Ringing Ears?

jackie1955

Hi all,

Over the years I have had various 'noises' in my ears, like whooshing sounds. Didn't bother me as I only really noticed them when covering an ear up with my hand, or plugging my earhole!
The noises came and went.

Now I've just become aware of a really high-pitched noise that I thought belonged to our new t.v., but its in my head!

Does/has anyone else had this? Is it anything to do with RA?
Or the meds I have just started on... sulphasalazine and hydroxychloroquine.


Jackie x

skezier

Hi Jackie,

I think I agree with Del here and it would be best to get it checked out. I hope it soon gets sorted though for you. You both ok there? Luv Cris who has a lot of thumping base ringing through her ears...... Can't think why x

jackie1955

Thanks delboy. I'm seeing gp next week anyway, but wondered if its something to do with the RA or meds....?

Hi Cris, I don't really think its anything serious; I mean its not affecting me apart from when I suddenly become 'aware' of it if you get what I mean!

I get so fed-up of going the docs/hospital, and don't want to find anything else going wrong with me :shock: (I guess we all feel like that at times though).

Nice to hear from you hun.

Jackie x

wibberley

Hi Jackie,

Over Xmas when my RA was very uncontrolled, I had a pulse-like noise in my left ear. Only noticeable when I was trying to get to sleep, but v. v. irritating. Seems to have stopped for now, but I put it down to inflammation.

Lois x

maud48

Hi Jackie
I've had ringing in my ears, nausea and dizziness for about a year now. My GP thinks it could be something trapped as I have arfur in my neck. I've eventually got an appointment to see a specialist next Tuesday so will post what they say on the forum,
maudxx

jackie1955

Hi Wibberley and Maud

Thanks for your replies; I mentioned it to my rheumy nurse today and she said she's had people saying similar, probably due to Ra, not the meds.

I've also noticed that its more noticeable if I turn my head to the left (it seems in the left ear). And when I thought about it I remembered that last summer when I looked left out of the car window on journeys I'd hear this noise then! So it obviously comes and goes

Today I feel that if I was to go on a plane ride and my ears 'popped' it would help - no chance of that though

Seriously, it doesn't seem so bad today - I think its another of arthers little gifts.

Jackie x

lindalegs

Hi Jackie,

I have a high pitched whistle in one ear and a low rumble in the other, so musical I'm thinking I have my own private band

I've had the low rumble for years, in fact, I didn't realise it was in my own head for a long time :roll: the whistle is newish. Sometimes they're louder and other times hardly noticeable. I've never done anything about them, because I've assumed it just tinitus and they can't cure that. My view is it doesn't hurt so I don't worry.

Luv Legs

sharmaine

Hi Jackie

I sometimes get noisy in my ears - it doesn't happen all the time. At the moment I'm blaming everything on the meds I'm on. Skin is especially dry since I've been on meds and eyes get sore too. Get it checked out if it happens all the time. Mine only happens occasionally.

Sharmaiine

jackie1955 wrote:

Hi all,

Over the years I have had various 'noises' in my ears, like whooshing sounds. Didn't bother me as I only really noticed them when covering an ear up with my hand, or plugging my earhole!
The noises came and went.

Now I've just become aware of a really high-pitched noise that I thought belonged to our new t.v., but its in my head!

Does/has anyone else had this? Is it anything to do with RA?
Or the meds I have just started on... sulphasalazine and hydroxychloroquine.


Jackie x

jackie1955

Hi all,

I guess I've always had some 'noises' but I've grown used to them over the years Like you Linda, I think its tinnutis (which my Mum and Grandma both had).

Have noticed that I seemed a bit sniffly too - suspect a slight cold, maybe that caused the whistling??? Anyway, its defo going quieter, so hopefully if my cold goes the whistle will too

Thanks all for replies,

Jackie x

bluebeard

I have tinnitus

exercise and keeping off coffee alcohol etc helps

lindalegs

bluebeard wrote:

I have tinnitus

exercise and keeping off coffee alcohol etc :shock: :shock: helps

...think I'm getting fonder of my tinitus by the second and am now considerng keeping it

Says Legs who loves coffee and alcohol
but is managing a bit of exercise

jonny_g

I had to come off sulphasalazine because of tinnitus, apparently its a reasonably common side effect.

