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I have had tinnitus since january of this year. I think it started by taking some meds prescribed by my ENT doc for a sinus problem. It sent me to the emergency room it got so bad. It has subsided somewhat but still difficult to get my focus off of it and has turned my life upside down at this point. I'v tried Ginko Biloba and started on Lipo Flavanoids but not expecting much. This is very stressfull. I know people who have it and somehow they have adapted and it doesn't bother them. I guess 2 months is not soon enough for that to happen. Feeling lost and hopeless. Any encouragement welcome. Thanks.

 

Hey Joe I got T back in August of last year and I too struggled very badly at first tried all those so called T medicines like you and nothing really worked. I'm 7 months into it now and I still struggle but its much better then the first couple months. I think the ringing stayed the same but my brain is getting use to it and I have less emotional break downs. Its a tough thing to go through man hang in there and know that it will get better with time.....Have you been sleeping OK? Thats the most important thing at first..... sleep and do what you need to do to stay calm ...I was on Ativan at first due to the anxiety the T caused and now I don't need to take as much....Keep posting we're all here to help each other ..

 

Hi Carlos. I also take Ativan to stay calm. Sleep is difficult but has been better since using noise machines. It's a frustrating thing and hard to get used to. It sounds like after some time it does get better but hard to see for me.

 

Yeah I use nature sounds at night for masking and it works well.....I know its tough right now to see a little light at the end of this T tunnel and I didn't believe it either but your brain does adjust after a while. I still have my struggling days where I ask the "why me" question but just try not to dwell on it for long. The other thing is don't read all the horror stories on the web that in itself caused more anxiety just believe that it will get better and its just something you have to go through right now and in a few years you'll look back and say wow was that I battle but I got through it.

 

Thank you Carlos. I will keep thinking that way. I also feel that God gives us certain crosses to bear, and this is one of mine. But I think He helps me carry the weight. I really appreciate your feedback and support my friend.

 

No problem stay strong and keep your faith....anytime you need to chat i'm always around

 

I am trying out some hearing aids that also put white noise in your ear to get you brain off the tinnitus. Have you ever tried these? They help me at night when I put the kids to bed more than anything. Hard to lay down and relax with the kids when your ears are ringing.

 

I haven't tried them Joe .... I have thought about getting some. Do you feel like they help you?
Do you have any idea on how you might of gotten T? Could it of been Medicine related or loud noise?
Not sure how I got T it was either loud music (ipod) or it could be related to TMJ.

 

I have slight hearing loss, not sure if it is due to being a drummer, although I havn't been playing all that much lately or the nose problem I was having and the ENT giving me steroids and anti-biotics that may have set it off. I was also extremely stressed about my sinuses, I layed down one night , breathed in deep and felt like something got lodged in my nostril. That is why I initially went to the doctor. He gave me the meds to try to relieve that feeling, they never did find anything in there but I was really stressed about it. Then my ears started ringing after taking the meds. I do feel like the hearing aids with white noise help but I don't always wear them.

 

Joe,
I will be praying for you! I know this is tough ... but like you.. I know that God does not gives us more than we can handle. He is faithful and true. I take piano lessons.. and when my T spiked back in Jan... I couldn't play because of the noise in my head. All I did was cry and call out to Jesus... Now I practice every day and the sound hasn't been as intrusive as it was. It's kind of funny.. not really.. but a God thing. I told my piano teacher that I couldn't practice as much because of the T and she said .. Oh I have ringing in my ear too. I have had it for 10 plus years.. plus hearing loss. My teacher plays beautifully and she encourages me. I do hope you will play your drums again. Wearing ear plugs will help. Praying you over come.

 

Hey Joe,

I echo much of what has been already shared with you on this thread!! I feel your pain man!! the first few months SUCK!! What you are experiencing, as lame as it is, is typical. Your brain is threatened by your T, and that has all sorts of freaky impacts on you emotionally, physically, and psychologically!!

BUT.... have HOPE my friend!! You are going to get thru this!! I, and plenty of others here on TT, are proof!! Get your sleep on, get your exercise, eat right, med up if you have to, and don't focus/worry about tomorrow, next week, etc... Just focus on today!! Stay connected to your life and to TT!! You are going to get thru dude!!

BTW...

 

Thank you everyone for the support. I'm glad I found this forum so I don't feel so alone in this. Thank you all.

 

Stick around if you like this place - we're all here looking out for research and treatment information to help us all.

 

Hi Joe, did you know Captain James T. Kirk aka William Shatner has tinnitus.

William Shatner speaks about his tinnitus

 

Your posts really give me hope jeff, your replies to everyone are so positive, kind and encourging seems like you have been through a lot but i hope one day if my T worsens i can have the attitude you dooo!!!!!

 

Welcome to the club. My family doctor over prescribed an ototoxic drug like your case, I got SSNHL and T. Start yourself on NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) 500mg. This is somewhat oto protective in the early stages and may help prevent the severity. Also, some folks here say HBOT may help early on. Search this site for treatments and get started now...the more you wait, the less chance you have of preventing the severity. I wish I knew this before but no one told me of these treatments until I came to this site. Good luck!

 

I did know that Shatner has tinnitus. There is a more in depth article online where he has some good insights on the condition.

 

Well, it's been about 2 1/2 months, maybe a little more. I guess it is still in the early stages for me, but I hadn't heard of NAC. Is that something over the counter or something your doctor needs to prescribe? Not sure what HBOT is either.
I have been using sound generators in my ears and they help me calm down and I hope help me to habituate to this.
Still having a hard time with anxiety and taking the Ativan. The T doesn't feel as intrusive as when I first took the anti-biotics, but it still can get loud at times. I think I had a bad reaction to the meds and now am acutely aware of the sounds in my head

 

Hi Joe,

Yes, you can get NAC over the counter usually 500 to 600mg tablets. You may need to take 3 of them a day for at least a month. Search this site, there is a complete topic on NAC. It has helped me tremendously in the early stages of the onset of T. HBOT is hyperbaric oxygen treatment. That is on this board too but it is pricey and really only good for the first month. But you may still want to try if you feel. The point here is that a tincture of time is good, but you need to give as much help in the very early stages ( up to 3 months) to preclude a more serous result. I hope it all works out for you. One thing to note, statistics is in your favour. Must people have this resolve in 6 months to one year. Good luck!!

 

Hi John-
I'm already taking half the supplements on the list to help with this problem. Ginko,magnesium,zinc,B12. I'm a little hesitant to add more stuff. A lot of the descriptions say they do about the same thing as the NAC. Do you think it would hurt to add that to the list or should I try stopping some of the other ones? I know they use that in the armed forces
a lot when people are exposed to the loud noises. I'm still not sure what happened with me. It could have been the anti-biotics that set it off or my own stress that I was feeling at the time. Are your symptoms better? Did you try this stuff in your early stages? What caused your tinnitus. I've been trying noise generator hearing aids to take the edge off. I have a 2 and 5 year old and the T is difficult with them because kids are loud, but I am also depressed and anxious over this condition. Trying to have a positive outlook and know that it is not threatening, but it is still difficult for me to deal with even after almost 3 months. I think it will take me a while because I already deal with anxiety and some depression. I also red similar results from taking melatonin? Sorry, don't mean to ramble, but everything is still confusing to me. Thanks.