A Treatise on Not Becoming a Monk...

Hello everyone. My tinnitus started in mid January this year. I went to a shooting range for the first time and shot for an hour in the morning. I wore protection. I was fine the rest of the day. I woke up the following morning with very loud high pitched T in both ears. This was accompanied by pain in the ears and and a feeling of immense pressure in my skull. This went on for three weeks. I've read in the past about crazy people who literally drill a hole in their skull to make "it" go away. I understand them now. I have had short lived T in the past after concerts and band practice and always thought it was something that passes. I knew this was different so I did what everyone does. I panicked.

I did some reading, some here and was hoping I could switch it off before it embedded. I saw an acupuncturist right off the bat while waiting for an appointment with an ENT. She gave me some herbals to calm my "liver fire". I gave up on that and my saw my ENT about two weeks in. He gave me a run of prednisolone which did help with the cranial pressure and with the pain and recommended I take zinc, magnesium & ginko biloba. CBT was also recommended. Physically I'm fine. I saw two audiologists. One tried to sell me $3000.00 Widex hearing aids with a tinnitus app for my phone and the other tried to sell me $50.00 worth of LipoFlavonoid for a $125.00. I declined both. I have mild hearing loss around 4000Hz it turns out. I've spent too much time on Google, spent too much money on supplements. I'd try medicinal leeches at this point if I thought they'd help. I have decided I have to learn how to cope. All the doctors told me I'm going have to live with this and to hope it passes but that creates a problem for me. I need to find a path forward.

My main problem is that by trade I'm woodworker. I build furniture. My bigger concern is that I'm a woodworker that decided a few months back to make a course correction so this happened while I'm unemployed. I needed time off and my plan was to get some rest then find a better paying position. Now....I'm frozen in my tracks. Woodshops are very loud places with an assortment loud noises. The work is physical and the environment can be stressful. I'm 8 weeks in with my T. It hasn't passed and ramps up as the day passes. Am I looking at a career change? My tendency is to just man up and get back to work but I'm really worried that would exasperate my condition. Are there any woodworkers here surviving this on a daily basis? Any advice?
I'm 56, I could maybe find a job in a related field but I haven't run across anything yet. I'm also a musician and thought of leaving that behind is killing me also. After the limited amount of research I've done I've started to think the best option is to become a monk and find a cave high a top a hill and spend the rest of my days contemplating my navel. Arrghh.

So this is what I'm doing now: Seeking comradery here. Not becoming a monk. I just read Living With Tinnitus by Laura Cole. I've downloaded a couple apps to include the myNoise app and the Beltone app. The guided meditations in the Beltone app literally kept me from jumping in front of a truck during the first 3 weeks. I really could use some counseling but I can't afford it. I'm taking a B complex, magnesium, zinc, NAC, NAD+ and vinpocetine. I listen to CalmyLeon.com lots.
I've quit caffeine, limited alcohol, I'm excercising and I'm trying to keep a safe distance from my parrot when she gets riled up. I'm trying to stay positive. So that's it till next post....thanks for reading this (both of you) and best of luck to all of us.

 

Hi @Michael Leigh might be able give you some info as he was a carpenter etc.
Love glynis

 

HI @Turner

The early stages of tinnitus can be difficult and I advise you to take it easy for now. Don't spend money on treatments at this early stage just try and relax. Below are some links that I would like you to click on and read my articles as I feel they will be of some help. Loud noise and tinnitus do not go well together. Even if you wear earplugs, earmuff, ear defenders, if external sound is loud enough it can pass through your skull and be transferred to your inner ear by bone conduction and this can irritate the cochlea, and could make the tinnitus more intrusive.

I am a carpenter and joiner although no longer working in this field. If your work requires using a table saw, router, planner, band-saw etc in your work-shop. These loud sounds could present a problem for you at the moment, even whilst wearing ear protection for the reasons explained above. If you were able to give your ears a rest for a while, I believe it would be beneficial. Perhaps return at a later time when your tinnitus have had sufficient rest and the tinnitus hopefully reduced you'll feel much better.

I advise you not to listen to music through headphones even at low volume.
All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-ent-doctor-and-hearing-therapist.24047/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/inspiration.22894/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/a-change-of-lifestyle.20643/

 

Hi glynis,
Thank you for the kind response and taking the time out to read my intro.

 

Hello @Michael Leigh,

Thank you for the thoughtful response. The first 3 weeks I was shell shocked. I wasn't myself at all and I was trying anything to get that feeling of immense pressure in my head to cease.

