I've had it almost a year. It's gotten really bad recently.
I have a large fan 3 feet away on high, earphones with ocean sounds and 10 mg ambien and I still have trouble getting to sleep at night because of the incessant ringing in my ears.I dread bedtime.
I know my eye damage is permanent. I hope this tinnitus isn't.
Posts: 181 | From Midwest girl gone home | Registered: Oct 2011
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
There is a product called Lipo-Flavonoid Plus that may help this. It provides nutritional support to improve circulation in the inner ear.
Look for this at Amazon.com and read the reviews.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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lululymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26405
posted
I have this too.. Got really bad last October and is now in both ears. Ive heard of the lipo-flavanoid but havent tried it. Just wanted to say you're not alone..
posted
From what I've read, it seems permanent for most people
I've had it in my right ear for a year and a half...
This week its started in my left ear and I'm really sad about it.
I just read here that anyone with tinnitus should avoid flagyl, and my doctor just started me on flagyl a week ago... blah!
So I really think anyone with one good ear left should follow that advice and avoid flagyl.
I'm wondering if the supplement mentioned really would help me, because I can tell I am hearing the veins in my ears and blood rushes through.
Posts: 442 | From usa | Registered: Oct 2010
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
Vinpocetine (from periwinkle plant) is a nutritional supplement that is a vasodilator. It has been shown to decrease tinnitus (and improve brain fog) in some. It helped mine over time. But it caused a bad rash on my face. I will try it again in the future.
Increasing magnesium and taking high doses of fish oil may help as well. I noticed that when I started taking 3 - 4 grams per day of good quality fish oil, things toned down.
Also, if you can find an acupuncturist who treats tinnitus, this can be helpful. I just started going to one. The first treatment was very helpful. Second not so much.
Tinnitus is horrible. I started with a low whoosh in my left ear that I lost hearing in. My right ear decided to get in the act and now I must listen to a symphony. My 'good ear' sounds like a short wave radio being tuned. That is the most annoying of the two sounds.
Every now and then the high pitched hum disappears and the original tinnitus seems a lot less annoying. This gives me hope that maybe it will get better
I have a buzzing or electrical sensation that often accompanies my tinnitus. I also have ear pressure changes and sensations of fluid, heat or something moving in my head. Do any of you have this? It makes me think that all of the tinnitus we hear is from inflammation in the auditory canal and the surrounding areas.
I recently started Salt C protocol hoping it might help. Gael has said that this protocol helped relieve her of horrible tinnitus. Check Parasite Warrior thread for more info. When I ramp up to anything more than 2 g of salt or C per day, it seems to worsen my T to beyond what I can tolerate. I am also taking Buhner herbs that I hope might help attack not only Lyme but parasites.
One last tip... I use a small electric water fountain in my bedroom at night. This is very soothing to me and helps in the middle of the night if I wake up, to mask some of the noise in my head.
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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Carol in PA
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Member # 5338
posted
quote:Originally posted by katiebobatie: This week its started in my left ear...
...my doctor just started me on flagyl a week ago... blah!
The tinnitus in your left ear may be due to the Flagyl that you're taking.
I'd say call your doctor about this as soon as possible, since you don't want this to be a permanent problem.
Have you had a chance to read the reviews for Lipo-Flavonoid on Amazon? Some people saw improvements very quickly, while others didn't notice much.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Well, the surprise for me was trying the PEMF machine - that's pulsed electromagnetic frequency machine - physical therapists and chiropractors could have them -
we hold a white coil while it pulses electromagnetic clicks, boosting our e'm energy - and for 6 hours afterwards, no tinnitus!! The world was so quiet!
I asked a top Lyme doctor about it and they said it probably quieted down the nerves to the ears.
.................................................
Also you mentioned eyes - I drink mangosteen juice everyday and that stops all Lyme eye symptoms. It's an anti-inflammatory juice found in healthfood stores and online.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
I am going to check out the Lipo-Flavinoid. The most important ingredient in that product is found in Lemons, so I will also be drinking lots of lemon water and throwing lemon grinds in my green drinks.
Yes, if you are on flagyl, beware. I believe IV flagyl is what gave me permenant tinnitus.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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Tammy N.
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Member # 26835
posted
Just to offer a hopeful story.....
Gael said she had roaring tinnitus that could be heard over loud traffic, and it went away with parasite treatment. So there is hope.
