Can't Take It Anymore

I've had tinnitus for 10 days now, and I can't take it anymore. I've gotten almost no sleep in the last few days. Today I'm so wrecked I couldn't work, even from home. I'm going to have to go on disability if I can't start sleeping. I'm seriously thinking of just ending it all. I don't know what else to do. I haven't even seen the audiologist yet, that's tomorrow morning, but I don't know that that will yield much hope. I don't even know what I'm asking. I guess what should I do, how can I have any hope?

 

I completely understand. Today I broke down in tears, it just overwhelmed me.

 

Hi Adam

Hold out for tomorrow and listen to what your audiologist has to say. Hopefully he or she is trained in tinnitus and can start you on TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy).

For tonight, download a tinnitus app on your smartphone, find a sound that works for you. Tinnitus will always sound worse in silence so a little noise in the background (like the sea for example) helps shift focus away from tinnitus and induce sleep.

Good luck for tomorrow and do come back on here and tell us how you have got on

 

Hi @Adam R
We know how tinnitus can make a person feel. It will get better with time. Please stay away from loud sounds and I advise not to use headphones even at low volume. Use a sound machine at night by your bedside for sound enrichment. More about this and tinnitus is explained in my articles below. Please click on the links.

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/

 

Melatonin can help sleep,
Sleeping tablets short term or natural treatments or a low AD long term.
Good luck at ENT and please let us know how you get on .
Love glynis

 

Don't give up hope yet. Many times noise induced T will fade over time. It just take a long time. It can take 6-24 months to fade. What you are hearing now is not what you will hear in 6 months. Give it time. I'm 13 months in from a loud concert and it has faded about 80% and continues to fade. It has faded to the point I only hear it in quiet areas.

 

I also completely understand how you feel, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Try and keep yourself busy and distracted today (easier said than done, I know) and wait until your appointment. I know it's really cliche advice but I promise this feeling of desperation will pass, things will get better for you.

 

I'm sorry, this condition is so horrible. I had this for 20 years and its getting so loud...I'm losing my marbles as well. White noise doesn't help me any more as its so loud i need to crack it up to 9 volume level which is probably just damaging my ears...All i got left is sitting in a loud shower for hours, its the only relief i have...Just try to drown it out however you can, shower, white noise, play games...anything to take you mind off it. I've been there 20 years ago on the edge, but coping will get better.

12 Hours of White Noise (Static) in Stereo....

This white noise might help.

 

this!!

 

@Petersi1981
May I ask what caused your tinnitus and when were you last seen at ENT for tests?

 

Sorry I just don't know. I got it in my teens, they give me an MRI to rule out a tumor and that's all she wrote. Doctors just said we don't know and you got to live with it...I've seen an ENT few years back they tested my hearing and said I have some hearing loss in the high frequencies but nothing alarming...It was so quiet back then i needed a silent room and really focus on it to make it out, now its just roaring 24/7. I got used to it for a long time, but it just got really really bad now...I'm having very hard time adjusting once again...Im going to see an ENT again in few months so ill let you know what they say.

 

I am sorry to hear that you're going through such a difficult time with the tinnitus. I know some people don't like taking benzos but it has helped me when my tinnitus is severe. Consider trying clonazepam just for a little break or reduction in the noise. It works for some people with tinnitus and you don't have to take it regular. Do you listen to music through headphones? I won't ask any more questions as you're in a lot of discomfort.

Michael

 

I read from your previous post that sleep was the biggest issue and that you had sleeping pills prescribed. For me it personally took about 3 weeks till I could sleep normally again. Those first weeks my body was in panic. But for those 3 weeks it would take me 2 hours after laying down to get to sleep, I had no medication (nothing, even for 2 years now), and would need rain masking noise that I found on youtube. After those 3 weeks sleeping got much easier and I stopped using masking all together in that short amount of time.

10 days feels like and eternity for you. I get it. I was there. But looking back it was nothing. And I would have felt very stupid if I did something that drastic for something as a result of 10 measly days or even 21 days. People get surgeries where they are in pain for weeks and months after, yet they have to hold out for it to get better.

You have a family and children to raise. Dont see that as another pressure added on your life. See it as something thats worth fighting for.

Your T could very well go away (There's people with worse T out there and from more damaging reasons). When..that is the big question. Lets say that your T was destined to go away in 6 months, or 2 years, or 5 years...What if you ended it just short of that happening. There is no way of knowing and thats the biggest thing that drives people crazy. But you just need to take one day at a time.

 

Dear Adam,

I totally understand how terrible this is at the beginning...

How do you feel nowadays ?

Take care !

Christophe