Ears are main post Covid complaint

I have had hyperacaucus for a year already. My tinnitus comes and goes but the sensitivity to sound has been ongoing. I went to an ENT dr and he said anatomically, my ear drum looks fine. It is so aggravating when someone drops a fork or a knife or something on a dinner plate. I feel pain in my ears for that moment the utensil is dropped on a plate. Or if I scrape my cereal bowl with a spoon....that also hurts my ears. I just started to develop sensitivity to sunlight too. Its been a year and I was hoping this would all start to fade but it seems it is not. I also developed head to toe fibromyalgia in the last several months. I understand what you are going through Believe me I do.

Have you tried foam ear plugs?

Oh my YES! I have light sensitivity too. Sometimes it’s hard to even keep track of the symptoms. I read the stories here and maybe I’m just a whiner, but these perception issues are hard to handle.
My heart goes out to all the suffering.

Thank you it is all so aggravating to be healthy one day and a train wreck the next. I hope that is all you are inflicted with because I'm sure you have read it could be so much more. Hopefully because your symptoms, albeit annoying as all git- will be short lived because it's localized to one sensory issue. God Bless you and heal quick.

I was told by Audiologist to avoid ear plugs and to try to “habituate” to noise. I also wear hearing aids, so it’s a balancing act to hear what I’d like to hear, but not jump out of my skin at sounds that I should tolerate easily. It’s so incredibly strange that my hearing is not that great for voices and conversation, but turned up to 11 on what I don’t want/need to hear.

Well, it’s sixteen months now so I don’t think quick healing is on the table. If I were stable, or having small improvement I could be more relaxed. As it is, I still feel in the grips of this thing. Like most posters here feel I believe.
Good luck to all.

I am so sorry. I do not have that, but what agony!!
I notice that you are grateful it’s not worse— which is such a mature view. Because… sometimes how we respond to each other is unhelpful. It really doesn’t help me to hear, “well, just be glad you don’t have MY problems/pain/experiences”. (It’s ironic that so many of us feel like the outside ‘world’ doesn’t understand what’s going on — and they don’t; but then we turn around and do that very thing to other long haulers)
I know that ear pain or dysfunction for ME (in my past functional life) was very like a sore tooth: sure I have other functioning systems, —but ALL I can feel is that tooth!
And what you’re describing is SO much worse than that! What a maddening and isolating symptom! Again— no help here, but I am so, SO sorry!

Thank you so much for your kind reply.
What I love about this site (I comment a LOT, and sometimes think I say too much) is that everyone is kind. Sometimes we may not say the exact right thing, but a supportive attitude is always present. It’s so refreshing to find such a group of people.

I can definitely relate to your comment! Mine was triggered Sept. 2022 after a 2 week trip into high altitude. I could have sworn I brought back some dreaded disease since my head hasn't been the same since. It's been one issue after the other. It's been like chasing rabbits, being referred from one doctor to the next, having various medical tests/scans, etc. I even ended up in ER with chest pains at which time they did a complete cardiac evaluation. So far, all of my tests have shown no major problems. Pulmonary test showed "minimal" pulmonary disease. At times, I've thought I was loosing my mind, never having had health issues before. THANKFULLY, I found relief using a low dose nicotine patch (3.5 which is half of a 7 mg patch), as well as supplementing with 50 mg of sublingual glutathione and increasing my Vitamin C intake. I was desperate, so I took the chance using this protocol. Strange as it sounds, within 30 minutes of applying the first patch, my head/ears actually opened up clearer than they had been in months! I have continued this for over a month, and have seen 75-80% improvement in my LC symptoms (off balance, head/ear pressure (like helium being pumped into my head), anxiety, brain fog, fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, joint paint) I have sought out the natural remedies, also adding daily Ashwaganda. I also use CBD oil daily. I've had good luck with Xlear Rescue nasal spray with essential oils for sinus congestion. Mullein leaf tincture also helps the lungs and congestion. I joined 2 social media groups on FB 1) Renegade Research #TheNicotineTest. 2) Long Haul Reset: Long Covid & Spike Injury Treatment. There is an overload of information in these groups that is overwhelming at times, but much of the information has been helpful to me. While being evaluated at a local Rehab facility, I was encouraged to seek out a doctor treating long C. Although I am much better, I plan to follow through with a scheduled appointment the end of this month. I know there are many smart doctors trying to get this nasty stuff figured out, and if by treating me can help others, that's a win!

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my post. You can bet that as soon as I respond, I’m out the door for a nicotine patch!! I think you’re saying you cut it in half? Right?
I had read about this but it seemed a little “out there”. Having said that, I’ve tried mushrooms, smoke a little pot, and also pretty much everything you mention in your post. This is a tough one for sure. Even amongst other Long Covid sufferers we’re a little different. It doesn’t sound like such a big deal until you’ve lived with it for months. As you know, it’s a BIG deal, and does make you feel like your mind is going.
I wonder if I should drive (I do a little) because when you have these issues, everything is just off.
I have felt drunk for the past year. Does that make sense to you?
I’ll post how I do with the patch.