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chronic sinusitis and tinnitus sufferer in a long flight

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HI

 

I have had chronic sinusitis for more than 7 years. And I have mild Tinnitus, ear ringing symptoms (In my left ear since I had stuffy nose in the left). It is getting louder when I'm tired, and before sleep, so I usually turn my CD set on or other white noise like a fan or idle/white noise radio frequency.

 

Lately, the Tinnitus is getting worse and I am freaked out. Im seeing my ENT (he said he also had ear ringing due to his chronic sinus for more than 10 years..doh) and having fisiotherapy, loads of antibiotics, decongestans and stuffs. My ENT specialist said it was severe sinus infection causing my ear ringing. But I just had my last pills but the ringing is still there. I am clueless. Im pretty sure it is related to my sinus infection as it causes ear congestion, or perhaps TMJ, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Middle Ear Pressure or brain tumor but whatever... I don't care if I die, I just want to know what causing this.

Anyway, so far, I have no problems nor pain when having long flights (as pax of course), but now I am worried that being on an airplane will make these symptoms more severe, especially the ringing thing. I feel strong pressure in my head, ears and nose, it's like having flue with a bit of vertigo and irritated eyes. Especially in long flights, say a 7-8 hour flight. I am afraid it will cause permanent damage. Does anyone out there have similar experience? maybe some tips?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Cheers

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hi Coletrain from my understanding Sinusitus can be caused by a deviated septum That can be straitened out in a rather medival way of smashing a big nail up your sinus cavity with a hammer. My father had this operation.

tinnitus is usually caused by over exposure to loud noise over time. If you have a deviated septum I would get it fixed and see if that helps.The doctor told my father that not taking asprin could help with tinnitus but he has high blood pressure and the doc said do you want ear ringing or no hearing at all because of a heart attack. I know how annoying it is . at ten years old I was electrocuted so badly I had ringing in my ears for a month and saw double for two weeks. Good luck to you .

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tinnitus is usually caused by over exposure to loud noise over time.

 

Ironic that this should be posted. I've had sinus problems for a long time due to allergies since I moved to Texas, but never had tinnitus until about last Oct. I noticed it when the PMDG NGX came out and after my first few long flights having the volume turned up to loud, I noticed that my ears were ringing a bit. Ever since then I have not be able to get it to go away and when I fly the NGX I have to keep the volume down or it gets worse. Seems like there is some frequency in the NGX sound pack, that while I cant seem to audibly notice it, it makes my ears ring. Although it could be a coincidence that it started with the NGX, I had never had it before, am not around a lot of loud noises and only that a/c seems to make it flare up. Fortunately it seems to come and go a bit and isn't loud enough to really make it hard to sleep, it is annoying to say the least when my ears wont stop ringing.

 

I went to an ENT and also an audiologist and both said that there wasn't really anything I could do about the tinnitus.


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Hi.

 

Thanx for the replies.

 

Ithendrix: yes that's right. My ENT said that too, he put a device inside my nose, damn it hurt, and found out that there was an abnormality with my my left nose bone structure. How's your tinnitus now? Have you seen neurologist or ENT? How does it affect your flights?

 

Cmpbell: I guess I am used to exposured by loud noise when I'm with the band. I had so much fun for years and this may be the price I gotta pay, but ironically the ringing emerged when I reduced the frequency to play music since my daughter was born 5 months ago, so I guess that's not the main cause, it does stimulate tinnitus but it usually lasted for hours or days. I think its not only the NGX soundpack that may damage your hearing. I'm avoiding headphone now and sleeping with blank radio frequency to neutralize my tinnitus.

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When was the last time you were at your dentists, and when was the last time you had a full mouth x-ray?

 

I know that question sounds really out there, but here's why I ask... In the early 80's I had a severe sinus infection. I had ear ringing, my teeth hurt, and I could not hear worth a hoot. Doses of penicillin so large that I was sweating the stuff finally cured the infection. A flight to London days after I felt somewhat better took care of the final issue; stuffed up sinuses. At cabin altitude, my sinuses let go and I could hear, ringing was gone and my scotch tasted like scotch.

