Reaching Out

Hi, I have had tinnitus for about 6 months now, I have had my life turned upside down. I thought it might be nice to find a group that understands. Up until this point I have no one that can possibly understand what I am going through. I figured I would try here, find people I could chat with that truly get it. As it stands I feel pretty alone in this.

 

The same here... 4 months for me and trying to habituate.I did found out that trying to explain to ppl that don't have it its impossible so this forum its all I have.

 

Yeah it is tough, almost seems impossible most the time. Have you found anything to be helpful in this habituation process?

 

You are not alone. TT and the people here have definitely helped me feel not alone. Im 12 weeks in and I totally understand and so does everyone else here. Tell us about your T, how and why you think it started?

 

@Telis, you are at the right place. Welcome! TT is a community for supporting tinnitus sufferers. Most of us have gone through the terrible early phase of T. So we truly understand each other. Feel free to let us know your battle with T and don't ever feel you are troubling anyone. Those of us who had gone through 'hell' with T know how much suffering T can cause to the sufferers and how absolutely lonely and not understood outside of the tinnitus support community. Feel free to check out the success stories posted by some members. There you will get to know how other members have struggled and yet recovered, and you may learn some insights how they do that.

 

Thanks for the welcome billi48. Jay my tinnitus started with a blocked right ear I couldn't clear. Was annoying but nothing compared to tinnitus obviously. My current T is from taking too many ototoxic medications at the same time. I believe the ringing initially started after trying to clear my ear manually plugging my nose and blowing over and over (too hard). I proceeded to the doctors as I was concerned about this very slight ring in the blocked ear. Long story short, I was in and out of the hospital a few times, given everything from Zoplicone and adivan to antibiotic ear drops, prednisone, and also advised to take over the counter sprays, decongestants etc. things progressed everytime I messed around more and took more of these drugs. I now having raging tinnitus in both ears, and no hearing above about 10khz. I have a mix of high pitched beeps, drills, scratching and also a low frequecy click that sounds like a typerwiter that goes at random. The sounds feel to me like pain ending up in headaches. It's like they cut through my head and bounce around my brain. Masking with tv and average sounds have no affect as the tinnitus is extremely high pitched and seems to stand above most every day sounds. I have pretty much lost everything from this condition, my body (was a body builder), my relationship with my gf and family, job, and sense of well being. Sorry to sound negitive, this is by far the toughest thing I have ever dealt with. And it is frustrating becasue no one gets what this can take out of you. My family seems to think all of a sudden I'm just down for other reasons. It can't be just be from some noise. I need to adjust my additude. It's humiliating actually. Now I spend most days on my own pacing the house. Don't go out much or see anyone. This from one of the most social people around. Tough, very tough!

 

I don't know if this will help...but I downloaded a hypnotherapy app for sleeping on my smart phone. I sometimes get a loud ring in my left ear that is very difficult to mask. This app really helps me to stay calm.

 

Telis have you ever tried a Hearing aid? if you are experiencing hearing loss and cannot hear properly the hearing aid helps to ease the noise a bit because it amplifies the other noises. telis i have to tell you this. you have to stop allowing T control your life. You gave T too much power. You only live once. Go back to the gym, try dating again. reconnect with your family, trust me I have an idea what you are going through but guess what? You have the control. When you feel down come right here and complain. everyone knows what you are going through. If u need a good cry. Cry. But don't EVER let T stop u from doing what you enjoy. You need to get your life back. T maybe annoying as F*#* but it never control the decisions you make in life . SMILE THROUGH THE PAIN. Protect your ears and continue with your life and remember this is a process. You will feel down but we are right here to help you out. This website is very helpful.You may have felt like you lost a lot but you will be able to move forward and gain even more than what you lost. Message me if you ever want to talk.

 

@Telis and @Raytr - Good stuff has already been shared above on this thread with you guys, and I echo much of what has been said!!

TT is an oasis for people struggling with T!! It was/is key to my journey with T and my successful habituation. Primarily because this is a place where you can come to and interact with people who get it!! It is so true that people who don't have it, don't get it! No matter how well intentioned.

So just as Jay and Billie mentioned, please visit often! Post your struggles and successes (they will come, I promise!), and explore the vast number of threads about support, research, therapies, etc... Great info and fantastic people!!
And, just as billie said, check out the "Success Stories", you will find hope there. And HOPE is essential to getting through T, especially in the first year!!



I wish you both peace and rest!! If you ever want to message me, feel free!!

Best to you,

Jeff

 

Thanks all for the encouragement.

Leelo, I'm looking at the option of a hearing aid. I'm not sure how it works with high frequecy loss. I have perfect hearing up to about 8khz, then it drops off. If anyone has any ideas on this please share!

 

Find a good audiologist and don't expect much help from an ENT. There are hearing aids that not only make you hear better but also help mask your T. Widex is one brand name but there are others. I strongly recommend antidepressants and anti anxiety meds (low doses all you need) to help you through the first few months. Many of us made it through to be able to start habituating with the short term use of meds. I'm six months into my journey and the folks here said it would get easier and better, I didn't believe them but now I am beginning to understand they are right. Hang in here with us, we know exactly what hell you are going through.

 

Thank you Isabella for your encouragement and advise. What kind of antidepressants were you prescribed ? I'm a little nervous about tinnitus as a side effect with most of them.

 

I'm not medically trained so I hesitate to mention specific meds....You'll need to see a medical doctor but I've never known of T being a side effect of either anti anxiety or anti depressants. Many of us have taken klonopin, Zoloft, Xanax, many other different ones. Getting your anxiety and depression under control will enable you to begin habituating sooner.

