Sleepless Nights because of Ear Noise

[robinstwo]

I am now 6 weeks out from surgery and was sleeping fairly well.  This week I started having noise like standing in a bell and someone hitting it in my dead ear and it comes in waves.  Happens only at night right now and can't sleep because of it.  Has anyone expierenced this??  Any suggestions?

[lori67]

Hi robinstwo and welcome!

Shortly after my surgery, I started to hear weird noises when I tried to sleep too - more like someone snapping a rubber band in my deaf ear than a bell.  I also heard that same sound anytime the phone rang.  The phone ringing thing just went away on it's own within a few weeks time.  The night time noise seemed to persist a little.  I started taking tylenol pm before bed and seemed to do it for me.  I think it just knocked me out so I didn't notice the noise, but, whatever works, right?

It's mostly gone now, I occasionally hear an electrical type buzzing, just as I'm dozing off.  I think there was a thread on here where someone found it was called "exploding head syndrome".

I think being only 6 weeks post-op, your brain is still adjusting to the changes and I think the noises should stop.  Hopefully, soon!

Lori

[robinstwo]

Thanks for the idea of Tylenol PM.  I'll have to give it a try.  I have the constant "white" noise in the dead ear.  I wasn,t expecting more "noise" to have to deal with.

In your infinite wisdom, have you heard about anyone dealing with facial numbness getting facial stimulation to try to help muscle tone and did it help any??

[Lamsue23]

Hi robinstwo,

     Welcome to this forum, the place to get a lot of information.  I too take Tylenol PM, have been for quite awhile.  I started taking them when I started my depression, the doctor told me that taking Tylenol PM is not addicting.  Good Luck, hope you can get some sleep.....

[cindyj]

Hi Robinstwo!

Welcome - I just sent you a PM...

Cindy

[lori67]

Well, I'm not so sure about that infinite wisdom part... but....

I'm not sure what type of stimulation your talking about.  I know that most facial therapists do not like to use electrical stimulation on us AN patients.  They do have good results from using it with Bell's Palsy patients, but true Bell's Palsy is caused by a virus and not from trauma like our facial issues are.  I think they've found that using electrical stim on us causes more synkinesis.

However, if you're talking about non-electrical stimulation, like massage or something, I've heard of that helping a lot.  I know when the one muscle in my face that actually does tighten up, massaging it can help relieve that tight feeling.  You might find a few more answers if you look under the "facial issues" category.

Lori

[robinstwo]

Lorie,

I was thinking about electrical stimulation.  You have now given me an idea of why the doc said no to electrical stim.  Thanks!  I'll look into the other.

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

It could be dura fluid drainage issues -with fluid hitting the ear drum when you are horizontal.

Sleep on the non-AN side and see if this changes for you.

We are still not sure why I have this symptom too    -but I did notice that is less significant when I lay on my NON AN side vs. on the back or the AN side… at night.

DHM

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Soooh....

How did you sleep last night? Any better?

DHM

[Sue]

Hi,

I hope you try a fan or some other white noise in your bedroom, because that often times will help.  Sounds strange to make noise to help with noise in the head, but it sort of evens out things or helps to muffle the head noise.  I just have a constant hiss, but sometimes I get other noises. 

Hope that helps you,

Sue in Vancouver USA

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

I cannot not stand the sound of fans- since my AN surgery… and consequently spend half my life walking around with a fashion statement of a florescent orange ear plug in my good ear. Air conditioning and or heating systems are the worst – for me anyway.


I have learned something new this month and a new “neurological word� for sensory overload- particularly auditory.
 
“Hyperacusis�
 
A link for those of us on auditory overload
What is Hyperacusis?
http://www.hyperacusis.net/hyperacusis/what+is+hyperacusis/default.asp


I know that fans and/or white noise do work for others.  Sadly in my case it makes the tinnitus worse in the dead ear. Some of us come out of AN treatment us with things that are not yet explained … I was so pleased to get a description of my auditory overload. However I would like to know what makes the sounds when I lay down at night too- when I know my house to be very quite… yet the sounds in the dead ear are bizarre!

Gee maybe we should just make up a word…



DHM

[Sue]

Well now, Daisy, that's really interesting.  Thanks for the link and information. 

You can go in and have a custom ear plug made for you, if you want.  Then you wouldn't have to wear those orange ones!  I've tried those, but they always pop out of my ear.  I must not have the knack of knowing how to use them, or something.

Thanks again, that was informative!  Maybe you should put this info and link in it's own separate thread.  Others might find this enlightening.

Sue way over here in Vancouver

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Well now, Daisy, that's really interesting.  Thanks for the link and information. 

...  Maybe you should put this info and link in it's own separate thread.  Others might find this enlightening.

Sue way over here in Vancouver

There you be 
ta da
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=7574.0

DHM

[robinstwo]

DHM,

Sorry for the late reply.  Needed a Florida vacation!  Actually I went back to my home to get clothes and check on stuff.

Thanks for the advise about sleeping on the non AN ear.  I was sleeping on two pillows and found that by sleeping on only one soft pillow reduced most of the extra "noise".  Sleeping on the non-AN ear removed the rest of the occasional extra noise.

Thanks!

Robin