Recent content by MichaelO

#1

Thanks for your replies.

Hi Ian, the tinnitus is always with me, at times like now barely noticeable and others fairly loud. Trying to sleep is a problem so I take sleep meds. When I do the tinnitus is reduced somewhat in the morning. Other than that I don't have any other methods to reduce it. I am able to deal with it...

I am a musician and find that practicing and performing completely take my mind off of the tinnitus. I think the result is partly because my vocals and the music mask it and, just as important I am focusing on something important.

I am sorry that you are having so much trouble with tinnitus. I relate to the difficulty and pain it causes. I have good and bad days... mostly the latter. I use masking hearing aids to drown out some of the tinnitus. I have found that listening to music with high-pitched notes matching my...

Started when I awoke from an ECT treatment session four years ago. Still have it.

Thanks, I reviewed the abstract. It doesn't state whether the improvement was in the depression or the tinnitus, though.

I take fluoxetine ( 20 mg). It doesn't seem to affect the ringing. I can't seem to find a consistent pattern with meds. Distraction is the best remedy so far. Right now it is mild while I am typing this. I don't notice it as much when I am concentrating on something or listening to a radio or...

The longest I live for is one day at a time. Sometimes I just work on making it for the next hour. I have found that breaking up life into small, manageable bites gets me through the tough times with my tinnitus or other problems.

There are a variety of anxiety meds, but the most effective (e.g. diazepam) are highly addictive. I have tried a variety of them but haven't found one that eliminates my anxiety without making me feel drowsy. I use breathing meditation to reduce my anxiety.

My tinnitus varies in volume. When I want to 'drown it out' I listen to music but not nearly as loud as you are. I find that over time I pay most of my attention to the music and don't notice the tinnitus much. There are times when I do crank up the music just to rock on and that does prevent me...

I had a wonderful Christmas day with family. The tinnitus came along for the ride but today I did not let it interfere with my family fun and joy :-)

I understand the regrets. My tinnitus was caused by a medical procedure that a doctor convinced me I needed. It turns out that I did not. I have no recourse and have lived with constant and severe tinnitus for over three years now. It makes it difficult to get to and stay asleep. It helps if I...

Tinnitus can be very draining - I get it. I have had mine for over three years and am still having trouble accepting this as my new normal. I very much miss the silence and relish those few minutes once in awhile when the tinnitus is so faint that I have to focus to hear it. Night is the worst...

I have days when I want to die as well and work at including positive experiences to have some measure of happiness. The one activity that I have found invaluable is Mindful Meditation - see http://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/. I hope your husband understands how...