Tingling and Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)

[PlateletGal]

Hi Guys,

I know I've had both of these symptoms. Well a member here was recently told by her rheumatologist that these are not symptoms of fibro. I disagree and know I've read posts from many fibro & CFS patients who have either or both of these conditions.

I thought we'd take a poll.. for this member.

So how many of you have these symptoms ?

[VaBreeze]

I have had both.  This was one of the first symptoms I noticed, along with balance issues.  Good ?  :-)

[kiddthekatt]

What Breeze said...............


gh
Angel

[PlateletGal]

100% so far... I hope our member feels better and gets her diagnosis ASAP. I think for me anyway, the worst part was not knowing what was wrong with me. The second worst thing is all of the judgmental people out there who roll their eyes when you tell them that you have either fibro or CFS.

[kiddthekatt]

  I really do think that the people who roll their eyes and whisper behind their hands need a wakeup call. Most people watch the Lyrica commercial on television and see that the actress is getting around just fine, and it makes me so angry!! They need to show what this disease really does to a person, people need to see the truth.

   It is so sad that because we are laughed at and ridiculed in ways that are so hurtful have been the cause of more than we'll ever know to commit suicide. It breaks my heart.

gentle hugs
Angel

[ginak]

I have both of these symptoms and the tinnitus started first.

[RobinHood70]

Like VaBreeze, tinnitus and balance issues were the first noticeable problems, followed by myalgia and tingling.  In retrospect, the heart palpitations and mild asthma that started a couple of months before may also be part of it all as well, as I was one of the "gradual onset" types.

[SIMMY20]

well i have both! and my rheumatologist told me it was part of my fibro and to expect my face and neck to swell at times , when i asked why he shrugged and said it just seems to happen i don,t know why!!he also said sometimes you will also get pains when breathing !!and don,t be suprised to wake up and not be able to move ,not even your head!! all of wich have happened,,,,, i love my rheumatologist he is so honest,, allthough at the time{8yrs ago} i thought he was nuts !! how can you get all those things?

[Mage1970]

I've always been told that the Tinnitus (Which I've had since I was 12)follows the migraines,so which symptom/s preceedes???Another question is which type of Tinnitus do you have ???

[lvfrogs]

I don't have tinnitus but have had some tingling. I do have the balance problem though, like VaBreeze and have noticed that getting worse.  I thought it was just my body getting older. I learn something new here everyday!

[ott70]

Not sure about the tingling, but I will get tinnitus. Sometimes I think an attack is going to occur because some pressure will build up and then some loud ringing will occur in one or both ears. Usually subsides after 10-20 minutes. Weird stuff.

[patsy10]

I have both and many other symptoms.  It's true about people rolling their eyes up.  I work in healthcare and every time someone who had FMS would come in I would see co-workers rolling they eyes up.

[PlateletGal]

Many CFS patients, including myself, have constant ringing or buzzing in both their ears. I've read that poor health can lead to tinnitus... here is what the treatments are for this condition, although I haven't tried any of these:

http://www.ata.org/professionals/tinnitus-treatments

[uk2]

I have tinnitus and loss of hearing and pressure like popping in my ears which is painful and recently had vertigo due to fluid in my inner ear and now on medication to combat that, they say its meneire's disease going to ENT on 2nd of feb and having ENG (balance test) on 31st.

I've heard its progressive, does anybody have fibro and meneire's disease?


Sam

[RobinHood70]

Just as a comment on drug treatments, I was on Lorazepam (also called Ativan) for a while to help combat the dizziness, and it had a clear effect on the tinnitus as well.  While they were rare, there were some days where I could no longer hear it at all unless the room was silent.  Now that I'm no longer taking it, however, the average volume of the tinnitus has definitely gone up and I think I've only had one such quiet day since.

Of course, the inherent problem with Lorazepam is that it's highly addictive.  Personally, I had little trouble getting off of it when I needed to, but I gather I'm the exception in that regard.  Getting a doctor to prescribe it is fairly challenging, as they're all aware and very wary of the addiction issue and will automatically assume you're drug-seeking unless you do a very good job of convincing them otherwise.

[VaBreeze]

I will have a ringing or buzzing most days.  Sometimes my ear will feel like it suddenly clogs up and the ringing is severe.  Other times, I may turn over in bed and it feels like I can hear it draining.  

