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  1. ECP

    Ear Fatigue and Sensitivity After Talking for Long Periods — Is My Hyperacusis Getting Worse?

    I do not think it is a good idea to push yourself to the point of ear fatigue if it results in more pain and sensitivity. Once you notice ear fatigue, it is best to stop for the day and then reassess how you are feeling the following morning. If you choose to approach this as a form of...
  2. ECP

    That's wonderful! It must be a relief to get that taken care of.

    That's wonderful! It must be a relief to get that taken care of.
  3. ECP

    Tomatis Method for Hyperacusis Despite Tinnitus Concerns: Headphone Use Required

    Hardly anybody on this website has ever mentioned the Tomatis Method. I am afraid it is unlikely to be helpful for hyperacusis, because if it were, more of us would have heard of it or tried it by now. A quick search on Google suggests that Tomatis is mainly useful for people who have autism or...
  4. ECP

    @Juliane How are you doing? I hope your medical procedure went well and that you didn't spike.

    @Juliane How are you doing? I hope your medical procedure went well and that you didn't spike.
  5. ECP

    Tinnitus After a Door Slam — Looking for Similar Experiences

    I'm so sorry you got tinnitus from a slamming door. That incident certainly could be the cause of your tinnitus, even though most door slams don't seem like they would be loud enough to inflict damage. It depends on so many factors, such as the materials used to make the door and the door...
  6. ECP

    Why Do Our Ears Crackle When Swallowing?

    Interesting discussion. My right ear never crackles when I swallow, but sometimes it does while I chew food. It usually lasts for a few minutes, then stops. I’ve never been able to figure out why this happens. I don’t mention it when I talk to healthcare professionals because the symptom never...
  7. ECP

    The CuraListic Program Helped My Tinnitus

    @momus, I’m glad you found something that helps relieve stress without worsening your ear symptoms. My tinnitus and noxacusis didn’t result from somatic causes, but last year, I noticed that one of my Eustachian tubes tends to tighten up at the same time as the shoulder and neck muscles on the...
  8. ECP

    The CuraListic Program Helped My Tinnitus

    For the past two weeks, I have been spending about two hours a day doing self-massage on my neck, shoulders, and upper back muscles. I have been using videos from various physical therapists on YouTube, and it has significantly helped me with fatigue and anxiety. I also believe it has benefited...
  9. ECP

    That's great news! I hope it continues to heal quickly and completely. And I bet it feels...

    That's great news! I hope it continues to heal quickly and completely. And I bet it feels strangely gratifying to watch an injured body part heal at a reasonably acceptable pace. Our ear problems are so much slower to resolve.
  10. ECP

    Struggling with Tinnitus Spikes from Digital Audio: Any Speaker Recommendations?

    I have found an older discussion thread on the subject of speakers that may be gentler to listen to. I hope this is helpful. https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/speakers-for-those-with-digital-audio-sensitivity.52406/
  11. ECP

    Difficulty Hearing While Wearing My Peltor Earmuffs: Do I Have New Hearing Loss?

    I had a very bad setback on April 6, caused by a loud but brief noise exposure. Since then, there has been a major resurgence of noxacusis, and I’ve noticed that my tinnitus is much louder than its usual baseline. I’m really afraid it will stay that way. In the past, I was able to have...
  12. ECP

    How Do You Deal with "Bad News" from Your Doctor? Aftermath of a Pit Bull Attack (Frustrations with Emergency Care and Ongoing Wound Treatment)

    Getting another opinion is a great idea. I hope you are able to find a specialist soon so that you can have some peace of mind.
  13. ECP

    How Do You Deal with "Bad News" from Your Doctor? Aftermath of a Pit Bull Attack (Frustrations with Emergency Care and Ongoing Wound Treatment)

    Oh no, that sounds horrible! I have never been in the same situation, but if I were you, I would want to follow up with them as soon as possible and ask whether it is really healed or if it is something that requires lifelong monitoring. You could also talk to your regular GP and ask them to...
  14. ECP

    Multi-Toned Tinnitus with a Rhythmic Beat: How to Cope?

