25F New to the Club (Unfortunately): Begging for Advice and Support

[stickynotes]

Hi everyone,

I am a 25-year-old woman and very new to tinnitus. It has been a little over a month since this started. I am devastated and looking for people who understand, because those around me do not. I have had two hearing tests this month, both normal. I have gone to many concerts, more than ten this year, and always wore Loop earplugs, but I guess it eventually caught up to me. I do not have any other preexisting conditions or symptoms. I saw an ENT a few days ago. They were helpful in offering validation and guidance about using earplugs, though I already know the typical prognosis and that there is no cure.

I feel so dejected and isolated. My tinnitus is loud and noticeable in quiet rooms but not as bad when I am out and about. I now hear a high-pitched tone in both ears, along with some background ringing. This morning, for the first time since it began, my right ear had a different tone and was slightly louder, which really scared me.

Over the past few weeks, I have made a lot of changes:

• No earphones or headphones
• No more concerts or loud environments
• Avoiding vacuums
• Wearing Loop earplugs in loud traffic and on public transport
• Using 3M Peltor X2A earmuffs when public transport is too loud or when Loop earplugs are not enough. I always keep them with me just in case of sudden loud sounds like ambulances.

I even downloaded a dB meter app. I have completely stopped listening to music, even though it used to be a huge part of my life. Everything is still so new, and I am feeling very depressed about how it is affecting my quality of life. I am trying to stay positive and remind myself that I still have my health and good things ahead, but it is hard. I do not want tinnitus to take over my life, yet I feel like it is making me more irritated and paranoid. I know I am not truly alone, but I still feel that way. I am terrified it will get worse despite my precautions. I get anxious about going to restaurants or stores that might be loud. Most of what I read online are horror stories, which does not help. I am trying my best to stay hopeful and give my brain time to adapt, but I feel like I am living in constant fear of it worsening.

I have an upcoming flight to visit family and friends I have not seen in a long time, and I am very anxious about it. I am asking for tips and tricks to manage flights, because I am scared it will make the tinnitus worse. I know I should probably avoid scrolling too much online, but I feel lost. I will definitely bring my Loop and foam earplugs, as well as the 3M Peltor X2A earmuffs. Do you recommend noise cancelling headphones too? My seat is closer to the front of the plane, and the flight is only two hours.

Thank you so much for your help. I would really appreciate it, as I am just trying to feel less alone.

 

[GregCA]

I use noise-cancelling headphones on flights, and they work quite well at reducing airplane cabin noise, which is a fairly low-frequency sound.

 

[Badger55]

Hello and welcome to the club that nobody wants to be a member of. I have been part of it for over 33 years, so I know quite a bit.

I saw many hopeful signs in what you shared.

First, you wear earplugs at concerts. That should reduce your sound exposure by at least 20 decibels, bringing it well below 100 decibels.

Second, your hearing tests were normal. Since you didn't mention any distortion, muffling, ear pain, or fullness, it's unlikely that you've sustained serious hearing damage.

Third, the actions you've taken are appropriate. You should avoid all exposure to noise levels above 70 decibels while recovering. Your decibel meter will be helpful for monitoring this. If you're going to be exposed to levels above that, always wear earplugs. If there's a risk of exposure above 80 decibels, use both earplugs and earmuffs. Your flight should be fine since it's only two hours long, but make sure to wear both earplugs and earmuffs because the sound levels can exceed 80 decibels at times.

Above all, focus on getting as much sleep as possible, as it's often the most reliable way to ease tinnitus distress and reduce its intensity. And remember, you're not alone. Thousands of people have faced the same condition and ultimately gotten their lives back. Based on what you've described, your prognosis for significant recovery is good. Even if the tinnitus doesn't completely go away, it can become mild enough that you'll be able to ignore it most of the time and live normally again.

Hang in there. You're on the right track.