Going back to work.....
Yeah, I was wondering about doubling up on hearing protection...ear plugs and muffs together but I can't see making it through a whole day at work like that. Also, I'm sure you remember being in the thick of it at work, firing up your router, taking a couple passes only to then realize how loud it is and then grabbing your hearing protection. I'm sure I'd do that again also. One of my audiologists actually told me not only that I could go back to work right away but that I also could to return to the firing range if I doubled up on hearing protection. I knew she was crazy.

Long and short I'll take your advice to heart. I had been listening off and on to some of the masking apps through earbuds but they didn't really help anyway. I'll stick to music in that background for now. So I guess the art of not becoming a monk is to become one for a while.

I'll take look at your links. Thank you for passing those on. Also thanks for taking the time out to read my intro. Hope all is well in the UK.

 

Hi @Turner

At this time even if you quadrupled your hearing protection I don't think it would help. If possible take time out from using loud woodworking tools and this will do you good. Please do not use any form of headphones, earbuds, sleephones no form of device close to your ears that emits sound, even at low volume. I'm serious about this. If you use a mobile phone this is okay to use for 5 mins then switch to external speaker is my advice. Your Audiologist means well. Whilst she may know about the anatomy of the ear and certain medical conditions that can affect it. In my opinion from what she has advised you knows next to nothing about tinnitus. I am not being disparaging it's just that she probably has never experienced loud intrusive tinnitus. Unless a person has this condition at a mild or moderate level, then they cannot fully understand it. Please read the post below to understand what I mean.

Take care
Michael

Why is my ENT Doctor useless?

Over the years I have read many posts at tinnitus forums. Therefore, it is of no surprise to see familiar questions and comments recurring especially by those that are new to this condition. Understandably, some people are in distress and are seeking help. They want reassurance that all will be well. Many want to hear the right answers to their questions or at least their version of it because anything less doesn’t compute. Will it go away? How long does it take to habituate? Will I get my life back? When will a cure be found? The list goes on.

In addition to this, I often hear people say that their ENT doctor doesn’t understand their tinnitus or what they are going through. After all, they are supposed to be the experts right? Sometimes it can leave a person feeling desperate and at a loss, not knowing what to do or where to go for help. This realisation, comes after having various tests have been done on their auditory system only to be told by their doctor, that no abnormalities where found. The advice given is to leave things as they are for now and see what happens.

Some people don’t believe in the wait and see approach and have even said their ENT doctor is completely useless when no help has been offered. Whilst everyone is entitled to an opinion, I don’t agree with this statement. However, I do understand how one can come to this conclusion, especially when the bedside manner of some doctors leaves a lot to be desired. This needs to improve if a patient is to feel proper care and consideration is being afforded to them, because we know that tinnitus can be very debilitating when severe and can affect one’s emotions considerably.

The ear is a very delicate organ and if there is no underlying medical condition causing the tinnitus, such as: pain in the ears, deafness and dizziness or balance problems. The advice to wait and see what happens is usually correct. Many people learn to habituate within the first six months sometimes a little longer and it has been known go completely away. Too early an intervention could make matters worse.

In the early stages of tinnitus, it is not unusual to experience stress, anxiety and even some depression. These symptoms usually improve with time. Having a word with your GP about this can be beneficial, as medication can be prescribed to help you cope and they don’t have to be taken long term. I am a believer in using sound enrichment; during the day and especially at night. Whether this is via a dedicated sound machine or playing low-level non-intrusive music by the bedside. The volume level set to just below the tinnitus.

ENT doctors are important health professionals and I have a lot of respect for their skill and expertise. They know all about the anatomy of the ear and are able to treat it medically or surgically. However, in my opinion they are not tinnitus experts, which I believe calls for another set of skills that the majority of them don’t have. This is the ability to know, understand and empathize, with what a tinnitus patient is going through when the condition is loud and intrusive.

My consultant is an Audiovestibular physician whom I have a lot of respect for. She once told me that I know more about tinnitus than her. She explained because never having experienced it. For this reason, when there is no underlying medical condition causing the tinnitus a person is sometimes referred to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist trained in tinnitus management.