My Rheumatologist also said its quite common to occur in people with RA because of inflammation in the cervical spine and / or jaw..

mellman01

I have ringing in both and it goes up and down as it sees fit, can get really loud some days, some of it comes from my neck but the rest is due to going to rock gigs shooting and working at a flippin power station for 9 years,it's never quiet in my head these day's, I have got use to it though, well most day's. :roll:

jackie1955

Hi folks,

Well, over Fri/Sat the cold I suspected I had caught became more apparent, and seemed to affect my hearing - the noise in my head seemed to come and go, and my hearing seemed a bit muffled, as if my ears were bunged up!

Much better yesterday, hearing back to normal, have stopped sneezing

mellman, I have just started on the 4 per day sulphasalazine dose -interesting that you say this is a side-effect of it? No-one else has mentioned it

Jackie x

jonny_g

I mentioned it too, if you have a google about it, you'll see that sulphasalazine can be "ototoxic" or toxic to your ears! Doesn't always affect people and is dose dependant, higher dose, more likely to have it.

I was on 2g (4 tabs) and had been for about 2 years when I had to come off because of tinnitus.

jackie1955

Hi,
Thanks for that jonny. I have googled it, and I have all the symptons of Otoxity..... I'm surprised that it has not been mentioned more on here???

When I mentioned it (the ringing noises) to a rheumy nurse she didn't seem at all concerned. BUT if it is a side-effect of the drug surely they should be aware of it? I am going to contact my consultant as my next appointment isn't until May, and I don't want to risk doing permanent damage to my hearing.

So, if anyone else on Sulphasalazine has these symptons, please let me know:-

Ringing/whooshing noises in ear/s
Occasional Dizziness
Nausea
Muffled hearing in one/both ears
Not being able to stand loud noise

I'd be very interested to see if anyone else besides jonny has stopped sulpha because of these symptons.

Jackie

psyart

Hi - I have PA but also suffer from high pitch whistling in my right ear!!!! I am going deaf in left ear - age apparently!!!! It doesnt bother me, but its interesting to read about others having the same!!!!!!!!!

What a funny lot we all are!!!!! I put my problems down to underactive thyroid - had this about 7 years and things have started to go wrong with me ever since!!!!!

Take care all - with whistle or not!!!!

Louise

elnafinn

psyart wrote:

I put my problems down to underactive thyroid - had this about 7 years and things have started to go wrong with me ever since!!!!! Louise

Hi Louise

I have taken thyroxine since I was 16 years old after a nodular goitre operation. Is that why I have declined, albeit fairly slowly, as I shall be 60 at the end of this year!

Hope your day is going ok

Luv
Elna x

jackie1955

jackie1955 wrote:

Hi,
Thanks for that jonny. I have googled it, and I have all the symptons of Otoxity..... I'm surprised that it has not been mentioned more on here???

When I mentioned it (the ringing noises) to a rheumy nurse she didn't seem at all concerned. BUT if it is a side-effect of the drug surely they should be aware of it? I am going to contact my consultant as my next appointment isn't until May, and I don't want to risk doing permanent damage to my hearing.

So, if anyone else on Sulphasalazine has these symptons, please let me know:-

Ringing/whooshing noises in ear/s
Occasional Dizziness
Nausea
Muffled hearing in one/both ears
Not being able to stand loud noise

I'd be very interested to see if anyone else besides jonny has stopped sulpha because of these symptons.

Jackie

Hi, Just wanted to add that Otoxity is more than just 'ringing' in the ears, which I know a lot of people get...... it can lead to permanent damage, and all the symptons together are quite distressing

woodbon

Hi, Years and years ago, when I lived in Oxford, I worked as a secretary in the audiology department. One of the technicians was trained to deal with tinitus patients and ran a clinic, which the docs referred people to. ENT doctors woudl check for any problems that might be causing it, and quite often thier is nothing to be found, then the technician would try and suggest things like, low radio turned on, or a ticking clock, anything that would cause distraction from listening to the noise! A special thing like a hearing aid could be fitted, if the patient was in distress and nothing else worked.

So, I think it is important to tell the doctor about the problem and have it checked, but if nothing is found, you'r not alone and some help may be available. Something better, maybe these days!

Sorry, I've gone on a bit!

Love Sue

,

psyart

elnafinn wrote:

psyart wrote:

I put my problems down to underactive thyroid - had this about 7 years and things have started to go wrong with me ever since!!!!! Louise

Hi Louise

I have taken thyroxine since I was 16 years old after a nodular goitre operation. Is that why I have declined, albeit fairly slowly, as I shall be 60 at the end of this year!

Hope your day is going ok

Luv
Elna x

Hi Elna - when a friend of mine was diag 10 years ago with underactive - her doctor told her this was the begining of the end!!!!!!!!!!!! so there is no hope for us!!!!!! xxxxxx

Louise