 

Fast forward 15 years... I was having real problems with my teeth. I went to a dentist and he did a full head x-ray. He found that my upper sinuses basically rested on the roots of my upper molars. Anytime I caught a cold or worse, the sinuses would inflame, enlarge and put pressure on my upper teeth. But, the important point, in the context of this discussion, was that this resulted in all kinds of collateral symptoms, including ear, Eustachian tube and balance issues.

 

 

Something to think about...

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I have had Tinnitus for 30 yrs and my ENT Doc talked about what I had been involved in and enjoyed the most of my live untill the onset of the tinnitus. I love music as much as flight simming, I played Trumpet and Cornet in a Military Band for about 7 yrs and after I left the military life I hooked up with a swing band for a few years. And aso worked for an Aircraft manufacter in The midlands of England. and also at De Havilland in Toronto after I came to Canada. And if that was'nt enough I took up Custom Furniture later in Kingston Ontario and I woke up one morning and My ears were screaming and have been living like this now for about 25 yrs. I try to avoid stress when I see it comming and I keep any noise at a minimum as much as I can. I never listened to my elders when I was offered hearing protection. How stupid can you get eh. I have been wearing hearing aids for about 15 years now. Thats why I never watch videos with the sound on. That's a very dumb thing to do. I was told that the tinnitus will never leave and now my wife has it too. The affect that all of that has had on my life for the last 25 yrs would be too long for this forum and its too unpleasant to talk about so I just go day to day. John

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I've had tinnitus for about 25 years, it came on when I was living next door to a noisy yapping dog. It's a constant high-pitched whistle, the doctor peered in my ears and basically said i've got to learn to live with it, which I can do as I'd rate it only about 5 on a 1-10 scale.

I regard it as 'part of me' and hardly give it a thought, and just get on with my life.

At least nowadays we have the comfort of being able to look up all our ailments on the internet and end up knowing as much (if not more) about them than the doctors.

If it ever got worse I think i'd look at the possibility of undergoing hypnosis to try to blank it out.

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Hello all.

 

Thanks for sharing and your replies.

 

I think I will avoid flights for a while. I have been browsing a lot in the past two weeks and boy how many people have had it for years. the scariest moment is when in a quiet moment, at night before sleep is the worst. lack of sleep will make it even worse as well as anxiety and that is a hell of circle

 

When I do things and in a crowded place the T is weaker, sometimes it feels like it isnt there, but when I'm checking if it is still there or not, the monster just emerges and that turns me down.

 

I am preparing for the worst as some sufferers define success is "habituation" not full recovery. I do hope that my T is intermittent and caused by some infection BS in my ear, not the one that I may have to live with. I know a person who suffers after he attended a rock concert, and his ENT gave him Xanax, and it made his T worse, and it's a lesson to learn, somehow, ENTs don't know sh*t about this, especially when they said "there was nothing visibly wrong" or "try to cope with it" or "the only way I can get rid it from you is shoot your head".. unless those who also suffer this T.. and they are not many trust me

 

I am 31 and it's a long way to go here mate. No matter how long it is, I will surely avoid flights (but simming remains continues).

 

 

Cheers

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I know that question sounds really out there, but here's why I ask... In the early 80's I had a severe sinus infection. I had ear ringing, my teeth hurt, and I could not hear worth a hoot...

 

... But, the important point, in the context of this discussion, was that this resulted in all kinds of collateral symptoms, including ear, Eustachian tube and balance issues.

 

I'll confirm that.

 

Not long ago I suffered horrible sinusitis for a couple of years. None of the over the counter cures had any effect. I was on the verge of having my GP look at it when my dentist replaced two old fillings, one upper canine and one incisor. Presto! no more trouble with headaches, blocked nose, snoring et c. et c.

 

Tinnitus seems to be a common problem- I have bouts of it lasting from a few seconds to an hour or so but it seems to fade away again on its own. My only worry came from the film Children of Men but since I can still hear ok I think that was just a touch of sadism on the part of one character.

 

Regards,

D

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..at night before sleep is the worst. lack of sleep will make it even worse as well as anxiety and that is a hell of circle

When I do things and in a crowded place the T is weaker, sometimes it feels like it isnt there, but when I'm checking if it is still there or not, the monster just emerges and that turns me down...

 

Drat! I hadn't noticed my tinnitus all day but now you've made me check to see if it's still there, and it is, ha ha!