Posts: 2238 | From East Coast | Registered: Jul 2010
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posted
i used to have ear ringing , humming etc for 24/7 , that was before any medications,, i have tried Lipo-Flavinoid , but has never helped me. But with treatment it only comes back every so often . It took a year of treatment. I went from a l 10 and now down to a 1 . I take a lot of meds and supplements that cross the bbb.
Posts: 238 | From Where | Registered: Aug 2012
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
Lostlyme, that is encouraging news! What are the meds and supplements that you feel helped you by crossing the bbb.
Just curious... have you ever lost any hearing as a result of lyme disease? I have lost almost all hearing in my left ear. It has gotten worse since treatment.
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
Lostlyme, I just found a post from a previous thread in which I asked you the same questions. Sorry... I am happy for you that you have made such good progress
I just came back from ENT today and unfortunately, I have lost more hearing. It is so scary.
I was on minocycline for only 4 months before my LNP changed me to doxy. Now I really wish I had stayed on the minocycline. I have not taken tindamax and was only on diflucan for a few weeks.
Wondering about entering the world of ABX again. I have been on herbs (Samento and Banderol) for the past several months and just started some of the Buhner herbs. With the Buhner herbs, I feel a lot of things happening in my head and ears.
Praying that they will help prevent any further damage.
Sideways, didn't mean to highjack your thread.
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
One of the reasons I ended up going off of most all abx was because i developed tinnitus. I do think it is a bit better, but if the ringing is caused from abx it may be a sign that it is time to take a different route.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
I have used a product called Tinnarex by Native Remedies and if I use it consistently (drops you add to water) every few hours for a few days the ringing comes down to a more tolerable level.
its a total drag. I cannot even imagine what it is like to not have tinnitus anymore.
-------------------- unsure445 Posts: 824 | From northeast | Registered: Jun 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Ambien could be making it worse, actually. It can certainly make hyperacusis much worse, too. So be very careful with that.
Andrographis has been the most helpful thing I've ever taken to help calm tinnitus to manageble levels. See the EAR thread below for more about that.
Sadly, headphones, even for good sounds can also make tinnitus worse as the electronics and sound impulses are just so close to tender inflamed nerves in the ear, according to the author of "The Mozart Effect" Don Campbell.
However, you might try setting the earphones in FRONT of your ears, bone conduction will still allow you to hear but without quite the same assualt as when right over the ear.
Still, the electronics of the headphones could be causing harm. It's best to avoid headphones when possible (of course, I know that certain environments nearly necessitate their use to maintain sanity and block out surrounding noise).
For sure, never use in-the-ear pods. Ever. Even at low volume, these can perpetuate tinnitus and damge the ear nerves. Big sigh!
Also be sure to use hear plugs when around a hair dryer - and plugs or decibel rated muffs when around a vaccum, blender, lawn or power tools.
Avoid cell phones, even try not to be near one. Land line phones are safest for those with tinnitus or hyperacusis, the older kind better than newer digital. There is just something about this digital technology that zaps my ears, in a huge way.
Antibiotics lower the decibel level at which noise (even just sound) can damage ears.
Adrenal support is key, as is liver support. I hope you find some improvement soon.
Topic: TINNITUS: Ringing Between The Ears; Vestibular, Balance, Hearing with compiled links - including HYPERACUSIS -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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My ears also have a sense of fullness, especially the right. My right ear will also pop inexplicably quite often. Usually once a day. Sometimes more. Occasionally not at all.
The tinnitus is a high-pitched sound. It's constant. It used to be that I only heard it at night and it was easily masked by a fan. Now, I hear it while watching TV and while talking with others. It's so annoying.
I've never heard of Vinpocetine or Tinnarex. I'll have to check them out.
And flagyl might cause it? Great. I'm pulsing flagyl two weeks on, two weeks off. I quit taking zithromax last year because I was afraid it caused the tinnitus. Now, I think it might be caused by the Lyme after all since it started getting worse long after stopping zithromax. Still, I have to worry about another med now? Darn it.
As for the headphones, they're actually earphones that are specifically made for use in bed. They hook over the ear and are adjustable to stay in place. The speaker is super thin and just rests on the ear opening. I keep the volume low and I can still hear DH breathing next to me.
It's encouraging to hear that treating parasites helped Gael. I'll have to check out that thread.
Thanks again.
Posts: 181 | From Midwest girl gone home | Registered: Oct 2011
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I'm pulsing flagyl two weeks on, two weeks off. I quit taking zithromax last year because I was afraid it caused the tinnitus. Now, I think it might be caused by the Lyme after all since it started getting worse long after stopping zithromax. Still, I have to worry about another med now? Darn it. 
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