ENT Says Live With It, Then What Did You Do?

I think most of us, if not all, have heard this from an ENT. I myself went to a therapist to learn coping skills and talk it out a few months into T. He gave me a list of tools designed for me when T get's unbearable.

From posts I have read here, it seems a lot of us have not gotten any psychological help after "Live With It" If you are suffering with anxiety, depression, insomnia, no social life etc. Why have you not sought out help to deal with these issues? TT is the greatest T support group around, but I also believe TT should be used as a supplement, if the symptoms mentioned above persist, especially those with suicidal thoughts. We are not professionals. We can and do give our own opinions of what works for us, along with support, and we all try our best to do our part in helping someone out, but sometimes it seems it's just not enough....

 

I have only been to one therapist/psychologist once since I started having severe tinnitus. I have a large distaste for such people. I only went then because I was under treatment by the VA and was more or less ordered to do so.

My therapist said I should treat my Tinnitus as if "it were my shadow". Knowing it would always be with me like my shadow but unable to harm me just as my shadow would.

Thank God I did not have to pay for those words of wisdom. I just hate the American taxpayers had to.

 

I, too, was told the same thing. But then I've had other specialists tell me to live with other health issues I have, and lo and behold I ignored them, tried treatments they said wouldn't help, and they did... so I'm not giving up yet.

I have seen a lot of doctors who won't consider, keep an open mind about or even bother learning about treatments/perspectives outside their own specialisation, so I always take "live with it" with a huge grain of salt. In my experience, it basically just means "I don't know what to do for you", but hey, someone else might.

 

I sought psychological help, along with ear specialists, almost immediately after developing tinnitus. It was critical. My T triggered anxiety and panic, which I had no experience with. Cognitive behavioral therapy and temporary anxiety meds were crucial to my getting better. And eight months later, I am better. Much better.

BTW: While "live with it" certainly should not be the first words out of any ENTs mouth, the reality is: your tinnitus is your shadow. The sooner you learn to accept that, the better. Acceptance does not mean giving up or no longer exploring ways to lessen your T's impact. It means acknowledging that you now have a chronic medical condition that, for now, has no cure. So if you want to have the kind of life you want to live, you need to make adjustments, build a new skill set, and move on and upwards. That's acceptance. It's not the same as defeat.

 

GRRRR ... a chronic medical condition ?...theres always herbs and meds to kill the noise ...and when i mean kill it ...kill it

 

My ENT gave me a script for Xanax and a leaflet for the local meniere's support group and sent me on my way. I walked out of his office completely devastated. I then went on a crusade of checking the web, trying countless OTC products, vitamins spending a small fortune on chiro treatments because they told me they could cure me then I gave acupuncture a go. I attended several meetings of the support group and felt like an absolute freak. My local doctor tried betahistine and stemitel which did nothing. I went back to work after a month and struggled to get through the day but somehow did. Sleep was a huge issue and it took maybe a year to be able to fall asleep without effort. I found some great online support groups and got hold of A Self Management Guide to the Ringing in Your Ears. I also reduced my salt intake as recommended by Meniere's.org and my local group. One day I finally accepted fighting all those nasty symptoms was pointless and that was the day that I started to heal myself. I think that in general doctors are ignorant about tinnitus so it is a case of healing yourself.

 

at least you'll start getting relief with the meds until you find your center again , ARENT ALL ENT THE DAMN SAME ...

 

Hey, Gary. As you might remember, I went home after my ENT told me to deal with it. I just recently got the ball rolling for psychological help (appointment in a month). I must admit. I feel guilty for throwing so much of my pain and questions onto a group of people who aren't professionals like you said. Perhaps visiting TT every other weekend would be considered using TT as a "supplement". It's helped so far.

 

Hi Chum, yes I remember. First off, do not feel guilty in any way shape or form. No need to stop venting and ask questions, we all need to do that. I was directing my post more toward those that are in a really dark place and have avoided professional help to deal their anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts. I doubt any professional can directly help out with the actual T but the side affects can sometimes be overwhelming sometimes. I think all ENT's should have a good therapists card to give them, after their first visit. I wish my did. I was/still am depressed to some degree, but nowhere near as bad as those first few months in. I went for help on my own. Again keep on posting and venting that is one reason we are here, to support each other.

 

ENT's need to tell patients there is medicine that might be able to lower the tinnitus and calm them down about it and also they should test hearing and recommend hearing aids if necessary which can reduce hearing tinnitus. Some need to stop with the "learn to live with it" and "there is nothing we can do" lines. That only makes people more upset, depressed and anxious.

 

I looked at the ent and started crying. I asked him how I was supposed to sleep. He recommended melatonin and noise machines. He said some people took medication but that could make it worse. He told me I could change my diet. Cut back on sodium, avoid caffeine, avoid alcohol. So, I did. I didn't drink caffeine due to anxiety and I went back on my clonazepam. The noise went down eventually. I lost 89 pounds. I always tried to cook at home. This was over three years ago. I weight 211 pounds. I got down to 131. I'm pregnant and only gained 17 pounds. My baby is due next week. At 29 weeks it got way louder, I could hear it over almost everything. I've learned to cope. And the midwives put me on zoloft, I was in full panic attack mode everyday, every hour. Various things have always helped me cope. I'm getting better. But I still have my really bad days. It changes. It didn't used to do it to this extreme. I hope it goes back down. But I still have my husband and my baby to think about. Its the only thing that pulled me out of my darkness. I have to be present for my son. No way around it. I want to be a mom.

 

In my case, it's a different story. I was lucky once but no one warned me about exposure again.
I got my T, gone 4 days after. I went directly to the hospital, this doctor just checked my ears 2 mn... And told me it will be alright. And it did, T went away. Except that the morning after I went to my gym class with loud music. And T is now stronger than the first ones. I really hate him. I hate this doctor I saw at the hospital. He could save my life.

The ENT I saw few days later gave me all the médicine (steroids, magnesium, vasodilators...) and told me to not go to clubs or bars within 2 months at least. But it was too late, cause I caught this time the permanent T. I asked him "would it go away", he answers "well try to be optimistic".

I wish I could see him at first. Maybe I wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't go to this gym class with loud music. Now I'm struggling with it, have bad ideas, cry everday, and it's just "5 months" in and see no way to live a life like this.

I'm going to see a therapist this afternoon, but don't clearly believe she would help me. Going to see my GP tomorrow for maybe precribing ADs even I hate the idea. I was a healthy person, with no mental issues.