So the moral seems to be don't keep checking..:)

As for sleep, i've got a theory that if we're tired enough we can sleep through anything including pain or tinnutis, so the trick is only to go to bed when you're dog-tired. Don't go looking for sleep, let sleep come looking for you!

Everybody's different of course, and their natural sleep pattern might be upset by the alarm clock, but when I get into bed I always pick up a book to read, and usually within 20 minutes I can't keep my eyes open and doze off naturally. The best books at putting me to sleep are ones about early explorers slogging through deserts, jungles and the Poles, or sailing the oceans, or pioneering aviation flights because they make me appreciate the comfort of my bed more.

Also, peoples blood pressure might play a part in tinnitus, or smoking/drinking,what food they eat, or even their outlook on life or whether they tend to worry, etc.

Incidentally I never married so I never had a woman's loving arms to fall into and have had to go it alone (sniffle)

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Ive had tinnitus since age 11.. Now im 26.. I had a terrible infection in the ears back then. I was so sick I couldnt get out of bed for a long week. My voice was gone and the fever was staying put.

 

It has not bothered me much since then, im so used to it that my brain just filters it out, however, it is not true that tinnitus is only caused by damage to your hearing senses, which alot of people think.

 

Whenever Im watching films with my friends, Im the one holding my hands to the ears during action scenes, cause its to loud.. And whenever I change diapers on my little boy in our bathroom with tiles, and hes crying loudly, I have to stuff my ears with toilet paper (and my wife gives me that weird look, she doesent see the problem..:-)

 

Also, after long hours at work and in the evening, Its very loud and easy to hear once im in a silent room, but I actually dont notice it unless I pay attention to it:-). I drive trains for a living, and the medical req. demands hearing tests. I had no difficulties passing that test, but it wasnt easy sitting in the booth, with the headset on, hearing my tinnitus loud and clear. It gave me a little help however. As the different freqs are played in the headset, my tinnitus makes it easy to seperate the tones because it sharpens the hearing senses.

 

A poor swedish guy on vacation in Thailand, woke up one morning with a terrible tinnitus in his ear. Back home he went to see a doctor that claimed it was damage to his hearing and that there was nothing he could do about it. The guy got pretty depressed but he didnt give up trying to find a solution to it, he knew he had always been careful with his hearing, protecting it at all costs.

 

A little later the guy found out about a swedish ENT who had specialized in treating tinnitus with jaw and neck-massage. It turned out the poor swede had been snorkling, biting his snorkel (or the thingy you breath in), so hard that his jaw-muscles got terribly hard and painful. Ofcourse he didnt see the connection between the tinnitus and his jaw-muscles, but was almost relieved of his tinnitus when he started treatment... Apparently, about 80 percent of tinnitus-patients notice a certain relief or complete cure with this treatment.

 

(This story was published in a norwegian newspaper, cant remember which one)

 

So there are a ton of causes to it. Im struggling with sinuses too (got allergies at age 23), and my right ear has been acting up the last months. It is getting louder sometimes, but Im not worrying about it.

 

Ive got some tips for you:

 

- The brain is a master at filtering out noises like tinnitus, but it can take months to learn how to do it properly. The key, as mentioned here is to avoid freaking out, worrying about it, or lissening to it.. Its not easy, thats for shure.

If you are desperate, there is good options for treatment out there.. And yes, im not surprised that meds can worsen the tinnitus.

 

- Avoiding flights during colds is a must, unless you really have no choice.

 

-There are very, very good treatments out there, such as tinnitus-therapy that ALOT of ENT`s dont know anything about.. (yes, ENT`s mostly SUCK at giving good help and advice when it comes to tinnitus, at least thats my experience.)

 

 

Consider all the reasons for tinnitus:

 

-Stiff neck and jaw muscles

-Tooth problems

-Sinus infections or clog ups due to allergies

-Actual hearing damage

-Infection in the ears

-General cold and pressurized cabin, followed by problems reliefing the ears during ascent or descent.

 

Tumors causing tinnitus is rare!

 

It has been claimed by researchers that all humans have tinnitus-like sounds in their ears(disturbances in the neurons connecting the brain to the hearing organ). Its just that in most peoples ears, its so quiet they dont hear it.


