Desperately Sad!

Hi all..I have been lurking for a few months now in hopes that I wouldn't need to join..but here I am. I am a 54 year old woman from Canada. On Feb. 7th I fell on ice and hit the back of my head on the pavement (twice)..blacked out and have no memory of the accident. Fortunately I was with a friend who called 911. I suffered a concussion and have been dealing with various symptoms since then..the worse by far is Tinnitus.

It is pulsatile and very high pitched and constant 24/7. It is on my left side and I suffered some hearing loss as well. Still waiting on an ENT appt..but dont hold out much hope on success there. Was suppose to try out hearing aids today but the audiologist has strep so had to reschedule. Have not slept in what seems like forever. Tried fans, white noise apps, Bose headphones with music. I do physio twice a week and he has tried various things with no success. I need to return to work but have no idea how I will do that, I am a bookkeeper at a law firm and have a fairly stressful job. Right now the future looks bleak. Does anyone have any ideas for coping that I haven't already tried?

 

Hi and welcome!

I'm so sorry to hear about your accident and the repercussions you suffered afterwards, unfortunately i don't have any useful advice other than to keep doing what you're doing and hopefully it will work out for the best.

Maybe you could get something to help you sleep these initial weeks, if you somehow managed to get the sleep down I'm positive that you could keep doing what you do at work!

 

Hi welcome to TT, you came to the right place for support. Everyone here are very supportive. I know Tinnitus is not a easy thing to deal with,but the more you respond to it , think of it the more difficult it is. What I find for helpful is take your focus away from it , is the best thing . Stay calm is the key. Try to think of things that can make you feel happy. Meditation.Most days this works for me, other days it just doesn’t work. Also being new to T is the most difficult time . Time is the best cure . Stay positive in your thinking and most ppl here that are doing ok seem time ,is the key to Tinnitus. God blessings!

 

Hi @jojl

Please click on the links below and read my posts: New to tinnitus what to do. Tinnitus, A Personal View.

Hope you start to feel better soon.
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/

 

I had tinnitus from a concussion for a few months several years ago. Back then I didn't know what it was and never thought about it....It went away. I think there is a better prognosis for tinnitus from a concussion.

 

I’m so sorry, sounds like you’ve had a tough time. You’re in the right place here, there is plenty of helpful and nice people to give you some advice.
Have you discussed your issues with sleep with your doctor? Have you tried any natural remedies to help calm you, some nice herbal teas can relax you some. I know it seems bleek, have a browse through if the threads on here and see if that helps. Never suffer alone and hope you start feeling better.

 

Thank you all. Doctor perscribed Atavan to help me relax and get some sleep, also suggested a white noise machine ( which I purchased) and he also suggested massage therapy..says the tension in my neck and shoulders says a lot. The ENT should call me within the week for an appt...I am hoping they find something that can be fixed. So I will try and keep a stiff upper lip.

 

Hi @Michael Leigh
I have been reading through your articles. Wonderful information and insight. So much of what you have written has gone through my mind in the last few months. Insights into this hell that I thought were just happening to me...comforting to see that they have been documented and it isn't my imagination.
Although I await an appointment to see an ENT who specializes in neuro, I am fortunate enough to have a daughter who is completing her final months of an ENT residency. She provides me with wondeful resources and up to date information. I am very fortunate in that way. On that note,
I will take your advice and stay positive as I prepare for another nights " sleep" with the hope that maybe, just maybe, tonight will be better.

 

@jojl

1) Here you have a couple of links to studies on T coming from head injury:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12792317
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8172707
2) The ENT will have nothing to offer. If you have already had an MRI and CT scan and nothing particular found then the ENTs are useless (especially in cases with obvious cause like yours).
3) Plan for the T long term. It might get better or disappear, but in many cases remains about the same. In your case, there is significant hearing loss that requires hearing aids, and that suggests that the T will stay there.
4) In my opinion, all the supplements, half treatments and remedies around T are scams. I will avoid trying accupunture, and alternative medicine. They are a waste of money, time and hope. Some people have found T improvement with sound therapy (I am not one of them, I only get temporary relief)
5) Tinnitus management is all that is left: We can minimize the impact on our lives. It takes a long time and great emotional effort. The personality type and character is also very important: introvert, detail oriented, and prone to pessimism people will have a harder time. If it gets really dark, antidepressants and sleeping pills can help to go through. CBT and TRT can help with the habituation process.

 

Hi @jojl

Thank you for your kind comments. Please keep in mind that you are in the early stages of tinnitus and usually things will get better with time. I have known one person that got tinnitus due to a head injury, and she told me it eventually went away. It is possible for this to happen to you, or the noise will reduce to a low level has habituation occurs. Please click on the links below and read further posts from my "Started Threads" that you might find helpful. Take your time.

I hope that you start to feel better soon, and wish your daughter every success with her ENT residency.
All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

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/a-change-of-lifestyle.20643/

 

@jojl
If you have hearing loss, the good news is hearing aids should improve your tinnitus symptoms. With the external sounds now amplified, your tinnitus will be better masked.
It's a very difficult condition to deal with, especially when intrusive.
I used Remeron / Mirtazapine to help with sleep initially and it literally saved my sanity.
Being able to get rest was a huge step in recovery.
This forum is full of wonderful people - those who are not bothered at all by their intrusive tinnitus give us hope that we can do the same.
Until a treatment or cure comes along, we have to learn to cope best we can.
You are very fortunate to have your daughter's knowledge, I'm sure she's very compassionate and can help guide you in the right direction for treatement.

 

Hey there,

I have dealt with T for a long long time so can certainly give you some tips with how to deal with that devil in your head. Ask me any question xcxcc