Tinnitus during pregnancy

[Wannabeam]

Tinnitus- a ringing in your ears sometimes accompanied by a slight deafness is something I have suddenly started suffering from in only one ear during late pregnancy. I'm pretty sure I had something very slight and similair just before pregnancy but it wasn't so bad that I noticed it. Now it is driving me insane. If I cover my good ear it sound as if I'm underwater. I have done some research and found that some women can get it during or just after pregnancy. So I'm hoping it will go away after birth. The other worry is I have read that tinnitus along with swollen feet/ankles and bad pain down one side of your back making it hard to walk are symptoms of Bells Palsy which you may develop after pregnancy (my Mama did). I know Bells Palsy goes away but I really hope I don't get it! Bells Palsy- numbness down one side of the face resulting in not being able to smile or blink on one side.

Does anyone else have tinnitus?

 

[InHisHands]

I have tinnitus... but i have had it for years. I have genetical hearing loss. The sound when it's loud can drive you to the point of insanity.

Best thing is to have background noise so it doesnt bother you as much.

As far as it occuring in pregnancy and what it means... i'm not sure. I do hope for your sake that it does go away eventually. Mine has gotten softer over the years, so if it doesn't go away... there is hope that it will become tolerable. Eventually.

 

[Wannabeam]

I have tinnitus... but i have had it for years. I have genetical hearing loss. The sound when it's loud can drive you to the point of insanity.

Best thing is to have background noise so it doesnt bother you as much.

As far as it occuring in pregnancy and what it means... i'm not sure. I do hope for your sake that it does go away eventually. Mine has gotten softer over the years, so if it doesn't go away... there is hope that it will become tolerable. Eventually.

Sorry to hear you have it too, my Dad has deafness in his right ear and has had intemitent ringing over the years but he has never got it looked at. I wonder if it is genetic for me too. Has yours got worse during pregnncy?

 

[ChrisK]

Hello,
Sorry for dropping in on the third tri- I was looking for posts about when to stop working but your post caught my eye. I'm a medical professional in this area (sorry to be so vague, but it's a small world and I enjoy remaining anonymous). Anyway, I don't know about tinnitus during pregnancy, but tinnitus in only one ear is reason for a hearing evaluation and follow-up with an ear-nose-throat physician. The reason is that although they are quite rare, unilateral tinnitus can sometimes be a sign of an acoustic neuroma (tumor on the 8th nerve or hearing nerve). Again, these are rare and they are also benign and slow-growing, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Good luck!

 

[InHisHands]

Mine gets worse when my allergies act up... have a lot of mucus and sinus drainage. Since pregnancy does increase the mucus... i have had it get louder for a few days before it got softer again... but i just took benedryl or clariton to help dry me up ... and it went back down to its normal level.

I really hope the best for you. I wouldnt wish it on anyone. When i got the news that mine was genetical hearing loss and that not only was i losing my hearing, but the sound would never go away, i was beside myself. It was so LOUD.. like a loud beep from a microwave right by my ear that never stopped. In fact i couldnt even hear the sounds in a regular hearing screen because the tinnitus blocked out any of the other tones. They had to measure vibrations of my eardrums instead.

But they did eventually fade to a low hum, and you grow to tune it out even though its always there.

 

[Mum22GTTC]

Hi ladies,

Sorry to hear you are suffering like this,l I have no advice or exeperience, but wondered could I ask, when you say ringing - is it a true ringing sound? Hope that doesn't sound too stupid!
Just that over the past couple of months every now & then I get a high pitched noise in one ear, only lasts a few seconds then it's gone, but it happens a couple/few times each week & I've started to wonder what's going on

 

[Wannabeam]

Hi ladies,

Sorry to hear you are suffering like this,l I have no advice or exeperience, but wondered could I ask, when you say ringing - is it a true ringing sound? Hope that doesn't sound too stupid!
Just that over the past couple of months every now & then I get a high pitched noise in one ear, only lasts a few seconds then it's gone, but it happens a couple/few times each week & I've started to wonder what's going on