Yngve Giljebrekke
ENZV NSB
 

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Another few suggestions that might or might not help-

1-Just as a ships and aircrafts engines are heard and ignored by the crew and passengers, I tend to regard my tinnitus as the sound of 'the engine room of life', it's always there so I have to accept it and try to ignore it.

 

2 - Everybody on earth has got some ailment or other, some serious, some not so serious, but whatever we've got, maybe this bible verse can give us some comfort by making us realise we're all part of a 'brotherhood of suffering'- "All creation groans in pain from the beginning til now" (Romans 8:22)

 

3- There's a great line in 'Platoon' that could help us achieve a good mindset when Sgt Barnes tells a wounded comrade-

"Take the pain! TAKE THE PAIN!"

 

Barnes.jpg

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A little later the guy found out about a swedish ENT who had specialized in treating tinnitus with jaw and neck-massage. It turned out the poor swede had been snorkling, biting his snorkel (or the thingy you breath in), so hard that his jaw-muscles got terribly hard and painful. Ofcourse he didnt see the connection between the tinnitus and his jaw-muscles, but was almost relieved of his tinnitus when he started treatment... Apparently, about 80 percent of tinnitus-patients notice a certain relief or complete cure with this treatment.

 

That's interesting to know.

 

I have been diagnosed with a bit of TMJ. Basically it doesn't really bother me much except that I have a little soreness and tightness in the right side of my jaw from time to time. My dentist said that by judging from the wear on my molars that it looks like I clench my teeth at night while sleeping and suggested wearing a night guard. She did make me a make shift night guard out of a thick bleaching tray since I refused to pay $300 or so dollars for what essentially looked like a plastic mouth piece. I have noticed that if I wear it for a few nights in a row my jaw does feel better but to be honest I have not noticed any correlation between the nights when I wear it and the ringing in my ears. I really hate wearing it due to the feeling of having something in my mouth and over the course of the 6 years that I have had it, I have probably worn it a total of 30 nights. However, after reading this I think I will revisit wearing it a few nights and see it it makes any difference. Couldn't hurt to try at least.


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That's interesting to know.

 

I have been diagnosed with a bit of TMJ. Basically it doesn't really bother me much except that I have a little soreness and tightness in the right side of my jaw from time to time. My dentist said that by judging from the wear on my molars that it looks like I clench my teeth at night while sleeping and suggested wearing a night guard. She did make me a make shift night guard out of a thick bleaching tray since I refused to pay $300 or so dollars for what essentially looked like a plastic mouth piece. I have noticed that if I wear it for a few nights in a row my jaw does feel better but to be honest I have not noticed any correlation between the nights when I wear it and the ringing in my ears. I really hate wearing it due to the feeling of having something in my mouth and over the course of the 6 years that I have had it, I have probably worn it a total of 30 nights. However, after reading this I think I will revisit wearing it a few nights and see it it makes any difference. Couldn't hurt to try at least.

 

Its worth a try for shure, but the essential part of the muscle-treatment was the massage of the jaw in some kind of way, so it might be something different than what you are doing. Im gonna try to find that article again.


Yngve Giljebrekke
ENZV NSB
 

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Drat! I hadn't noticed my tinnitus all day but now you've made me check to see if it's still there, and it is, ha ha!

So the moral seems to be don't keep checking..:)

 

Sorry mate. True, I shlould just stop checking by going to a quiet room..

 

I always pick up a book to read, and usually within 20 minutes I can't keep my eyes open and doze off naturally.

 

thanks. Yes I do read but in this anxious stage is unlikely.

Ive had tinnitus since age 11.. Now im 26.. I had a terrible infection in the ears back then. I was so sick I couldnt get out of bed for a long week. My voice was gone and the fever was staying put.

 

It has not bothered me much since then, im so used to it that my brain just filters it out, however, it is not true that tinnitus is only caused by damage to your hearing senses, which alot of people think.

 

Whenever Im watching films with my friends, Im the one holding my hands to the ears during action scenes, cause its to loud.. And whenever I change diapers on my little boy in our bathroom with tiles, and hes crying loudly, I have to stuff my ears with toilet paper (and my wife gives me that weird look, she doesent see the problem..:-)

 

Also, after long hours at work and in the evening, Its very loud and easy to hear once im in a silent room, but I actually dont notice it unless I pay attention to it:-). I drive trains for a living, and the medical req. demands hearing tests. I had no difficulties passing that test, but it wasnt easy sitting in the booth, with the headset on, hearing my tinnitus loud and clear. It gave me a little help however. As the different freqs are played in the headset, my tinnitus makes it easy to seperate the tones because it sharpens the hearing senses.

