What does it mean when your ear is ringing?

rhymegirl · Apr 10, 2007

Does that mean you have wax?

An ear infection?

Any other theories?

scarletpeaches · Apr 10, 2007

That's the voices in your head trying to wake you up to their presence.

Siddow · Apr 10, 2007

Someone's talking about you.

But apparently, there's a new medication out that can stop that.

The ringing. Not the people talking about you.

Haggis · Apr 10, 2007

You forgot to answer the phone.

TrainofThought · Apr 10, 2007

Time to take your head off the alarm clock?

Your other personality is ready for dinner?

writerterri · Apr 10, 2007

It could mean a number of medical things. Google it. It could be serious to minor.

Hope it's not too serious. Let us know what you find if you google it.

rhymegirl · Apr 10, 2007

writerterri said:
It could mean a number of medical things. Google it. It could be serious to minor.

Hope it's not too serious. Let us know what you find if you google it.

I think I will google it.

It is driving me crazy! Ring ring ring! And now the sounds are coming and going. I hate that.

Rolling Thunder · Apr 10, 2007

Every time you google, a little bell goes off in your ears.

san_remo_ave · Apr 10, 2007

Tinnitis is fairly serious

Cath · Apr 10, 2007

Some people live with tinnitus all the time. It's not going to kill you, but it's blasted annoying.

It could be a minor infection, it could just be pressure in your eardrum, it could be a whole range of things. If it persists, get it checked out.

Zonk · Apr 10, 2007

God is calling you :tongue

Seriously, RG, tinnitus can be caused by many things, from high or low blood pressure, to damage from loud noises, to allergies.

If it continues, I would have it looked at.

Rolling Thunder · Apr 10, 2007

I think it has something to do with RG's current infatuation with bananas.

Kentuk · Apr 10, 2007

So where did you go last night?

Too much rock n roll.

SpookyWriter · Apr 10, 2007

I developed tinnitus after I refused to accept a collect call from God one day. Dang dan diety was pissed off enough to give me the runs for forty days and forty nights.

maestrowork · Apr 10, 2007

It was the Gong Show.

alleycat · Apr 11, 2007

Cath said:
Some people live with tinnitus all the time. It's not going to kill you, but it's blasted annoying.

I've have it for over ten years in my left ear. It's constant. I've went for every kind of test they could give, including an MRI.

Don't wait. Go to a specialist; it might take you a while to find the right one. There's not much they can do for tinnitus but maybe they can help you since it's just starting. Trust me, you really don't want this.

Also, taking ginkgo biloba seems to help mine.

Good luck.

aadams73 · Apr 11, 2007

My ears ring when allergens are really high.

rhymegirl · Apr 11, 2007

Zonk said:
Seriously, RG, tinnitus can be caused by many things, from high or low blood pressure, to damage from loud noises, to allergies.

If it continues, I would have it looked at.

Well, I already know I have high blood pressure, but I'm on meds for that, so I don't think it's that.

Loud noises? No, I haven't been around any.

And yes, I do have allergies. Maybe I'm allergic to my new job?

I am trying to avoid doctors. With my temp job I have to be there or I don't get paid.

Cath · Apr 11, 2007

alleycat said:
Trust me, you really don't want this.

I agree! I've had it since I was six or seven (damaged ear drums amongst other things). It drives me nuts - so much so that sitting in silence is irritating as hell.

alleycat said:
Also, taking ginkgo biloba seems to help mine.

Oooh - I'm gonna try that.

It's probably the stress, Kathy - but if it doesn't go away, get it checked.

kikazaru · Apr 11, 2007

Some medications can cause ringing in the ears. My dad takes aspirin every day and had to cut his dosage when it caused ringing.

If your medications don't clash, you might try taking some sinus medication to see if it helps.

Maryn · Apr 11, 2007

Two in our household have intermittent, but fairly severe, tinnitus. Some causes to consider that are within your control:

TMJ problems--that's your temporal mandibular joint, the one in your jaw--can set your ear ringing on the affected side. TMJ often responds to rest. Cut back on foods that take lots of chewing, make sure you chew 'straight' with your jaw aligned, and don't force your jaw to open wider than it wants to.
Lots of OTC painkillers list tinnitus as a potential side effect. If you were taking aspirin or naproxen (Aleve) shortly before this started, it's a likely culprit. The ringing generally stops within a week or two of the drug clearing your system. Ibuprofen doesn't seem to do this, at least for us.
Some blood pressure meds cause tinnitus. Call your pharmacy or read the literature that came with yours.
Wax build-up is rarely the cause in people who carefully clean their ears with a Q-tip, like the Q-tip box says not to do. If you suspect wax could be a problem, try a commercial wax softener-ear wash. The pharmacist can help you find one.

Try not to pull on your ear or poke your finger or anything else in it in an attempt to lessen the ringing. It rarely works, and could cause it to worsen.

Sleep deprivation becomes an issue early. Find a white-noise source like a fan or a radio set between stations to help mask the sound.

Allergies can be a factor. If you might have them, try an OTC drug to treat their congestion.

Changes in pressure can cause and cure tinnitus. Don't book a needless flight, but consider taking the hilly route that makes your ears pop.

Maryn, knowing how this can drive a person nuts

davids · Apr 11, 2007

All well intentioned loving suggestions-now go to the Doc!

Jean Marie · Apr 11, 2007

Haggis said:
You forgot to answer the phone.

You need to set up voice-mail.

rhymegirl said:
I think I will google it.

It is driving me crazy! Ring ring ring! And now the sounds are coming and going. I hate that.

If you'd answer the damn thing, it would stop!

Or, if you'd go to the doc, it might help

Not to be redundant, but it sounds like an inner ear disturbance that needs to be checked out. Get thee to a professional, dear

I blew out my eardrums, flying w/ a head-cold. Nasty stuff. Didn't end well, either.

Soccer Mom · Apr 11, 2007

A white noise machine helps my husband.

rhymegirl · Apr 11, 2007

alleycat said:
I've had it for over ten years in my left ear. It's constant. I've went for every kind of test they could give, including an MRI.

Yikes. Ten years. It's my left ear, too.

aadams73 said:
My ears ring when allergens are really high.

Interesting.

Maryn said:
Wax build-up is rarely the cause in people who carefully clean their ears with a Q-tip, like the Q-tip box says not to do. If you suspect wax could be a problem, try a commercial wax softener-ear wash.

I'm leaning towards it being wax. I tried that wax removal stuff. It hasn't worked so far.

Try not to pull on your ear or poke your finger or anything else in it in an attempt to lessen the ringing.

Too late. Already did.

davids said:
All well intentioned loving suggestions-now go to the Doc!

I might have to go. I can't hear very well in this ear.
People might be talking about me and I won't even know.

What does it mean when your ear is ringing?

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