Help Ear Virus has left low humming in my ear

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hi. I had a nasty virus just over a week ago now. It effected my nose, throat and my left ear became completely blocked. As the virus has subsided and the fluid in my ear has started to go I have a low rumbling noise in my ear. It sounds like a car engine. At first for a few days it came and went however when it went every time I moved my head I could hear like a fluttering noise in my ear. It's now been constant for the last 48 hours and it's driving me crazy. If I move my head it goes for a second and then returns also if I put my finger in my ear it goes. Has anyone had this before and does anyone know what has happened to my ear? I'm hoping that it's some kind of inflammation in my ear and as it goes down it will go. It's day 7 now since this all began. I will report back if there's been any change.

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Matt,

    I had a similar thing happen a few months ago...it was a bad cold with ear infection.  After 3 months, it is finally starting to get quieter, but is not gone yet.  I have done some treatments...supplements, acupunture, upper cervical neck chiropractic correction, TMJ correction, infrared laser in ear, cranial neck therapy, etc.  But it is getting softer.  They say the first 6 months are the worst, it can get better on its own to some degree, and the various therapies (look up Tinnitus Talk forum for list of ideas) can move things along better too.  Also Tinnitus Talk forum will show you how different each person's experience is!  To get an improvement like I am having is often not the case.  Some eliminate it through treatments.  Don't believe the lie that nothing can be done about it. 

    • Posted

      Hi barb80321 Thanks for this. Im going to go back to the doctors hopefully tomorrow. I know the body can take some time to heal. Its just the thought of 3 months with this right now is scarying the hell out of me.

      Did you get to see an ent specialist if so what did they say has actually happened to the ear?

  • Posted

    It should go, but may have to be patient, could take a few weeks even longer.
  • Posted

    Hi Matt,

    Yes, it's pretty freaky at first...I prayed for peace, calmness, and for Jesus to guide me in His divine strategy for my particular situation.  Everyone has different things work.  That's why you need to read Tinnitus Talk forum, go to their Treatments page, and review and study the options. See which options might be best and possible to do to help you. There is a poll on the forum that tells the helpfulness in general of the various treatments.  

    Yes, I went to an ENT first to have him look, and do tests. They also did an audiogram.  I had some hearing loss as well as tinnitus.  He put me on a week of prednisone at 60 mg day...that is what they usually do at first.  That is to calm down inflammation fast.  My audiogram after that week of prednisone improved a little, but may just have been some natural healing.

    The ENT had no suggestions for the tinnitus, and acted as if nothing could be done about any of it.  Just learn to live with it.  Maybe yours will be different.  Everything I learned I learned online for tinnitus treatments.  I think the infrared laser light is helping the most.  The neck and jaw treatments too, as mine were very stiff (includes upper cervical chiro, acupuncture for ear).  Not sure, did other stuff do.

    Would say my tinnitus is 50% improved so far.  Many are not so fortunate.  Some do better. I also pray a lot and believe in divine intervention as well.  Believing and praying for full resolution, as I actively pursue treatments I sense might help.  

    Praying for you!  How is it going now?  Any better?

  • Posted

    ENT said there was permanent ear nerve damage, leading to sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus.
    • Posted

      Hi Barb80321

      Just thought id update. Its still there this low rubbling noise in my left ear. Its been about 3 to 4 weeks now. Ive just had a refurral to an ent specialist but dont know when it will be yet. The strange thing is sometimes it goes for a couple of hours and some times 12 hours. But it just comes back dont know if this is a good sign. When it goes if i tilt or shake my head i hear a slight whooshing sound. My biggest problem is stress at the moment lost all motivation cause of this. I will update on any change.

      Thanks

      Matt

  • Posted

    The fact that the sound subsides when you cover your ear is an important detail.  It does not sound like tinnitus, nor does it sound like a mechanical problem.  I am wondering if there has been a change in sound sensitivity.  You should go to ENT, who may request an audiogram/otoacoustic emissions.

    Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

    Clinical Neurophysiologist

    Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

    • Posted

      Yeah from what ive read this is not normal tinnitus. As it stops if i cover my ear.

      For the first few days as this came on it would disappear for a few hours but everytime I turned my head i would get a sound a bit like a light saber in my ear. Its now a constant low rumble.

      No I havent really notised any change in my hearing or sensitivity.

  • Posted

    Hi Mate!

    How is your tinnitus now? Hope it is totally gone.. I'd really appreciate if you update because I've been having the same type for a few weeks. Thank you!

  • Posted

    Hi Matt

    I have had exactly the same thing for the last two weeks. I have described it to people as sounding like a plane is flying by outside . Another friend of mine has had exactly the same symptom. We both think we may have had covid. Do you think there's a chance you could have had it?

    The noise is slowly subsiding after two weeks.

    • Posted

      Hey Robert

      I to have been suffering with the same symptoms for a week now. It is that constant rumbling thunder sound. Also the ear effected is sensitive to sound. One ear. How are you getting on? is it still there?

    • Posted

      Hi Matt

      It is still there but very low. And like yours, it seems to come and go. I don't notice it until quite late in the evening. It's definitely only in one ear. I'm not too bothered by it. And it seems to be getting weaker and weaker.

      Hope you feel better soon.

      Robert

    • Posted

      hey there! i had covid a few weeks ago and this same thing is happening to me! has the low pitch gone away yet? i had a feeling it was because of having covid!

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