Tinnitus

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Doczilla

In the population that frequents this discussion board, tinnitus is most likely a result of hearing damage from exposure to loud noise. 90% of the time, this is the primary cause.

However, it may also be a side effect from certain medications or substances, so this is something to rule out before you let the ringing drive you off the roof of a building.
Aspirin, other salicylates (I don't know if oil of wintergreen would cause tinnitus, but it's a salicylate, so I'll mention it here)
Other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Loop diuretics (furosemide, others)
Benzodiazepines (valium, xanax, others)
Zoloft
Calcium channel blockers
Chloroquine
Fluoroquinolones (cipro, levaquin, avelox)
Tetracycline, erythromycin
PPIs, such as nexium, prilosec, protonix

There is such a thing as "objective tinnitus", which can be heard by the examiner as well as the patient. This can be caused by vascular abnormalities (carotid artery stenosis, AV shunt) or some other issues. The upside is that this type may be surgically correctable.


'zilla

Hmm, I am taking about five of the meds you listed, but mine is not too bad yet.

If it gets worse, I may have to play around with different meds.

TR

[Beach Bum]

Tinnitus is also a potential side effect of ibuprofen and benadryl, to name a few common meds. The active ingredient in Benadryl, diphenhydramine, is also the ingredient in many over the counter sleep aids. Could be adding to your problem if you use any of the above.
Dawn

[Sdiver]

Originally Posted by Doczilla

In the population that frequents this discussion board, tinnitus is most likely a result of hearing damage from exposure to loud noise. 90% of the time, this is the primary cause.

However, it may also be a side effect from certain medications or substances, so this is something to rule out before you let the ringing drive you off the roof of a building.
Aspirin, other salicylates (I don't know if oil of wintergreen would cause tinnitus, but it's a salicylate, so I'll mention it here)
Other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Loop diuretics (furosemide, others)
Benzodiazepines (valium, xanax, others)
Zoloft
Calcium channel blockers
Chloroquine
Fluoroquinolones (cipro, levaquin, avelox)
Tetracycline, erythromycin
PPIs, such as nexium, prilosec, protonix

There is such a thing as "objective tinnitus", which can be heard by the examiner as well as the patient. This can be caused by vascular abnormalities (carotid artery stenosis, AV shunt) or some other issues. The upside is that this type may be surgically correctable.


'zilla

I know that mine, and I have it in BOTH ears, is in combination from the loud noises (Booms and Bangs), but mostly it comes from diving.

Being unable to equalize holding onto a run-a-way student, wearing hoods that were too tight, ect. I did the best at clearing out my ears after every dive, whether it be pool or open water, with some sort of ear wash, either over the counter or prescription, but it seems the ringing just kept getting worse.

Now it's like, I can definitely tell when a weather front is coming in, just by the pressure changes in my ears. I too have "good days and bad days". There are times when I can hear a pin drop in a crowded room, but can't hear the person talking next to me. I've been lucky in the fact, that it doesn't keep me awake at night, or not let me fall asleep, I just focus on something else, and not so much on the ringing in my ears.

[KangarooAR-15A3]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

If I were you, I would do some research and see what is said on this site about the selfishness of age waivers and the rationale for having age limits.

TR

I actually did read several posts and found many comments valuable; but I have a difference of opinion as one cannot generalize 100% of the time. My personal opinion differs from some, as I have scored higher on the PFT than 90% of recruits 18-26. I fully understand the rationale, but if one is fit enough and can demonstrate that ability then I feel pursuing an age waiver is not selfish at all. I proved my fitness both physically and mentally, and therefore felt that my request for an age waiver for the Marine Corps was not selfish. I have several senior NCO's, 2 Colonels, 1 General and 800 signatures that agree with my assessment of that request.

[The Reaper]

Congratulations.

I would still vote against you, and your 800 and some odd supporters. How many years on an ODA humping a ruck do they have collectively?

You would be 38 or so by the time you finish training, and well into your 40s before you know what you are doing on an SF ODA.

