PennyCat

@PennyCat, are you still taking Zoloft? If so, I would be cautious about using these drugs together. Perhaps you could talk to your doctor about it first.

@sakrt That's true about dementia, even the over the counter ones, not sure about the newer DORA sleep meds. ADs can do the same. Of course, lack of sleep is associated with dementia also.

@tpj I am. An old psych prescribed it while I was on ADs in the past, and my new psych also mentioned prescribing it to me, but at the time I hesitated because of my past experience with it making me sick. So I’m pretty sure it’s safe to take on top of most ADs. But I’ll definitely bring it up at my next appointment

@Damocles No, at least not that I’ve experienced. But I’m worried the loudness of the scans will, especially with how sensitive my ears are and with TTTS. But I don’t even have scans scheduled so I’m worrying over a hypothetical scenario at this point

Then I'd say your risk for worsening from MRI/V/A is closer to that of a normal person's. If you wear good (double) protection for it (MRI safe ear defenders + foam plugs) then you'll probably be okay.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/mri-safe-earmuffs.27412/page-2#post-675221

Of course avoiding scans like these is the best thing a tinnitus sufferer (of any type/severity) can do, if possible.

Maybe give it to the end of the year and see if things don't improve by themselves(?).

I already do Flonase every day & take Zyrtec, so not sure what else I can do for that

Not sure to be honest @PennyCat, but resist the urge to keep popping your ears (if your doing that at all)

@makeyourownluck Thanks :,) If I’m not mistaken, do you also have pulsatile T, or did at one point? How do you cope??

Yeah still got it, right ear, I manage ok but it impacts me more than my regular T now since it’s variable.

In terms of coping, I was a hot mess for months, then I just veey slowly got used to it. Still shit, and always will be, but it doesn’t impact my life too badly anymore.

Hope that helps

As someone that dealt with these thoughts and anxiety long before T became an issue, it's really important to try and keep busy/distracted with things you like to do to not fixate on it and get through the bad days. Take it easy Penny, you're going to be okay.

Still struggling and freaking out about my pulsatile T. I hope it settles back to how it used to be soon. I can’t live like this

@TheCapybara Yep, got worse out of nowhere, I can’t pinpoint any reason. I’ve had one or two periods of time where it’s gotten worse and eventually reset, so that’s my hope, but the uncertainty is scary. I take melatonin, hydroxyzine, and magnesium every night but still struggling w/ sleep

Is your PT worse when you lie down? Have you tried sleeping while sitting more upright, like on a reclining sofa chair?

@PennyCat from my personal experience hydroxzyine was spiking the shit out of mine @PennyCat

I’m freaking out. It’s never gonna be okay

It is torture.

Hi @PennyCat. Sending you a big hug. Wish there was something I could do to help you.

Sleep has been poor for me lately too. Hope you're able to get better sleep soon

@eagerUser @tpj @Joe Cuber Thanks everyone :,)

Sending you positive vibes

It's hard to pull out of that spin @PennyCat. I hope you're able to focus on the positives

@PennyCat that's exactly how I feel every day. You couldn't have described it better. The hopelessness and anxiety are just exhausting

@PennyCat it's gotta get better, it just has to.

Sounds like your cliche GAD to me, believe it or not this time next year I doubt you’ll be focusing on either of those things

Unlike tinnitus, anxiety is all in the mind and can't affect you unless you let it. Keep reminding yourself of that.

and give my love to THE Penny Cat, also. ♥

@Joe Cuber Thanks Joe, I had been doing a little better with my anxiety but I know it’s often an up and down journey, much like tinnitus.

@Damocles Thank you :) and will do!

Thanks @Joe Cuber :) I have felt a bit less anxiety over the past few days, it’s hard to tell whether that’s due to being in the IOP, taking Zoloft, time passing, or a combo of all 3. I think I’ll end up doing the 8 weeks of treatment if that’s what they think is best for me

Nice to see this ☺️ What are you reading lately? Reading is also one of my main hobbies.

@RainbowCat I just finished the book I was reading last night - it’s called The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda. It was great, I highly recommend if you like mystery/thrillers. I rated it 5 stars on Goodreads. I’m in the process of reading all of her books, 2 down so far :)

Yep, I agree, still pretty early on, keep it up @PennyCat

Thanks @Hardwell, that gives me some reassurance :)

@Joe Cuber Thanks, I’ll try my best :P

I'm astonished the variety of symptoms that we experience. I had no idea just how bizarre reality is, how are brains are wired up such that these symptoms are possible

@Strawberryblonde Both of my parents have very mild tinnitus but it’s likely just due to age

The same thing happened to me when I was 18. I'm now in my mid thirties and still have no answers.

