twa

@Ken219 it's very dry and a bit sarcastic. :-D

@twa are you able to enjoy activities in the home with them, such as puzzles and watch TV/movies without it spiking your T?

@ErikaS yes, we've baked cookies, walked on the treadmill, taken pics, played games and my T is fine. It's the stress of being inside mainly. I'm ok with it, but my guys both have ADD and it's difficult for them.

@Damocles, I think you'll have to travel across the pond. You can swing by here and get a friend for Guy's pug.

:-D

I run away when I see a dog, terrified of the barking sound!

What?

For real?

I can't get over the fact there's someone here who owns a musket

@UKBloke @Jupiterman @Ondine @Lurius @Strawberryblonde @Wrfortiscue @JoeCuber@Sammy0225 thank you for the kind words and some of these made me laugh too! Thankfully, the garage door was closed, but the sound was so abrupt that it took me off guard. I did give him a piece of my mind. He apologized. He said, I told you I was going to test it. It never occurred to me that he would shoot it!

I've had that. I've felt like it's too random sometimes, but it can also be quite on point. I'm not sure what to think of it, but cloudy skies with a hint of rain often brings out the beast. But not always. So it's not accurate, exactly.

Did it spike your T??

Should have been stuck on low :)

@Sammy0225 I don't think it did. Mine is usually a tonal change. I will get more ringing, instead of a buzz. @Guywithapug it should have been low, you're right. It was almost like it was on purpose, such a weird week.

@Jupiterman, I teach college freshman.

How does your hyperacusis feel while teaching? I'm supposed to teach a seminar in a few weeks but considering pulling out. Im worried projecting my voice to a large audience will somehow hurt my ears.

@ashcash in a classroom setting for the last year and a half it has not bothered me. My classes are college freshman who are very reserved, initially. I have given presentations with T & H and they did not bother me while presenting. It may be later that I had more ringing, but it usually subsides and changes to a buzz in a day or two.

I had something like this in the summer of 21. Ironically, my reaction was to celebrate by playing a wicked air guitar solo to a song I like.

@Lurius, that's great! I was so stunned, I wasn't sure if was actually happening.

I forget I have it every time I have a quiet day. So freaking peaceful.

Hope it all went smoothly despite the lack of earplugs? :) @twa

@JPGL thank you! I have been teaching for the last year and a half. I take breaks in the summers. I wear earplugs outside the house, except for yesterday. Big mistake, but I'll try to be in a quiet environment today.

That is astounding news!

I wonder if you teaching is helping your brain to ignore the tinnitus quicker?

Hopefully it should keep happening and for longer periods of time.

@Jupiterman I have been on break from school for the last month. I have been trying to sleep more, rest and take better care of myself. Thank you, I pray that it does happen again and more often. :-)

@ErikaS thank you, it is amazing and challenging at the same time. I hope to work on finding peace and joy in the moment this year. I'm not sure if mine is reactive, but yesterday I forgot my earplugs and I spent the day out without protection. I had ringing all last night and today. The days prior to that I was having more of a buzz.

@CRGC Thank you! What is your PhD in? I have been teaching at the same time for a year and a half. I do not recommend the level of high stress for someone with tinnitus/hyperacusis, but I tend to seek out the most difficult path! Best to you on teaching this semester!

Yes, teaching and completing PhD studies at the same time sounds quite stressful and demanding! Sounds like you are handling it just fine though :) my PhD is in international environmental law. I will be teaching the masters level class this semester, which means a smaller group. I'm happy about that. Thanks and good luck to you too!

My hyperacusis has improved, though i still have it. I wear musician's earplugs while I am outside the house, always. I think by managing hyperacusis daily, I am able to function somewhat normally. I do not immerse myself in loud environments, loud restaurants, movies or public sports events. I did recently go to the state fair and was fine. I avoided the midway with loud rides.

Seems like a very sensible approach. And when you teach, do you use your musician's earplugs as well?

@Jupiterman yes, I always wear my earplugs anytime I am outside the house. It has become second nature. I think I realize that for the most part, sounds are manageable. I just do the best I can to stay away from loud environments, but I don't panic if I accidently run into a loud situation.

@Eleanor89 I'm good, thank you for checking. I'm teaching and going to school.

@Leila thanks so much! Teaching is hard, but I'm at happy teaching, learning and such.

@Forever hopeful thank you. Praying that you will feel better and we both heal!

Still having headaches though.

Congrats!

That's wonderful, congratulations!!!

Wow! Wow! Wow! Massive congratulations @twa - you clever lady! <3

Good luck!!!

Best of luck @twa

Good luck twa!

For real Steph, you are a lizard! I should have remembered your future move to Italy, eh.

But yes, there is definitely a limit, even for those of us who enjoy the heat, and that sounds like it.

Don't get the refrigerated chocolate thing though. Have family who are into that too. Only chocolate that should be coming out of a fridge/freezer is a Mars ice-cream, if you ask me.

@Damocles , @Steph1710 we have had 100+ degrees F since the 1st of July. We are breaking records and Texas is in a drought. It drains all your energy. I've started drinking Vitamin water to replenish electrolytes. I feel dizzy every day. Swimming helps some. We are going into the dreaded allergy season combined with the 100+ degree heat. Ugh.

@Damocles, I am also of Mediterranean descent and lived here most of my life, but this heat is terrible. We try to stay inside from 10-2, even swimming earlier or later.

Sometime I wish I had a particular event to blame.. just general oblivious living is the culprit for this guy. Glad the T is being mellow for ya

@Wrfortiscue I've had some louder days lately. I think because I back to living with my two loud guys. I've also been going out and about, to dinners and parties. Swimming at the pool can be loud also. Its was nice staying the hotel by myself while taking classes.

@BrOKeN_1 I know what you mean, it's hard to place my initial soft tinnitus. After my acoustic event, there was definitely a life-altering change. Thank you, hopefully it will continue to mellow.

That's great and what's even greater is that you didn't allow your hyperacusis to stop you from reaching your goals!

Hello @twa are you still wearing plugs…. Whilst out etc
So glad your doing well
In what ways have you improved with hyperacusis x

@Eleanor yes I wear musician's earplugs when outside the house. This year in class, I took them out for brief amounts of time because we were in class from 8-5.

@Damocles love it! You made me laugh. :-) Thank you! Hope you are doing well. Take care~

Hello @twa
How have you felt removing them in class and for how long ….
Do you not wear them driving. Supermarkets etc x

Thankyou x

Hi @Eleanor89 I would remove them for 20-30 minutes at a time, just to give my ears a break. I do wear them in the car and at the grocery store. I have found grocery stores to be some of the loudest environments during my day, also family dinners with my extended family are very loud. I also have a rough day after having dinner with my extended family.

How's your T now? Faded since then?

I have good days when I can focus on other things like work, school and family. Days with constant ringing tone are more difficult. I would not say it has faded, maybe 10-20%. Mainly, my hyperacusis is better. I am careful, but can tolerate much more.

I haven't been to the movies but I was able to have conversations and watch TV. All changed from just a door slamming. I didn't think it could get worse

Not yet, but i'd eventually like to work my way up to seeing one and seeing if it bothers me/my tinnitus. I did go to a drive in theater the other night and it was fun. Nice to be able to control the volume.

My child is older, but yes I do. I take time for me everyday to go to a quiet place. For me quiet helps. I wear earplugs outside the house, always. I walk when I get stressed with my T/H. Wear you earplugs around your child, if needed. I do sometimes. It will get better, it took about a year to 15 months. I still have moments, but it is much more tolerable.