hearing electrical zaps

[newmommyLA]

I've tried a couple posts about vitamins and mentioned my loud tinnitus, but I really want to know if any of you have experienced this electrical zapping sensation that I get everyday.  It's very scary and super loud.  It's almost like I hear sound through my good ear and then it turns into a loud explosive type of sound on the bad side.  At 4 1/2 weeks post op, I expected some tinnitus, but I can't imagine living with this awful screaming electrical stuff for the rest of my life.  Please share stories if you have experience with this.  I'm seeing the doctor on Wednesday.

thanks!
Amy

[loose screws (tightened)]

Hi Amy.

Sorry to hear about your annoying tinnitus. Yours sounds as if it's much worse then mine is. I don't get any zapping just a high pressure fluid passing through a valve noise. Also some phantom noises as I call them.
Hopefully through your vitamins or any other way you can find the volume dial and turn that tinnitus down.

Take care.
Mike

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

I had many "zaps" in the 1st year - post op. My whole body would jolt.

It was usually after I lay down. I still get this on occasion.... but really it did dissipate with time.

DHM

[cindyj]

I, too, have had those zaps!  The weirdest things...but, they have lessened dramatically over this past year.  I rarely have them any more.  Think others have posted similar things - so, you're definitely not alone and I think it's pretty "normal" for AN post-op. 

Cindy

[epc1970]

I'm with DMH and Cindy. I would get the "zaps" usually when I was going bed to sleep. Like DMH mine had jolts of my whole body....at first I was freaked out by it! Like Cindy and DMH they have dissapted over time and only happen every once in a while now.
Erin

[Denise S]

Hey Amy, here we are, you, then me a week later, then Mike a week after that.  All having some similar stuff.

I've been getting those stupid zaps or something too.   I actually tried to put an ear plug in both ears to see if it would block it...of course not (probably because it's coming from inside).    Sometimes it's been so bad I feel like I'm getting major echos or something.     

I too seem to notice it more when trying to sleep.  (although Amy knows via messages....I'm not  getting much of that).   

Have to say though, that is also on my list of questions for next Friday.

Hey, we should email each other our questions to see how similar, then compare answers?

I can't remember either.....do you know if you had ANY hearing?     I updated my blog last night on a good note for that.  Of course today I ended up all backwards again.   

I guess I'm just looking for hope too!!

Denise Sanford

[tenai98]

I also get the zaps..but they are tiny in sound and infrequent.  When I do lay down, I get 'pounding' noise.  Again, not loud but still there.  Also when I drive and when I'm teaching driving, turning my eyes left ( head straight) I get a ringing in my deaf ear. Also when I turn my eyes right, I get the same noise but not as lound....
JO

[newmommyLA]

Do any of you remember if sounds like running water bothered you?  My ears are so sensitive right now that I don't even want to watch TV or listen to music.  It's like I have Spiderman hearing right now and everything is on alert.  Glad to hear I'm not the only one with the zappers and I hope mine dissipate over time too.

[Denise S]

Amy, of course I'm only just behind you  (Monday is 3  weeks) and I can't tolerate what I call like  duplicate noises.

I have probably only watch 1 hour total of TV since my surgery.  Some the noise, but due to my unlucky delayed facial paralysis, my one eye is so goobed up it was hard.    It also took me about 2 weeks to get my eyes to stop double vision.     

No radio really, unless it is a soft music.   I have been doing books on CD, but it is odd how the sound rotates threw to the bad ear and almost sounds like an echo.  (ya know, sometimes it's hard to describe)

I can't even run my dishwasher or anything if there is conversation going on......it makes me feel sick, and the head pressure is worse.

I've been spending LOTS of time on my laptop, so it gives me something to do.   I've done research on almost every stinken side effect too.

I keep thinking of calling you to compare notes, but the time zone is off for us and then I forget or my boys are around.   I feel like I'm always telling them to be quiet.

I also ended up putting an earplug in my good ear when there is to much noise (like Neil banging away outside adding on to our garage)

The doctor told us it should get better, it's just hard not to have that patience!!!

