I’ve been hearing music at night. Sometimes I get up and go around the house trying to find the source . I can’t get to sleep😴 because of it. Sometimes it wakes me up. Has anyone heard of this? Anyone experience this? Its referred to as MES and is connected to musical tinnitus. MES is based on complex musical sounds while tinnitus is simple sounds.
Can cause hearing loss in some. Brain damage,epilepsy, psych disorders all can contribute to MES.
TREATMENT: No cure but options:
Sound therapy white noise, meds, sometimes surgery. Sometimes help for hearing loss sometimes e.i. hearing aids. Some people can get calmed down and ignore once they know its not dangerous.
Tinnitus is a real bugger. Seems to be way too many types and too many to find out ways to deal with.
I’ve not heard of that before, wow, that must be so annoying! Like you say, so many different types of tinnitus…has it started since surgery, or did you have it before?
Sending you a hug 
Yes, I read a fascinating book and then followed up with a podcasts years ago when I ran into someone with the problem…Now I hear music as well. It’s not well defined but I listen to white noise at night and sometimes my ears hear a tune and pick up on patterns and then it makes it extremely difficult to fall asleep.
One thing to note is as you have hearing loss which can happen with tinnitus, your brain makes up the difference. Meaning it will fill it the empty space with music…This is what I learned from the book and podcast, they also found it happened more with people who once had their hearing than lost it.
It was years ago so I’m sorry I can’t remember those sources but just know you’re not alone. I’m a dental hygienist and one of my elderly patients was losing her hearing and she was referred for a psych eval and she was so frustrated that no one would take her seriously.
@Sandys_Mom21 & @Zilla - I am very amused by your posts about “musical tinnitus” because a) I didn’t know it existed & b) when I was at my appt. w/ Dr. Hepworth in April, I made a comment about my “musical ear” & told him I wished my tinnitus was musical not just noisy. Now I find out from you two that some people actually do have tinnitus in the form of music. I’m sure it’s annoying if it keeps you awake at night or wakes you up or causes mental disturbance, but it seems like it would be much more entertaining than a constant ring or hiss! Please forgive my non-serious perspective on this.
@Jules I’ve heard the music before surgery but more so since the surgery. I did ask Dr. DeSilva about the music and he said he is aware of it but he hasn’t had too many
patients with it. My Mother used to hear music too. It makes me wonder if it is possibly hereditary.
My post op was good. All good healing. Still some swelling. Today have pain since I’m trying to eat regular meal. Think going back to soft food. Dr.says ears look good but ears are aching. Having MRI w/wo contrast on Wed May7th. Checking out the small meningeoma tumor found in CT having terrible sharp pain headaches. Is it normal to have headaches after surgery?
Dr. DeSilva said he doesnt do brain tumors but will get me the best meningeoma neurosurgeon if i need one.
I have had this before on rare occasions and freaked out thinking Schizophrenia was about to start since I have a relative with it. Here is what AI says about it.
"Musical tinnitus, also known as musical ear syndrome (MES) or musical hallucination, is a rare form of tinnitus where people hear music, melodies, or songs that aren’t actually playing. Unlike typical tinnitus, which involves simple sounds like ringing, buzzing, or hissing, musical tinnitus involves complex auditory perceptions, such as instrumental music, hymns, or familiar tunes from memory. It’s often described as sounding external, like it’s coming from the environment, and can range from pleasant to intrusive.
Key Points About Musical Tinnitus:
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Causes: It’s strongly linked to hearing loss, especially sensorineural hearing loss, where the brain compensates for reduced auditory input by “filling in” with music. Other factors include cochlear implants, certain medications (e.g., opium-based drugs like tramadol), epilepsy, or Alzheimer’s disease. It’s not typically tied to mental health conditions like schizophrenia, despite common misconceptions.
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Prevalence: Estimates suggest it affects about 1-3% of people with tinnitus, though it’s likely underreported due to stigma. It’s more common in older adults, women, and those with severe hearing loss.
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Symptoms: The music can be simple (a single melody) or complex (full songs or orchestras). Common genres include hymns, patriotic songs, or childhood tunes. It may be constant or intermittent and can evoke strong emotions.
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Mechanism: The “release phenomenon” is a leading theory, suggesting that hearing loss causes hypersensitivity in the auditory cortex, leading the brain to generate music to compensate for sensory deprivation. This is similar to visual hallucinations in Charles Bonnet syndrome.
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Treatment: There’s no cure, but management includes:
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Hearing aids: Amplify external sounds to reduce hallucinations.
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Sound therapy: Background noise or music to distract from the phantom sounds.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps reframe the experience and reduce distress.
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Medications: SSRIs or SNRIs may help in some cases, but side effects are a concern.
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Education: Understanding MES often reduces anxiety, making it less bothersome.
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When to Seek Help: Consult a doctor if musical tinnitus comes with symptoms like dizziness, severe headaches, vision changes, or speech/movement issues, as these could indicate conditions like epilepsy or Alzheimer’s.
How It Differs from Regular Tinnitus:
Your regular tinnitus likely involves simpler sounds (ringing, buzzing, etc.), while musical tinnitus is more complex, involving structured music or voices. Both are linked to hearing loss and brain compensation, but MES is rarer and often more emotionally charged due to its musical nature. Management strategies for regular tinnitus, like sound therapy or CBT, can also apply to MES, but MES may benefit more from hearing aids if hearing loss is a factor."
Headaches aren’t too common after ES surgery but sometimes The trigeminal nerve can cause them. It can cause eye pain, teeth pain, nose pain, jaw pain, ear pain & headaches. I’ve had headaches from my trigeminal nerve that were very intense. It’s possible yours is being riled up by your remaining inflammation.
Praying that you don’t need any more surgery @Sandys_Mom21 , let us know how your MRI goes… 
I used to have auditory hallucinations all the time, especially when I was relaxed.
I used to float in sensory deprivation tank quite often (aka float tank). There was an option for music but most times I floated in silence. One day I thought the staff were playing a trick by playing the Rolling Stones, I was absolutely gobsmacked when the playlist was blank. Most often though, it is classical music. I still sometimes get it, but it’s fewer and farther in between.
I think what we have is different though, because once I become aware of it, it goes away (but can come back quickly once I relax again). I could never sustain it long enough to stand and go searching for it…
Very fascinating, but I’m sure like most forms of tinnitus, annoying when it persists and you can’t find relief.
Interesting that the musical tinnitus you hear is in the form of recognizable tunes, @Val7426. I’d sure prefer that to what I hear.