Ring Ears
Posted over a year ago
I had my last period a little over a year ago. My doctor says I am post-menopausal. I thought symptoms would get better not continue The one symptom that really bothers me is the ringing in my ear. It comes and goes and I am not sure if this is because of fluctuating hormones or allergies or just fluid in my inner ears. Does anyone else have ringing ears and will it eventually stop. Thank you.
Jg50 - I have been afflicted with tinnitus for several years now but it was originally much worse than now. After doing quite a bit of research, I have found out that several of the OTC NSAID's like Motrin and Aleve can cause this reaction if taken in high doses or over long periods. Also, a low-sodium diet has helped dramatically. Mine has not gone away though, and over the years I've learned to live with it. Good luck!
Dusty1 - Thanks for your reply. Just curious. Did you start having tinnitus due to menopause? I don't take OTC NSAIDs. But my sodium intake may be a little bit too much. My one ear seems stuffy so I am thinking it is due to allergies or fluid retention. You say you've learned to live with it, is that because you are use to it or because it was better than when it originally started? I can probably learn to live with it if I can figure out what is causing it. Doctors say there is nothing wrong, but maybe fluid in the ears. Thanks again.
Jg50 - Hi, in answer to your questions: First, no, since I'm a man I didn't start having tinnitus due to menopause (sorry I didn't make that clear...) Originally I had an ear infection (probably almost 20 years ago now) that started the tinnitus and "stuffy" feeling in my left ear. Over the years, I also had hearing loss in that ear, partly due to my job (I'm a firefighter and work around loud noise a lot.) Then, about 7 or 8 years ago, I started taking 800 mg. of ibuprofen twice a day for backaches, and about three weeks into that all of a sudden I had a marked increase in the tinnitus, along with episodic disabling vertigo that would come on a couple of times per week and last a couple of hours. After many specialist visits, one doctor advised me to try a low-sodium diet and after a couple of weeks I no longer had any dizziness and the tinnitus got better, but still higher than the previous levels. Now I am nearly deaf in my left ear (except for the ringing) but can work around it well enough. As far as "fluid in the ears", all inner ears have fluid inside the structures (this is what gives us our sense of balance) but not normally behind the eardrum/outside the structures. You can get a look at what I mean here: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/ear/
It is a simple diagram showing the semicircular canals and cochlea, which I called the "structures" above. If there is fluid in the eustachian tube, I don't believe this is normal-- you say "doctors" but have you seen an ENT specialist? They are really good at what they do. Some days I admit I would give just about anything for total silence... Good luck! By the way, low sodium means less than 1500 mg per day, and you can get that in one large portion of canned soup if you're not watching out... so be careful and LOSE THE SALT SHAKER! I used to salt my food but now I never add extra salt-- most foods have plenty of sodium already, and it only takes a couple of weeks, even if you like salty foods like I did, to notice the real flavors of foods again (at first they seem bland, I'll admit!). Again, good luck.
Ashleysmom06 - I have always had a pretty low sodium diet (my dad was hypertensive so growing up never got used to salt in my diet). Ten years ago last month, I noticed that my ears were ringing. Both of them, nonstop. I did not work in a noisy environment or go to concerts, operate a jackhammer, etc. Still, to this day, ten years later, I do not have a cause or cure for my tinnitus. I have gotten used to it, however my hearing has gotten progressively worse (I'm 42, a bit premature for hearing loss due to age). I've been to every ENT, hearing specialist, and all they can confirm is that I do have some mid-range hearing loss. Unfortunately, they can't "hear" what we hear with their equipment. Sometimes, I can also hear what sounds like blood rushing through my veins, a flud/pulse in time with my heartbeat. Anyone else? Good luck to all of you and feel free to contact me if I can help in any way.
Prekteach - I developed ringing in my ears when I started taking Altace, a blood pressure medicine. I told my doctor and he said to stop taking it and he started me on another one. My ringing has not stopped though. I have sinus and allergy troubles, could be related. There is a list of 200 medications that the FDA has said can cause ringing in the ears. Check to see if any you are taking is on there. I know welbutrin and altace are.
Mari4hsw - Hello..
Yes! Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) can be casued by fluctuating hormones, although it can also be caused by several other things as well, such as stress (specifically, muscle tension) and hearing loss. I have Tinnitus myself, so I understand your misery and your fear. this prompted me to design a website just for these kinds of concerns. Visit www.thecaptainslady.com and click on Tinnitus in the menu bar. In the mean time, stay away from white breads, white sugar, refined foods. These things make it much worse, as does not getting in enough water. Drink enough water so that your urine runs clear. I offer a free download on my site of all of the drugs that can cause Tinnitus. I also have a free ebook on 'Navigating Menopause for Highly Sensitive Women'. I hope this helps.
Mari
Jjkkwalk - How interesting! I just happened onto this discussion and wanted to add that I have been dealing with tinnitus for 2 years now. Happened all of a sudden, and yes, I am post menopausal. I read also where it can be caused from stress and hormone levels and anyone in menopause is certainly dealing with low hormone levels! I have been trying natural progesterone cream (you can get it just about anywhere - GNC, health food stores, web...) and it has helped mine a little. I doubt that anything is going to 'cure' it at this stage of the game, so like everyone says, I've learned to live with it. I read that the most important thing is to not let it get you down or depress you. No one dies from tinnitus, if that helps! :-) It is annoying but you can learn to think past it. Best wishes!!
Iloveamericadarin - Find a reputable Chiropractor who can help your body's nervous system balance itself out. Ringing in the ears, a majority of the time, is ruled by the nervous system and subluxations in the neck; not chemical creams. Those can affect the chemical balance in the body offset to cause nervous symptoms if used excessively. I had ringing in my ears and allergies stem from a fall when I was five and football in my teen years. Since seeing a Chiropractor, after fifteen to twenty-five years of growing into my allergies and other back problems, I do not have allergies and take no medication for them. The ringing in my ears is gone. No flu or colds unless I am not staying active or I am cooped up all Winter. Our natural filters in the sinuses can also cause pressure to the ear nerves and cause some ringing. All the more reason to get the spine corrected and get rid of restless leg syndrome, headaches, migraines, ear infections, allergies, sinus problems, nervous conditions, hypertension or attention deficit in children and high blood pressure (which can be caused by the processed foods we consume with chemicals that affect our nervous system detrimentally). You name it and it is regulated by your nervous system. If you want to be free of drugs which will NEVER heal you and you will ALWAYS have side affects, see a Chiropractor who is reputable and can adjust your size and frame correctly.
1hacienda - I have had tinnitus since 1964 when a .45 cal pistol was fired next to me on an Air Force firing range. The ringing began then and has not stopped. I didn't go to Viet Nam, but I can only imagine the numbers with tinnitus. Like someone else said you learn to live with it...however, at times it really gets to ones peace.
Holysmoke - I am a post menopausal tinnitus victim, but began with the ringing in the ears in my late 40's. I have a friend who told me her husband had tinnitus and received several sessions of Chinese accupuncture and he is completely healed. Anyone else tried this?
10 Replies