It's hard for you to imagine right now but you can actually get to a point that you don't even notice the sounds! We have people here who have had T for 15 or more years and they don't even hear it. Eventually your brain gets bored with it and stops paying attention.

 

Get on the ATA website (American tinnitus association) they have good info including an exhaustive list of drugs to avoid and you can search for a support group near you.

 

That would be great to be one of those success stories sometime soon! I want to beat this but my progress is at a stand still at the moment. The painful anxiety attacks are the worst part. I wake up in a state of panic everyday knowing I have to endure the noise all day. I can now sleep which is good but my daily activities are affected in a serious way. My concentration and motivation is terrible now with T, this is when the panic attacks hit hard. I am also nervous about any environmental noise now as well, this definitely adds to the anxiety and stress.

 

I will check out ATA. Thank you

 

I have my T 10 weeks now , it is rough, hang in there! it is getting better to deal with it , my ears now are hurting from noise , but I get good support on the site on how to deal with it . All the best to you take care

 

We all been there , and we know how tough it is buddy, Hang in there , it will get better!..did you go see an ent?
They will send you for test ! Huggs to you!

 

Hello Karen, you are always there to help, such a good soul! All the best to you, Take care!

 

Thank you. Yeah I am desperate for some relief. All I can find for now is sleeping! Hope it gets easier. Seems like I'm a slow learner when it comes to this adjustment. It's the social adjustment that is tough as well, not going out with friends to pubs, sporting events, concerts etc. its really is a bit isolating! Even watching tv is tough but I just hope I can drop this listening to it. Seems like my brain picks it up no matter what I do. Ear plugs are tough to wear and it makes the T go through the roof! And is makes it tough to communicate. Anyone else find anything that is helpful if you want to go out? Say to pub or something.

 

I feel your pain. Its the toughest adjustment I'm ever trying to make through. Ive lifted for more than 20 years so i understand how you feel. I have lost 16lbs in 12 weeks. I played some T sounds online that sounded like mine to my wife and thats when she finally realized what I'm dealing with.

 

Thanks Karen! Ya the sleep is the easy part for me. Took me a couple of months of almost no sleep but I just kinda let the T consume me at night now, just give in and kind of meditate with it. If I fight it I won't win so I give in and manage to crash! Although, the day is tough when I need to concentrate etc. I guess I'm the opposite to most, seems people are bothered at night and the day they get on with getting busy and letting it fade. Hope I can get there soon!

 

Jay, ya it's very hard to maintain a tough workout with little energy left to give after T zaps it out of you. If you have been lifting for a long time, you will find the true benefits to muscle memory. I lost 45 pounds in 4 months, and am now doing lighter workouts and finding A LOT comes back quickly. I was never a believer in this theory of muscle memory but now I know it to be absolutely true. Try more reps, lighter and shorter workouts. One muscle group a day, that's it. This way you can recoup. You will get a lot back! Sucks working out this way when you just wanna go!! but it's better than letting it all disappear. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself at the gym as I know my true potential is way higher. Don't do this! It messes with your workout and discourages you! That's all I have to give is workout advise, the rest of this T thing I have no clue really. Haha. Good idea playing the T sounds as it's impossible to explain to anyone that doesn't have it! My friends think it's something that just disappears. I tell them I'm having a tough time and they are surprised it's not gone and is still bothering me.

 

you basically had mild tinnitus and then you got a bunch of ototoxic meds (antibiotic ear drops can be evil if they get through the eardrum) and it gave you raging tinnitus, pitiful... I also have the medical "profession" to thank for getting t courtesy of an ignorant nurse putting in all her strength to flush my ear out with a device that has been replaced in most medical facilities with a simple spray bottle to cut down on the pressure that results in the ear... I should have know better when she came in the room and announced ear syringing was her "funnest" procedure to do... thanks.......other than a surgical intervention needed to save life, etc I have no more interest in Drs, meds, (except for retigabine)... my great grand father lived until he was 95 and never had one dr appointment

 

Wow..that's unbelievable man!!

It's tough to not be bitter after being induced with this shit by by some idiot for no good reason. I'm a bitter dude with not a lot left after T, ruined relationships, my health in general now is deteriorating, career over, social life done. Just me pacing the house alone waiting to go to bed every day. My dog even looks at me like what the hell happened!!?? even her life is changed by this!!

It's a waste...seven short months ago I had it all! More than a guy could ask for really. Going from the top to the absolute bottom over night is not easy. I try to just forget about who I was, and all that I had, too painful.

I was fascinated by your story. I just can't imagine getting rid of something like this!! Climbing back into life and out of this hell! Unreal man, you are a lucky guy! I'm happy for you!

 

Glad you found this wonderful group for support.

 

Same for me, perfect hearing in speech area (up to to 6 khz), then it goes down.
Tried hearing aid just for the high frequencies, but they did nothing for me.
Masking with crickets, water sounds etc. is much more helpful.
So I gave them back. My audiologist also said I don't need hearing aids since I can understand speech perfectly fine.

 

Hi Telis,
I've found masking works best with a good set of headphones, have you tried that yet? They have to be of good quality so that you can really get lost in the music. You will still hear your tinnitus, but when you have a great set of headphones on, and you're playing some really beautiful music, your focus shifts. I've been listening to The Piano Guys on these cheap but awesome headphones from Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004T8R2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also, Klonopin helps me when my anxiety is so high that I can't focus on anything else. It's a miracle worker for sleep.

Be careful too not to blame the T for everything else that's going on in your life. When I'm feeling bad (I get migraines frequently) I get so frustrated and angry at my T, but then I take a step back and say "Hey, this is my body hurting and I'm making T the scapegoat. The T isn't bothering me this damn migraine is!"

Best of luck to you. You'll be in my prayers.

Claire