 

A poor swedish guy on vacation in Thailand, woke up one morning with a terrible tinnitus in his ear. Back home he went to see a doctor that claimed it was damage to his hearing and that there was nothing he could do about it. The guy got pretty depressed but he didnt give up trying to find a solution to it, he knew he had always been careful with his hearing, protecting it at all costs.

 

A little later the guy found out about a swedish ENT who had specialized in treating tinnitus with jaw and neck-massage. It turned out the poor swede had been snorkling, biting his snorkel (or the thingy you breath in), so hard that his jaw-muscles got terribly hard and painful. Ofcourse he didnt see the connection between the tinnitus and his jaw-muscles, but was almost relieved of his tinnitus when he started treatment... Apparently, about 80 percent of tinnitus-patients notice a certain relief or complete cure with this treatment.

 

(This story was published in a norwegian newspaper, cant remember which one)

 

So there are a ton of causes to it. Im struggling with sinuses too (got allergies at age 23), and my right ear has been acting up the last months. It is getting louder sometimes, but Im not worrying about it.

 

Ive got some tips for you:

 

- The brain is a master at filtering out noises like tinnitus, but it can take months to learn how to do it properly. The key, as mentioned here is to avoid freaking out, worrying about it, or lissening to it.. Its not easy, thats for shure.

If you are desperate, there is good options for treatment out there.. And yes, im not surprised that meds can worsen the tinnitus.

 

- Avoiding flights during colds is a must, unless you really have no choice.

 

-There are very, very good treatments out there, such as tinnitus-therapy that ALOT of ENT`s dont know anything about.. (yes, ENT`s mostly SUCK at giving good help and advice when it comes to tinnitus, at least thats my experience.)

 

 

Consider all the reasons for tinnitus:

 

-Stiff neck and jaw muscles

-Tooth problems

-Sinus infections or clog ups due to allergies

-Actual hearing damage

-Infection in the ears

-General cold and pressurized cabin, followed by problems reliefing the ears during ascent or descent.

 

Tumors causing tinnitus is rare!

 

It has been claimed by researchers that all humans have tinnitus-like sounds in their ears(disturbances in the neurons connecting the brain to the hearing organ). Its just that in most peoples ears, its so quiet they dont hear it.

 

Thank you very much. Yes I went to a dentist as well, my upper molar was causing abscess, and she took two of my lower molars too. I went to my ENT today and he, again, gave me strnoger antibiotics and Tebokan, Gingko Biloba stuffs. Since the T came two weeks ago, I did a lot of research i the internet and am aware that Gingko hasn't been scientifically proven to be effective, it's more like placebo effect, well since I have known this, the placebo will lose its magic now.

 

Frankly I have never heard about this Swedish ENT, I'd love to know more though. However, since the cause is too many too be identified, I have doubts on the method. My ENT said today after he put a device to my both ears and nose, there wasn't anything serious, nor NAsopharing cancer. He also stated that he couldn't spot the middle ear cancer as he doesnt have the device. He told me not to worry, Tinnitus caused by a cancer is likely occuring in senior people not in my age. I know he was trying to encourage me, even though in the end he adviced me to learn to accept it.

 

These last few days, the ringing has been weaker. It was louder on saturday since I was busy on that day but it is a lot weaker. I had a nice sleep last night, but as stated here, checking and worrying are big mistakes. The more I pay attention to it, the louder it is.. dang mate, it sounds like anxiety disorder symptom.

 

Im joining a support forum and it is a huge help. Of course, I hope it will go away, but when worst comes to worst, i think I have to habituate and hope that my brain is smart enough to abandon that irrelevant sound. It is like NG's CFM engine, high pitch roaring, even higher.

 

This is huge. 1 from 5 people of the population has it. It's like 5 millions of people in U.S. itself. I bet the number doubles in real life, yet it has no cure.

I'd love to hear more of your story about T, are you a member of a Tinnitus support out there?

 

Thanks again Yngve :). You've been a great help

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