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I've been anxious for a week, should I be worried?

Posted , 7 users are following.

christine08028
christine08028

I'm 13 years old right now and just recently I had caught the flu. That was about a week ago and on the night I was still quite sick, my left ear started hurting a lot. Now I'm experiencing loud ringing in my left ear, sometimes i can hear it in my right or "in my head".

I also feel like I'm spinning whenever I'm in bed (turning around) and I feel like my ears are unblocking and blocking on both sides. I'm just really scared and worried because I've been searching online this whole week, reading things like eventually ending up deaf, and having no treatment for menieres disease. I haven't been diagnosed it yet, but my symptoms seem to be leading to it and I'm just terrifed. I've been feeling really depressed lately and I always feel like crying. I feel like my view on life has changed entirely now. Even if I don't have menieres disease, I'm pretty sure I have tinnitus, and I've read that tinnitus can't be treated either. I'm really scared that whatever I have will lead me to really dark places, and I'll feel like dying. I've read stories of people suiciding because of how bad tinnitus gets and I feel like my tinnitus has gotten louder in the past 2 days. I don't want to die. I think that now but I'm so scared I'll actually eventually end up feeling like killing myself because of tinnitus. I've been to the doctors, but I feel like he ignored me when I said I heard ringing in my ears. He only prescribed some cold and flu and antibiotics for my ear infection and then we left. I cried when I told my mum and she said she'd take me to another doctor. I don't know what to do anymore because I feel so bad for my parents. My sister was in a really bad health situation last year (for the whole year) and that stressed my parents out so much. I don't want to stress them out anymore but I also don't want to keep this to myself. I don't want to be deaf by the time I'm probably in my 30's . I'm just really depressed and terrified right now, can anyone give me tips on how to cope? 

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • ellmay
    ellmay christine08028

    Posted

    Hi Christine

    All of your symptoms can be atributed to having had flu and/or a virus. Ménière's disease is rare - although there is a large community online, these are people from all over the world. I think it's highly unlikely that you have it. Tinnitus and also dizziness can and inevitably will occur in people very commonly especially after flu and viruses. It will worsen with anxiety. I think you need to rest and try to take your mind off it, eat healthy, watch your favourite movies, do something relaxing, listen to gentle music. Don't google illnesses anymore! This is how I became terrified about much worse things, and ironically I ended up relieved that I only had Ménière's disease. Incidentally I'm 35 and have no hearing loss. Things can seem awful when you are dizzy, and have tinnitus but I think in your case it's most likely going to gradually get better. If in the unlikely event that doesn't, there are things that can help. Go back to the doctor and be persistent if you need to, but usually Ménière's disease takes a long time to disgnose and the attacks come from nowhere. I think you will be fine.

    • christine08028
      christine08028 ellmay

      Posted

      Thank you so much for replying to me cheesygrin. It has really helped me in calming down. I was just really worried about eventually ending up deaf because I have a really strong passion for dancing and music, and I didn't want those two things to be taken away from me. I can't really imagine a life without being able to hear music, or not being able to dance without music. I had visited the doctors today and he said I just need to take these tablets and ear drops and the ringing will go away. He said something about it being an ear infection? I'm not really sure because he was speaking to my mum about it. I'm not sure about the ear blocking and dizziness though, but as you said, maybe its from the flu. I just wanted to ask though, what if the ringing doesn't go away? Will the ringing eventually get louder? Sometimes I don't really hear the ringing but my brain starts searching for it and I hear it again. It's quite annoying. I don't know if I'm just imagining it, but sometimes the ringings in one ear or in the other, or in my head. I'll follow the doctor's instructions for now and see how it goes, I hope I am just overreacting and not much is wrong with me. 

      Thank you again for replying!! 

    • natocha1316
      natocha1316 christine08028

      Posted

      I really feel like it will go away but I like turning the tv or quiet music on to take my mind off if the noise or humming I don't like being in quiet rooms I do however have to be at times and I just sing a song to myself or hum in my head there's so many treatments if it were to be thatvyoubeill be fine give the drops and meds a chance and please never let those hurtful thoughts take over without talking to your mom she loves you she showed you that by being willing to find another doctor that you were comfortable with you got this keep singing dancing and conquer the world 😘
  • victoria86526
    victoria86526 christine08028

    Posted

    Hi Christine, I agree 100 percent with elimay's good advice. Today, this minute, RIGHT NOW you are to stop worrying. 13 year old's have plenty of other REAL things to worry about. I am 51 and have MD and am FINE! No hearing loss, just bothersome stuck ears every once in a while. Now, that's about us but what matters is you. Go to an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor. They will understand and respond directly to you symptoms. No more googling. You are making yourself crazy. Go out with your friends, do all your favorite activities and be a 13-year old kid. Eat good, healthy food, get some exercise, do all good things for yourself and every time you start to think about MD or tinnitis, shift your thinking to someting else like apps on your phone that you love or text a good friend or, as the very smart elimay said, watch Netflix! If you get scared, we are here but otherwise, don't even come back to this site. You don't need it smile
    • christine08028
      christine08028 victoria86526

      Posted

      Hi Victoria! Thanks for replying smile 

      Your advice on not googling has really helped me. I stopped googling a little and I found that I'm not panicking as much as I was before. I just wanted to ask though, when were you diagnosed with MD?? Also, Do I have to get my doctor to send me to an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor, or can I find one without visiting the doctors?? 

