Can't Figure Out Where My Tinnitus Is Coming From

Hi,

I am 57, male. I just registered but I've been suffering from T since April 24th 2014.

I know the date very well because that day I had a sort of burn out/breakdown from a long stretch (months) of high stress/anxiety/insomnia, and that particular moment I was freaking out 2-days sleepless etc. It started then, out of blue, a very loud ~9KHz hissing in both my ears.

I thought it was because I was exhausted etc. so I wasn't overly worried.

After a week, still there. After a month, same. After a year and a half (now), still louder than ever (and yet I have managed to reduce my stress, moved to a better house etc.).

Notice that one or two weeks BEFORE it started, i.e. early April 2014, I was so stressed I got into cigarettes again (tobacco smoker for decades - never any effects on my ears - I "quit" cold turkey in June 2013).

The situation now, after 16 months, is that it is still literally driving me insane (it's extremely loud, I can hear it when swimming, in crowds, cycling fast etc.), but certain days it's less loud (perhaps 3/5 days in a month).

Whatever I do, alone, socializing, "happy", sad, food, no food, exercise or sedentary, rested, tired etc. it's still there and for the life of me I cannot find a pattern.

Of course, thinking maybe it was because I had started smoking again, I tried to quit of course. But after 2 hours with no cigs it gets even louder, after six hours I get suicidal.

I haven't seen any specialist, just told my GP, he said it's quite 'bizarre' and changes topic.

I would like your opinion to understand why 1) certain days it's quieter (my days are all the same!) and 2) could be tobacco the reason (never given me T though), and 3) why does it (almost always) start in the left ear when I wake up and then it spreads to the center of my head during the day, up to bedtime. Thanks!

 

Hi ,
Tinnitus as a big list of triggers and hard to say for sure .
Maybe your anxiety and can even be from preasure sleeping in one side putting pressure on your jaw and ear .
Tinnitus has lots of sounds and strengths and can fluctuate in both of them .
Remember even though we have no control over tinnitus we have total control over what makes us happy.
You will have a base sound you hear the most and most spikes will settle back down to it over a short time so try not get to stressed over it and if you dont use it Sound therapy can help through the night set lower than your tinnitus ...lots of love glynis

 

Paravian, sincere thanks for sharing your experience.
I hear ya on managing your stress. That's the right idea. I also moved after getting my T.

the only other advise i can say is to completely eliminate any exposure to any electrical speakers/audio equipment

Mine was caused by a high pitched noise. I've only been able to practically entirely overcome the tinnitus (after 2 years now ) from practically eliminating my ears from any TV, ProAudio equipment or anything like that.

I take walks at night, right before goin to bed. Find this helps a lot.
Be outdoors as much as possible.

 

Unfortunately I moved to Ireland 15 years ago (living here is one of the reasons of my anxiety/depression), the weather is always so bad, I manage to go for a walk or ride my bike once a day but it's a struggle. Apart from that I work from home all day (computer) so I am always alone, in silence. Except for the hissing & buzzing of course.

 

Hi. 'hissing and buzzing'.... And this is extremely loud ?
Guess i don't fully understand yet. It there any Ringing ?

Thank goodness you're in silence and alone (just like me )

What Caused Your Tinnitus ?
Was it some sort of external stimulus/noise/sound ?

 

Mike,
hissing, like a sibilant sound, a constant siren. I can generate pretty much the same sound with any of those tinnitus generators online. As said in my opening post, it started by itself, no external causes.

 

Does anyone get it in middle of head (like whole head is sizzling/buzzing?and the next day be in ears? Mine shifts all the time..

 

Hi Paravian,

Can you access an ENT or audiology specialist? Your GP is clearly not helping. I would try to get an appt as soon as possible. Not sure what is available on Ireland


Wishing you the best.

 

In Ireland the medical system is like pretty much everything else: medieval, particularly out of Dublin. Everyone I tell about my T says oh yes my friend has it, oh yes it'll pass, just don't pay attention blah blah. If I go to an ENT they will make a big show to look professional etc. because doctors here like to be seen as gods, but they won't solve anything. Sadly I learnt the medical system here the hard way.