Hi all. This is my first post so a little background. My tinnitus started December 2019. Had a cold so possibly virus. Luckily I'm healthy so almost never have to see a doctor. Anyway tinnitus started about 3 days after having a bad cold. January was the most stressful month of my life, I didn't know how I was going to cope with it, had dreams about suicide and loads of awful thoughts! I think my tinnitus is from loud music in headphones for decades. Also started in a noisy rock band in Sept which I guess is the main reason.
Doctor checked ears and was told ear was impacted with wax so had olive oil drops and nasal spray. Neither did anything. 2nd doctor same questions and answers but got him to do a blood test. I thought i might be anemic as had no energy and my ears felt full. Bloods came back ok. He referred me to ENT but waiting list was 8 months! With lockdown no idea when I'll get to see the ENT. I had a free hearing test and was told hearing normal but couldn't see past the wax to check my ears properly.
Went to a private clinic, they cleared my right ear of compacted earwax but found nothing in my left ear which was odd. After about a week I noticed tinnitus had reduced in my right ear only. My tinnitus has a slight ringing sound to it which I don't notice if I'm busy and have the radio on. When it spikes it changes to a hiss which I find unbearable and just have to wait for it to go away which is usually about 24 hours.
I've read on the forum about different diets so thought I'd try changing my diet. My diet is quite healthy, lots of fruit and veg, some meat, rarely fatty foods, drink lots of water etc. I try and cycle a lot.
I don't drink coffee only tea which doesn't have much caffeine so tried decaf free for 2 months but made no difference. Tried dairy free for a week which was a total pain but also made no difference. I'm currently on my 2nd attempt at gluten free. This is not too difficult as I make my own bread. Breakfast cereals are more expensive but I'm willing to pay anything to make this god awful noise to go away!
Not sure if the gluten free is working, very difficult to tell to be honest. I can safely say alcohol affects it so given up wine and whiskey much to my annoyance!! Beer and cider seem to be ok.
I can only be thankful that it's summer so I can sit outside and have the windows open etc which helps with masking. I've tried a few masking apps. I have no idea how to find out what frequency it is. I tried an app but I couldn't figure it out. Also I don't want to become reliant on them. It will just be something else I have to worry about i.e. is my phone charged, are my headphones charged every time I go out.
Just today reading on here about people's experience with turmeric supplements so I guess that's my next avenue to explore.
Anyway that's it. Thanks for reading. Any advice you can give will be very much appreciated.
J
Doctor checked ears and was told ear was impacted with wax so had olive oil drops and nasal spray. Neither did anything. 2nd doctor same questions and answers but got him to do a blood test. I thought i might be anemic as had no energy and my ears felt full. Bloods came back ok. He referred me to ENT but waiting list was 8 months! With lockdown no idea when I'll get to see the ENT. I had a free hearing test and was told hearing normal but couldn't see past the wax to check my ears properly.
Went to a private clinic, they cleared my right ear of compacted earwax but found nothing in my left ear which was odd. After about a week I noticed tinnitus had reduced in my right ear only. My tinnitus has a slight ringing sound to it which I don't notice if I'm busy and have the radio on. When it spikes it changes to a hiss which I find unbearable and just have to wait for it to go away which is usually about 24 hours.
I've read on the forum about different diets so thought I'd try changing my diet. My diet is quite healthy, lots of fruit and veg, some meat, rarely fatty foods, drink lots of water etc. I try and cycle a lot.
I don't drink coffee only tea which doesn't have much caffeine so tried decaf free for 2 months but made no difference. Tried dairy free for a week which was a total pain but also made no difference. I'm currently on my 2nd attempt at gluten free. This is not too difficult as I make my own bread. Breakfast cereals are more expensive but I'm willing to pay anything to make this god awful noise to go away!
Not sure if the gluten free is working, very difficult to tell to be honest. I can safely say alcohol affects it so given up wine and whiskey much to my annoyance!! Beer and cider seem to be ok.
I can only be thankful that it's summer so I can sit outside and have the windows open etc which helps with masking. I've tried a few masking apps. I have no idea how to find out what frequency it is. I tried an app but I couldn't figure it out. Also I don't want to become reliant on them. It will just be something else I have to worry about i.e. is my phone charged, are my headphones charged every time I go out.
Just today reading on here about people's experience with turmeric supplements so I guess that's my next avenue to explore.
Anyway that's it. Thanks for reading. Any advice you can give will be very much appreciated.
J
Member