      Thanks again for the advice!! It really helped cheesygrin.

  • donna16710
    donna16710 christine08028

    Posted

    It is not unusual to get ear infections after having a viral infection after the flu. Before feeling like all is lost, take all of the antibiotics as prescribed and allow nature to take it's course. I have had tinnitis for over 30 years now and still hear perfectly fine. There are amino acids and other treatments that help tinnitis, I hear. The tinnitis may or may not go away after your infection gets better. I am raising a granddaughter a little older than yourself and I know she gets very anxious about everything especially those things that she thinks she has no control over. You would be surprised how much strength you find in yourself when you look. Sometimes this is a difficult thing to live with but most of the time not. You will not go deaf from this and it does not define you. Look inside yourself and find the confidence in yourself that is there. Do what you can to take care of yourself and find the positive things in your life to enjoy. Fear control you and diseases control you only if you allow it.
  • ewilw
    ewilw christine08028

    Posted

    Everyone has given you very sound advice.

    I just want to reiterate....STOP GOOGLING stuff.

    It will not help.

    Relax, see friends...keep busy...have fun.

    I bet you have some homework to get done (wink, wink) but the googling will not help.

    You're gonna be ok.

    • natocha1316
      natocha1316 ewilw

      Posted

      Google is bad it will scare you

      There's more good than bad

  • natocha1316
    natocha1316 christine08028

    Posted

    The flu is serious stuff aND can cause an array of sinus and allergy problems if your sinus cavities are inflamed or your dehydrated your body can also be depleted from nutrients it needs which can cause you to feel weak and dizzy spinning and cause the ringing and when we feel feel bad we are going to breath and have more anxieties there's so many treatments now I have been down the depression road and it's no fun I have no nears have had surgery and im.having complications and I top was so upset because I felt lie there was no answers I posted in this group 2 days ago and I woke up 1 day ago and my shunt I think was clogged my throats soar but I'm up and walking less numbness less dizziness with time the answers will come give your body time to heal from the flu but first things you need to tell your mom how your feelings and adult needs to know these feelings I've attempted suicide my family was happy it was the successful but they were very hurt that I couldn't trust them enough to talk to them always know there's phone calls you can make to talk to people crisis hotlines you are worth everything and you are here for a reason if anything to help someone else in this group by talking to them hold your head up think positive stay strong and know that you will be okay
  • christine08028
    christine08028

    Posted

    I just wanted to add, is it normal for my ears to feel unblocked and blocked when I move a certain way? (like bending down and having one ear unblocked) and to hear ringing in one ear, and then ringing in the other ear? 
  • victoria86526
    victoria86526 christine08028

    Posted

    Dear Christine,

    I am glad to hear you are a fellow artist. I am a theatre director and designer and I too could never imagine a life without my work as an artist. Instead of being on this site you should be dancing! No one here can diagnose anything you have. Only you and your care providers can do that. But it sounds to me like the ringing is starting to go away already smile If you are having trouble hearing it sometimes, it is probably not there! So, take your tablets, lay off dairy for a couple days while your sinuses clear and go dance!

    • christine08028
      christine08028 victoria86526

      Posted

      Thanks for the support Victoria!! 

      I have been prescribed some ear drops and tablets, and have been taking them for about 3 days now and I don't know if it's the anxiety but I feel like my ringing has gotten louder?? Do you think this is normal?? I don't know if it's just me constantly thinking about tinnitus and if I'll have it for life but one morning the ringing was much louder than it was before. Although I never hear it during the day (school masks the sound), at night it gets real loud at times. I really do think not thinking about it does help though, but my brain keeps searching for the constant ringing in my head. Sometimes I think I'm even imagining it?? 

      Do you have any tips on how to ignore the ringing? I've heard some people have gotten rid of tinnitus by ignoring it and telling themselves that they're only imagining it. Is that healthy?? I'm not really sure what I could do to make the ringing less bothersome. 

       

  • victoria86526
    victoria86526 christine08028

    Posted

    It would seem that the ringing happens when you are not distracted. If the ringing were very serious you would hear it ALL the time - even at school. So, if we look at this completely logically I would say it's important you keep busy. Anytime you have down time, put on music. Watch cool documentaries, visit with friends, start a new activity in the evening like volunteering or a dance class or something. Keep yourself distracted with positive activities until gradually, you just forget about it and it goes away. AND NO MORE BEING ON THIS SITE. YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE MD, SO GO HAVE FUN AND BE A KID!
  • terry48784
    terry48784 christine08028

    Posted

    Hi Christine,

    Your symptoms are likely to be due to your virus and ear infection.. This is the most common reason for vertigo and dizziness. A friend has had this recently and his symptoms cleared up as soon as he was over it. MD needs vertigo, dizziness, aural fullness and hearing loss and is diagnosed over time so viruses and other causes can be ruled out. It also needs to be diagnosed by EarNoseThroat specialist experienced with MD so the hearing loss can be monitored and compared with typical MD hearing loss.

    I hope you are feeling better although sometimes ear infections can take a while to come right the antibiotics should clear it up. I agree with Ellmay you have plenty of other stuff to focus on at your age so don't worry about this. Sorry for the late reply. I don't get on line much(older generation and slow laptop) but this website helped me when I was diagnosed so want to help if i can. I have two boys who are 14 and 15 and if it werent for football we wouldn't get them offline!!! 

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