    How is everyone doing now? I have been listening to short snippets of fractal music that I found on YouTube, but they are not helping me, probably because I have palinacousis as well as musical tinnitus. In theory, the random and non-melodic quality of fractal music should wipe out my brain’s...
  15. ECP

    Anyone with MES (Musical Ear Syndrome) / Musical Tinnitus?

    Ugh, I am going through a bout of musical tinnitus right now. I have had it in the past, but only temporarily, and I had hoped it had gone away for good. No such luck. As I read through all the responses in this thread, I see a lot of things I have in common with many of you: 1. For me, the...
  16. ECP

    Does One Ear Become Twice as Sensitive to Noise if the Other Ear Is Covered? Do I Need My Own Bedroom Now?

    Thank you. I have heard of couples sleeping apart for reasons other than marital strife, and I have always wondered how common it is. I wish that society would normalize the idea of married people having their own beds so that it does not seem like a sad anomaly. I am going to give it a few...
  17. ECP

    Ear Pressure and Pain After a Restroom Hand Dryer and Child Screaming

    I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I remember when you had a similar incident with a restroom hand dryer and a car wash kiosk last year. It does sound like your tensor tympani might be involved, but possibly also your trigeminal nerve if you’re feeling something in your jaw. I’m not sure...
  18. ECP

    Does One Ear Become Twice as Sensitive to Noise if the Other Ear Is Covered? Do I Need My Own Bedroom Now?

    Hello, I'm back after a five-month hiatus from TinnitusTalk. I took a break from being here partly because I had nothing new to share, and partly because I was dealing with a new and unrelated health concern that I needed to look into. I had hoped my ear problems would stabilize and improve in...
  19. ECP

    Is Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) Safe for Someone with Tinnitus?

    I was prescribed Oxcarbazepine last week. The prescribing doctor was aware of my ear symptoms but focused primarily on my headaches since he’s a neurologist, not an ENT. Officially, this medication is for managing my headache symptoms. I started with 150 mg twice a day for 48 hours, then...
  20. ECP

    Announcement Welcome to Updated Tinnitus Talk!

    I finally figured out how to find the page that has all the profile posts in one place so that you're seeing more than just five of them. It is at: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/whats-new/profile-posts I found it by clicking the button near the top of the Tinnitus Talk home page that has the...
  21. ECP

    If You Must Get an MRI, Would You Opt for Full Sedation?

    I see now, after reading all the replies, that some of you may have thought I have claustrophobia in addition to ear problems. My apologies for the confusion. I only mentioned claustrophobia in my first post because that is what all my healthcare providers say. They have suggested they could put...
  22. ECP

    If You Must Get an MRI, Would You Opt for Full Sedation?

    Thank you! I wasn’t aware of diffusion-weighted imaging. If I proceed with the MRI, I’ll ask if this sequence can be skipped. I also inquired about wearing earmuffs over foam earplugs, but they said it wouldn’t be possible. They explained that my head would need to fit inside a coil, and there...
  23. ECP

    I hope your sleep improves. 💙

    I hope your sleep improves. 💙
  24. ECP

    Announcement Welcome to Updated Tinnitus Talk!

    Can someone please tell me where to find all the profile posts in reverse chronological order? With the new website design, only about five of the most recent profile posts are displayed at the very bottom of the home page, and anything older than that quickly gets pushed off. The other day, I...
  25. ECP

    About 6 hours a night. I rarely stay asleep past 5:45 a.m. I'm trying different things to...

    About 6 hours a night. I rarely stay asleep past 5:45 a.m. I'm trying different things to improve sleep duration. How about you?
  26. ECP

    I'm glad to hear you're doing better. My tinnitus has worsened on the right, but the hyperacusis...

    I'm glad to hear you're doing better. My tinnitus has worsened on the right, but the hyperacusis has started to improve again. I never know from day to day what will happen.
  27. ECP

    If You Must Get an MRI, Would You Opt for Full Sedation?

    My doctors keep encouraging me to have an MRI, but I keep refusing because I am very worried about a catastrophic setback that could lead to a significant increase in noxacusis, tinnitus, and hearing loss. They have told me I could be fully sedated for the MRI if I choose. They explained that I...
  28. ECP

    Hi, I came back to the boards today after a two-month absence caused by depression. I'm still...

