5th Year of Tinnitus and It Got a Lot Better

I used to linger here a lot, scared and worried all the time. 5th year here and it's still there. It can get loud but not like before, I don't come here often now like I used to, my brain is tamed to ignore it to the max and I feel pretty much normal now...

It's not a big thing in my life anymore.

I thought I would let you guys know.

I don't care about the cure any more as well, I have been eating and drinking whatever I want. I actually use headphones too lol.

Anyways. It's not a bother anymore. Used to be loud af. Now it's all low and quiet haha...

Sayonara.

 

Haha? You have an odd sense of humor.

Never underestimate tinnitus. You might have it under control now but it can get worse, and you might end up having to commit suicide because of it. To avoid that fate, protect your hearing.

I'm happy it improved. Enjoy your life...

 

How quiet is it on a scale of 1 to 10?

 

I realize that your comment was well-intended, @annV, but I disagree that any circumstances exist that obligate us to commit suicide. Certainly, adversity can increase the attractiveness of that option, but I don't think it necessarily leads to us "having to commit suicide." The choice remains ours.

Secondly, your comment assumes the original poster suffers from tinnitus as a result of extreme sound exposure, does it not? Perhaps this was the cause of the poster's tinnitus, I don't know. For some of us, however, loud noises don't factor into our symptoms at all.

 

When did you start noticing improvements ?
Anything you did that helped your tinnitus improve??

 

Great news, this is what happens to most tinnitus sufferers. Of course be sensible and all that but good to hear your story, it will inspire some of those people who have recently acquired it.

 

It was like 8 before, and now it's like 1.

 

Yes I understand. I have experienced that spot as well haha.

 

Speak for yourself.

No. Experiencing tinnitus means one's ears have been compromised, and now other things that are bad for the ears are more likely to cause a bad outcome. In other words, even if your tinnitus is not a result of an ototoxic medication, it is crucial that you try to not take any ototoxic medication now that your ears have been compromised.

The damage is cumulative...

 

Didn't you take antibiotics recently? I agree that it's best to try and avoid ototoxic medicine, but it is nigh on impossible avoiding it a whole lifetime. Most people will have to take ototoxic medicine once or several times in their life. Sometimes it is a matter of life or death.

 

I had an ear infection (these are known to cause tinnitus to spike) and I've taken Amoxicillin (it is supposed to be the least ototoxic antibiotic) to treat it.

 

Hi, this is my first time commenting on a post here.
Soon I will also create my own thread with my story (I hope a success story)

I'm happy you've reached that state! How long did it take you?
The cause was acoustic trauma?

Thanks!

 

Yeah, so you see, one can't always avoid antibiotics or other ototoxic medicine. But wise that you took the one with the lowest risk.

 

@WaqasVic

Congrats on the habituation, and having the tinnitus at a 1 sounds great. I still would not push it and use headphones, but your call. I would continue to protect from loud sounds as tinnitus has lots of potential to get worse again real quickly.

 

One should compare the costs and the benefits. For example if a dental procedure is likely to cause tinnitus, then one might consider pulling the tooth.

 

No idea but I recently got a spike this year and then after some months the tinnitus got to the point where I am unable to notice it... It was mostly because of the loud music I had been listening to on my headphones lol.

 

Yes sure

 

I did. If you think circumstances dictate our actions, so be it. I choose to exercise free will, which many maintain is an illusion.

Perhaps. No one really knows. Certainly not terrible advice, but in my case I doubt my ears are "compromised" at all—my brain is.

Again, maybe. We just don't know. In my case I don't think there was a cumulative effect. For me it was binary, from no problem to spontaneous activation. Cases seem to vary dramatically. For all intents and purposes, we're speaking of entirely distinct disorders.

 

Free will exists, but we are also subject to countless constraints. These might be hard constraints where there is nothing to be done (e.g., being paralyzed), or soft constraints where there is a high probability that nothing can be done. Surely you will agree that there exist sets/combinations of constraints for which the pain/discomfort/cost of living exceed the benefit/enjoyment of living.

