pyroman

My tinnitus began during an extremely stressful (mentally / emotionally) period. It was only right sided for the first few months and lasted about 3 days (upon waking in the AM, the first day was very bad - loudness would gradually decrease during succeeding days), This was then followed by a day or two of pure silence. After a few months, the 'T' still started on the first day upon waking in the AM, but gradually led to a lower 'volume' T on my left side on day 2, and was low volume on Day 3. This was also followed by 1-2 days of pure silence before the cycle repeated itself.

This general pattern continued for several years - but over the past 18 months or so, the roughly 5 day pattern (total of 'T and non T days) has begun to vary considerably. Sometimes (30%?) it begins on the left side - spreading to the right side either later in the day - or certainly by day 2. (The right side is always the loudest). Sometimes I've had 1 bad day followed by a quiet day (meaning a total cycle of 2-days only).

I have found only medication (out of 6 tried!) to have any consistent and positive effect - oxcarbazepine 300mg (taking 1 no real help, 2 helps significantly.) During the course of the day, I may take up to 6 tabs. It lowers the volume by about 50%-60% 0 AND the sensation of the noise coming from a large part of brain is reduced by just as much.

SLEEP is still the universal 'trigger' - starting it or 'stopping it! Although over the past year or so, this too has changed a bit. What may seem like an ALMOST quiet day upon waking will sometimes turn into a full-blown noisy one within 3 or 4 hours after waking in the AM. Sudden vanishing of the T during the day happens approximating 3 or 4 times per YEAR.

Final note - after many yeas of 'searching' and analyzing numerous technical papers on tinnitus, along with hearing tests - I've become more convinced than ever that my T is more closely related to migraine headache than traditional 'T'. Instead of visual aura like classic migraine - i have tinnitus which on very bad days leads to true (tension type) headache.