Any Advice?

[Joy Roberts]

I have had a hearing loss in my left ear and very slight tinnitus for about fifteen years. It wasn't a problem and I didn't really notice it in everyday life.

At the beginning of January, I decided to buy a hearing aid from the Internet to help with my mother's hearing.

I thought I would try it in my left ear. I put it in and then tried to adjust it and it squeaked loudly and I just felt something go and my tinnitus suddenly got worse. I was really upset.

Since then it has gradually got worse and it is ruining the quality of my life. I have seen an ENT specialist who has referred me for a MRI scan and to the audiology clinic for hearing aids but there is a long wait on the NHS.

I then discussed it with a private provider. The cost would be up to 3 to 4 thousand pounds. I researched people's views and the basic agreement was why pay that amount of money. I suppose speed of treatment is the reason.

The man said he could see me in a couple of days and show me what a hearing aid with a masking device could do. I wouldn't have to pay for this consultation. If I did buy it I could gave my money back after two months if not any good.

I was quite keen on this until I read some very negative reviews about the company. So basically I don't know what to do. I have read about some home remedies and don't know whether to try any. I am at my wits end as it is consuming me nearly 24/7.

I am writing this at three o'clock in the morning as I have woken up and can't get back to sleep. I am stressed by it and I know this doesn't help. Has anyone got any thoughts/advice? Would be really appreciated.
Joy
'

 

[Bill Bauer]

an ENT specialist who has referred me for a MRI scan and to the audiology clinic for hearing aids but there is a long wait on the NHS. I then discussed it with a private provider. The cost would be up to 3 to 4 thousand pounds. I researched people's views and the basic agreement was why pay that amount of money.

An MRI might help find the cause of T (i.e., a tumor). But you Know what had caused your T.

Check out the thread below where I summarize everything (27 tips) I learned about managing tinnitus after reading the posts on this forum for the past year.
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...eone-else-who-has-tinnitus.26850/#post-307822

 

[john paul]

Like Bill is kinda saying id avoid the MRI at all costs. The hearing aid has caused the issue in one of your ears no need for an MRI scan. They are hella loud by the sounds of it, and will probably make things way worse. Many people have gotten Tinnitus from an MRI.

There is only one thing you can do and its let time deal with it. Make sure you dont aggravate it any more and do anything and everything to calm your body and mind down. Tinnitus is in my opinion more of a brain malfunction when it senses your in danger. You need to tell your brain that everything is ok. Watch funny stuff on television and put it out of your mind in any way that you can. This past week iv not been monitoring it, been playing my guitar as much as possible and watching frankie boyle stand ups. Either time has done some more magic on me or in doing that its seemingly faded some more. Im stating the obvious but its all in the mind, T is a brain malfunction. Anxiety makes it worse so just calm your mind how ever you can and tell your brain that everything is normal by giving it other things to process. Mine is like these two things either side of my head that hiss, squeal and splutter intermittently, as time goes on they slow down and splutter quieter and less frequently. Ive actually had T 3 times first time it lasted a week. Second time the lasor beams came out but it still went away in about a week but this time its been 4 months so far but each time the process is the same. Im in the final stages of it going away but ill probably be left with some kind of base line this time. I think i had it without realising for a while so if it returns to something like what i had before i should be alright. Im nearly there just gotta keep u with the positivity and brain training. Brain thinks I'm under attack and body is in state of Fight or Flight. Its a vicious circle when T makes you become anxious and your listening to the T constantly wondering what its doing. Brain thinks you want to listen to it so pushes right into your sense of hearing. Got to tell your brain its junk, your safe, your happy, not in a war zone and to forget about it.

 

[Joy Roberts]

Thanks thanks Bill and John Paul. It is comforting to know there are people out there who are willing to help and share their experiences. Does anyone with hearing loss as well as tinnitus find hearing aids have helped? Also where do you find counselling and brain retraining?
In my positive moments which are few, I realise that most of my worries in the past were insignificant, certainly compared to this and that if ever I could get rid of the tinnitus I would make a determined effort to be happy and not worry about trivia. So should I take this awful occurrence as an incentive to choose how I feel about life? In other words make myself appreciate what I have? The problem is after a few hours of feeling I have not to let this ruin my life and I have a choice about how I view it, I return to the negative feelings.
I was interested to read the advice about not having a MRI scan because it could make the situation worse. This has now made me rethink whether I should. The consultant has said he doesn't think it will show anything.
I think I am pinning my hopes on hearing aids and masking devices.
Has anyone had the decision to make between going private or waiting for NHS?

 

[Bill Bauer]

I think I am pinning my hopes on hearing aids and masking devices.

You can look into HBOT treatment. Search this website for more information about HBOT.

 

[Joy Roberts]

Feeling very low today. Having a few panic attacks. Not sure I am going how am going to be able to cope.

 

[john paul]

Its normal to have anxiety attacks at this point, the best way to deal with them is breath deeply and mask it with the sound of crickets, there are lots of videos on Youtube you can try just type in Tinnitus therapy. You might get bouts of fleeting tinnitus where it flares up for 15 seconds this is also normal. I had many spikes in after my recent event where my left ear was just howling for periods of hours at a time. Sleep would turn them off or turn them on randomly. Its all calmed down in time as has my anxiety.

My experience with the NHS is its a waste of time and energy. Seriously i went to my doctor she basically said nothing only we can't do anything. Looked in my ears said my right ear had lots of wax in it, then proceeded to book me a hearing test. I thought hmmm ok. Went to the hearing test about 3 weeks later, they told me they couldn't do the hearing test because of the wax. Go book a ear cleaning, and come back. 1 month waiting list for a ear cleaning jesus Christ talk about f ing around. Girl at the desk said i need to use olive oil for 3 WEEKS before. So lots of mixed advice about that and basically its not safe procedure if you have T so i just thought F this. F them they have no clue and are not paid to care. The tests they do on you will solve nothing and potentially make it worse, way worse. Just so they can shrug there shoulders and tell you your stressed. If anything id just try Acupuncture.

 

[Joy Roberts]

Has anyone tried tinnitus patches. Is it worth giving them a try?

 

[Sven]

Has anyone tried tinnitus patches. Is it worth giving them a try?

Don't. It's a scam.

 

[Joy Roberts]

Thanks message. Sven. Do you think they may work for some people and not others. Is this the case with many of the suggested remedies?