    Hi, I came back to the boards today after a two-month absence caused by depression. I'm still dealing with ear symptoms daily. How are you doing?
  29. ECP

    Thank you @MindOverMatter. I will try to reframe things in my mind after a good night's sleep...

    Thank you @MindOverMatter. I will try to reframe things in my mind after a good night's sleep. I'm just especially depressed right now because it's the 24-month mark and some bad stuff happened last week that I wrote about in the suicide thread. :( Anyway, I appreciate your kindness very much.
  30. ECP

    @MindOverMatter And another old friend emailed me over the summer to say hi. I have yet to...

    @MindOverMatter And another old friend emailed me over the summer to say hi. I have yet to respond because the thought of telling him about my ear injury triggers my PTSD. I realized today that I don't have to tell him about it, and a weight lifted from my shoulders. He lives thousands of miles...
  31. ECP

    @MindOverMatter I also feel like I'm going to be a burden socially. I told 4 friends in a group...

    @MindOverMatter I also feel like I'm going to be a burden socially. I told 4 friends in a group email how I've been doing, and now they're talking about us all getting together when I'm up for it. I'm afraid to explain to them that no matter how quiet they are, and no matter how quiet the venue...
  32. ECP

    Thank you @MindOverMatter. It's not that I don't find joy in anything--my issue is feeling...

    Thank you @MindOverMatter. It's not that I don't find joy in anything--my issue is feeling socially uncomfortable around healthy people who knew me when I was healthy and who are now going to feel awkward when they find out how sick I became. I feel inauthentic when I downplay how bad it is, but...
  33. ECP

    Based on my memory of that, I can relate to them, but they can no longer relate to me, now that...

    Based on my memory of that, I can relate to them, but they can no longer relate to me, now that T and H have fundamentally changed my life.
  34. ECP

    At this point, I feel like I have nothing in common with healthy people, other than a memory of...

    At this point, I feel like I have nothing in common with healthy people, other than a memory of what it was like to be healthy.
  35. ECP

    I'm tempted to be honest and say, "I have done nothing in the past 24 months except try to get...

    I'm tempted to be honest and say, "I have done nothing in the past 24 months except try to get well." But that would make them sad.
  36. ECP

    nothing to say. Like, they have no freaking idea how T and H will impact every aspect of your...

    nothing to say. Like, they have no freaking idea how T and H will impact every aspect of your existence: hobbies, jobs, social life.
  37. ECP

    I tell them about my incurable ear problems, and then when they say, "What else is going on?", I...

    I tell them about my incurable ear problems, and then when they say, "What else is going on?", I feel even worse because I have
  38. ECP

    Does anyone else find it triggering to catch up with old friends who have yet to hear about your...

    Does anyone else find it triggering to catch up with old friends who have yet to hear about your T or H? I feel like a Debbie Downer when
  39. ECP

    Yes, I've had a CT scan.

    Yes, I've had a CT scan.
  40. ECP

    I have not improved that much in 24 months. On a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 was the original...

    I have not improved that much in 24 months. On a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 was the original severity, I feel like a 7. You're probably wasting your time asking me for so much advice. :(
  41. ECP

    I don't go out with my husband as much as I used to. If I'm not feeling up to it, I stay home...

    I don't go out with my husband as much as I used to. If I'm not feeling up to it, I stay home. It's not worth a setback. I will eat at a restaurant only if they aren't playing music and it's not crowded.
  42. ECP

    I don't wear ear protection 24/7. I've slowly reintroduced sounds in the past 2 years. However...

    I don't wear ear protection 24/7. I've slowly reintroduced sounds in the past 2 years. However, my husband vacuums our apartment only when I am at the supermarket, and he uses the coffee grinder only when I am upstairs with the door closed.
  43. ECP

    I would wear earmuffs or earplugs when the sound of rainfall was painful.

    I would wear earmuffs or earplugs when the sound of rainfall was painful.
  44. ECP

    It helped only with depression. It didn't make the tinnitus more tolerable, and it didn't...

    It helped only with depression. It didn't make the tinnitus more tolerable, and it didn't improve the ear pain. The ear pain was improved only by staying home as much as possible and by wearing ear protection when necessary.
  45. ECP

    No, I used it for 9 months and stopped. If I ever go back on an antidepressant, it will probably...

