Anyone Else's Tinnitus Get Very Loud When You Turn Running Water Off?

Davey126

Member
Author
Jun 26, 2018
42
Boston Massachusetts
Tinnitus Since
2010
Cause of Tinnitus
Unknown
Anyone else's tinnitus seem to get very loud when you turn running water off? When I brush my teeth or do dishes the running water masks my tinnitus, but once I shut it off it gets very loud then subsides back to baseline. I notice this happens with other noises once exposed.

I do have a mild form of hyperacusis as well, maybe it's that? Thank you!
 
Anyone else's tinnitus seem to get very loud when you turn running water off? When I brush my teeth or do dishes the running water masks my tinnitus, but once I shut it off it gets very loud then subsides back to baseline. I notice this happens with other noises once exposed.
I experience this with some tones. A rapid drop in ambient sound volume, just like turning the running faucet off, makes the tone to appear somewhat more noticeable for a few seconds. I don't know if there's scientific explanation for this. Maybe it's just that the auditory system needs some time to adjust to the reduced sound level. Just like going from dark room to sunglight. It takes couple of seconds for eyes to adjust to the brighter environment.
 
Last edited:
In the beginning, jumping in the shower made my T stop momentarily or cleaning with my hands or feet soaked. Just recently (doing detox for mercury ) I found that adding pine needle tips to my bath, either fresh or boiled up a short time and the water added to the bath water, stops my tinnitus almost instantaneously. And, yeah if I take a shower now, instead of a bath without some sort of detox stuff added to the water, I notice my T gets louder. If I use rain water or rinse off at the lake, this doesn't happen. I found that spritzing after showering with water mixed with acetic acid (vinegar) helps a little.

Are you on a public water supply, too?
 
Anyone else's tinnitus seem to get very loud when you turn running water off?

Hi @Davey126,

Just the opposite for me. Running water makes my t take off EEEEeeeeeeeeee. The moment I stop it, the t goes back to baseline--instantly. I just got done doing a project in the kitchen with heavy duty ear muffs on. Such is life these days--at least I can stand in the kitchen and do things.
I found that adding pine needle tips to my bath, either fresh or boiled up a short time and the water added to the bath water, stops my tinnitus almost instantaneously.

@Laurie1961, very interesting post. Where in the world did you get that idea from about the pine needles? (inquiring minds want to know). :) Your thinking and creative approach to trying to figure out little things to help tinnitus seem similar to mine. Makes me think you might just be interested in A POST (fairly lengthy) I made just this morning. -- Definitely alternative!

All the Best!
 
Where in the world did you get that idea from about the pine needles? (inquiring minds want to know).
A couple years ago, I was gardening and the bugs were so bad I was covered with bites. Itching them in my sleep made them bleed--fearing infection I used pine to soothe itchy skin in a bath. It cured the itch, tinnitus for a while and acted as an insect repellent all the next day.

Late last year my pink hands and feet-now had red toes and fingers. It appears similar to a symptom of mercury toxicity, formerly and aptly called Pinks. I also had a rash on my sternum that itched and I soothed it with the pine bath mostly because it was the only plant available in this frozen tundra I call home. (after reading mercury has been in skin care products and soaps, I no longer buy my own poison.)

Again, every bath makes the tinnitus stop for a while.

I wanted to know why this worked too. Pines are used for soil remediation for Pb and Hg is all I have come with.
 
Yes running water aggravates mine and also at times a sizzling frying pan and plastic bags rustling o_O
Same here, but for me the even louder tinnitus subsides once the aggravating noise stops. It's as if my T tries to complete with certain sounds. Plastic bags are awful. On the plus side, I've switched to using more environmentally friendly reusable cloth bags when I shop.
 

Log in or register to get the full forum benefits!

Register

Register on Tinnitus Talk for free!

Register Now