Careers With Tinnitus

hi all,

Just hoping to hear some success stories.

I'm only at the beginning of my career. Luckily it's office based.

I hope to pursue a career in supply chain management which is also office based. However, I worry T may get in the way if it gets worse, especially as I'm sure there will be many stressful times.

Any success stories regarding getting a good career despite t and h?

A really good job has come up round the corner from my house too, but scared to apply as if I ger another spike and need time off work, I wont have as much job security in a new job.

 

Hi Geg,

I used to work out on construction / demolition sites so I had to change up when I got T - no good being in a noisy environment. In 2004 I got a new job in the office, stayed there for 5 years to get the experience I needed then moved on to a more senior role. Then I broke away, worked self employed for a year and started my own business in 2012. It's doing pretty well, we are growing and things look good.

I have good days and bad days, I hear it above most things, but one thing that having T has given me is more focus and determination to succeed. You can either bemoan it, say that you can't do loads of things and let it bring you down, or you can use it to drive to forward, concentrate on what you can do. I suffered from negativity in the early stages, it does nothing for you.

I won't pretend that this is easy but it pushed me to do something about T and made me a lot more diligent (all the questioning of research and drilling down into the small details about treatments I guess).

Stress is a part of any job, it's about working ways to deal with it, not letting it get to you too much and having release valves to help you deal with it. All about prioritising and making sure you can function and use the stress rather than it using you.

A spike is bad, no fun at all and I've had my fair share. Don't fool yourself into thinking it means you have to have time off though. I did that in the early days "Oh I have cold, have a spike so need to be off sick", totally the wrong way to deal with it, you are better to get on with the daily routine and not let it get you down. If you are in an environment like an office that's easy, just make sure that people understand a little so you don't come across too bad and use some sound enrichment where possible if you need it.

 

Great, thanks for your words.

I feel it's having the same affect on me too: this has made me want to pursue a more senior role and do a degree which will help me in the future. I just worry it will get worse so I can't work and it will be a waste of time!

My recent spike was so bad I got really bad H too. I was bed ridden and thought my life was over. It's spikes like that which get to me. Once I'm past the initial 3 months there's more security, but I'm wondering if I should stay in my current job to habituate more before I move on to a better paid job. I still live at home so I guess now is the time to take risks.

Much appreciate your feedback!

 

Hello

Firstly, I would say don't panic. Tinnitus shouldn't stop you achieving in life, although yes, there will be stressful times and sometimes Tinnitus will react to that...coping strategies are great, making time to relax (I find Yoga helpful). Since getting Tinnitus I went to University , got a degree and now I have a fairly decent job. If you want to apply for better job or do a degree, go for it. I agree with Steve, taking time off sick because of a spike isn't the way to go..just be mindful of it (maybe mention it too your colleagues or classmates) but go to work/ University as normal, you might even feel better for doing so.

 

was your tinnitus quiet? you need to plug your ears to hear it? don't worry, you will not be bothered by it for long

but if it becomes worse... it will ruin your life and you will not be able to work at all.

 

It varies; during the day I barely notice it, it's at night when it bothers me.

For 20 seconds or so, it can get insanely loud, like standing next to a speaker, but it dies down.

I will make sure I protect my ears from now, no clubbing, concerts etc.

Thank you for your words. Going to work with T is probably the best thing I've done, H too.

I've applied for the job and I am instantly feeling more positive, thank you.

 

do you have music on in at night? to mask it!

 

I have a little fan which did help to mask it, but following a recent spike it plays above it.

 

Good for you! I'm glad you're not letting it bother you in going for what you want. Also, just saw your comment on not going to clubs or concerts anymore, that's a great shame if you enjoy those things...get some good ear plugs and just be careful is my advice. Mine sounds like standing next to a speaker hissing all the time too...

 

Concerts is a big miss in my life, I loved them.

Clubbing on the other hand, I can save money instead!

Oh no, hope you're coping OK!

 

I would advise buying some Heroes ear plugs ( Amazon sell them) for really loud full band stuff (I wear these to rock and punk gigs) and moulded custom ear plugs for bars and acoustic gigs...Oh, yes, I'm fine thanks..I'm having a spike at the moment, that's why I'm on here but you've got to get on with things haven't you?

 

Thanks very much

It's great you still go to concerts. Have you had any problems before this current spike? And how did you get yours?

I'm a metal/hardcore punk listener so must be similar gigs!

 

No, not really since I got used to things...it takes a while. in fact I went to see Against Me! in November and I had no ill effects what so ever, just had a fantastic night. I think I got it from loud noise exposure. I was worried too when I first got T, It was about a year before I went to a gig but it can be done..honestly, you don't have to stop

 

Awesome! Sounds good.

What caused your current spike?

 

I have no idea...could be a number of things, including stress, so I'm just going to pop to the Dr and check it's not an ear infection. What caused your T?

 

Fair enough, hopefully it goes down.

Went to an insanely loud gig at a 15,000 capacity venue, right near the front.

