2 Firecrackers Blowing Up Just Now!

[Jiri]

Hi Everyone,

a quick question, two loud firecrackers exploded about 30 m away from me just now. I was indoors in my room.

The first one I had no protection on my ears. I heard it explode. Then I quickly put my Peltor Bull's Eye 1 (-27 dB SNR) on and the second one blew up!

How long after the explosions could I expect a tinnitus spike?? Would I know right after the explosion something is wrong, would it take a a day or two... a week??

Anybody has any idea??

Thanks a lot.

Jiri

 

[hans799]

if you don't have a spike or muffled hearing right now, that's good news.

If you don't wake up tomorrow with a spike, you're most likely in the clear.

 

[Ambassador]

What are fireworks doing going off in your room?

 

[Jiri]

What are fireworks doing going off in your room?

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough.

I live in a village now. I was in my room that has a window. About 30 m away (a rough estimate) from the house in the direction of my room two firecrackers went off. The 1st I heard, when the second firecracker went off I had already my Peltor Bull's Eye 1 earmuffs on - 27 dB SNR.

So the question remains the same:

How long after the explosions could I expect a tinnitus spike?? Would I know right after the explosion something is wrong, would it take a a day or two... a week??

A note: The firecrackers could have been anywhere from 100 dB to 120 dB right at the epicentre of explosion.

Thanks for any advice or experience.

 

[Tinker Bell]

If it did not immediately increase your tinnitus volume, then you are likely fine. Think about it, when people get tinnitus or hearing loss from a loud concert, an explosion or a gun shot it happens immediately.

Having anxiety about the firecrackers and worrying whether your tinnitus will spike will very likely cause you to fixate on the sound and experience a spike.

 

[Jiri]

If it did not immediately increase your tinnitus volume, then you are likely fine. Think about it, when people get tinnitus or hearing loss from a loud concert, an explosion or a gun shot it happens immediately.

Having anxiety about the firecrackers and worrying whether your tinnitus will spike will very likely cause you to fixate on the sound and experience a spike.

That is correct in a lot a of cases. However, my own onset of tinnitus when it was the first time that it turned into hell where I couldn't sleep and suffered was very gradual - it took I'd say about two weeks time. That's why I'm so worried right now and you're definitelly right about my anxiety possibly causing a spike later.

Is why I need some facts, numbers, pointers, anything that will put me to chill mode or think rationally.

 

[Tinker Bell]

That is correct in a lot a of cases. However, my own onset of tinnitus when it was the first time that it turned into hell where I couldn't sleep and suffered was very gradual - it took I'd say about two weeks time. That's why I'm so worried right now and you're definitelly right about my anxiety possibly causing a spike later.

Is why I need some facts, numbers, pointers, anything that will put me to chill mode or think rationally.

My tinnitus volume increased at about two weeks, too. But that was because of anxiety. It was around that time that I truly began to panic that the noise was not going to go away. The first two weeks, I thought it was a minor problem that would fade.

Given tinnitus and its relation with the limbic system, anxiety is a significant part of spikes. I personally know people with loud tinnitus who are frequently exposed to loud noises. They've experienced no spikes. They also have no tinnitus anxiety.

An older member got mad at me once when I posted this but it's still true: I cannot control my tinnitus but I can control my response to it.

I am still working on learning to control my response, to not let my tinnitus anxiety take over my thoughts. Everyone has a different way of doing that, but maybe make a goal to find a way that works for you.

BTW, how are you post the car accident? How is your neck? You've been through a lot recently. An accident is a stressful situation, even without tinnitus. Hope you are recovering!

 

[Jiri]

BTW, how are you post the car accident? How is your neck? You've been through a lot recently. An accident is a stressful situation, even without tinnitus. Hope you are recovering!

Yes, that's true. This week has been a complete s**tshow. I was responding to the HBOT therapy well prior to the accident. Then I took a day off because my neck was very stiff and I had a headache, I still wear a cervical collar when I leave the house, with my earmuffs on too (full on hyperacusis). A strange thing happened after the accident. On Thursday after the HBOT therapy had been finnished my "better" left ear started ringing a lot more an it drowned out my high-pitched squeal right ear. Then the next day, right after I got out of the hyperbaric chamber both of my ears were ringing loud. In the evening it quites down again and it's somewhat at it's baseline in the morning. Then repeat.

