First Post Intro: Tinnitus for About 25 Years & Significantly Worse Since April 2021

I wanted to introduce myself. New to the forum, but long time tinnitus sufferer.

I’ve had this since about 1996, so about 25 years. It started when I was 21.

When it first started, I had two very high, slightly offset pitches (around 4300 Hz). They are constant in pitch, never ending, not once since. The first couple of years or so, it bothered me immensely, also being young, really sucked to have a “problem”. But somehow, eventually, I guess I just got used to it, and though it was always there, I really didn’t have much of a problem dealing with it at all. Life was never quiet, but it was acceptable. My hearing tests which I underwent every 2 years with an audiologist, and follow up with an ENT, was always perfect. In fact, I seem very sensitive to noise, hearing extremely well when others don’t. I never looked into anything because I wasn’t particularly bothered, despite the loss of true silence.

But this past April (2021), for some reason, the pitches got significantly louder. I can’t pinpoint anything, it just happened. And now I feel like I’m suffering bad, whereas the last 20+ years I haven’t felt that way. It’s almost like I’m starting all over again. It’s been months, not getting quieter at all. And now I panic and think the worst. I had a hearing test this past October, and for the first time they say that my hearing above 8000 Hz is on the decline, but nothing to worry about. ENT says I’m slightly young for this still (46 years), but nothing to worry about. But as for the loudening tinnitus, same as always, just “deal with it” ARG!!!!!!!!!!

THIS is the reason I’ve come to the board. After reading whatever I could online, and came across a Reddit post about the Tinnitus Talk Podcast. Searching for information, people to talk to (there are no support groups or treatments or anything). And it seems that no one without tinnitus can truly grasp what it is, and it’s frustrating and lonely. I’m scared to listen to music (my passion), to TV, using tools to do woodwork or clean the yard, driving with the windows down when it’s nice outside... just everything. You’ve all probably heard this a million times. I’m just one more to add to the list.

So, now I’m here, suffering, unable to stop constantly thinking about tinnitus and every single thing I do.

I’ll probably be asking many many questions as I navigate what seems like a renewal of suffering.

Here I am. Thanks for listening.

 

I am in the same predicament, same number of years suffering with it except I am 62. I just got used to it until one week before my retirement 7 weeks ago. For the first time I took a 25 mg THC pill before bedtime to help with my back pain, 2 hours later I woke up with the sound of cicadas very very loud. I decided to walk it off which took about 1 hour and went back to bed. Ever since that night my tinnitus has been the worst it's ever been, what a mistake that was. It looks like my retirement will be pure hell...

 

Welcome to the forum. It is common to have spikes and most of them are temporary even though the duration of the spike may differ among tinnitus sufferers.

While you are searching for clues for the reason of the spike, bear in mind that it is quite possible for your brain to slowly habituate to the new level of ringing if you don't react extremely emotional about the spike. Do what you humanly can to stay calm and positive to avoid the limbic nerves from taking charge to cause you functioning in fight or flight mode, which often tends to aggravate the situation.

Try to do some relaxing things to ease the nerves and to distract from focusing on your tinnitus. Given time, when your brain has other things to focus on and slowly it will focus less on your ringing and then the intensity of the tinnitus will appear less and less. This then will allow habituation to occur, if slowly. Try to read up success stories to help you be more positive and hopeful and learn some helpful strategy from others who have gone through similar struggles and come out a winner. Give it time and be patient. If my success story can help, check it out too among the many great stories there.

Take good care. God bless.

 

Welcome to Tinnitus Talk. I am sorry that you are struggling again after 25 years of having tinnitus. Maybe your stress level went up and is causing the new spike? Try to calm down as anxiety and stress makes everything much worse.

I'm sure you are and I am so sorry. A lot of us here are still "afraid" to do some of those things you mentioned so we understand. I never drive with the windows open anymore or use the vacuum cleaner. But I do not miss that...

You will have to try different coping mechanisms to see which ones help you best. There are plenty of suggestions on this forum. Hope you find the information you need and some good friends along the way too.

Hope you calm down, get some rest, and that the noise backs off a bit for you.