[Denise S]

I also get the zaps..but they are tiny in sound and infrequent.  When I do lay down, I get 'pounding' noise.  Again, not loud but still there.  Also when I drive and when I'm teaching driving, turning my eyes left ( head straight) I get a ringing in my deaf ear. Also when I turn my eyes right, I get the same noise but not as lound....
JO

Ya know we are both supposedly still pretty early in the recovery area, so things better get looking up!!

I just have to say how terrible of a mother I feel sometimes because when the boys are playing and getting crazy, or even want to turn on the TV when I'm in the living room, i don't let them.     Ludkily the weather had been good  and they play outside.

Also, don't know if you seen on the blog .   I think I wrote something on there.    it's just cazy what all can happe!!

[Palace]

Had them too!  (along with killer head pressure that would drop me down so I wouldn't faint)

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

turning my eyes left ( head straight) I get a ringing in my deaf ear. Also when I turn my eyes right, I get the same noise but not as lound....
JO

Holy schmoly I get this too! Just when I turn my eyes to my left (not right)... i have just seen numerous specialists... one a neuro opthamologist and nuerologist... No one had ANY answers and this was the first they heard of this.

Uh huh! So I am not alone on the weird turning the eyes (not the head) to the AN side ... and it rings!

Ok I am not crazy and this is some weird neuropathy that other AN'ers get too. I am so glad I have you folks...

DHM

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Do any of you remember if sounds like running water bothered you?  My ears are so sensitive right now that I don't even want to watch TV or listen to music.  It's like I have Spiderman hearing right now and everything is on alert.  Glad to hear I'm not the only one with the zappers and I hope mine dissipate over time too.

What you are describing is hyperacusis.
Here is a link that explains this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperacusis

Many have this post op and it dissipates with time and healing. I am one of the few who it never went away- sadly.


I joined this network http://www.hyperacusis.net/hyperacusis/what+is+hyperacusis/default.asp
The tapes did nothing for me … but the flesh tone earplugs I ordered through them- I use all the time.
http://www.hyperacusis.net/hyperacusis/helpful+products/default.asp

I suggest that you also look at some diet issues to see if you have some triggers.
Here is a link
http://www.vestibular.org/vestibular-disorders/treatment/diet.php

My hyperacusis after the big Thanksgiving meal was through the roof….

I just started this thread to see who else had this issue after the big meal…
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=11201.0

I hope, similar to most on the forum, that yours goes away.

Daisy Head Mazy

[salamander]

Hi Amy,

I have those zaps.  Right after surgery they were extremely loud buzzing sounds.  I wondered if my brain was remembering the last thing heard - a brain saw.  That is exactly what it sounded like.  Those sounds did go away.

Now, at one year, I have constant tinnitus.  However, when I hear a loud noise in my good ear, the sound "shoots" through my brain and causes a zap on the deaf side.  So, you are not alone.  I don't know if it has really improved or if I have just gotten used to it.  Sometimes it actually jolts me physically from my sitting or laying position to sitting straight up.

I also have changes iin pitch of the tinnitus with movement of my eye.  I joked with my daughters that I could probably learn to play a tune with my eyes - only heard by me of course - the crazy lady moving her eyes around in a symphony.

Samantha

[sgerrard]

turning my eyes left ( head straight) I get a ringing in my deaf ear. Also when I turn my eyes right, I get the same noise but not as lound....
JO

Holy schmoly I get this too! Just when I turn my eyes to my left (not right)... i have just seen numerous specialists... one a neuro opthamologist and nuerologist... No one had ANY answers and this was the first they heard of this.

Uh huh! So I am not alone on the weird turning the eyes (not the head) to the AN side ... and it rings!

Ok I am not crazy and this is some weird neuropathy that other AN'ers get too. I am so glad I have you folks...

DHM

DHM (and Jo),

You mean you haven't heard of "gaze evoked tinnitus" ? It is one of my favorite tidbits of acoustic neuroma lore.

Here is a link to an example research paper:

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=14177808

"Objective: The authors describe symptoms and population characteristics in subjects who can modulate the loudness and/or pitch of their tinnitus by eye movements."

The authors' conclusions are delicious, though baffling:

"Conclusions: It is likely that gaze-evoked tinnitus is a manifestation of functional reorganization. Gaze-evoked tinnitus could result from an unmasking of brain regions that respond to multiple stimulus/response modalities, and/or from anomalous cross-modality interactions, perhaps caused by collateral sprouting."


Steve