Tinnitus? How soon does it develop?

[lawmama]

How soon post-op do you generally know how bad the tinnitus will be?  I'm...what...5 days post op, or so.  My tinnitus has picked up a tiny bit, but not too much.  Is it too early to count myself lucky?  I guess I've been waiting on the other shoe to fall.  If it matters, they removed the hearing nerve during my surgery.

[tenai98]

My tinnitus went away altogether except when i move my eyes to the left or right...its louder on the left (AN side) then the right...I do occasionally get the odd zapping electrical sound which only last like maybe 3 seconds at the most....so I count myself very lucky.
JO

[moe]

Hi Lawmamma,
My tinnitus  worsened after surgery, and is still the same.
SO hopefully what you have now is what you get. That is great news for you!
I haven't followed your surgery post, but sounds like you are doing VERY well.
Here's for a non eventful recovery.
maureen

[Rc Moser]

IMO I think it may do with how long the tumor has been pressing on the nerves. For us that has had AN's for years and didn't know it Tinnitus is a way of life at least it is for me. for me it rings when I wake up and most of the time is gets worst as the day goes on especially if noise (normal TV, radio, and of course industrial noise where I work)  induced.  Headaches increases my tinnitus and of course when I get migraine's  it's almost unbearable.  Hopefully you won't have to go through this at your younger age.

[pjb]

Before surgery I was lucky in one way I had no hearing loss and no tinnitus but after surgery I lost 80% of my hearing and 2 months later developed the tinnitus and is driving me crazy.. I have been taking xanax suppose to help I'm not sure if I stop it might get much worse. I hope you progress without any complications and hope you enjoy your Holidays with your family.

Regards,

Pat

[Jim Scott]

How soon post-op do you generally know how bad the tinnitus will be?

Lyn ~

The truth is that there really is no template for what (if any) level of tinnitus you'll have post-surgery.  Mine is low-level and didn't noticeably change after my surgery.  Others experience big changes and some small ones, if any.  "It all depends" isn't the answer you were looking for, I know, but it seems to be the most accurate one.  As for my opinion, I'm going to trust that your luck will continue. 

Jim

[Goldie]

I personally would take it as a good sign.  My tinnitus was less after surgery (I'm also SSD) and has remained at the same level, now 3 mo postop.  Here's hoping the same for you!!   

Denise D.

[jaylogs]

I had tinnitus for about 3 years before my procedure, and it is roughly the same now as it was before I went in...not sure if it will get better as all the swelling goes down or not...we'll see in a couple of months, but at this point I can handle it being as I have had for so long already!
Jay

[Nickittynic]

Mine has pretty much been constantly the same since I woke up from surgery. The first week I had some additional "zapping" and "musical" type noises I don't have anymore, but the basic "noise" has been the same.

Glad to know you're out of surgery okay and here's hoping for an uneventful recovery!

[leapyrtwins]

I am of the opinion that there is no rhyme or reason to tinnitus.

I, thankfully, have never been a sufferer and neither my AN or my BAHA surgery changed that.

I think tinnitus falls into the "possibly" category for AN patients - along with diminished hearing, facial spasms, etc. - some encounter it; some don't.

I'm not a medical professional, so this is just my theory.

There is an article in the latest edition of the ANA newsletter "Notes" that deals with tinnitus written by a wonderful audiologist (who also spoke on the same topic @ the ANA Symposium).  From what I've heard, it's well worth the read.

Jan

[DR]

Mine was worse after surgery but has steadily improved as the "fullness" subsides.  I'm writing it off to the fluid slowly draining out of the effected area.  It is slightly louder than pre-op, but nothing I can't deal with.  And, like before, it increases in volume when I'm tired or after exposure to loud noises.

- Dennis

[CHD63]

Lyn .....

I really hesitate to say this, but you also need to know anything can happen ...... I had virtually no tinnitus prior to surgery, only mild immediately following surgery, but it has cranked up much worse in I'd say the past six months (over a year post-op).  Perhaps my age is a factor, but I know it is definitely worse when I am tired or stressed.  Most of the time I can re-focus on whatever else I am doing and ignore it, but when in an environment with much background or ambient noise, it is virtually impossible to tune it out.

Hopefully you will be one of the fortunate ones who escapes it all together!

Best thoughts.

Clarice