This can involve counselling, wearing devices such as hearing aids or white noise generators. Treatments such as TRT, CBT and Mindfulness and relaxation therapy can also be helpful. These health professionals help their patients by showing them a way forward and demystifying a lot of the negativity that surrounds this condition. Not surprisingly, this level of understanding and empathy doesn’t always come from training alone, for some of these people also have tinnitus. Over the years I have met quite a few Hearing Therapists and Audiologists at tinnitus Internet forums helping people. At some point they have relayed to me that they have tinnitus or were born with it as my hearing therapist was.

 

Hey @ Michael Leigh,

This I believe! My ENT was good I thought and I visited a second audiologist associated with his office. This particular audiologist just wanted to sell me hearing aids. She works with the retirement home my mom is in and offered a free hearing test.
My insurance is not very good right now so I can't seek out a specialist. Trying to work through this on my own. Your articles are helping me figure out an approach and I appreciate the warnings.

Thanks

 

HI @Turner

As I've said in my posts. Leave it at least 6 months before starting any treatment. By all means have a hearing test and MRI scan but no more than that. If you have hearing loss and hearing aid/s is recommended then wear them. For now no treatment and use this time, to find a good Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in the management and treatment of Tinnitus and hyperacusis. It is important to use a sound machine at night by your bedside. Try to avoid quiet rooms and surroundings during the day and espeically at night. Use sound enrichment whenever posssible during the day.

All the best
Michael

 

The vast and overwhelming majority of wood workers and recreational target shooters do quite well with hearing protection while engaging in those activities and never suffer hearing loss or tinnitus. It's important to live your life and it's not unreasonable to wear hearing protection in a wood working shop or shooting range. My opinion is to protect when appropriate and do the things that you enjoy doing. There's enough stress, anxiety and depression with tinnitus without adding to it by denying yourself a living or an activity you can still enjoy safely with the proper equipment.

 

Hello ALL. My name is Jeanette, 60 yr old female. I've had ringing in my ears off and on for over 30 years, but around 9 months ago it came on non-stop; extremely loud and more variation in pitch sound. It wakes me up almost every morning, a wailing high pitch. It is so bothersome. Went to see a ENT last month. He asked a few questions about my ears, after checking my ears, nose and throat. He then check my jaw bone, looked into my mouth and right away said I suffer from something call TMJ and suggested that I see a dentist about a mouth guard. So....with all of that being said; anyone been through this series of test? If so, did a mouth guard work? Also, do you STILL suffer from the Tinnitus? Thank you for your help.

 

You are correct @Ambassador But when someone suffers a severe noise trauma like I think @Turner has, then he should apply caution to this rule. I have had tinnitus a long time and know of the potential risks involved with noise trauma and subjecting oneself to loud noise too soon will make the condition much worse not better. Believe me I know what I'm talking about. Whether he wears noise protection or not if he endures loud noise too soon then his situation will become a lot worse in my opinion. Ultimately the choice is his but I advise proceed with caution. Tinnitus can be very unforgiving if it spikes in the early stages as Turner is now.

Michael

 

Hi @Ambassador,
Do you shoot? Do you go to the range with your T? I ask because that's where I got mine. One friggin' hour at the range. I really wanted to get into shooting. I like the culture, the people and I love my new CZ. I used to live in the city and all everyone did was meet at the bar. I even had the bar stool picked out I was going to have my heart attack on. I was so happy to get away from all that. All I wanted to do was pick up a new sport and meet some new people. I bought hearing protection with a supposed 34NRR. After I woke up the next day with my head on fire I took the headset apart and it was nothing like as advertised. I felt like a fool. I think I'd feel like more of a fool right now if I went back to the range right away and made my condition worse though. In the long run I agree with you. I don't want to give everything up. I'm a woodworker by trade and this event happened while I'm in between jobs and I'm worried about starting back. So I don't know man. I think right now I'm going to play it safe. Maybe take up badminton till I can figure this out. HaHa!

 

Hi @ Michael Leigh,

I have a Dohm white noise machine I always use at night. I have CalmyLeon.com on in the background a lot of the time during the day at home. That's a nice noise generator if you haven't checked it out. I'm 99% clear on everything your saying except this.... Are you also saying no white noise through earbuds at all for 6 months also? I understood the difference you pointed out between music being an agitator and white noise not being one in one of your other posts. I wouldn't be able to do this under any supervision in a TRT program at this time though. It would be through an app.

Thanks for being so generous with you time here Michael.
Turner

 

HI @Turner

This is my advice and it's up to you if you want to follow it. I advise you not to play any music or white noise through: headphones, earbuds or any type of headphones even at low volume into your ears ever. I am very serious about this. Please read my piece about Headphones and tinnitus, in my Article: Tinnitus A Personal View.

