Unilateral tinnitus

[errnnj]

Hi, I am a 39 year old female and was wondering what I should do.  About 5-6 months ago, while at work (I'm an RN) I noticed a sudden ringing and fullness in my right ear.  I hadn't suffered any trauma, and there was no pain involved.  I had one of the doctors look in my ear, and it look fine.  The next day I noticed one of my teeth were cracked on the right side of my mouth, so I attributed it to that, and made an appointment at the dental clinic.  It took until September to finally get an appointment to get my tooth fixed.  All the while waiting, I still had this ringing in my right ear, never bothersome, but noticeable...I just figured when I got my tooth fixed, it would go away.  Well now it is October, my tooth is fixed, and I still have the ringing (only in the right ear).In fact, the ringing has gotten to be constantly noticeable.  The best way to describe what I hear:Remember when TV channels went off air and made that noise...that's what I constantly hear.  The pitch of it never changes, but rarely (maybe once or twice a week) I also get this high pitch shrill that lasts for a few seconds..I notice it seems to be louder when I first wake up.  I know I occasionally clench my teeth due to stress, but I do not have any headaches, dizziness or balance issues, the sound is not pulsatile, nor does the sound of it change when a clench my teeth or pop my ears or change my head position.  No pain. no fever, occasional post nasal drip (which I have had forever), but I take an antihistamine on occasion, and that does not seem to change it at all.  I've also noticed that when people are talking to me, especially with background noise, it's very hard to understand what they are saying to me unless I am standing right near them and watching their lips move..

I do have mild hypothyroidism, and take 50mcg of synthroid daily.  My last tsh was 2.96.  I also take omeprazole and baclofen (low dose) for GERD.  I am not on any diuretics, nor do I take aspirin (ototoxic drugs).  I do like to drink soda/caffeine, but not a crazy amount each day...

I'm wondering if this is just tinnitus that I need to learn to live with (from my days of listening to loud music), or should I bother my PMD with a visit??

[errnnj]

Ends up I have a bilateral cookie bite hearing loss after an audiogram.  Not much to do, as I haven't been noticing it as much lately. Just have to get my hearing checked every year...

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi, It is Tinnitus. It occurs with disorders affecting the external, the middle or the inner ear. In the outer ears cerumen impaction or external otitis,  in the middle ear fluid collection or  disease of the tympanic membrane and in the inner ear damage to the nerve endings can cause tinnitus. As a result of these disorders the external sounds are masked leading to awareness of normal body sounds. With your symptoms of a postnasal drip, it could block the eustachian tube and cause fullness in the ears and tinnitus. You should consult an ENT specialist, resolving the post nasal drip may alleviate the tinnitus. Good Luck.