Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Intermittent Beeping Sound In The Ears?
Question: Hi, Doctor. I woke up during the night and before raising my head, I heard a beeping sound. I thought that it was coming from some electrical or etritronical device. I went to the kitchen and the sound followed me. It was very distinct, coming and going in my left ear. This morning after waking up, it keeps beeping on and on. I' ve had ringin in my ears for years, but this is like the sound of a microwave when food is finished cooking or warning up. I also liken it to a car/truck warning when backing up. I have had severe head and neck pain for the past two years. Just two weeks ago, two doctors (ENT and pain doctor) who never knew of each other or eve consulted one another came up with the same diagnosis: occipitial neuralgia. This is new to me. What could the beeping be coming from?
Brief Answer:
Please follow up with further details
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HealthcareMagic for your health concern
Please follow up with the following details so that I can give you a definite answer.
-When did you start noticing the beeping sound?
-How long have you been having ringing in ear?
- Is the beeping sound intermittent or persistent?
- Are you on medications like aspirin, advil etc?
-Has your doctor started you on any medications recently for occipital neuralgia? Please provide details regarding all the medications you are currently taking.
-Any ear pain,ear discharge, blocked feeling in the ear, fever or hearing loss?
-Any other concerning symptoms including headache, muscle weakness ,speech problems, dizziness?
Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi
Please follow up with further details
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HealthcareMagic for your health concern
Please follow up with the following details so that I can give you a definite answer.
-When did you start noticing the beeping sound?
-How long have you been having ringing in ear?
- Is the beeping sound intermittent or persistent?
- Are you on medications like aspirin, advil etc?
-Has your doctor started you on any medications recently for occipital neuralgia? Please provide details regarding all the medications you are currently taking.
-Any ear pain,ear discharge, blocked feeling in the ear, fever or hearing loss?
-Any other concerning symptoms including headache, muscle weakness ,speech problems, dizziness?
Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thanks Dr. Lekshmi. Here are the answers to your questions:
-The beeping sounds started about 3:30am this morning, Monday 8/14/17. I woke up and immediately I heard a beep that I never herard before.
- I've had ringing in both ears for many years,more than twenty, I'm sure.
- The beeping sound is intermittent...sometimes 5 minutes to one hour apart,sometimes louder than at other times.
- My ENT Dr.put me on gabapentin on 4/17/17 and increased the dosage of gabapentin from 3 to 9 on 7/17/17 for neuralgia pain. I've been on tramadol for a few yrs for fibromyalgia. Only one low dose aspirin at night. A few times on Methyl-prednisolone dospak.Sometimes earache, no discharge,or fever,blockage, but more and more hearing loss.At times the headaches on the left side of head are severe, some dizziness,sometimes when tired or in company, I studder to start sentences.
- I have a history of malignant colon cancer and amyloid in tonsils which have been removed since 2016. There is still a lymph node with amyloid in lf neck. If not on time with my pain pills, the pain is very severe in that area. I do translation work, so spend many hours on the computer. I sleep alot and am always tired when I go to bed and when I awake...all day!
Many thanks for your help, XXXXXXX
-The beeping sounds started about 3:30am this morning, Monday 8/14/17. I woke up and immediately I heard a beep that I never herard before.
- I've had ringing in both ears for many years,more than twenty, I'm sure.
- The beeping sound is intermittent...sometimes 5 minutes to one hour apart,sometimes louder than at other times.
- My ENT Dr.put me on gabapentin on 4/17/17 and increased the dosage of gabapentin from 3 to 9 on 7/17/17 for neuralgia pain. I've been on tramadol for a few yrs for fibromyalgia. Only one low dose aspirin at night. A few times on Methyl-prednisolone dospak.Sometimes earache, no discharge,or fever,blockage, but more and more hearing loss.At times the headaches on the left side of head are severe, some dizziness,sometimes when tired or in company, I studder to start sentences.
- I have a history of malignant colon cancer and amyloid in tonsils which have been removed since 2016. There is still a lymph node with amyloid in lf neck. If not on time with my pain pills, the pain is very severe in that area. I do translation work, so spend many hours on the computer. I sleep alot and am always tired when I go to bed and when I awake...all day!
Many thanks for your help, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
The beeping sound is likely to be worsening of tinnitus.
The worsening of tinnitus is likely due to the ototoxic effects of Gabapentin. Tinnitus is a side effect of Gabapentin.
Stopping Gabapentin can reverse the situation.
Since you have progressive hearing loss, I would recommend undergoing Audiometry to assess possible sensory-neural hearing loss.
Please be advised to follow up with an ENT specialist to undergo ear examination and audiometric assessment. Also consult with your doctor to switch from Gabapentin to another nerve pain medication like oxcarbazepine, Tegretol etc.
The tiredness you are experiencing is likely due to effects of tramadol.
Hope this answers your questions
Please address further questions here
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
The beeping sound is likely to be worsening of tinnitus.
The worsening of tinnitus is likely due to the ototoxic effects of Gabapentin. Tinnitus is a side effect of Gabapentin.
Stopping Gabapentin can reverse the situation.
Since you have progressive hearing loss, I would recommend undergoing Audiometry to assess possible sensory-neural hearing loss.
Please be advised to follow up with an ENT specialist to undergo ear examination and audiometric assessment. Also consult with your doctor to switch from Gabapentin to another nerve pain medication like oxcarbazepine, Tegretol etc.
The tiredness you are experiencing is likely due to effects of tramadol.
Hope this answers your questions
Please address further questions here
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