Hi

The sound is unique to the individual and is normally described as anything from a ringing, whooshing or beeping sound. It can be intermitent and so not always remains for very long like you describe. There is also a chance you are hearing electromagnetic waves crossing, I occassionally hear this and everyone else in the room will hear this too, it's a normal phenomenon. If you find it is only you who hears it then you should go and get a hearing test etc as there might be something you can do to lesson it before it gets worse. Tinnitus during pregnancy is usually due to the blood flow to the ear and brain messing with brain signals, you might hear your heat thumping in your ear. I don't have this, it's just a ringing and a beeping. Hope yours doesn't keep coming back

 

[Wannabeam]

Hello,
Sorry for dropping in on the third tri- I was looking for posts about when to stop working but your post caught my eye. I'm a medical professional in this area (sorry to be so vague, but it's a small world and I enjoy remaining anonymous). Anyway, I don't know about tinnitus during pregnancy, but tinnitus in only one ear is reason for a hearing evaluation and follow-up with an ear-nose-throat physician. The reason is that although they are quite rare, unilateral tinnitus can sometimes be a sign of an acoustic neuroma (tumor on the 8th nerve or hearing nerve). Again, these are rare and they are also benign and slow-growing, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Good luck!

Hey

I went for a hearing test and they said there is a slight dip in my hearing on that side but I still come within the normal limit... but if you ask me I am half deaf in that ear lol! They did a vibration test on my eardrum and said it was fine. I have heard of those tumurs on wikipedia. I thought I would see how I am after birth to see if it dies down again and see someone about it if it remains. It all started after I was diving at the beach (I go quite deep). I ended up with a blocked ear and took some antibiotic drops to help it unblock. One morning I woke up to find that it had unblocked but not completely and I had a terrible ringing. After this it just seemed to stay the same. But in late pregnancy it has suddenly increased tenfold right at the same time that my swelling has started. I hope it's not a tumur, I have been told I might need an MRI scan but I'm trying not to panic for the moment as there's not alot I can do being preggers and I am feeling in my gut that it's not serious. I won't neglect the fact that it's there though, and my obstetrician has already told me she wants me to see someone right away after birth. Thanks for the advice and a happy and healthy 9 months to you

 

[ChrisK]

Glad you got it checked out Wannabeam, sounds like nothing to worry about right now. Hope the remainder of your pregnancy is happy and healthy as well!

 

[Katy Bug]

Does anyone else have tinnitus?

YES! I was actually about to make a post on it in the third trimester forum! My tinnitus has been with me for about two months and started as yours did. Only one ear was clogged and I had terrible ringing but it was mainly whooshing sounds. Now my right ear feels unclogged, but I have been having this awful "bass" sounding or vibrating in that ear. It's so annoying and sounds like someone is playing the radio in their car outside with really loud bass, except that it's in my ear. It really drags down my day and makes me agitated and to the point where I don't want to do anything. It's added to my depression as well. It ONLY started doing this during the second trimester and has followed me to the third.

I have also gone to the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, which was no help. My hearing was normal and aside from a small nose infection and wax in my ear, the doctor didn't do ANYTHING for me. All he did was give me nasal spray, which I stopped doing after two days because it almost made me puke because it dripped into my mouth. This isn't a sinus infection problem, I KNOW it's Tinnitus! Because it's only my ear. I also told my doctor about it and she had me have blood work and an EKG done! Everything was normal and I still have the stupid tinnitus.

I know it has absolutely everything to do with the pregnancy and nothing to do with anything else. I don't have a family history of tumors and if you don't either then don't scare yourself with that thinking. I have done tons of research and have read that pregnant women CAN get tinnitus during pregnancy. Something to do with all the extra blood flow and I believe it. It isn't fun and I've broke down and cried from it already several times, but now I'm just pissed and determined to ignore it best I can. Best thing to remember is that a lot of people suffer from this and even have to live with it for the rest of their lives. I can handle the ringing, but what's been going on in my ear for the past 3 or more weeks is absolutely horrible and it's been hard to cope and sleep. But recently when going to bed I just make sure I am very tired and use a lot of fans and I go to sleep fast. What's stupid is I'll wake up with it gone and it'll come back again during the day. Sometimes it won't come at all for a couple days and I'm excited but then it'll show it's ugly face again. I literally wish I was deaf in this ear now, that's how bad I hate it. But I am hoping for it to go away after pregnancy. That's the only thing I have now, hope.