 

That’s an interesting (and sadly rather uncommon on Tinnitus Talk) opinion. I wonder what you think of the Gaby Olthuis situation, regarding (assisted) suicide?

 

Congratulations!

I wish I will be like you in 5years. I'm 23 and I really can't imagine that I will have to constrain myself my whole life. I've never been to club or concert. But my headphones were my life haha. I never putted the volume too high. And I don't like music. Only playing game. It feels unfair for now. 1 month+ in.

Inspirational story!
Live your best life.

 

I same thing happened to me with the tinnitus I got in 2015. Habituation is Magic

(Now waiting for magic round 2... it's hard)

 

Round 2 for me tho, it gets a bit hard in the start but then it's all OK, trust me... Hold onto it.

 

Please be careful! Loud noise is the mortal enemy of tinnitus sufferers, whether that was the cause or not. I don't want to sound like your mother, but tinnitus is a monster. Please try to avoid any further ear damage if possible. Rooting for you otherwise, and congratulations on habituating!

 

I know you did not ask my opinion, but I am following the thread and thought I would comment. I hated the Gaby Olthuis situation, I am not totally against assisted suicide, but I do not want to think my tinnitus would get so unbearable that euthanasia would become an option for me. I feel bad for Gaby that she did not receive more support for her tinnitus. Her mother saw her get short tempered with her children once and then decided from then on that her tinnitus must be really affecting her to the point she could not live her life normally. Are you kidding me? My tinnitus has caused me to be short tempered with my kids, cry in front of my kids, make crummy decisions, get anxious, get depressed and not just once or twice but so frequently it is embarrassing; yet still my family loves me and would never want me to choose euthanasia. Sometimes I think families need more support to understand how to cope with a loved one with tinnitus.

 

She had had severe tinnitus and severe pain-hyperacusis for years and no treatment she had tried was helping her. She was in pain most of the time and not able to live a normal life anymore. Her family tried everything they could to support her, the children moved out, her mom cooked for her, other people looked after her house and got her groceries. If you're suffering this badly with no end in sight, then yes, some people will choose euthanasia. She's also not the only person that opted for it due to severe tinnitus and pain-hyperacusis.

Her mother didn't just decide that Gaby couldn't live a normal life anymore, Gaby couldn't live a normal life anymore, that's how debilitating tinnitus and hyperacusis can be. I don't know if you know how insanely painful hyperacusis can be, even to the point where you can't even whisper anymore because it feels like the inside of your ears and your whole brain are on fire.

Her mother made it very clear that they tried whatever they could to support her. There were so many things Gaby simply couldn't do anymore because of her severe pain-hyperacusis and no amount of support or accommodations would have changed that. Implying that all she needed was more support, undermines how debilitating these conditions can be. Her mother didn't want her to die but she understood how much her daughter was suffering and that there were no medical treatments coming out any time soon. Even the Youtube comments are more understanding of Gaby's situation.

 

@Autumnly
My apologies, in no way was my post intended to undermine the pain and suffering tinnitus & hyperacusis can cause. I have only had tinnitus and mild H for 2 years, so perhaps I am still new to all of this.

I also live in a country where euthanasia is not an option for those suffering from tinnitus and or hyperacussis. My view is also formed by the norms/laws of my country. Euthanasia is a very new topic in Canada, and it is not easily accessible for us.

 

You make a very good point. Acoustic trauma is probably the #1 cause of tinnitus, but there are many others.

I guess most people (including me) automatically assume the tinnitus was noise induced.

 

You are only a month or so in so there is a very good chance you will see significant improvement in the next 6-12 months. Most acoustic trauma induced tinnitus sorts itself out within 2 years. There is a good chance you will recover.

 

@jjflyman Hi, how are you. I remember reading that your tinnitus has significantly faded. How is it now? Is it still fading? Is it very low? What would you say it is on a scale of 1 to 10?