AbeS

@Exit the bell which I said went off at work? Nah, I think it was even before then perhaps. It definitely didn’t help matters though. Basically, I’ve had too many accidents and now the tone is here to stay… yay! I truly believe if I was more careful the first year I had T, it probably would have gone. It was very, very close to disappearing. But, people around me were careless and I had too many sinus colds.

@Steph1710 Since Saturday, and it does come and go for me also. Yesterday it was near constant the whole day, and today I woke up in the morning without it.
Sorry it hasn't subsided for you yet. It really is annoying…

@Steph1710 I think I have read that you have Pulsatile Tinnitus as well. How is it going with that?
I hear my blood flow really loud in the ears as soon as my pulse goes up. Also annoying but not as much as regular Tinnitus.

@AbeS He sounds like a very kind soul. <3

He is. :)

Great to hear. Compassion and kindness are the true divinities.

I like it too! Such a peaceful scene.

Haha, good one! Maybe I should change name.

Yes. I feel the same . You can accept tinnitus if it's not severe. You habituate after a period of time. Hyperacusis is much worse.

@AbeS it shouldn’t do. I always worry about the same thing. But so far, I haven’t had any set backs.

Socializing helps you by masking the tinnitus and distracting your mind. But hyperacusis stops you from socializing. So what's the answer? IMO , if the hyperacusis isn't debilitating, we shouldn't stop socializing. In small doses and with proper protection, It helps us more than staying alone with our thoughts in silence.

@aura I agree. I take daily walks in the woods with my father and my parents dogs. That's what is getting me out of bed and keeps my somewhat sane.

Stay away from him Steph, he's a madman!!ヽ(ﾟДﾟ;)ﾉ

I know right! Totally out of control!

Haha! Dr. Phil, what a legend.

@Exit No respect for anyone… I don't feel safe without protection anywhere at this point.

@Matty1996 Sorry to hear that. That was wise, can't take any risks with this. I've stopped leaving my home entirely on weekend evenings.

Let’s face it!
Our curfew is sunset:)

Yes, with an illness like tinnitus it really is a great comfort to know that you're not alone!

I think maybe you're not compressing them enough to fit deep inside your ears?

@AbeS I use the 1100's. I'm completely unable to follow a conversation when I have them in, especially in an office where people talk more quietly. I have to switch to my high fidelity plugs with a low filter for that.

I insert my 1100's pretty much completely, so the base fills the end of the canal flat, if that makes sense. Sometimes it can be hard to remove them, but I usually manage to.

I have tried as you said, inserting them really deep, but I don't think they do the job. It's weird! Maybe I have large ear canals.

I agree with you, but the danger is not known enough as of yet.

Basically, yeah.

@AbeS how are you going to be positive having one or more annoying sounds in your ears?

I'm at about a year and a half. Stay strong; there's more hope now than there ever has been for treatment in the future. I like to think about what options I would have I lived in 1940 or 1880; you'd have to live with it forever. Now, perhaps, there will be a time where something can be done. I don't know when, but it's in the horizon.

@sensualmosquito I try to have hope too.
It just grieves me to think about all lost years you will never get back.

Hmm, that's actually a very good idea. You gave me something to do in my insomnia here, I will add my 800-title metal collection as well next time I'm not visited by the Sandman at all.

What’s your Discogs-name? I’m DanielSlay

Maintaining the collection on Discogs is really satisfying, although mine is really small as of now.

@AbeS I think here's where treatments like CBT ends. It can be useful when one has normal, stable tinnitus, where the fear of sound is irrational. But we whose tinnitus is volatile and easily worsens have a rational fear of sound - no therapy in the world can fix that.

I also would like to know how to control the crippling anxiety that it will get worse from even everyday sounds.

@Stacken77 Not really, I try it now and then. If it's a full rock production it seems to irritate my ears at any volume.

Single instruments works better, like acoustic guitar. Listening at super low volume might work, but then it competes to much with the Tinnitus making it not very enjoyable.

@Lurius Thanks for the encouraging words.