This happened yesterday. My friend picked me up and went quicky to get smth from the shop. Left me in the car and locked the car doors. What do you know? The car alarm went off. I had my muffs on. Later on I forced him to measure the sound of the alarm from the inside. It was '77' dB acorrding to Ulceri Noise dB meter. Now the two firecrackers..

I might just as well end it or end up again in the mental house. This isn't normal. Everything seem to be against me.

 

[Elfin]

@Jiri Mate, I know how feel and I am currently acting and reacting in exactly the same way.

Living a life permanently on edge!

 

[Jiri]

Living a life permanently on edge!

Precisely.

 

[Elfin]

@Jiri do you find your sound metre to be reliable?

I need to get one and saw that you went on quite an expansive search.

 

[Tweaker]

That is correct in a lot a of cases. However, my own onset of tinnitus when it was the first time that it turned into hell where I couldn't sleep and suffered was very gradual - it took I'd say about two weeks time. That's why I'm so worried right now and you're definitelly right about my anxiety possibly causing a spike later.

Is why I need some facts, numbers, pointers, anything that will put me to chill mode or think rationally.

Here are some facts: If you use the Inverse Square Law then 120 decibels would equate to approx. 90 decibels at 30 meters away. This is safe.
Link to calculation:
http://www.wkcgroup.com/tools-room/inverse-square-law-sound-calculator/

Even if the fireworks were 130 decibels, at 30 meters ways that would be approximately 100 decibels. Plus you were indoors, so the sound be be further reduced. The sound level would have been below 100 decibels which is safe to be exposed to for up to 15 minutes. I would not be worried. Hope this helps reassure you.

 

[Jiri]

@Jiri do you find your sound metre to be reliable?

I need to get one and saw that you went on quite an expansive search.

I got this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075ZRNGG...R8&pd_rd_r=E84DJQS1V3KMMCY8F52M&pd_rd_w=TAq4w, @Alue recommended it to me. As for the reliability I'm not sure. The fast mode doesn't seem to be to reliable to me (125 ms). Ask him, I've got it only recently. Unless you want to pay top dollar for a professional sound meter.

 

[Jiri]

Here are some facts: If you use the Inverse Square Law then 120 decibels would equate to approx. 90 decibels at 30 meters away. This is safe.
Link to calculation:
http://www.wkcgroup.com/tools-room/inverse-square-law-sound-calculator/

This is golden. Thanks so much. Is 90 dB safe tho? It can still cause a spike, or not?

 

[Tweaker]

This is golden. Thanks so much. Is 90 dB safe tho? It can still cause a spike, or not?

I can't answer that as everyone is different but I would be surprised if 90 decibels brief exposure could cause a spike. Most lawn mowers are louder than that.

 

[Jiri]

I can't answer that as everyone is different but I would be surprised if 90 decibels brief exposure could cause a spike. Most lawn mowers are louder than that.

Well, @Bill Bauer and @glynis might have a different opinion. I honestly don't know yet. I'm 3 months in. It seems as though there is every day some sort of loud noise exposure that you just can't avoid and you can't wear your earmuffs on all the time either otherwise you're basically listening to your own amplified tinnitus... so what do you do?

 

[Bill Bauer]

Most lawn mowers are louder than that.

And lawn mowers and weed whackers Can hurt people like us.
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...is-lawn-with-a-gas-powered-weed-wacker.22005/

 

[Jiri]

And lawn mowers and weed whackers Can hurt people like us.

Yes, but this is about a short term 1 - 2 secs 90 dB ish exposure.

 

[glynis]

@Jiri ,
You will be fine ,don't stress about it and put it down to one of the sounds that can just happen unexpectedly and don't react to it.
You will be fine.
Love glynis

 

[Jiri]

Even if the fireworks were 130 decibels, at 30 meters ways that would be approximately 100 decibels. Plus you were indoors, so the sound be be further reduced. The sound level would have been below 100 decibels which is safe to be exposed to for up to 15 minutes. I would not be worried. Hope this helps reassure you.

