Ringing ears!!

[I]tinnitus …

very common problem … age will do it; IPods will do it; allergies will do it; almost anything will do it, it seems.

and there’s really nothing to do about it except learn to live with it ( unless it could be allergy or infection — not likely, but possible ).[/I]

But, it’s more like standing next to a bunch of overloaded high tension wires and getting the ‘buzz’ to my ears and my nerves.
I had the tinnitus long before getting the CIDP, Always was sensitive to loud noises and worked with noisy equipment for a while – that didn’t help.
It’s one thing that [I]mite[I][/I][/I] help with a diagnosis, but I’m thinking it’d be a way lower priority than other aspects you are suffering from. If you can’t sleep because of the noise? Maybe move it up on the priority list. Otherwise it’s bothersome and there isn’t a lot that can be done for it.
How you present ‘your case’ is more important! State your concerns [short and sweet], what’s been tested to date [ditto, S&S], and why you wish to have THIS doc’s opinions. My best line about other docs is:’We really didn’t seem to be able to communicate well’ and leave it at that. NO BAD mouthing-EVER! That guy could be this guy’s golfing buddy-You Know? The ‘communicating’ thing will say lots, especially if this new neuro had a lot of patients from the other neuro….
Back to ‘tinnitus’? Go and ask your GP about it? Can’t hurt to be seen by a hearing specialist, besides-IF you get a good neuro work up? MRI’s or Cat-scans will be norm and IF there should be something quirky to find, You will find out fast! This way you are covering all your other bases?
Good luck! Keep faith that THIS just mite be the doc for you? But, do be cynical until the ‘jury comes back’ and you get a diagnosis! AND That I hope and more will be the case!

Lori, you are not imagining things. Yes CIDP can CAUSE ringing in the ears. Like many others I already had some, but CIDP definitely caused it to become more pronounced. While there may not be anything that can be done to correct it, be sure to pass along this information to your neurologist. As encouragement, it is annoying, but as time goes on you learn to ignore it for the most part.

Gary

Lori,

After four months of being on antibiotics I developed ringing in both ears.
It eventually cleared up on one side but I have had in in the other side 25 years.
It is something you have to learn to live with. Dr. said nothing could be done for it.
I have described it as the sound of crickets in my head.

Good luck
Shirley

I’ve had Meniere’s Disease for about 8 years, which is an inner ear disorder. It causes ringing, “roaring”, vertigo, and deafness. I have lost 90% of the hearing in my left ear…can’t hear anything under 100dB (decibel) in that ear. (For reference, pushing a gas lawn mower while it’s running exposes you to about 70dB’s.)

What you are describing sounds like what an ENT would call “Tinnitus”. One of the leading aggravators for it are vaso-constrictors…things that raise your blood pressure…caffeine, anxiety, certain foods/beverages, meds, etc. Mine gets bad if I have to take certain cold medicines, aspirin, or eat anything with MSG in it.

“Roaring” is another common ear complaint; I describe it this way…”you know the sound you hear when you put a sea-shell up to your ear? Imagine that sound, about 100 times louder.”

I was diagnosed with Meniere’s in 2001, but since this neuropathy has begun, I’m trying to keep in the back of my head that they may be related. But, I’ve become an expert on inner-ear problems, treatments, and diagnostic tests…(some of which are absolutely MIDIEVAL (sp?) 😀 )

Elmo

As I was thinking about this, I have to share it…with all the tests and such CIDP patients have to go through, I thought you all might get a laugh out of it.

One test they give you, if they’re looking for inner-ear problems, involves basically a “water-pik”. They insert it into your outer ear, and begin spraying your ear-drum with water. Now, imagine that…not only the sound of the water directly hitting your eardrum, but it being cold water to start, and also all this water draining out of your ears during the test. BUT, the amazing thing about it is that it tests for vertigo response, by INDUCING vertigo! Cold water hitting your ear-drum makes you “spin” one direction; then they change it to hot water, and you spin the OTHER direction! Not too many people make it through that test without losing their cookies! Tons ‘o fun!

Makes a “skin punch” seem like no big deal! 😀

[QUOTE=Lori]However, because of the number of you that wrote and said you have it too, maybe it’s just another strange thing that happens with this illness.:( I’ll mention it to the neuro.