Regarding going back to work. If your tinnitus is relatively low or moderate and doesn't spike then it is okay to work in your woodworking shop as long as you wear hearing protection. The danger is this and believe me it's real. If you have hyperacusis which I've explained in my article, and your ears are sensitive. There is a strong possiblity, whilst using noisy equipment that in your woodwork shop, it will make your tinnitus spike. It is quite possible that the spike might not calm down. The reason for this is as follows:

In your first post you mentioned that you experienced tinnitus before but it would go away. Then on one occasion it didn't go away and your in this situation. Your ears and auditory system are senstive at the moment. If you are careful, there's a good chance that your tinnitus will reduce and could go away. However, if you subject your ears to overly loud sounds even while wearing hearing protection such as Noisy woodworking machinary, your tinnitus could become louder and stay that way.

It is for this reason I strongly advise you to be careful. If you were occasionally using noisy woodworking equimpment then I would say that's fine. But if you are going to be working around loud noise all day, I advise you to consider giving your ears a rest before going back to this kind of work. It all depends how loud your tinnitus is at the moment and if it spikes easily? Only you know this.

Hope this helps. Remember, I advise you never to use headphones even at low volume.
Michael

 

Turner,
I do shoot and at first was really down on myself for this blaming my shooting but to be honest I don't really know if I can blame it. I learned to shoot in the 60's when nobody knew about or wore hearing protection. Of course in later years hearing protection became mandatory.

I spent my life in what we used to call Computer Rooms and now call Data Centers and the sounds in those rooms run in the mid 80's db. OSHA allows but I think that over 30 years it's not good. I also enjoy wood working and stupidly never wore protection while running saws drills etc.. Before I got tinnitus, I was very active in some home remodeling projects, using a Hilti jackhammer to demo two full mud job bathrooms and break up a cast iron tub with a sledge hammer, yep, no muffs there either.

Did I mention I cut my own lawn and ran a weed wacker once a week for 35 years, I wear muffs now but back in the day, nobody did.

I nearly sold my guns thinking they did this to me but I can't say for sure and the prices offered are a joke so I'm keeping them, I don't shoot much these days, but when I do I plug and wear muffs and no longer shoot .357, mainly because it hurts my hand so it's mostly 9mm and 22 but you would be surprised how loud a 22 can be. Rifles are a little safer, the muzzle is farther away from your ears and you can use sub sonic 22's and they're pretty quiet.

I still run all my power equipment and protect but there's been times when I forget what I'm doing, the last snow storm I wheeled out the snow blower, fired it up and blew half the property before I realized that I'm not wearing my muffs but no damage was done.

The only way you're going to know is to try it.

Last November I was in Disney World with family and was a little concerned but I did really well and did everything with no ill effects. I do wear hearing aids and when I anticipate noise I will sometimes turn them off, no use amplifying noise if I don't have to.

I wear Howard Leight to shoot but also used Peltor when I was working in the Data Center.

Sorry for the long winded reply.

 

Hi@Michael Leigh,
Once again you've been generous with your time and sharing your experience with me has been a big help. This last response of yours covered all of the bases. I must say it's a bit depressing to think of the impact this is going to have on life choices but it gives me a clearer path forward in the short term at least. My T is what I consider to be moderate now but the thought you've put into my head is not to forget the first month. I never want to go back to that. I'll heed your advice and try to figure out a way to put a positive spin on this. Again......thanks.
Turner

 

@Ambassador,
No worries. I actually appreciate the opportunity to hear from folks in the same boat. I'm going to hang on to my CZ but for now it will just be for home defense. Neighborhood is not getting any better. It would fool you driving it through it though. I guess my next step is putting together my tinnitus EDC...earplugs and a new set of cans to wear in the yard and when working. Anyway...thanks for chiming in, good to hear from you.

 

You are welcome @Turner

I am a believer in forearmed is to be forewarned especially with a condition like tinnitus. It is ruthless and very unforgiving, if it is not treated with respect. If you are careful and follow the advice that I and others give in this forum regarding "noise trauma" to the auditory system, I believe you'll make a good recovery and be able to carry on with your life doing everything that you want to. Just give it time. Please go to my "started threads". There, you will find posts that will help you further along the habituation path. Please print them and refer to them often, as they will reinforce positive thinking which is very important for tinnitus.

If you have anymore questions please don't hesitate to ask and I will try to help.
All the best
Michael