Tinnitus recently(ish) started....

Hi

I am a 58 years old male who has been treated over the last 20 months for Sinus and LPR issues.

Prior to this treatment and diagnostic testing my long standing sinus issues went on for some years.

But around 20 months ago I decided to see an ENT, in fact I went to two as I wanted a second opinion on the suggested sinus surgery.

I presented with a problematic throat and hoarseness, post nasal drip, facial pains and congested nasal airways. Some ear pain and muffled hearing was always present. Manly the right ear, but would also include the left.

what would follow would be two lots of FESS (Sinus surgery) which seems to have be largely successful in dealing with my sinus issues, so far. Both maxillary, ethmoid and frontal sinuses were operated on. I will always need to irrigate daily.

My LPR is being managed through diet and lifestyle choices mainly after diagnostics and tests from a Gastro specialists.

In the background was always my ear pain, muffled type hearing and perhaps the odd buzz or two. But that had to stay on the back burner due to other pressing issues.

Once the sinus issues seemed more under control, about three months now post op from the second surgery, the ear situation needed to be addressed. It seemed with the clearing up of lots of mucous my muffled hearing seemed to have improved. The pain, which could be quite bad at times, has largely gone.

BUT.....

I'm left with tinnitus in both (predominately on the right) ears which at times, when I focus or in quiet surroundings, drives me a little crazy. It is a high pitched constant tone, no deviation. Just varying degrees of how loud that it can be.

Just occasionally it can stop and, when I notice that its stopped its like "Wow that is what silence is like"....! Of course that doesn't seem to last for long. If I press my fingers in my ears and shake them around that sometimes makes it quieter, for a short while.

I have had a CT scan and that is fine. I have had an hearing test (which includes a pressure test) and apart from some slight age related type loss that also is fine. I am arranging for a MRI scan as well. Each time that I've seen my ENT (although we were in the midst of sinus surgery or LPR diagnostics etc) he has checked my ears and after all the mucous has gone they now seem fine.

A curve ball could be the beta blockers that I'm taking for my blood pressure, bisoprolol. According to one doctors list of ototoxic drugs they are number 5 at causing tinnitus in a list of beta blockers known to do so, and are even associated with hearing loss.

I don't think that the six weeks or so of taking a long course of antibiotics between surgery on my sinuses helped.

So what I've posted could explain why I am where I am, maybe.

I do NOT want to spend time on Google at all - it is never my friend when it comes to searching for medical related questions.

So how do people distract or learn to cope with tinnitus, any help would be appreciated. Also anything to add to the above would be welcomed.

Thanks

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