Thanks again!
Lori[/QUOTE]

[I]I’d wager 2 out of every 10 people alive have some degree of tinnitus, Lori. Isn’t just a CIDP thing … not at all.[/I]

I have tinnitis like a constant high pitched cricket. I first noticed it right after the GBS-like onset of this illness. It seems to get worse when I am worse neurologically or tired (which correlate). It is also worse when I lie flat. It really does not bother me which is surprising because I have never been able to stay in a room with a buzzing fluorescent bulb. I hope your symptoms are better when the cold is better and you are off the additional medications and more rested. If it persists and does bother you, especially in the quiet of the night, try “white noise” like a fan to see if it helps.
WithHope

My tinnitus has worsened with the CIDP. The neuro says they are not related. I have noticed that when the ringing becomes more obnoxious the CIDP gets worse ???

I use it like a sgnal. If the ringing gets louder I rest. Maybe it will keep me from getting worse. Like I say, the doc says they are not related. But sometimes the teakettle whistles when the water is hot. you know what I mean??

Dick S

WOW! Cold water-pic in the ears? Shucks I’d be like ‘Bill the Cat’ clinging on to whoever did that to me! OUOCH! I wouldn’t spin? I’d fall over! Plain and simple.
Isn’t that much pressure into the ear cavity too much? Couldn’t it do more damage? Honestly, flushing ears went out of style decages ago, except for severe ear infection discharge these days….
HOW old was the doc that did this? I’m truly interested, as it could be a gauge as to how up-to-date docs are.

[I]Homeagain, ears are still being flushed — often. Generally by ENT docs or audiologists. Wax buildup is often the culprit.[/I]

HA,

It was an ENT, about my age (and I like to think I’m not THAT old, regardless of what my kids say…I’m 50).

It’s a very small bore “needle” (although not pointed like a needle)…it reminded me of what they gave me to rinse out my mouth and sockets after I had my wisdom teeth taken out. The pressure is not strong…I’ve never used a water-pik, so I can’t compare. But it basically “gently” floods your eardrum with water, which runs out your ears (you’re laying down for this test, obviously). They start it out cold, and then progress to warmer and warmer. As I said, the vertigous spinning goes one direction with cold water, and reverses with warm water. One reason they give the test is to measure your eye responses to vertigo; see if they’re responding normally.

But the sound, even though it’s a “soft” stream of water, is pretty intense, and then the vertigo….YEE-HAWW! You should try it sometime! :p

Elmo

[QUOTE=Elmo]I’ve had Meniere’s Disease for about 8 years, which is an inner ear disorder. It causes ringing, “roaring”, vertigo, and deafness. I have lost 90% of the hearing in my left ear…can’t hear anything under 100dB (decibel) in that ear. (For reference, pushing a gas lawn mower while it’s running exposes you to about 70dB’s.)

I was diagnosed with Meniere’s in 2001, but since this neuropathy has begun, I’m trying to keep in the back of my head that they may be related. But, I’ve become an expert on inner-ear problems, treatments, and diagnostic tests…(some of which are absolutely MIDIEVAL (sp?) 😀 )

Elmo[/QUOTE]

Hi, Elmo. Has your doctor mentioned a possible autoimmune cause of Meniere’s? The American Autoimmune-Related Diseases Association ([url]www.aarda.org[/url]) lists it as a possible autoimmune disorder — my father had Meniere’s, and in the process of looking for ‘reasons’ for my CIDP it was thought that his Meniere’s might be indicative of autoimmunity running in my family (I also have an aunt with type 1 diabetes).

Keep fighting,

Deb
London

Hi Deb,

Haven’t really had the opportunity to discuss that possibility with a neuro yet; have an appt on Tuesday, though, and was planning on bringing it up.

Thanks!

Elmo

I have had ringing in my ears since bombs burst near me in WWII. I am now 84, so have lived wih it for over 60 years. I have learned to ignore it. I have found aspirin make it louder or stress. There are devises that one can use as ear phones that mimic the frequency of the ringing. But they are unhandy for day time use, but at night time could help. To my knowledge, there is no cure, but tolerance.

[QUOTE=pwbooks] To my knowledge, there is no cure, but tolerance.[/QUOTE]

[I]
Precisely. [/I]