 MRI scans and I am seeing the consultant tomorrow to discuss the results.
I'll let you know what he says.
I'd recommend going to a specialist.
[/quote]

How did it go??

I am having similar issues, it's a bit of a sore point at the minute as Mrs DJ is sick of repeating herself!
My ears feel full and slight ringing at the minute (seems now noticeable since a head cold a month or so back) so am getting concerned. Will book an appointment with the go to have a look this week.
I've always been careful with my hearing and used earplugs/iem at low volume etc, but I am approaching 40, so I'm not ruling out hearing loss just yet!

[Bolo]

Bring the Mrs to your appointment, affirmation of your problems may help her understand what you're dealing with.

[Billleivers]

Another weird thing for me is hearing different notes in each ear at some frequencies. Not sure which is the right one! I've not tried playing upright for a while but I'm sure getting intonation right is gonna be a nightmare.
Just listening to music is impossible because its complete discordant mess.

[gjones]

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1492357523' post='3279641']
Those are pretty useless IME, you want something like this .. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BDeals-Wax-Removal-Ear-Syringe4oz-Stainless-Steel-Surgical-Veterinary-Instrument-/262857878171?hash=item3d338cea9b:g:SAEAAOSwx6pYpzgr"]http://www.ebay.co.u...AEAAOSwx6pYpzgr[/url]
[/quote]

That's for artificially inseminating cows

[Damonjames]

Quick update after a trip to the gp.

My outer ears are all clear, but have blocked eustacian tubes, which is something j used to struggle with as a kid (I had to have grommets put in).
They have put me on otrivine spray for 2 weeks to see if that clears it up, but have just come down with a head cold so it's out the brakes on!!
Will keep you all posted. Hope everyone else is getting some help?

[only4]

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1492609811' post='3281606']


How did it go??

I am having similar issues, it's a bit of a sore point at the minute as Mrs DJ is sick of repeating herself!
My ears feel full and slight ringing at the minute (seems now noticeable since a head cold a month or so back) so am getting concerned. Will book an appointment with the go to have a look this week.
I've always been careful with my hearing and used earplugs/iem at low volume etc, but I am approaching 40, so I'm not ruling out hearing loss just yet!
[/quote]

Sorry for delay in replying, the upshot is that the MRI scans have not given the ENT specialist anything more to go on. He basically said that he can't treat anything that he can't see and to be honest my hearing loss isn't bad enough for a hearing aid so there is nothing more he can do!
I wasn't totally happy with this but I could see his point, so I'm back on steam inhalation. I believe that it's a eustachian tube problem as you mentioned.
Let's see what happens next...

[Billleivers]

Thought I'd update you on my original post guys.
Without sounding over dramatic, things got rapidly worse soon after. ENT appointment revealed that I have sensoneural hearing loss on my left ear to go with the hearing loss I've had for years in my right ear. So, though very late in the day, had a steroid injection which amazingly brought back a bit of hearing. Shortly after this, i managed to set fire to my left hand (don't ask!) and suffered 2nd and 1st degree burns to most of my hand. It doesn't rain but it pours! So, for two reasons, ice not been able to play or rehearse for 6 months.
Now the good bit! My hand has now almost fully recovered and I've kept almost full dexterity in my fingers. A musicians glove helped me with initial tentative playing but is now unnecessary. Just recently, miraculously, my hearing suddenly improved, I know not how or why, and I can now hear music in tune and hear bass frequencies much better. I have fantastic hearing aids which help everyday and moulded ear plugs and in ear monitors for playing and rehearsing. I've been rehearsing with no problems and playing my come back gig on Saturday with an acoustic set on my upright. I survived a 2 hour rehearsal on upright this week and my left hand was fine if s but achy. With the moulded in ear monitors, I get great attenuation and can control exactly how much sound I hear, even with the band playing st high volume.
So, I feel as if I've come back from the dead! I thought my hearing problems were terminal as regards playing, ditto my injured hand. I guess I underestimated the body's recuperative powers! Just hope my hearing doesn't regress, but no sign after 3 weeks. I'm being ultra careful from now on and taking no risks.
I guess the moral is- don't give up, don't lose hope. It's bloody amazing what the body and the brain can do!

Edited October 18, 2017 by Billleivers

[chris_b]

Good news Bill.