Long COVID and Ringing in the ears

Posted by Lucy @welchllb, Feb 16, 2022

I had COVID in August 2020 and have never fully recovered. I had every symptom except loss of smell and taste. I had pneumonia and was in ER three times. Until today, my biggest disabilities have included shortness of breath with exertion, dizziness, unsteadiness, blurry eyes, occasional sore throat, dry cough, etc - all like many of you. I tried Vagus Nerve Stimulation and if anyone is interested, I can give you a full description. Did not improve.
WORSENING SYMPTOM AS OF TODAY: Ringing in my ears. I have had slight ear ringing for awhile but today when I woke up, it was dramatically worse. Has anyone gone to a doctor for this issue? Has anyone experienced worsening symptoms. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

mycovid | @mycovid | Mar 14, 2022

Has anyone found relief from the ringing in the ears?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 17, 2022

In reply to @mycovid "Has anyone found relief from the ringing in the ears?" + (show)

Many things can cause or trigger tinnitus - ringing the ears, including illnesses, sinus infection, viruses, some medications, and even stress. Not to mention that the ringing or constant noise can be stress inducing.

Luckily, there are ways to manage the condition, for example white noise machines, hearing aids, cognitive behavioral therapy and more. What works for one person won’t necessarily help someone else. The important thing is not to give up.

You'll find some very helpful tips in the Hearing Loss group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/hearing-loss/

To get you started see these specific discussions:
- Constant tinnitus: Are there any solutions? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/constant-tinnitis/
- Tinnitus Causes and Exercises for Relief https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tinnitus-causes-and-exercises-for-relief/

pkpeterson | @pkpeterson | Mar 19, 2022

I had Covid the first week of December. My symptoms were a horrible headache, horrible sore throat, worsened tinnitus and fatigue. Medication only helped the sore throat - not the headache. I recovered after about 5 days. Then a couple weeks later the louder tinnitus and horrible headache came back. I attributed it to anything but covid. I even had cervical nerve ablations to try to stop the headaches. Now after months, I'm resigned to believe it is long covid. Nothing helps the headaches. The tinnitus is SO loud! Like a swarm of cicadas in my head. Can you recommend ANYTHING to help me???

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 20, 2022

In reply to @pkpeterson "I had Covid the first week of December. My symptoms were a horrible headache, horrible sore..." + (show)

@pkpeterson, oh, I can see you are at your wit's end dealing with the tinnitus. There are ways of coping. You'll find some very helpful tips in the Hearing Loss group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/hearing-loss/

To get you started see these specific discussions:
– Constant tinnitus: Are there any solutions? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/constant-tinnitis/
– Tinnitus Causes and Exercises for Relief https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tinnitus-causes-and-exercises-for-relief/

In the Hearing Loss group many members have been dealing with tinnitus before COVID and have helpful tips to offer.

gordo61 | @gordo61 | Mar 26, 2022

I developed tinnitus following Moderna vaccine. I have been told there is nothing that can be done to relieve the ringing. Anyone else been told this?

171 | @171 | Mar 30, 2022

In reply to @171 "I have had all you describe - the food thing comes and goes. ringing in my..." + (show)

I've also had all you describe. Tests all negative. "nothing to see here all normal"- ringing in my ears - same Ent. says loss of hearing --- no, no. Not it. seeing Neurologist today after brain MRI. So frustrating.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Mar 30, 2022

In reply to @171 "I've also had all you describe. Tests all negative. "nothing to see here all normal"- ringing..." + (show)

Hi @171 and @gordo61 I recently came across this timely article regarding the WHO and examining potential hearing problems associated with Covid Vaccines.
https://news.yahoo.com/examining-potential-hearing-problems-linked-222242981.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
You’re not alone. Have you seen this article?

171 | @171 | Mar 30, 2022

In reply to @loribmt "Hi @171 and @gordo61 I recently came across this timely article regarding the WHO and examining..." + (show)

I've seen it now - and thanks! I'm not surprised and am not planning to get the 4th one. Nothing wrong with my hearing. Must say that buzzing recently has not been as loud so I hope that means it will pass.

taml | @taml | May 2, 2022

In reply to @pkpeterson "I had Covid the first week of December. My symptoms were a horrible headache, horrible sore..." + (show)

ok pkpeterson.....
here's some positive thoughts.
I'm the person who has had super strong nails since vaccine, along with severe spine, neck , back pain.
Well, thinking about your headaches. Before my vaccine pain I had over 30 years of migraines, acute sinusitis, and ugly cough for months every year. After I got an incomplete root canal pulled. Sinusitis and cough disappeared. And migraines gradually disappeared.
So..... all the years of migraines I always knew calcium, supplements or food would make my headaches worse and a stiff neck. So I didn't do this stuff for years. Thinking my migraines were cured, I have been eating cheese and yogurt and soy yogurts etc.....
My vaccine side effects have been horrible. So,,,, 3 days ago I quit the cheese etc, no calcium supplements for a few weeks. And my spine pain is about 60 % better. Especially my horrible neck pain. Of course I have a doctors appointment today. Since your finger nails are also stronger..... thinking something might be upping the calcium in my body (nails)....
I'm not a doctor..... just my life experience.... but maybe you could try cutting back on all calcium stuff for a while and see if that makes a difference with headaches, tinnitus ( which I used to get with my headaches too).... I've always changed my diet with my migraines... was no other choice and it usually worked. You can only go so long without eating..( maybe effected my infected root at the same time).....
Hopefully this might help. There is a lot on line (of course) about calcium being bad for you, clogging arteries etc. No one ever believed me when I said calcium supplements gave me a stiff neck. All doctors recommended for my bones.... Going to try to start up some light weight lifting for my bones ( after 2 years without because of spine pain)
I'm feeling great today. Hope this might work for you... at least a little.
Good luck, good luck , good luck...... I'm ready for the bad nails again if my pain gets better.

freddyfleming | @freddyfleming | May 8, 2022

In reply to @taml "ok pkpeterson..... here's some positive thoughts. I'm the person who has had super strong nails since..." + (show)