Time is relentless, and while you may currently be able to do well, as you get into your 40s, you will slow down, lose the ability to recover as quickly, see certain aging/illnesses/ailments pop up that will drag you down, and a team with you, if you are on it.

I have served with a 40something team member, and it wasn't pretty. We eventually sent him to battalion to work a desk job.

A [smart] man has got to know his limitations.

Just my .02 based on 20 years in SF.

TR

[KangarooAR-15A3]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Congratulations.

I would still vote against you, and your 800 and some odd supporters. How many years on an ODA humping a ruck do they have collectively?

You would be 38 or so by the time you finish training, and well into your 40s before you know what you are doing on an SF ODA.

Time is relentless, and while you may currently be able to do well, as you get into your 40s, you will slow down, lose the ability to recover as quickly, see certain aging/illnesses/ailments pop up that will drag you down, and a team with you, if you are on it.

I have served with a 40something team member, and it wasn't pretty. We eventually sent him to battalion to work a desk job.

A [smart] man has got to know his limitations.

Just my .02 based on 20 years in SF.

TR

And I respect both your experience and your opinion, however you have not evaluated me, met me or have any firsthand knowledge of my physical abilities.
A vote against me would not be the first, however all who do have firsthand knowledge of my ability and have thoroughly evaulated me, voted yes, some with more than 20 years experience, none in SF, as very few are Army, but several are Recon Marines. Either way we have a difference of opinion so I will allow my physical and mental ability to be judged by those who actually make the decision.

I apologize for the hijack in this thread, as I seem to have wandered from my original post regarding tinnitus. (Mine seems to stem from regular shooting even though I wear excellent hearing protection)
My tinnitus seems to affect the 2000 Hz range and it is difficult at times, to distinguish the beep from the tinnitus. But as stated earlier this does come and go.


EDIT to Add: My post was in no way meant as disrespectful or argumentative.
As far as "decision makers" I was referring to the Marine Corps, not the Army or NG. As I have been pursuing an age waiver with the Corps, not the Army. Apparently my remarks were seen as disrespectful. I apologize for this impression but ceratainly meant no disrespect.
I will seek information elsewhere and will not post further on this board.
Thanks for the information. It has been a good visit.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by KangarooAR-15A3

And I respect both your experience and your opinion, however you have not evaluated me, met me or have any firsthand knowledge of my physical abilities.
A vote against me would not be the first, however all who do have firsthand knowledge of my ability and have thoroughly evaulated me, voted yes, some with more than 20 years experience, none in SF, as very few are Army, but several are Recon Marines. Either way we have a difference of opinion so I will allow my physical and mental ability to be judged by those who actually make the decision.

I apologize for the hijack in this thread, as I seem to have wandered from my original post regarding tinnitus. (Mine seems to stem from regular shooting even though I wear excellent hearing protection)
My tinnitus seems to affect the 2000 Hz range and it is difficult at times, to distinguish the beep from the tinnitus. But as stated earlier this does come and go.

I do not know you, but I have been 18, 28, 38, and 48, so I know where you are headed, and unlike you, I know in painful detail what the demands of the job are. I have also seen thousands of candidates over the years, and the cause of their failures.

If you make it to Camp Mackall for SFAS, I look forward to tracking your performance and progress.

And I just might get a chance to vote then.

Do your best.

TR

[KangarooAR-15A3]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

If you make it to Camp Mackall for SFAS, I look forward to tracking your performance and progress against SF standards.

And I just might get a chance to vote then.

Do your best.

TR

Thanks! I appreciate it! I demand better than what I am capable of from myself. SF was something I had not thought of until a friend who is SF referred me here and suggested I go the NG route, perhaps SF after researching it here.
That's my main reason for being at this site, to learn. I have already learned quite a bit and look forward to more. My original intent with the NG was to go 11B if the Corps did not work out. That would have made me happy. It was his suggestion to look into SF, apparently something about me told him to suggest it. It may not be for me at all and I make no claim that it is. Just here checking out whether or not it is something I want to pursue.