It did help to reassure me a bit and thanks so much for the info. But the only protection from the outside is a window. Like the weakest link of the chain.

Not a thick brick wall.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Yes, but this is about a short term 1 - 2 secs 90 dB ish exposure.

If a sound that is that loud had been generated within a meter of one's ear, it can still be dangerous, even if it lasted a fraction of a second.

I am glad that this wasn't the case for you!

 

[Tinker Bell]

If a sound that is that loud had been generated within a meter of one's ear, it can still be dangerous, even if it lasted a fraction of a second.

It wasn't a meter from his ear. It was about 30m away, outside his house. He should be fine.

 

[Jiri]

@Jiri ,
You will be fine ,don't stress about it and put it down to one of the sounds that can just happen unexpectedly and don't react to it.
You will be fine.
Love glynis

Well, if I remember correctly it was you said in one of my previous threads that even 80 dB can cause I spike. I remembered that and now I am worried about anything that's above that.

Over 80 db
Love glynis

 

[Jiri]

If a sound that is that loud had been generated within a meter of one's ear, it can still be dangerous, even if it lasted a fraction of a second.

I am glad that this wasn't the case for you!

Thanks, my friend another useful piece of information.

 

[glynis]

Well, if I remember correctly it was you said in one of my previous threads that even 80 dB can cause I spike. I remembered that and now I am worried about anything that's above that.

Im sure with it being 30meters away and your inside a building would of helped and not next to it..
Love glynis

 

[Rubenslash]

Dude u will be fine, u were inside and 30m away.. just stop reading bill bauers post, it will be good for you

 

[Jiri]

Like I said I feel like I'm in a trainwreck, the HBOT after the car accident hurts my ears (I honestly don't know if there's a correlation). Had a mental breakdown at my GP's this Fri and she thinks that perhaps it'd be better for me to return to the nut house and discontinue the HBOT - which I feel would kinda terminate my chances for a better recovery...

I don't want to be sentimental but is there such a thing as fate?? Cause this isn't normal. On Tuesday I was full of hope that finally there's something that might alleviate my tinnitus, I even got the chance to talk to a psychologist

The very same day a car accident. Then after spending hours in an A&E they decided to send me all the way to a mental house located on the other side of my country (after they read my psychiatric notes), thinking I'll spend a night there. It was a 3 hour ride in a shitty old ambulance I could feel every ditch in the road in my soaking wet shoes. At the mental house they decided that there's no reason for me to stay there so it took them another hour to figure out how to get me back. Then again, the same story 3 hour ride back home. The next day stiff neck and a proper headache + a mild tinnitus spike. The next day HBOT which made my left healthy ear ring like a fire alarm. The following day on Fri it was both ears ringing really badly. Then the GP story and a possible return to the psychiatric hospital. Btw had some redness in my left ear + pain so I got some drops for it. Then a friend of mine on our way back locks me in his car while going to pick smth up in the shop and his car alarm goes off. I'm inside the car. Today the two f**** firecrackers RIGHT after I put those eardrops in my ears. Is this normal?? I've no clue but it's destroying me.

Sorry for the longer post, I just had to get if off my chest. 3 months in and I feel like my chances of making at least 30% - 50% recovery are gone.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Then a friend of mine on our way back locks me in his car while going to pick smth up in the shop and his car alarm goes off.

Horrible...

 

[Alue]

And lawn mowers and weed whackers Can hurt people like us.
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...is-lawn-with-a-gas-powered-weed-wacker.22005/

Gas powered anything is going to be a lot louder than electric.

 

[glynis]

Dear @Jiri ,
You have been through so much noise related and a emotional breakdown and a car accident so never likely your having an emotional wobble at the moment and noisy ears.
For now do everything you can just to unwind and relax and know your safe in your home.
Keep relaxing music on and think im going fill my day finding nice things to listen too and not think of the loud sounds.
You will get through this when your thoughts become better ones and leave whats in the past as that carn't be changed.
Tinnitus can be mental torture but you will gain strenght from what you have been through and eventually come out the other end smiling .
The crash can cause a added emotional wobble but the wobbles will soon settle and stronger to face your future.
Love glynis x