Tinnitus in both ears now

[Tricia Marie]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum. I'm 25 and was diagnosed with a 1 cm AN on my left side in 08/2014 when I had extremely loud ringing and fullness in my left ear. I have been in the watch and wait status since then with fairly frequent MRIs of my brain and spine. I have recently been having tinnitus on my right side as well, mostly when I am trying to sleep on my right side. Although this is annoying and completely disrupts my already disrupted sleep schedule (I am a night shift nurse) what I am most concerned about is the possibility of a tumor on my right side, indicating nf2. My question is, have any of you experienced tinnitus in both sides due to a unilateral AN? I don't know if this is at all normal. I have just recently spoke to my doctor and am getting an MRI in April, which is the 6 month mark from my last brain scan.

Thanks,

Tricia

[Tricia Marie]

I meant that I was diagnosed in 08/2013.

[CHD63]

Hi Tricia and welcome to this forum .....

Many of us have experienced bilateral tinnitus associated with a unilateral AN.  I never had tinnitus until after my left side AN was surgically removed, and then only on the AN side.  Some time later ..... I do not remember exactly when it started ..... I developed tinnitus on the right, but at a much lower volume level.  To this day I have my own little orchestra in my head because the two sides are different pitches/clangings!  I am due for another MRI in May, but all previous MRIs have been left-side ANs only.  I am SSD on the left and only very mild high-frequency hearing loss in my right ear.

What are your audiograms showing?  As I am sure you know, tinnitus is usually the response of the brain to hearing loss.  An audiogram might be your indicator.

Thoughts and prayers that your AN is stable.

Clarice

[ANGuy]

Yes, I have very mild tinnitus in my non-AN ear.  And here's the really funny part, sometimes the tinnitus in my good ear will suddenly jump up and be louder than my bad ear.  I'm talking about for just a moment or so.  I was stopped at a light just yesterday and suddenly I had a very noticable ring in my good ear.  It sounded like a hearing test.  I turned the radio off to make sure it wasn't one of those emergency broadcast tones and it wasn't.  By the time the light turned green, it stopped.

I know I do not have NF2 because my Dr told me at my age it would have manifested itself in obvious ways by now.  I am 47.

[Tricia Marie]

Thank you that is very helpful. I was concerned it was completely unheard of. My last two audiograms have been really good. Of course I don't expect that forever, but so far so good. My left ear is slightly below my right, but not by much. Thank you guys again I wish you the best of luck with this awful situation. I have an air purifier in my room to sort of drown out the ringing.. It helps me to sleep. I'm sure you guys have tried a plethora of different techniques, but if not I would give it a try!

[CHD63]

Hi Tricia Marie .....

A couple years ago I purchased a sound machine with under pillow speakers to use at night.  Total quiet is often when I am suddenly aware of the racket in my head.  The sounds of the babbling brook are a relaxing distraction for me so I use it most nights.

..... just a suggestion for what works for me.

Clarice

[Mimispree]

Only at night while sleeping, I will hear thin crispy claps of thunder that wakes me up.  It sounds like what I would expect electricity to sound like.  About once a week it will happen a couple of times and it shocks me awake.  It doesn't cause any problems or pain, but it's just a weird sensation and this thread prompted me to ask the forum.  In the back of my mind, I'm hoping it's my damaged nerves coming back to life.

[ANGuy]

I have been falling asleep with the TV on "sleep timer" for most of my adult life just because I have always liked it.  I have to have something boring on.  Star Trek (original version), Honeymooners, King of Queens, Bob Newhart, all shows I've seen a million times.  I know all the words, I know how they end, there is no compulsion to see how the story turns out and no feeling that I am missing something by falling asleep because I know the same episode will be on again in a few weeks.