Intemittent hissing in ear

[Danny13579]

I am a 39 year old male and have recently, maybe 4 weeks ago began to experience an intermittent varied hissing sound in my left ear. Sometimes if I wake up in the middle of the night I can hear it then. It last for a short while then goes away. It also happens in the day if i am stressed at work.

It lasts around an hour then goes away. I notice I can control the pitch it if i move my head around in different directions. It might happen once a week and always in my left ear only.

Just some background:

I have recently been prescribed verapamill for migraines which seemed to coincide with the onset of this hissing. I was also experiencing fullness in the ear, especially when standing up quickly etc which I had never experienced prior to taking verapamill. One time recently I had also experienced a short bout of unbalance.

I have recently stopped taking verapamill but I still can hear the hissing about once a week.

I have also stopped listening to my ipod too.

It hasn't gotten worse but its there any ideas what this can be?

Thanks
Danny

[Danny13579]

Is it possible that this could be temporary?

[pooh55811]

You could have tinnitis, as the others mention. It is pretty common.

But, if I were you, I would go to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist (ENT doc) and have a thorough exam. You say a couple of things that make it sound like you could have fluid in your inner ear or something else affecting the inner ear.

You can control the pitch by moving your head. (Maybe fluid is shifting.)
You have a feeling of fullness.(Fluid?)
You experienced some unbalance.(The inner ear affects balance.)
It comes and goes.

It also could be a number of other problems.
Seeing a qualified ENT doc is probably the best way to get to the bottom of the hissing.

Best of luck.

[MeWithC]

Well for me, it was the start of Tinnitus....
welcome to the world of aging....