Ringing in Ears

Rick60
Rick60 Member Posts: 9
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I did a search and it did not find anything on this topic so thought I would ask. I am 3 months out from chemo and last week I stated to get ringing in my left ear. I went to the ENT and an audiologist said I have hearing loss in high frequency in left ear which is where I have the ringing. But since I do not have any prior tests done, they cannot say I am actually losing hearing. I have not noticed any loss at all. So they have to wait until they do another test in about a year to see if I am losing hearing. But the test does poor hearing for high frequency.

He said it may stop on its own but there is no cure for tenittis. He did say that I do NOT have Meniere's disease which is good. The ringing comes and goes.

He did say I can use lipoflavonoid as it has helped some. I also saw another product on market called Ring Relief. I have xanax and have read that has helped some but that can also be addictive so I really do not take it.

My concern is if I start taking something, I will not know if it has stopped on its own.

Has anyone had ringing and than it just stops for good?

What are some things you have used to reduce it?

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    hearing

    Rick60,

    Funny that the doctor wasn’t more positive of a possible reason for the hearing loss or ringing in the ears.

    It has been well documented by H&N members that platinum based chemo can have a side effect of damaging the hearing.  Is this the type of chemo you had?  I don’t know of any true success stories on the reversal of hearing loss or ringing, but who knows, maybe you will.  I have heard of learning to live with it and using white noise to block when sleeping.

    Maybe, another member more versed will speak up?  We are all ears.

    Matt

  • Rick60
    Rick60 Member Posts: 9
    #3
    Yes, I had cisplatin (87mg

    Yes, I had cisplatin (87mg per treament with total of 609 for all 7 treatments). I am having an MRI done in next few days.

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    #4
    Rick60 said:

    Yes, I had cisplatin (87mg

    Yes, I had cisplatin (87mg per treament with total of 609 for all 7 treatments). I am having an MRI done in next few days.

    Yep, cisplatin is the culprit

    I also had significant hearing loss in the frequencies above 1-2 KHz. You’ll get used with the ringing sound, in my case it (and hearing loss) didn’t improve, 4.5 years later.

     

    For hearing loss I am using hearing aids that help, but are ridiculously expensive (6-7 thousand range for a pair of good ones). I think the price is artificially inflated, and I can’t have that covered (except a meager 1000  every 5 years – I live in Canada).

  • Rick60
    Rick60 Member Posts: 9
    #5
    It's crazy though because I

    It's crazy though because I have not noticed any hearing loss. I hear fine in both ears.

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    edited March 2017 #6
    Rick60 said:

    It's crazy though because I

    It's crazy though because I have not noticed any hearing loss. I hear fine in both ears.

    Interesting

    Probably the right ear compensates for the loss (and might also be the “dominant” one). Have you tried to plug one ear at a time, and see if you hear the same? 

  • Rick60
    Rick60 Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2017 #7
    Right ear may be a tad bit

    Right ear may be a tad bit more but they are close. When I talk on the phone, I actulally use my left ear. My job requires lots of phone calls and I use my left on the headset. That is what is so strange about it. Though the test shows hearing loss mostly in left ear, I think I have had that for years. Until they can do another test, they cannot determine that I am actually losing hearing.

  • Joy123
    Joy123 Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2017 #8
    I finished my chemo and

    I finished my chemo and radiation 3 weeks ago and ringing in ears started about 2 weeks ago. It's constant. I was on cisplatant also. I see ENT next week. 

     

     

     

     

     

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    edited March 2017 #9
    I've had ringing

    for 5 years....My hearing was tested after treatment and it was "normal" for a person my age (I was 63 at the time). Cisplatin can make ears ring but so can the type of cancer, placement of the rads, etc. There is more than one way to ring a HNC patient's ears :).  I only notice it anymore when I think about it...or it changes tune. Right now they're ringing like crazy, so I'll move on to another thread and forget about it....LOL. 

    p

  • CajunEagle
    CajunEagle Member Posts: 408
    #10
    A drastic Cure for ringing in the ears

    I had lots of platinum based chemo in 2009 for left tonsil cancer.  I've had lots of ringing in my ears (constant) until June, 2016 when it stopped.  Due to Melanoma, they removed my right ear....ear canal...and mastoid bone at that time, and Tinnius is no longer present.  It's kind of tough to hear out of one ear, but doing okay.

    Larry

  • Joy123
    Joy123 Member Posts: 11
    #11
    phrannie51 said:

    I've had ringing

    for 5 years....My hearing was tested after treatment and it was "normal" for a person my age (I was 63 at the time). Cisplatin can make ears ring but so can the type of cancer, placement of the rads, etc. There is more than one way to ring a HNC patient's ears :).  I only notice it anymore when I think about it...or it changes tune. Right now they're ringing like crazy, so I'll move on to another thread and forget about it....LOL. 

    p

    so it never went away??  mine

    so it never went away??  mine started about 2 weeks ago.  I was given cisplatin.  my last treatment was 3 weeks ago.  it's very annoying.  I see my ENT next week and I'll see what she thinks.    so did anything help you with the ringing? 

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    edited March 2017 #12
    be aware

    With platinum based chemo, hearing loss is a real concern. For some reason, everyone is not advised enough to be very aware of any ringing or sense of losing or impared hearing. Immediately notify your MO before more damage is done. If caught early, it seems the damage is not so bad and even returns to normal.

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #13
    Joy123 said:

    so it never went away??  mine

    so it never went away??  mine started about 2 weeks ago.  I was given cisplatin.  my last treatment was 3 weeks ago.  it's very annoying.  I see my ENT next week and I'll see what she thinks.    so did anything help you with the ringing? 

    No it

    never gone away. 

    p

     

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #14
    Tinnitus

    Otherwise known as ringing in the ears is the forerunner to hearing loss from Cisplatin. Some doctors do a baseline hearing test before starting Cisplatin.

    My husband had ringing for a couple of years before repeated tests showed significant hearing loss.

  • Rick60
    Rick60 Member Posts: 9
    #15
    Use Heating Pads

    Well I have found that using a heating pad against my ear does help reduce the sound. My ENT told me that increases the blood flow which can help. I found that it does seem to work.

    donfoo, I have heard that before. I am reading a book called "Tinnitus, Turning The Volumne Down" and it also states that if caught early of if it goes on and off (mine does) than sometimes there are chances it can be fixed.

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