6 Weeks in with Mild Tinnitus, My Career Depends on My Ears, Considering HBOT

Hi All,

I'm glad this forum exists, i wish i would have gone on it right away... i think my staying away was part of my denial phase.

I am an audio guy by trade and have had very very low T for a long time due to wearing headphones at work, as well as the occasional loud concert. Long story short about 6 weeks ago i went to a very loud concert and spent a very long time there without ear protection. Since then my T has become much more noticeable and taken on some new qualities, much like a TV white noise (from the old CRT style monitors), as well as a slight jitter more in my left ear that sounds kind of digital. I noticed some hypersensitivity at first but that has subsided and the T seems to have reduced slightly, or i've just gotten used to it.

I went to an ENT about 3 weeks after and they didn't have much to say besides that it can take a long time to calm down sometimes, or stay permanent. He recommended that i see an audiologist, but i haven't yet due to insurance reasons. I didn't notice any hearing loss, but after reading the forum i'm concerned that it could also be an issue, and it seems i'm too late for steroids.

The main reason i'm posting here is that i'm 6 weeks in which gives me about another 6 weeks to do HBOT treatment if i'm going to, but i also understand that the sooner the better. Although my problem doesn't keep me awake at night, my career is involved and if i can i'd like to reduce it as much as possible.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also any information regarding a place to go in/around NYC that is affordable is super useful.

Thankyou and best wishes.

 

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy.211/

I would look at this thread, there are some people who have used it and posted there experiences with it. I dont know if it effective in treating t or not and i am a bit skeptical but i wish you well if you go through with it. Hope this thread offers some insight to you, good luck!

 

Thankyou,

I've been reading that thread and am also going to post there.

 

Hi @Salt, I live in NYC, too. I did HBOT in Ohio (at the time - a year ago- there was nowhere around the city that I could find that was even remotely reasonable dollar-wise - private or hospital because tinnitus isn't covered by insurance as a HBOT treatable condition). I'm just posting here because the HBOT thread is pretty dern long at this point - so I thought I'd give you a little shortcut:

Anyway, the people in Ohio are extremely caring and understanding. They have helped people with T and don't judge. Obviously it didn't cure me, but I do think it helped me a little, but it's so long ago and I was in such a state of panic it's a little hard to remember. I agree, the sooner you go the more likelihood of a good result. I'm not sure I'd invest in it if you're not that bothered by your new level, just protect yourself in the future and take some antioxidants. Even at the non-profit I was at, the number of sessions you're supposed to do consecutively to get any kind of result can get pricey eventually. Still, they are extremely reasonable as compared with anything else and have a little house you can stay at for very little if it's open. If you have the means and your tinnitus is extremely bothersome, then I'd say give it a shot.

Anyway, check out Sara's Garden, that's where I (and a couple other people here) went: http://sarasgarden.org/ or give them a call, they are super friendly, genuine, caring people.

I hope that helps!

 

Thanks Awbw8!

I've found a place in the city thats not too crazy expensive.... about 1750 for 20 sessions... the thing about going to ohio for 20 days is that it would cost me more to leave work and stay in Ohio. At the same time i really appreciate the offer and the heads up.

here's their description:

"The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Chamber at DowntownPMR has the ability to go to 1.5ATA or the equivalent of 7.35 Pounds per square inch of pressure. Each session lasts for approx 1 hour and 20 minutes which includes 60 minutes under full pressure."

is that enough pressure to really pump that oxygen into my blood?

 

Tried it, did nothing for me. However , a friend went in a couple of weeks after onset and was completely cured.

 

Hey Salt, We're tinnitus twins. (I think I'll trademark that term!) The way you describe your T sounds exactly like mine. High pitched TV white noise with some "jitters" in one ear, as your call it. I've had barely noticeable T for years that has increased after a concert about 6 weeks ago. Wish I could take that back. Anyways, Nice to know someone out there is hearing the same thing as me! Hang in there. I'm trying to do the same. Interested in how your treatment works out for you (I don't know anything about hbot myself).

 

Haha nice, i like that T-Twins.... did you get it at a party in brooklyn?

 

Close enough. At a dive bar in Mass... Not sure I'm hip enough for the Brooklyn scene.

 

Hey Salt , hang in there, got my t 4 weeks ago, having a hard time can't sleep, depression, axiety..let me know how you trear ment went.I am from Toronto Canada, don't know if we have anything like that here

 

.From Toronto Canada, will come to the states to this therapy..let me know ..thanks

 

After some more research i've mostly decided against going with the cheaper place here in the city... they use a soft tank which is pretty frowned upon and seems more risky. I'm not exactly sure whats right here but it seems like if i'm going to do it I'm going to do it right. I have a consultation with an independent center on LI that seems top notch. Its expensive: $300 USD per session, but i'm going to see what happens with the consultation. Everyone i've talked to there seems eager to not turn anyone away, so i will see what i can do. Since my T is mild maybe i won't need 15-20 sessions, but i'm not sure it works like that either.

