Growing Up with Tinnitus

[Ellie12345]

Okay, so I have never spoken about this to many people before but I am 17 and have had tinnitus for as long as I can remember.

I used to think a high pitched noise in your ears was normal and that when it was quiet everyone could hear it too.
But in the last 3 years it has got increasingly bad and noticeable, going through day or week long periods where not even my voice can mask my ears. But when its not so loud it is always still there! When i tell people this, they just dont quite get 24/7. It makes me feel extremely isolated as none of my freinds undersand nor my family.

I have always found exams extremely difficult to cope with and equally getting to sleep at night.

I have been to the doctors many times over the last 2 years after convincing myself that it was important enough to ask for help. And yet I have only just got my referal to an expert.

I guess I wanted to ask for peoples personal experiences! As now I fear I have had it so long that its here to stay. I have coped this long however I'm not sure if I can go another 17 years or longer!! Guess I am just open to advice?!

 

[JurgenG]

Hey Ellie, sorry to hear you have been dealing with this as long as you have.
Have you thought about wearable noise generators? As you'll go to some experts maybe one will also advise to take TRT, looks like a solution to deal with this.

 

[fishbone]

Okay, so I have never spoken about this to many people before but I am 17 and have had tinnitus for as long as I can remember.

I used to think a high pitched noise in your ears was normal and that when it was quiet everyone could hear it too.
But in the last 3 years it has got increasingly bad and noticeable, going through day or week long periods where not even my voice can mask my ears. But when its not so loud it is always still there! When i tell people this, they just dont quite get 24/7. It makes me feel extremely isolated as none of my freinds undersand nor my family.

I have always found exams extremely difficult to cope with and equally getting to sleep at night.

I have been to the doctors many times over the last 2 years after convincing myself that it was important enough to ask for help. And yet I have only just got my referal to an expert.

I guess I wanted to ask for peoples personal experiences! As now I fear I have had it so long that its here to stay. I have coped this long however I'm not sure if I can go another 17 years or longer!! Guess I am just open to advice?!

You have done a great job, so far! Keep up the good work. Each day makes you stronger and managing tinnitus is a day by day ordeal. All of us deal with it. My tinnitus affects both ears and is VERY loud and not maskable. Remaining calm and reducing stress is vital for those that suffer with tinnitus. Stress, anger just irritates the tinnitus and can make it louder.

This issue is not a simple one, but one can train their mind to live with it. I have and I been at this for almost 30 years.... Possibly talking it out with a loved one or someone YOU trust, can be beneficial.

When I got my tinnitus almost 30 years ago, i'd ask my mom about it and she comforted me....Talk it out and gain support...

Be well....