Does anyone have big problems with noise in their ear? It drives me bananas!

Sometimes it's just deafness, but other times it can be ringing or just a seashell sound that repeats itself continuously.

I know this is likely tinnitus, related to the MS, but is there anything that anyone knows of something that might help it?

ARG!

Thanks, Cherie

Medications greatly enhance tinnitus. Are you taking some med that could be causing this? like aspirin?

Tinnitus was driving me nuts and a few years ago I went to an ear doc/neurologist. He told me that tinnitus is often the brains way of "filling in" for hearing loss, and tested my hearing. Naturally I have hearing loss....I spent too many years working with ultrasonic cell disruptors blasting apart bacterial cells! But not enough loss that warranted hearing aids. Just had to learn to ignore it. I consider it background music now.

My acupuncturist/herbalist suggested milk thistle as a supplement, as tinnitus often indicated liver toxicity of some ingested med. No kidding? with all the meds we take?

I used to take Milk Thistle every day, to guard against liver damage, but haven't for awhile?? Thanks for reminding me.

Cherie, me too, especially if I hold my head in a certain position. I keep the TV on to drown in out. . I notice it more when things are quiet, or if I'm thinking about it, like now....thanks a lot..

Thanks Barbara,

I did visit a hearing specialist earlier this year, and I too have some hearing loss in that ear.

I don't take any medications really, except LDN, and Naproxen once in a while. The ringing was definitely more of a problem when I was also on Celexa, but I haven't these symptoms since I went of in May/06.

I took a couple of flights recently, and the "total deafness" in one ear occurred within a day of my first flight. This deafness has happened before, but this time it lasted for several hours, not just momentarily. Then the seashell sound came on, and it's been bothering me for a few weeks now.

I wonder if it might alternatively have something to do with flying (or a combo of flying and the MS) . . .

Cherie

Oops, sorry Sally!

Yes, it sometimes can be better with a different position too; not always though.

I guess it's a fairly new "regular" symptom for me, so I haven't learned to tune it out yet. It's pretty darn loud though, so I'll definitely have to blast up the ACDC if I hope to drown it out.

I could try milk thistle . . . that's worth a shot.

I appreciate the feedback.

Cherie

I don't know if this is MS related - or related to my aneurysm or what, but lately I have found that when I talk on the phone, my other ear 'crackles' really loudly and I am sensitive to noise around me - like it is amplified.

It annoys the h*ll out of me, but I am at a loss as to the reason. I can't be bothered going to the doc for something so minor.

Keeps me from tying up the phone lines anyways.

Cheers

Lyn

I have otosclerosis which is hardening of the cochlea I believe. Anyway I have moderate loss in both ears and wear hearing aids, which I have come to accept and appreciate. I'm only 35!

I noticed ringing when I was in my early 20's and had annual audiograms and was finally dx'ed about 2 years ago. Nothing can be done to stop the progression. I take Florical which may slow that down and have been told Niacin helps ringing. I think I had to start with a low amount, then add more because of flushing.

Caffeine and stress make tinnitus worse. I use a fan at night to mask noise.
Tinnitus is very irritating. Hopefully you will find something that can help.
Take care,
Jean

Cherie, I've had the ringing 24/7 since 2-12-05, I also get the wierd whoring noise at times. I have loss of high and low tones in both ears, and a negative pressure hearing loss is the left, (sensural neural hearing loss). The ENT says it's a neurological thing, there is nothing he can do, see a neuro.

It is so loud that I sleep with a fan on high to drownd it out some. It drove me crazy at first but now after almost 2 years, it's just a part of life, like so many other things.
Pat

If its new you might want to give your neuro a call. I developed bad ringing, then buzzing at onset(first flare) that follwed shortly after by chronic vertigo and balance problems. It was a brainstem lesion, and the one time I WISH they had given me steroids because it has stuck with me.

Thanks everyone.

Personally, I wouldn't do steroids anyway, so there's probably not much point in finding what exact MS damage might be causing the symptom. I loath those details.

However, if it is as a result of something other then the MS (i.e. perhaps related to flying recently), then I suppose there is a possibility that something can be done. Wishful thinking maybe . . .

Sounds like a liver test may be in order too.

Cherie