For me, the vertigo was worse than anything.  I had all types of testing done...quite a few times...and nothing was ever found to be wrong.  I misjudge steps and have fallen; had a sudden bout of vertigo while driving (which is scary) and had spells where I couldn't walk alone, but had to be supported by someone.  All due to the balance problems.  It's quite frustrating to not have answers as to what is causing these things to happen.  This began in my teens and continues today.

[RobinHood70]

It sounds like you and I have fairly similar symptom sets, VaBreeze, though yours seem a bit more severe than mine on average.  My tinnitus is 24/7, but the balance problems are not quite as severe for me, though not far from it...I've never fallen, and I can *almost* always walk alone, but all the rest of it sounds very familiar to me and I would definitely say I find the vertigo to be the worst symptom.  On the other hand, I couldn't even imagine driving...there'd be too much balance/direction-information overload, I think, undoubtedly triggering more vertigo.

[VaBreeze]

Doesn't it though?  It's incredible how alike these illnesses are.  I'm still not sure...but i'm thinking I have both FMS/CFS.  It's been horrible...the vertigo attacks.  After my first spill down a stairwell, I saw an opthomologist...nothing wrong with my eyes.  Spent a lifetime bumping into things and being tested for this or that.  Nothing helped.  When it happened while I was on the interstate, that was the worst imaginable.  It was all I could do to keep the car in my lane...it was the anxiety from it that caused the overload, lol.  Unfortunately, it took this last loss of balance to do permanent damage and put me on disability.  So you be very careful if you are experiencing this...never stand on something that isn't made for it and secure ladders, etc.  Don't overreach either, lol.  My $1.00 windsock I was hanging ended up costing a mere $280,000.  I understand that they do offer courses on balance training...where they train your brain to focus on it better.  The one here was offered at one of the hospitals.  May be worth checking in your area too.  Be safe.

[RobinHood70]

Thanks for the suggestions and info.  Ever since this hit, I think the tallest thing I've ever stood on was a chair.  While I do get surges like you describe, most of the time for me, it tends to be something that fades in and out, but is never completely gone.  I've been given various balance exercises and such, and I found that they helped to a point, but I think the variation in severity that I get makes it hard for my brain to fully compensate...it's trying to hit a moving target.

[dai3symae]

I have both...the tingling is minor and easy to live with.  The tinnitus is loud, high pitched and 24/4.  My balance is off and I always feel like I'm "listing" to the left, sort of like a boat with only one oar.  

[VaBreeze]

I hear that.  Mine have never left since the first one began.  Those 'surges' sure are scary though...and no way could I ever close my eyes and remain standing (which not one doctor has ever bothered doing this test).  

I agree...it's the constant variation that makes it hard to cope with.

[ginak]

I have constant tinnitus and a constant buzzing in my left foot only. Sometimes I can feel it in my right foot. Is this common? Could the buzzing be a result of fibromyalgia or something more serious?

[VaBreeze]

I'll send you a PM about your other ? regarding your feet.  

[bobbilaine]

I have fibro and specialist says meneire's disease as well.  My ears ring and sometimes I lose about half of my hearing or perhaps more.  It can be gone for a couple of days and as time goes by my hearing is getting worse.  I have terrible tingling in my feet which seems to come and go although the last 4 months has been constant and getting worse.  IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!  Those who have tingling have you been checked for vitamin B12 deficiency?  When I have the tingling and ringing I also experience a fair amount of muscle twitching and this time muscle tension.  In addition, I have fibro fog (the cognitive issues) when this is happening.  What a dreadful disease!  I always wonder if something else is wrong.  I'm certainly open to suggestions.

[FurballsMom]

I have the tingling or peripheral neuropathy.  The doctor says it is idiopathic.  She said my B12 is where it's supposed to be.  Someone told me about some supplements that help her.  I can't take the one she mentioned called Leg Veins from Naturway, because it has herbs in it that I know I'm allergic to.  But, I use Alpha Lipoic Acid that she suggested and it really does help.  She also mentioned Acetyl L Carnitine, but I still have to ask my doctors about that one.  The Alpha Lipoic Acid is an antioxidant and it does seem to cut down the severity of all that tingling.  I haven't had the tinnitus for a while, but I sure can't ignore it when I do get it.  It is really loud.