 

[jamies girl]

My stepdad developed tinnitus after hitting his head in a car crash we had a few years ago, and it hasnt gone or eased in the slightest since it happened.. It might be a bit different cos yours isnt trauma induced but according to his specialist, theres no cure for it, and most of the time it never goes..

 

[Wannabeam]

My tinnitus has eased up abit. I am almolst certain it's sinus related as sometimes I feel like my ears are going to pop and unblock. They have a tiny bit and the tinnitus improved after that. I did develop beeping as well as ringing but now the beeping is gone! Just a high pitched ringing. I'm going to take decongestants once I'm in the clear of any post-pregnancy meds and I have stopped breast feeding. Normally they clear my ears out after flying

 

[Mama8]

Hi all. I just hit 3rd trimester when it happens 3 weeks ago. I started to hear high pitch cricket sound in my head 24 hours non-stop. Initially I thought that I am going crazy due to the high stress at work.! I met a doctor and he said that the symthom is called tinnitus. I was so depressed and cried many many times. I then went to see the ENT & He said this is related to stress + sinuses + pregnancy. He can't really do anything except prescribed nasal spray for me so far, I've used it for 1 week but it doesn't help.
Last week I met with my Gynae & she agrees that sometimes tinnitus is triggered by stress & pregnancy (blood flow and swollen in year). she said usually it will go away or at least lessen after birth... I am really terrified it it won't go away... I even asked for anti-depressant but of course she can't give it due to my pregnancy.
I wonder if anyone had this before & if it will go away after birth? What if I breastfeed, will it still go away post partum? help help help !

 

[Katy Bug]

Well I have good news. My tinnitus has been gone now for about 3 weeks. The last week or so was horrible. The "drumming" or "bass" sound that was in my right ear was there every day, all day. Then it sort of gradually eased, as if it got farther away, until it was barely there and then it was just gone.

I don't want to jinx it and say it's gone for good, but for the most part it's gone. I let go of a big stress that was bothering me for a while and I don't know if that helped or not (even though I keep stressing with stuff still now). So in my case, I'm still pregnant but that 3 months of tinnitus has been gone for about 3 weeks now. So hopefully anyone else who experiences won't have it the whole time either. Good luck to you.

 

[Katy Bug]

Hi all. I just hit 3rd trimester when it happens 3 weeks ago. I started to hear high pitch cricket sound in my head 24 hours non-stop. Initially I thought that I am going crazy due to the high stress at work.! I met a doctor and he said that the symthom is called tinnitus. I was so depressed and cried many many times. I then went to see the ENT & He said this is related to stress + sinuses + pregnancy. He can't really do anything except prescribed nasal spray for me so far, I've used it for 1 week but it doesn't help.
Last week I met with my Gynae & she agrees that sometimes tinnitus is triggered by stress & pregnancy (blood flow and swollen in year). she said usually it will go away or at least lessen after birth... I am really terrified it it won't go away... I even asked for anti-depressant but of course she can't give it due to my pregnancy.
I wonder if anyone had this before & if it will go away after birth? What if I breastfeed, will it still go away post partum? help help help !

I wrote just above this if you want to read that too, but my tinnitus started in the 2nd trimester and finally ended around the 31st week. It was horrible and I did all the research I could. I wouldn't use the nasal spray. I was recommended the same thing. Truth is it just happens I guess and I felt like it had absolutely nothing to do with my sinuses. The doctors can't recommend meds because of pregnancy so the only thing you can really do is wait it out. I honestly got to the point where, annoying as it was, I ignored it and eventually it went away. I do think stress has the most to do with it and triggers it the most, so I am trying my best to not stress. I am looking into meditations to help ease my mind. Be hopeful, it will go away.

 

[Mama8]

Thank you for your feedback. I noticed that if I am busy doing other thing, I won't hear/notice the high pitch sound. I will hear it getting clearer and louder if I start focusing on the sound or when I'm commuting to work in car.Whenever this happens, I will try to busy myself. I hope this tactics work in a long run and eventually the sound will vanish. Meanwhile, talking and sharing my "burden" with others helps me emotionally too.