"Baby Boomer" with New Tinnitus

I'm 67, retired and married to a great lady. Just acquired Tinnitus last Monday (20th). We were members of one pistol and rifle target range for 3 years and have been members of a different one for the last 8 years. We have always worn ear protection, while shooting, since it is a requirement. However, there have been times that I've had to remove mine for a few seconds to hear what my wife was saying to me. She isn't a very loud speaker when around high noise, like I am. Don't know if the Range contributed to this, but it did start the day after we left. I've had "ringing in the ear/ears" before, but was always able to clear it by squeezing my nose, shutting my mouth and blowing.

I've been around loud noise quit a bit in my life, from being in the Navy and civilian jobs after that. When I worked in the same buildings CNC machines, drill presses and Injection Molding machines were in, I had to wear the little foam ear plugs. I've been around some pretty loud noise in my past. Never had a real problem until now. And, BTW, did play rock drums years ago, do listen to Classic Rock music and we can get the music pretty loud when we are on the water in our power boat.

At first, I thought I just had a head cold and took two cold tablets. That was on Monday, the 20th. If I had the head cold, it went away, but the whistling in one ear didn't. Talked to my wife and we decided that I should make an appt. with a PCP. He tested both ears with a "prong" type testing device and I could hear it humming all the way until the humming ended. He then gave me a 10 prescription for Prednisone 20mg. Still taking that. He also suggested seeing an Audiologist for testing. Will call him back to set that up. The whistling is definitely there, but mainly only in the left ear. It doesn't really bother me sleeping. When I go to bed, it really seems to simmer down in volume.

For the Range, we have bought me some higher-class Electronic Ear Muffs. Along with the ear testing, I may try a product called Stop Whistling (ear drops) sold at Walgreens. It is not 100% guaranteed to work, can take up to 60 days to work, but could be worth the try. There are times I don't even hear the whistling, but it is there.

 

With all that you exposure, you're lucky you didn't get it earlier.

But it does sound like Tinnitus has finally caught up to you.

I wouldn't be going back to the range if you wanna have your hearing and a mild T intact.

It'll only get worse.

 

Oh, we'll return to the range. Anyway, with the new Electronic Ear Muffs I now have, I won't have to take them off at all while there.
Heck, we went to a theater last Friday night and, first the first time in our lives, wore the small foam ear plugs. I took the right one out of the ear for a short time so I could hear the movie better, but would just set it back in the ear (not twist it and insert it). Twisting it make the ear plug quite a bit tighter.
On Saturday night, we went to a local Sports Bar to hear a Classic Rock group play that we know. Only table available was front/right corner against the stage. We had the same foam ear plugs we had at the theater and put them in. No problem listening to the band.

 

I'd count my blessing seeing as you're in your 60s and only have mild T. I would avoid any bottle which claims to cure T. If it did, this form would not exist. Hope things improve for you!

 

Well, it does say right on the box, "Not 100% guaranteed to work. May take up to 60 days to work." Most likely, I'll wind up getting a hearing aid in the near future...........especially if the whistling doesn't go away.

 

My advise is see a tinnitus specialist ASAP (an audiologist/hearing therapist specialising in tinnitus). I seen one this week and realised that T research and treatment is so fast moving that a lot of info on the net is either misleading or outdated. I'll be meeting regularly which is reassuring.

 

Have to wait and see how this med goes first. Have 4 more days of taking it. After that, if the whistling isn't gone, will see an audiologist for testing/eval, but my PCP has to make the arrangement (or Medicare won't pay). If "push comes to shove" dealing with getting an audiologist that takes Medicare, will get testing/eval done at local VA Medical.

 

Cody, your tinnitus might go away on its own. If it is still there in a few months, there is a good chance it won't go away, but it will likely get better. You'll learn to deal with it better too. Unfortunately the over the counter stuff to treat tinnitus doesn't work, it's placebo effect. There actually are zero effective pharmacological treatments for tinnitus. There are drugs in the research phase, but nothing promising yet. Take care of your ears man and you'll probably be alright. Buy some good earplugs and carry them with you, I have a small case attached to my key chain with ear plugs. You'll never know when you'll need them. I have been to a few restaurants that turned out to be really loud and was thankful I had my earplugs, my wife also carries a pair in her purse just as a back up. And don't be afraid to get up and walk out of a place if it's too loud. Sometimes all it takes is one gun shot or a single loud noise to damage your ears permanently. Mine was from a loud concert I went to over a year ago for less than one hour, and I'm in my 30's.

 

It's easy to deal with now, but as above. Only takes on loud sound to tip you over the edge to unbearable..

:/
But it's your ears, you can do what you want..