Ringing in my ears—what could it be?

There’s this ringing in my ears. What is actually going on?

It’s this high-frequency sound that comes and goes. It’s been happening for a long time now. Saw a neurologist—everything looks fine. He says my brain is clear, consciousness is sharp, brain waves are normal.

Bloodwork came back perfect; couldn't be better. Only thing is my HDL/LDL. They're just slightly elevated.

They didn't check iron levels. But the report shows my hemoglobin is good.

I tend toward low blood pressure. Plus, I have endocrine issues that require an annual checkup (hypopituitarism) and hypothyroidism. My endocrinologist says everything is okay. My vision is severely impaired, but this ringing happens regardless of eye strain. I mostly rely on my right eye anyway.

I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. No sedatives, no hypnotics, nothing besides Levothyroxine and Hydrocortisone.

I took Ginkgo a few months ago and it helped. I’m considering taking it again, but I'm hesitant. Even though I'm prone to supplements and it did work, everyone keeps preaching the same thing—take one pill a day, take a break when you finish, etc. etc.

Is there anything that can help stop the ringing even after you stop taking a supplement?

Does anyone here take more than one Ginkgo tablet without taking breaks? Any side effects from doing that?

I tried convincing myself it was all psychological, trying to autosuggest the sound away. But it rings. It just keeps ringing. It isn't the intensity of the noise that bothers me, but how long it lasts. This wasn't happening until about a year and a half or two years ago.

Is anyone actually going to help me here?

Benjamin Thompson44 said:Is there really no one here who can help me?

There has already been quite a bit of discussion regarding this topic on this forum, so I suggest reading through the existing comments... what you are describing is tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and you should consult an audiologist specializing in hearing rehabilitation. They will need to run some tests before providing a specific diagnosis. You can find more general information right here on the forum.

Yes, and if you found that Ginkgo helped, it might suggest poor circulation in your inner ear. This could potentially stem from advanced atherosclerosis, which itself can be triggered by the endocrinopathies you mentioned. You’re welcome to continue with the Ginkgo, but I’d suggest taking breaks since it can be quite harsh on the stomach; try taking it after a full meal. Perhaps three months on followed by a three to four-month break, depending on how you feel... Definitely consult an audiologist and request a color Doppler ultrasound of your vertebral and carotid arteries.

I’ve been dealing with this constant ringing in my ears ever since I had that cold. My ear canals get completely blocked up, and once that happens, it’s an absolute disaster. Maybe you're dealing with the same thing!?

swiftscout8 said:I get this ringing in my ears right after a cold. My ear canals get totally blocked and then everything just falls apart. Maybe that's what's happening to you too!?

It isn't about the cold. And for the record, I have a pretty solid immune system when it comes to the flu or a common cold. Though, honestly? Right now, I’d gladly trade a few days of the flu just to make this ringing stop.

Before starting this thread, I checked the first five or six pages and didn't see anything specifically about tinnitus. My mistake. I guess I should have dug a little deeper next time. Anyway, thanks for all the other advice you provided.

Sam Hall15 said:Yeah, and if Ginkgo actually helped you, you're probably looking at poor circulation in your inner ear. That could be a sign of advanced atherosclerosis, which itself can stem from those endocrinopathies you mentioned. Go ahead and keep taking the Ginkgo, but take breaks—it’s tough on the stomach. Take it with food. Try three months on, then maybe three or four months off depending on how you feel. Definitely see an audiologist and get a color Doppler ultrasound of your vertebral and carotid arteries.

My endocrinologist practically grows horns out of her head the second I mention herbal remedies.

Hmm... I have personally suggested ginkgo to patients before, and they were quite satisfied with the results.😁
Someone mentioned experiencing tinnitus and ear congestion during a cold; that is actually another relatively straightforward issue to resolve. In your case, what you are dealing with is pharyngeal inflammation spreading toward the Eustachian tube, which connects the throat to the middle ear. When there is an infection, the lining of that tube swells and becomes blocked, preventing air from reaching the middle ear as it should. This creates a vacuum within the middle ear, increasing pressure on the eardrum and preventing it from vibrating properly. Because that vibration is dampened, sound transmission is weakened, which is why your hearing feels muffled...

Sam Hall15 said:hm...
Someone else mentioned getting tinnitus and muffled hearing whenever they catch a cold. That’s actually the second easiest problem to solve here. In your case, you're dealing with pharyngeal inflammation that spreads into the Eustachian tube—that little channel connecting your throat to your middle ear. When there's inflammation, the lining of that tube swells up and clogs it. Air can't reach the middle ear like it should. This creates a vacuum in the middle ear, which puts pressure on the eardrum. Since the drum can't vibrate properly, sound isn't transmitted well. That’s why your hearing is shot.

I’m dealing with this other issue... at least, I think it is...
My right ear hurts when I hear high pitches or loud noises—music, city traffic, whatever.
Plus, I have a deviated septum on the right side, so fluid builds up and probably drains into my Eustachian tube?
Up until now, I've seen a mountain of ENT specialists. None of them ever even mentioned the deviation; they just kept hitting me with antibiotics. Then, an American microbiologist doing a nasal swab finally told me I have a deviation and that it's likely the culprit. She basically told me to find a new ENT because my current one was ready for retirement...
Anyway, if I sleep on my right side, the next morning my "ear" is clogged and ringing for hours, or at least until I do a steam inhalation... the left side is fine.
Do I need surgery for this or what?
Oh, and I constantly have to blow my nose hard or swallow just to normalize the pressure in my right ear...
I mean, the Eustachian tube or whatever it's called.🙂

The steam inhalations and swallowing haven't done much for me!
Please, Sam Hall15, help me out... these doctors don't give a damn about me.

It honestly surprises me that the ENT didn't catch a deviated septum, given it's such a textbook issue for them. If you're waking up with a stuffed nose, it means mucus is building up overnight and likely blocking the Eustachian tube, which creates that negative pressure and ear congestion. Rounds of antibiotics might offer temporary relief at first, but eventually, you just end up breeding resistant strains. That's how you end up with bacteria that won't respond when you actually need them. You shouldn't just keep taking antibiotics; you have to treat the underlying cause, which is probably the deviation, though I can't say for sure without an exam. It would be wise to get a second opinion from another ENT via rhinoscopy. If that deviation is confirmed (kudos to the microbiologist) on the

Yeah... I'm done popping antibiotics just because they're handed out like candy. I’m not that naive. I know how they work... especially the heavy hitters like Azithromycin... and this ENT doctor? All he knew how to do was scribble a damn prescription and tell me to come back in two or three weeks.
...And honestly, I don't owe any special thanks to the microbiologist. It’s ridiculous how much friction there is just to get a simple swab done, only to end up hitting a dead end. Even a regular lab tech told me the same thing recently, like, "Hmm, you actually have some deviation on the right side, did you know that?" So yeah, I'm officially on the hunt for a decent ENT.

It's unbelievable. Nine appointments. Two different ENTs. All documented in my medical records. Every single time, they just shove that scope down my throat—or maybe it's going into the ear too—and the only solution they ever offer is more antibiotics. I actually had to be the one to suggest inhalers and various treatments myself just to get something done. 😢

Thanks for the advice, Sam Hall15. 👍

You're very welcome. I truly hope you see an end to this deviation soon... 😁