Very informative site and thanks for the info.

(Back to more reading and less posting)




EDIT to Add: My post was in no way meant as disrespectful or argumentative.
As far as "decision makers" I was referring to the Marine Corps, not the Army or NG. As I have been pursuing an age waiver with the Corps, not the Army. Apparently my remarks were seen as disrespectful. I apologize for this impression but ceratainly meant no disrespect.
I will seek information elsewhere and will not post further on this board.
Thanks for the information. It has been a good visit.

[PSM]

I'm on no drugs and use only aspirin, rarely, for pain. I had tinnitus before I joined the Army, but I did drive tractors, combines, etc. and learn to fly before DC headsets and intercoms.

Now I find that the tinnitus increases in intensity about thirty to forty-five minutes after I eat. I've read that salt can make it worse and I do use extra salt on my food. Not using salt does not seem to matter in my case.

Pat

[scrateshooter]

My tinnitus only bothers me at work, it sounds like secadas. I am sure that the five years working around AV8Bs didn't help. It beats having herpes.

[SFS0AVN]

I have and have had tinnitus for most of my military career. After flight school they told us to wear ear protection when flying. Unfortunately they didn't say anything about wearing it on the ramps. I understand that they now have a surgical procedure for severe cases. They deaden the nerves that cause it, so you loose some high freq hearing.
If you got it in the service, the VA will give you 10% for bilateral.

[lrd]

Originally Posted by SouthernDZ

Ird - were you taking an antibiotic to clear up the infection? (some ATBs have that as a side effect)

I missed this.

I was not taking ATBs. I have taken Phenytoin for 35 years.

I only have tinnitus in my left ear. Would meds affect just one or both ears?

The biggest inconvenience is having to use the other ear for the phone.

[theditchdoctor]

Originally Posted by lrd

I missed this.

I was not taking ATBs. I have taken Phenytoin for 35 years.

I only have tinnitus in my left ear. Would meds affect just one or both ears?

The biggest inconvenience is having to use the other ear for the phone.

It can be unilateral or bilateral, although often times toxic (drug-induced) tinnitus is bilateral due to it being an indirect issue. Basically the part of the brain or the nerves involved with hearing are effected rather than the ear itself.

I don't know if oil of wintergreen would cause tinnitus, but it's a salicylate, so I'll mention it here

Acute methyl salicylate toxicity complicating herbal skin treatment for psoriasis.
Emerg Med (Fremantle). 2002 Jun;14(2):188-90.

[Hipshot]

When I separated from the service, I had tinnitus documented as a result of too many years on the range and being too close to a B-52 strike in VN. Found out yesterday that Tinnitus is an automatic 10% on VA disability and qualifies for free hearing aids.

I'd pass on that if I could just get rid of this damned ringing in my ears all the time.

[Mitch]

I was going to start a thread on tinnitus - but I see we already have one.

I have been suffering from a hissing sound in both ears for several months. For the longest time, I did not realize it, it was too faint to be a nuisance - but then one day on my drive home from work, the hiss got so loud, I thought I had a vacuum leak in the engine. I actually pulled off the road, and was going to look under the hood for a cut line. But just to check that it was not in my head, which I had started to suspect - I killed the engine. The Hiss persisted - evenly in both ears. Since that day, it has gotten louder and louder to the point that it is constant and a little scary.

But sometimes it stops - each time it has, I feel relived and hope that it is over. Two days ago - it had reached the level of an open 90 psi air hose.

Earlier today I finished a big, stressful project, one that I had begun to name the "albatross." I had a good drive home. About an hour ago, I decided to go get a beer (see "You ever drink a Rattler” the beer is time stamped.).

Walking into the garage - to get it, - away from the noise of the TV - and the dishwasher, I realized that I don't hear it at all - it is gone.

I have no illusions - I'm pretty sure it will come back - but this beer tastes good and I am going to sleep well tonight.

Any of you guys have this problem? Also, can stress either cause or contribute to this problem?