Had a spike last week, first one after 3 months - gave me H too but it seems to have died down a bit.

 

Who did you go and see? Did you enjoy it? try and take the positives (if you can, I know it's hard) I know exactly what you mean..I had H at the start too. It should settle, it's just lots of adjusting. Good luck with the job application..fingers crossed you'll get an interview

 

On purely mathematical and intellectual scales, I have become a much more established software developer more or less since getting worse tinnitus in 2009, and I'm making twice as much money now as I was then.

So, I wouldn't worry about that too much. I've known a number of other hackers who have tinnitus.

The only real career downside is that software stuff can be very stressful, and being stressed does bad things to my T. On the other hand, if not for the T I'd probably be a lot more prone to running myself ragged and clocking 75 hour weeks during crunch time, so it doesn't seem unreasonable to wonder if T is having a beneficial effect on my overall health despite having negative effects on my quality of life.

Additionally, the older you get, the fewer and fewer people you will know who don't have some kind of health-related quality-of-life concern.

I will say that I've been pretty careful (even before T) to take jobs that seem likely to be understanding of health/psychological trauma issues. My current job is a good fit because I can work remotely a lot of the time, so when I've been really bonkers (with T, or otherwise) and just needed to get the hell out of the city and hole up in a shack in the woods for a while, I have generally been able to do it without taking time off. My T usually gets significantly less intrusive within about 48 hours of surrounding myself with blue skies and green trees. I've been on somewhat of a death march over the past couple months and am at the point where I'm considering taking about a month to go work from a rural setup somewhere; once the weather gets just a little warmer, I will probably do just that.

 

Good luck with the application @geg1992 , hope it goes well.

You are very new to all of this so there is a high chance that it will fade down for you until you barley notice it, or even disappear altogether. Estimations are that only 1-2% of people with tinnitus have a real problem with it.

 

Thank you for all of your help and kind words!

I got an interview yesterday which went fairly well and got told I will probably be called back for a second interview.

I'm a bit worried as its only an extra 150 or so a month but the stress and work load is significantly higher, and expected to work more over time. I worry this will have a negative affect on my T.

But I'm also saying to my self that if I get the job and get past the initial 3 months, I'll buy my self a car I've always wanted - a Subaru Impreza.

Big decisions to make! As my job is relaxed at the moment in comparison!

Another update - he was very impressed and I've been called back for a second interview.

All of this excitement has really taken my mind off T!

 

Congratulations @geg1992, let us know how your second interview goes! My current employer is very understanding of my condition. I have a water fountain in my office; it took me awhile to find one that was loud enough. Best of luck.

 

Thanks very much! My H seems to be back again though, and I feel as if my ear is really blocked up. Hoping it's not an infection or something! Positive attitude helps a lot though so just got to keep pushing on! Glad to hear your employer is understanding.

 

I have really bad H too, and my right ear always feels plugged. This happened after I tried Neuromonics out of sheer desperation, even given the lack of evidence-based research. I guess I have always felt that if I don't have an understanding employer, I don't want to be working for them. Positive attitude helps, as well as not giving up on finding a solution that works for you. My thoughts are with you.

 

Thats exactly what I needed to see today @Steve .

I'm currently a student, but had to take a year off due to my T and H. I won't lie, but I've had some fears of finishing up my schooling career and actually finding a job and how I will go about doing so.

So seeing someone like yourself kicking butt and taking names is awesome. I hope to do the same when I return to school in the fall.

 

I am trying to maintain my music career .....the jury is still out on that one.

 

That's a great story @Steve! I am maintaining my career in an accounting job and a very quiet (like, VERY quiet) office environment. It was hard at first and still has its challenges, particularly when it gets stressful, but honestly it isn't so bad. I used my Tinnitus as an excuse to start playing soft music at my desk which has actually made the work day more enjoyable than it was when it was "just" total silence. (I told my boss that I needed it to concentrate with tinnitus despite having a work culture of "quiet" and she accepted that.) I've had similar worries about the future but seeing that people here are not just surviving but thriving and trying new things in their careers makes me feel a lot better.

 

So frustrating. I seem to have a sore throat and very blocked ears which has given me H again, I'm so scared to go for this job in case it gets worse and I lose my job all together. I'm so fed up and back to square one.

 

Another update - been offered the job!

However, didn't accept yet as I'm so scsred about T and H I don't know what to do

 

Hi Geg, that's excellent news.

You are the only one who can properly answer that really; best to balance up what the working environment will be like, can you handle the new workload alright, is it the right time?

If I were in the position I would weigh up how much I think the change will affect me. I generally find that when I have started a new job my head is way too caught up in learning to think of much else, so it can be a good distraction. A little extra stress is usually fine, just need to make sure that you feel you can handle that at the moment before you take the plunge.

 

Thanks Steve. As I have no financial commitments at the moment, now is the time to take risks I guess.

He made it clear that I wouldn't just be chucked in the deep end which is good. It's much busier so will take my mind off things, it's the H that worries me, not the T, but I'm hoping my blocked ear will be gone soon a long with the H.