@Joe Cuber @Hardwell Thank you both! I appreciate it :)

@ErikaS Thankfully I’m not by myself, I’m at home with my parents, although I am alone a lot of the time. It really is nice to have that support, I’m glad we both have it!

Woah-ho @PennyCat, you think this is me serving up TOUGH love?

Let me tell you now, what you're receiving from me here, is LOVE love.

Lord Almighty Jesus! Pray hope I don't have to dish out the TOUGH love at any point! https://bit.ly/3HFJ2CB

@RainbowCat Thank you <3

There will come a time when it'll become better for you to manage :) I have ocd tendencies and my ability to manage the T got better it just took mental strength and time :)

@Strawberryblonde Thank you, I really hope so!

@Damocles Thank you, that’s a really nice way to look at it. I think I will take it as a sign for sure.

@tpj Thank you, my dog is the thing that helps me stay here when things are hard. And Penny cat too of course :P

Keep it up @PennyCat. Zoloft was my go-to for months. I didn't feel its effects until about 4-5 weeks into taking it, after the doctor slowly increased my dose. I hope it helps in the long run. Also, your dog's looking great :)

Thank you @Joe Cuber :)

Yep! I also have multi tones in each ear and crazy fluctuations throughout the day. It’s definitely hard to adjust. But there’s nothing we can do about the T. We can however try to get on top of the anxiety

I have distortions too, started nearly a year ago with morse code beeping from flushing and all that, on top of stuff like the fridge being louder due to increased sensitivity to sound, it was maddening at first.

But it does improve over the span of months, I know it's really rough but you're gonna get through this Penny.

@TheCapybara I think I’ve read some posts where you’ve mentioned that. It’s good to hear that it can improve as time goes on, I think that’s the general consensus that I’ve found. It’s just hard in the meantime, which I’m sure you relate to. Thank you for the encouragement :)

I did finally take my first Zoloft pill just now. Fingers crossed it doesn’t make things worse for me

Hang in there, we’re in the same boat and I’ve been reassured by many 3 weeks is still very early. The mighty @Bill Bauer advises not to panic until 3 months at least

@Hardwell We are in the same boat, I really hope it goes back to baseline for both of us soon

@PennyCat Perhaps where them some of the time, enough so that you're not overwhelmed?

Don't be worried about using earplugs when you need them.

Filtered ear plugs can help when things get noisey. Takes the edge off while allowing you to hear things.

For me I never know what to expect so I can't really make plans. Not easy for other people to understand

@SamRosemary Thank you for the encouragement as well <3 I hope we both return to our baselines soon :)

I came here to say what @Joe Cuber said... I believe in you!

I don't know anything about Zoloft, but I hear that these outpatient programs are helpful. Maybe you'll learn some really good techniques for stress relief.

Glad to hear you are challenging a "What if". It was hard for me to start a ssri as well. I hope everything goes well for you. A combination of ssri with therapy can really help, but it takes time.

You'll be fine, some medication works differently for other people.
For some, Zoloft will work like a charm, while others may not feel like it's doing much.
Only way to know is to just take it and ALWAYS follow your doctor's instructions to a T.
Don't skip doses or change them unless you ask your doctor.

I won't say you should give up. If you can, carry on. But I'd agree having people depend on you, makes this way more tragic.

I've also been in a dark space lately so I can completely empathize with where you're at. At the same time... what if it gets better? The uncertainty is scary indeed... but where there's uncertainty, there's also hope. Sending lots & lots of love!

There's always a chance it can get better too like Madeleine said. The thing with hearing issues is that it can take months or up to a year and beyond to start seeing some improvement. I know it's really difficult Penny, but with time you may be able to handle it better.

Good luck with the Zoloft.

@tpj Thanks! I’m a bit nervous

I know @PennyCat. You'll be right.

@PennyCat we do share the same spike day! I too hope that it disappears for both of us although I’m losing said hope day by day. I currently feel like I’m grieving for the life I had pre spike

If it’s hope you still want, I too have seen many posts where it’s taken months for spikes to settle. I’ve been emailing a chap who’s had T for almost 20 years. Had lots of similar spikes with new tones and reactiveness. His two longest ones were 6 and 9 months

I have had longer new tones for months that disappeared. But you have to mask it and not listen to it as long as possible

I was where you were 2 months ago. I had a 3 month everyday long EXTREME mental breakdown. I am now mentally stable for the past 2 months. I am 5 months in from onset.

Please hang in there! I had to take low dose Xanax one time a day for 3 weeks until I was finally capable doing life again without it. I still need meds for sleep and now only take Xanax AS NEEDED. Here for you!

Thanks, I really hope it all goes away or at least reduces :,) I have pursued treatment for the pulsatile T but everything else started taking a bigger priority, the pulsatile T is intermittent and the least of my worries atm. I believe I just have loudness H but the TTTS causes pain