    No, I used it for 9 months and stopped. If I ever go back on an antidepressant, it will probably be clomipramine or nortriptyline, since they have helped some people with ear pain.
  46. ECP

    I never tried it and I doubt I ever will. The ear pain is too severe. If I only had tinnitus, I...

    I never tried it and I doubt I ever will. The ear pain is too severe. If I only had tinnitus, I would have tried it.
  47. ECP

    No, I never got one, but I might have to someday as a last resort.

    No, I never got one, but I might have to someday as a last resort.
  48. ECP

    For what it's worth, I read somewhere that a water lily has roots in muddy water. It can't...

    For what it's worth, I read somewhere that a water lily has roots in muddy water. It can't blossom until it grows tall enough to break the surface of the water. The mud fertilizes the water lily plant, and ultimately that mud is what makes the plant grow tall enough to transcend the water and...
  49. ECP

    I still fall into the Mariana Trench sometimes. Quiet hobbies and distractions help because they...

    I still fall into the Mariana Trench sometimes. Quiet hobbies and distractions help because they keep my mind from thinking about my problems. It's a conundrum, though, because the worse my symptoms are, the harder it is to distract myself and feel like I'm climbing out of the trench. Then I get...
  50. ECP

    My tinnitus used to be much louder and more reactive. There were also many more different sounds...

    My tinnitus used to be much louder and more reactive. There were also many more different sounds that changed throughout the day. My pain level and brain fog and depression were also much worse. I still have all these symptoms, just at a lower level. The improvement isn't obvious from one day to...
  51. ECP

    Perhaps in a few months, you will also look back and realize that while your symptoms went up...

    Perhaps in a few months, you will also look back and realize that while your symptoms went up and down from day to day, that overall you are getting better. You said earlier that you feel like you're in the Mariana Trench. As we say in America, if a situation is the worst it can be, "There is...
  52. ECP

    I've worked from home for many years. I stopped working almost completely after the injury, but...

    I've worked from home for many years. I stopped working almost completely after the injury, but I am gradually becoming more productive now. Everyone says that the healing process is non-linear. I've had improvement followed by worsening followed by more improvement. It's discouraging, but I am...
  53. ECP

    The initial cause is a long story to tell, but you can find it under my profile as the very...

    The initial cause is a long story to tell, but you can find it under my profile as the very first posting I made. An urgent-care doctor gave me some prednisone pills exactly 2 weeks after the injury, but they didn't help. I probably should've sought treatment immediately instead of waiting 2 weeks.
  54. ECP

    Two years into this, I am able to go out for reasons other than grocery shopping. I just have to...

    Two years into this, I am able to go out for reasons other than grocery shopping. I just have to be selective about where and when and how long. You may also reach that point if you hang on long enough. I remember my first four months were the worst.
  55. ECP

    I hope your symptoms get better soon. Although it may not give you much comfort, many people do...

    I hope your symptoms get better soon. Although it may not give you much comfort, many people do get better with time. It's just that the first few months are the worst and the most surreal.
  56. ECP

    What does ACRN stand for?

    What does ACRN stand for?
  57. ECP

    I know that feeling all too well. I spend much of my day trying to find little things I can do...

    I know that feeling all too well. I spend much of my day trying to find little things I can do to stay productive, or at least distracted. I shudder to think how much I could have accomplished in the past two years, were it not for the ear injury.
  58. ECP

    It could be either of those things, but I believe the quiet kind is more likely to be perceived...

    It could be either of those things, but I believe the quiet kind is more likely to be perceived as mild. Stability helps too. When mine is both loud and reactive, it's harder to ignore.
  59. ECP

    @2049v Fans and AC noises cause pain for me, and it sometimes makes my tinnitus louder...

    @2049v Fans and AC noises cause pain for me, and it sometimes makes my tinnitus louder afterward. I've spent all summer wearing earmuffs while running the AC at home.
  60. ECP

    That's a tough situation. :( Does your school by chance have one of those HR programs where...

    That's a tough situation. :( Does your school by chance have one of those HR programs where employees can donate their unused sick days and vacation days to employees who need extra time off for medical reasons?