You probably do have HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy) in or around toronto... just search hyperbaric Toronto on the web... you will probably find more than you expected. Now is the time to act though, esp since your only 4 weeks in you have a better chance of healing than i do (i've heard under 6 weeks is ideal, under 3 months is acceptable, after 3 months is not ideal)

get on it ! =)

 

Hey there @Salt - I looked at the website you posted for the cheaper place and I have to say I humbly agree with your decision not to go there. I can't imagine how a soft chamber would be very safe (or really even how that would work - though I suppose it must to some degree if it exists) But if anything happened to it (it popped while you were under pressure etc.) it could do serious, serious damage to you.

I think if you have the means to try the HBOT at a reputable place, then I'd go for it. I'm glad I did it, if for nothing else, I don't have to wonder "what if?"

Good luck!

 

Awbw,

Thanks for the encouragement. I figured out what i'm going to do, which is that i found a small facility - holistic like place in Long island that charges $500 for 5 sessions. Although it doesn't seem quite as legit as the $300 place, I have a good feeling about it and they have a legit tank with an experienced operator. I've spoken to them on the phone and they seem like nice people who want to help people, and this is the sort of place i was looking for.

I'll keep updates on the HBOT thread, and here too if your interested in hearing...

Thanks again!

 

Hey @Salt - I would love to hear how HBOT sessions go. I spoke to my doctor about it today - he didn't seem to know all that much about it and couldn't make a recommendations, but I am considering looking into it more.

Thanks.

 

@washashore

Hey T-Twin, i've been thinking about you and been meaning to post here but i wanted to get a few treatments in before i said too much.

Today i just finished my 5th treatment, and as far as i can tell its reduced my T. Its hard to say how significantly/permanently yet, because T tends to fluctuate like it does. However after the first 2 sessions I had some of the quietest days since onset, and then throughout the next couple days i worked a lot and slept very little and the T was more noticeable. After about the 4th session i noticed the tone that seemed to be louder in the R ear seemed to be gone all together, but that TV-static like sound was more noticeable.

Today after the 5th session and while i'm fairly tired i barely notice it at all except when i look for the sound, if i plug my ears i hear it mildly.

I think i'm going to go for 10 sessions total and see what happens, if its still lessening after that maybe i'll go to 15. Do i think its a good idea? Yes, i'm glad i'm doing it. Like i said its hard to gauge at the moment exactly how much, but all in all i notice it less and i expect to notice more changes.

 

Hey @Salt

Thanks for keeping me in mind. I'm glad to hear that the HBOT seems to be having a positive effect for you-I hope the improvements continue.

As for me, I'm not sure what my plan is. I called a few hospitals in the Boston area with HBOT centers and none of them were willing to use it for tinnitus since its not an FDA approved treatment for T. One of the doctors I spoke to actually told me that he has T himself but was unsure HBOT would have any impact. However, I found a private clinic that charges $200 per session and recommends 20 sessions.

So that leaves me in a bit of a pickle- having to make a decision about whether or not to spend $4k on a treatment that's a roll of the dice. I guess I'm leaning heavily against it at the moment, but still concerned that I might regret not giving it a try. I might set up a consultation with the private clinic to see whether they have worked with any T patients and go from there.

Again, i really appreciate the update. I look forward to hearing how the additional treatments help you. If this was covered by insurance, I would give it a go, but 4k is no small change.

 

Hey @washashore,

I totally understand. I feel super lucky that i found a place in LI that does it for $100 per session... otherwise i don't know that i'd do it either. I had my 6th session today and immediately after the session it was very quiet, and now i seem to be in more of a spike... so it really is hard to say if its working, but i feel like i'm doing the right thing anyways. Having only done 6 sessions I think I can't really expect permanent change yet. My general impression from reading the 13 pages of the HBOT thread is that most of the people that had an improvement had it around the 12ish-th sessions. Keep looking out there, this place i found is involved in the diving community, it was listed on this directory - http://www.hyperbariclink.com/TreatmentCenters/TreatmentCenters.aspx - under "Independent Facility."

 

Interesting. Keep us updated!

 

i did HBOT 6x and while I think it works it really damages the middle ear.

studies show close to 40-50% of people get barotrauma from HBOT. you go there to fix your ear , yet you get your ear damaged by barotrauma. go figure.