Getting Worse and More Sleepless Night

[Andrei90]

It's been nearly 2 weeks now and my symptoms only seem to be getting worse with time. The hiss in my left ear is much louder and the electrical static/buzz is filling up my entire head. Impossible to mask because the static reacts to noise. Sensitivity has improved but the fullness and pain still come and go. Hearing seems to be diminishing still and this one has me in deep depression. And I believe now that it was valsalva maneuver that made my symptoms worst two weeks ago. Before that it was acoustic trauma that left my ears in a damaged state. Reading through the success stories, it seems like everybody had mild conditions that only improved after onset. This is not the case for me. I think I'm headed to join the worst examples on this forum. I only have two explanations for this and perhaps more experienced people can clarify. Either I'm still going through some sort of delayed damage phase or I'm doing a lousy job at protecting my ears for my healing. I bought a decibel meter and the loudest thing I deal with on a daily basis is the shower/ electric toothbrush/ car. Only the shower leaves my head completely buzzing as I mentioned above along with a vibration feeling.

Clearing my ears afterwards seems to create too much suction and noise. Is there a better way of avoiding this or should I continue on normally?

Has there been anybody on here that recovered from darker places? Anybody with gradual build up of acoustic trauma? I just don't know how to cope. The onset symptoms would have been okay but not this. Not the future that I set myself up for.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Is there a better way of avoiding this or should I continue on normally?

No - do not continue on normally. Listen to the signals from your body. A shower made you feel worse, you continued taking showers (instead of starting to take baths), and now you are surprised that you got worse. Whenever something spikes your T, learn from it and ensure that you don't do it again (until the time when your T gets better). Give your body a chance to heal.

Try wearing hearing protection in your car. See how you feel after you eliminate loud noises from your life for at least a month.

 

[Andrei90]

No - do not continue on normally. Listen to the signals from your body. A shower made you feel worse, you continued taking showers (instead of starting to take baths), and now you are surprised that you got worse. Whenever something spikes your T, learn from it and ensure that you don't do it again (until the time when your T gets better). Give your body a chance to heal.

Try wearing hearing protection in your car. See how you feel after you eliminate loud noises from your life for at least a month.

Is there a specific brand I should be looking for? The ones I have are pretty bad.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Is there a specific brand I should be looking for? The ones I have are pretty bad.

My plugs of choice are
https://www.amazon.com/3M-1100-Foam-Plugs-Pair/dp/B0067NKCO8

I also carry 3M Peltor X5A ear muffs
https://www.amazon.com/PELTOR-Ear-Muff-Headband-X5A/dp/B00BBCTQK6
with me everywhere I go. In case of a fire alarm, they will be easy and fast to slip on.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Has there been anybody on here that recovered from darker places? Anybody with gradual build up of acoustic trauma? I just don't know how to cope. The onset symptoms would have been okay but not this. Not the future that I set myself up for.

@Andrei90

In the early stages of noise induced tinnitus it can fluctuate a lot but eventually it will settle down. I advise you not use headphones even at low volume. Please click on the links below and read my posts on tinnitus. Try to read them in full and not skim through them.

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/

 

[glynis]

@Andrei90 ,
The unwanted emotions can bottle up and soon start you going down in a low mood and finding yourself in a black hole.
I have been to that place and never thought I would enjoy life again and last year I would have gladly pressed a button to disappear.
Well now im the happiest person I have ever been and and loving life so much.
You will get back on track from tinnitus and from your emotional wobble but it takes time and support to get you through it.
We are here around the clock to support you and get what help you can from your doctor etc.
Love glynis

 

[Red]

What do you use to clean your ears?

 

[Andrei90]

What do you use to clean your ears?

I used my finger quickly after taking a shower but it creates a loud suction noise. Not sure if this is healthy anymore. I now use my towel and press gently against the ear but it's not perfect for removing all the water. For normal cleaning I just use Qtips.