 

[Deb ringing]

I am new to the club as well. My tinnitus seems to have come from a brief exposure to delta dust pesticide. Three days later my hearing was a little lower and then the tinnitus came. I was suppose to fly tomorrow and I cancelled the trip. I just don't know exactly what is happening and I was afraid of severe pain on the flight. I was given a dose of 40 Mg Prednisone 4 days ago. (5 days total) My hearing test showed slight sudden hearing loss. I don't know if this will clear or not. I am exactly two weeks from the day of exposure. The doctor I went to just said I have some hearing loss. She didn't offer me any other testing or help. I don't know if the hair in my ear canal was damaged from the pesticide or if this will reverse. I can't find anyone local who knows anything about short term pest exposure. I feel that the exterminator used a more dangerous pesticide that was necessary. It is really hard to get answers. I think I should get an ABR test next Does anyone have similar experience.

 

[billie48]

Hi everyone,

I am a 25-year-old woman and very new to tinnitus. It has been a little over a month since this started. I am devastated and looking for people who understand, because those around me do not. I have had two hearing tests this month, both normal. I have gone to many concerts, more than ten this year, and always wore Loop earplugs, but I guess it eventually caught up to me. I do not have any other preexisting conditions or symptoms. I saw an ENT a few days ago. They were helpful in offering validation and guidance about using earplugs, though I already know the typical prognosis and that there is no cure.

I feel so dejected and isolated. My tinnitus is loud and noticeable in quiet rooms but not as bad when I am out and about. I now hear a high-pitched tone in both ears, along with some background ringing. This morning, for the first time since it began, my right ear had a different tone and was slightly louder, which really scared me.

Over the past few weeks, I have made a lot of changes:

• No earphones or headphones
• No more concerts or loud environments
• Avoiding vacuums
• Wearing Loop earplugs in loud traffic and on public transport
• Using 3M Peltor X2A earmuffs when public transport is too loud or when Loop earplugs are not enough. I always keep them with me just in case of sudden loud sounds like ambulances.

I even downloaded a dB meter app. I have completely stopped listening to music, even though it used to be a huge part of my life. Everything is still so new, and I am feeling very depressed about how it is affecting my quality of life. I am trying to stay positive and remind myself that I still have my health and good things ahead, but it is hard. I do not want tinnitus to take over my life, yet I feel like it is making me more irritated and paranoid. I know I am not truly alone, but I still feel that way. I am terrified it will get worse despite my precautions. I get anxious about going to restaurants or stores that might be loud. Most of what I read online are horror stories, which does not help. I am trying my best to stay hopeful and give my brain time to adapt, but I feel like I am living in constant fear of it worsening.

I have an upcoming flight to visit family and friends I have not seen in a long time, and I am very anxious about it. I am asking for tips and tricks to manage flights, because I am scared it will make the tinnitus worse. I know I should probably avoid scrolling too much online, but I feel lost. I will definitely bring my Loop and foam earplugs, as well as the 3M Peltor X2A earmuffs. Do you recommend noise cancelling headphones too? My seat is closer to the front of the plane, and the flight is only two hours.

Thank you so much for your help. I would really appreciate it, as I am just trying to feel less alone.

Welcome to the forum. You have already received good advice from the members above, and I would just like to add my own experience in the hope that it gives you more confidence about the future. Our Success Stories section contains hundreds of accounts from people who have gone through the same struggles, especially in the beginning, myself included.

At first, I woke up one night with my right ear screaming with an extremely high-pitched ringing sound. I jumped out of bed in a panic, not knowing what had happened or what to do. I literally had to turn on the shower and stay there just to get through the night. Needless to say, the next few months were a nightmare of relentless anxiety and panic attacks, and I had to take medication to make it through each day.

Then, to make things even worse, severe hyperacusis struck. Every normal sound was unbearable. I truly believed I could never recover from these two demons. But today, I live a normal and deeply fulfilling life. I even wrote my success story, From Darkness to Light, where I share many of the strategies that helped me along the way.

For the short version, read that story and others in the Success Stories section. They can give you hope and teach you effective coping methods. Your tinnitus is still very new, and you do not have hyperacusis, so it may very well improve over time. Do not lose hope. Mask the sound if you need to, take care of yourself, and may God bless your recovery.

From Darkness to Light, How I Recovered from Tinnitus & Hyperacusis

I am one of those who strongly believe that being positive will help us habituate to tinnitus faster. A few years back I was in total darkness of immense sufferings from severe tinnitus & hyperacusis. I have ultra high pitch and loud tinnitus (T) which was soon followed by piercingly hurtful...

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