Once

 

@billie48 and @OnceUponaTime, thank you for your concern and kind words. It's been 7 months now since the tinnitus got louder, and for some reason, I "feel" like it's even been louder since September. I wish there was a way to actually test/measure one's own tinnitus levels just to know. That's why I came to join this forum, for "support".

The lack of sleep is terrible, as the sound "sounds" louder as the house quiets down. I hate this.

Thank you.

 

Yes, I understand. I hate it, too.

You definitely need to sleep.

Maybe try hot baths with Epsom salts before bedtime, some Chamomile tea with magnesium??

This is the Magnesium I use:

Natural Vitality Calm Raspberry Lemon -- 8 oz - Vitacost

Some people use Melatonin and it helps them BUT when I tried it it gave me nightmares.

A sound machine at a comfortable level is helpful, too.

Try not to sleep in total silence because, obviously, you'll hear tinnitus louder.

Maybe reading a good book at night can help or a good workout?

You may want to try Ambien for a few nights so that you can get some needed rest.
I won't take it for more than 2 days a week as it is habit forming and you do not want that.

I hope you catch some Zzzzz's tonight.

I'll keep you in my prayers.

Once

 

Have you come across AudioNotch? The site allows you to "create" your own tinnitus noise(s). I've tried it myself because the tests done at the ENT didn't even get close to what my tinnitus noises sound like and because of this also couldn't tell me what frequency they were. If you want to give it a try, be careful with the volume you're starting out with and also keep in mind, that hearing your exact tinnitus noise played back to you may egg on the noise that you've got. For me, things were fine with my two lower pitch sounds but playing back my dentist drill one gave me a nasty spike.

 

I've heard other people say the same thing. That's why I've never tried it. Did your spike settled?

 

Yes, fortunately it went back to the way it was before after a while.

 

Did you get the COVID-19 or the vaccine around the time it spiked?

 

No.

 

An audiologist can do an MML (Minimum Masking Level) test to gauge how loud your tinnitus is.

 

I note that you acquired tinnitus the same time as me 25 years ago. As you rightly say there wasn't much information back then about this condition mostly because the Internet was in its infancy and computers and now smartphones, were not easily available to access information quickly. How times have changed.

You have done well habituating for such a long time and able to get on with your life until recently. Hopefully the resurgence in the tinnitus will not be for too long and you will be able to habituate again. Although tinnitus can appear for no reason more often than not something is usually responsible for its onset. The information in your post leads me to believe it was the result of noise trauma. As you probably know this is one of the most common causes of the condition and typically, it is listening to audio through any type of headphones at too high a volume. Exposure to other types of loud noise will do it too.

Although tests at ENT showed you have some slight hearing loss, at the moment it's not something to be concerned about. If there was an underlying medical problem within your auditory system increasing the tinnitus the tests would have revealed it. Therefore, I believe the sudden increase in tinnitus is related to loud sounds. If you have regularly been listening to audio through headphones, earbuds, headsets, noise cancelling or bone conduction headphones even at low volume. Listening to audio through speakers at too high a volume without realizing it, or exposed to loud noise in a working environment. One or a combination of these things are responsible for the increased intensity in your tinnitus.

My tinnitus increased after habituating for eight years and was caused by a second noise trauma. This is one of the reasons I can relate to your situation so well. There are two ways to address this in in order to get your life back on track. As I have previously mentioned tinnitus is mostly mental and it's here the healing process starts. Counselling with an audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management can be helpful and treating your oversensitivity to sound with white noise generators.

The other option is self help which you still have to do even if you see an an audiologist. Start incorporating positivity into your life by engaging in the things you like to do. Print the articles that I gave to you in the links and refer to them often. This will help reinforce positive thinking so you start to look at life and tinnitus differently. Please do not dismiss this as they are a form of counselling. Use low level sound enrichment during the day and especially at night. Try to avoid being in quiet rooms and surroundings for too long. I suggest that you do not use any type of headphones even at low volume. When listing to music through speakers listen at a comfortable level. Your ears will let you know when this is ideal.

It will take time but if you follow my suggestions I believe you will make steady progress. Please read my post: Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus? Although your tinnitus is not variable, it explains the reasons your tinnitus has increased after a long habituation period and suggestions to treat it.

All the best,
Michael

Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum