Theezy

Love you bro! I'm definitely fighting. How have you been?

Hey good to hear from you! Sorry, I took a long break from this site. I feel I took the edge off the H a tiny bit by getting outside to the backyard and woods a bit this summer (still pretty much housebound), but the T is relentless and only seems capable of worsening. Have you tried anything new recently? What's your regular sound exposure like?

I've been able to enjoy summer a bit by getting outside to the backyard and woods. However, the T still quickly goes nuclear if I have any sound slip ups, and it continues slowly worsens over weeks/months. Unfortunately, it seems I was dealt a difficult case, but I hold onto hope. How are you doing?

@4Grace - I did, 44 years of stability going to many festivals, concerts, cinema, gigs etc... not a single change in tinnitus no matter what I did - whereas now its highly reactive to everything - so yes it is possible but it just depends on the individual

@DeanD Thanks DeanD - I thought that was the case. I asked because I thought some people must just not care about the noise. 44 years no change. Wow if I had to have this thing I so wish mine was like that..

@4Grace - Having lived with this all my life, and in almost every form now, I do think it is easier managing reactive mild tinnitus than stable severe tinnitus. I never cared about the noise because I could mask it, do everything and tbh it wasn't too bad a sound (chirping). Often people say loudness is everything, but I think the tone and loudness together matter a great deal.

Love you to brother. Had an ok week last week but now feeling worse than ever again. Such a brutal trajectory, and it’s been trending to the bottom for 7 months now (technically 7 years but the pace used to be more gradual). Somehow I still keep going. I truly hope we can find our way out of this bottomless pit somehow

What improvements have you noticed?

I don’t know what we did to deserve this. All I can hope for is that medicine understands this better in the future. What a torturous condition.

Do not take them blindly and just understand they are extremely dangerous drugs. I would advise valium, Klonopin is the worst imo

I don't have experiences with any ssris or any other psych meds

And last thing I'll add -- I am in a very similar situation as you from withdrawing from benzos, and I took them for 6.5 months and spent 6.5 months tapering. Still got burned

@4Grace I avoid loud places and situations, where possible, such as dogs barking. If unavoidable I wear discreet earplugs. I continue to go to work in an office, go on hols and do most things normal folk do but it can take its toll on you. I outright avoid certain things.

Thanks - my ear plugs are impossible. The noise super loud with them on. I am extremely distressed. Missing things makes worse. I’m doing nothing!

I can sleep. I was hoping mert helped with the depression and anxiety?

Sorry to hear man, hang in there! Thinking of you often, hope you start getting some improvement/stabilization soon ❤️

I've been noticing that you're trying your hardest @Theezy, I hope you continue to find the strength. How has your sleep been recently? Are you finding ways to get some good sleep?

Hey thanks for your message. Unfortunately the tinnitus has continued worsening regardless of what I do. The only factor that clearly and consistently makes it worse is excessive sound (doesn’t take much). I try to keep as much sound exposure as I can comfortably handle through low level tv, podcasts, and quiet conversation so my sound tolerance doesn’t collapse completely.

It really feels nearly impossible to go on some (maybe most) days, but I’m also a Christian and have family so I will keep fighting. This is so hard man, feel free to reach out anytime.

It’s incredible how we all feel the same

Considering Travis' experience and BrysonKingMe's experience, I think you would be playing with fire testing out Klonopin. Especially since your tinnitus seems to always spike permanently even from your own cough.

Unfortunately that’s kinda my feeling as well. I’m just feeling like I need to take drastic action somehow with how far gone it’s gotten

@Theezy , like 1mw said, never ever take these rat posions called benzos of you want to live

I could say I'm on the same boat. Sudden ear pressure gave me a whole day of sound distortions (luckily that subsided) and a set of new tones that keep stacking up. That was 2 months ago. Don't know what to do anymore. I'm exhausted

Are you taking any medication?

I have taken mirtazapine a couple times when I couldn’t sleep at all, but it was getting worse before that and continues to get worse after. I don’t see it having any effect on the T/H

My case isn't catastrophic, but when my T onset, I completely spiralled into high anxiety with numerous panic attacks. I started with Hydroxyzine which helped for a while, then I started taking Ativan which was stronger. These stabilized me. I'm no longer on them, but they carried me when I needed it. I still take Trazadone at night to help me sleep.

Can you talk to a GP or psychiatrist? As someone with reactive T and multi-tomes, I would say definitely get some Ativan for this period right now. Who cares about having to withdraw a month or so from now, you’re just trying to make it to the next month.
I would also discuss an AD that could help you with sleep as well as mood stabilization.

Thanks for the comments. I don’t even know if it was the kiss 100% that did all this. My tinnitus seemed to be slowly getting worse over the years and now it’s speeding up a lot. Wish we understood more about the auditory system

I really hate this happened to you. deep down im scared also for myself. since 2013 i been in this nightmare and everyday i wonder if its gonna be THAT DAY. btw mines got a little worse last year too

i wonder how long these so called new inner ear discoveries will take until we get something to slay this freaking beast.

Thanks for asking, mine has not been doing well. It’s been super reactive to sound. I’m going to take some time off work and take things real easy to see if my ears can settle down

Both, more like an increasing of my old tones with some morphing of tones mixed in

It’s crazy, this condition has been so hard to figure out and very unforgiving. Working on taking things easy and letting my body heal

My T is also reactive, figuring out if stress is the major big cause, with use of earplugs. Seems that after wearing them your ears cant cope with louder sounds.

Thank you these first two weeks have been very frustrating. its alternated between bad days and really bad days. And today seems to be worse than ever. I’m still hopeful it goes down, but it’s hard to think that I was already struggling with my T of 7 years and I can only hope it gets back close to those levels. Thank you for the comment, I appreciate it.

No problem, I know it's tough. The time after it worsens is definitely the most difficult. I've been going through a setback myself this past month and it's horrible. Chances are it should get somewhat better over time even if it does take a long time.

Thank you I’m sorry to hear you’re experiencing something similar. Family and friends are so important during these times, I’m incredibly grateful for them. I’m hoping the best for you too!

How are you doing these days? Unfortunately mine has been going the wrong direction. This has been the hardest time of my life, but I’m still here

Hi Theezy, thank you for asking and sorry for late answer. I try to limit my time in here. I'm doing little better, but I got new tone to my previously good ear and some dizziness. Don't know if it was because of the stress or neck issues. Im trying to outlast this. Hang in there, I believe it will get better for you! We need to endure it somehow and hope for healing or habituation.