1 Year Tinnitus Anniversary (from Loud Party), 9 More to Go!

I woke up today and saw my friend's instagram feed - it had a picture of our annual office party which was yesterday. The same party which gave me this life altered condition, exactly 1 year ago. So thought I'd come here and post my first thread.

I still remember everything that happened that night. Too much alcohol, too many friends, and a crazy loud Deejay. I was right next too the speakers (and so were my friends), but for some reason I was dancing more freely that day, just on every beat. The speakers were too loud, they took breaks in between but not me. Why, because I never knew such a thing called tinnitus and hyperacusis existed in my invincible world. I had everything, a good paying job, a great girlfriend (dang 2019 started on such a high note) other than a few issues at home (who doesn't anyway). But yeah, then the deejay stopped at midnight and my ears were ringing (so were my friends'). I didn't think much of it, had dinner and came home. And they were ringing when I got home as well. I called my girlfriend, told her all about the party and fun and how my ears were ringing, and slept. And well, they never stopped ringing.

Saw a couple of ENTs after a day, they gave me prednisone (got it in 36 hours, 60 mg dose), took it for 3-4 days and then I started getting all those suicidal thoughts and sleepless nights and threw it. Not sure if they'd helped, but I never finished them to see the results (regret it big time).

Coming to my tinnitus, it was mild to begin with. Could only hear it in quiet rooms, and hyperacusis was only for loud and for high frequency sounds. I started reading this forum and read that I should continue to protect from loud sounds (which I did, didn't go to concerts or parties like that) and not normal everyday sounds, but it never occurred to me that I live in a third world country and these normal everyday sounds like traffic, noisy restaurants, crowded malls, bus rides, subway rides are not normal at all. What I failed to understand is that people advising enriching normal sounds live in perfect developed areas like the USA or Europe and not some shitty third world country in south east Asia. But well, they are not to blame, I am, as my ears continued to hurt and I never listened to my own body. As a result, my tinnitus is now much much worse, hear it all day long at work, at home, watching TV, driving in car, walking with friends outside and the noise sensitivity on top of all that makes it miserable.

Now I continue to work, enduring pain, taking it a day at a time, and always worrying what if it continues to get worse. What if it gets worse to the point that I can't leave my home at all and go to work. I know my parents will take care of me to some extent, but in my early twenties, isolated in my home, with no life and no income, I won't survive that. I know I won't, because the only thing that was ever important to me, was my freedom. My freedom that I worked so hard to achieve in school and college. Without that, well, I won't survive. So I wonder, 3-4-5-10 years down the line, will my life still be the same? Going to work, scared of every loud noise making my condition worse, isolating myself and living alone and playing stupid games all day or will my condition stabilize to the point that I'll try to catch up on my lost years, start dating again and start living again? That's why I am giving myself 9 more years. If it remains the same or gets worse, I am out of here, if not, well, I would really really like to start over.

Really sorry for the negative post, this day is bringing a lot of emotions and I have no one else to talk to (really, no one else). To the newbies, this always isn't the case. Most people do get better. Listen to your body, protect your ears.

 

Your message made me sad as you are young and have so much living to do. It must be hard having to get reminded everyday what you are missing on. Don’t despair we have all been on the brink but it does getter better. Be good to yourself and others and things will start to going in your favour. While it is difficult try to be positive - yes you still relatively new to the condition and you are being sensible with protection it will improve especially healing powers are probably more potent at a younger age.

 

I'm struggling as well, I'm 26. I lived with mild T since I was 9 and it never got any worse until I went to 3 heavy metal concerts without ear protection in 2019. The last one left me with hearing loss and made the T worse. Not a day has gone by when I haven't obsessed over my foolish mistake. I too, had a promising future and freedom. I feel like I sabotaged all of my progress in life and must start out from scratch. I don't hear the way I used to and it's a constant reminder of my carelessness and what I've lost. Every day is a tortorous reminder. I've had constant nightmares and strange dreams every single night. This has marked the final chapter of the happy, carefree part of my life. I'm also living with my parents, and terrified of the future as I know this cannot go on forever and I will eventually be on my own. I feel so much more vulnerable now and fear having to deal with lifes problems compounded by my hearing loss and T.

You're not alone

 

I feel exactly the same, I only live to see my daughter grow up, she is 12 now, I'm 42.

I cannot commit suicide while she is entering her teenage years. For the moment I work and save to make sure she will be ok financially, if not emotionally.

At age 50, if there is no cure or improvement, I'm outta here.

 

You want to commit suicide over 8 dB tinnitus??? Trust me, it's a non issue. You will get there, I've seen it countless times...

 

Hello fellow Canadian. In fact my tinnitus is way louder starting in the middle the afternoon and especially at night.

 

I was actually able to sleep last night. I now only take B1, B6 and Magnesium. Hopefully this will help. The other meds didn't. Just a soft whistle at night.

 

Oh sorry, I didn't know that... Over time tinnitus tends to stabilize and find a sweet spot at a tolerable level. Thing is it's easy to fall in the false sense of security trap once that happens. I've been there, done that, and seen it happen countless times.