Help, I Feel So Miserable

Since my tinnitus worsened and increased in October 20017 I'm not coping well with my tinnitus. It's getting progressively worse and I'm losing my mind . I'm doing well during the day but night time is like a horror movie for me. New tones, anxiety and depression are killing me!

As I say, I can't hear it during the day when I'm outside and maybe I am weak person because that isn't so severe because some fellas can hear tinnitus 24/7, always and everywhere.

It's just about tones. I can hear 5 or 6 tones now including electric hiss, eeee, morse code, screeching and few more.

Please help and give me some hope that this can get better. I can't sleep without sleep medication (lexaurin\bromazepam 1,5mg) or without a few beers.

Before I never had problems with sleeping due to my tinnitus. Thank you for reading.

 

Seeing as it only bothers you at night and in quiet rooms, my advice would be to use a lot of masking sounds. Sleep with a fan or put on some nature sounds from youtube or a phone app. Try to compose a playlist of the masking sounds that work the best with the frequencies your tones are at.

Also don't try to check for changes and the like too much. Accept what is there as a whole and do not analyze it.

Concerning it getting better or not. A lot would depend on what you think is the cause of your tinnitus. A good policy, in any case, though, would be to avoid as much (even moderately) loud noises. Do not go to bars, clubs, ... for a while and see what influence that has. If you can, avoid using power tools or use adequate protection (i.e. ear muffs or plugs).

I'm not sure if your depression/anxiety is purely related to tinnitus, but if it isn't, then getting that under control, may improve your perception of T and the manner in which you are bothered by it. Try alternative routes for this, as AD's will not be as beneficial for everyone.

 

How did it worsen? How did you get your T initially?
My has worsened in January and has been very severe. I hardly sleep anymore and I can hear it everywhere. Over running faucets (full blast), yup that is how loud it is. I been having dark eye floaters. On top of that I have Severe Hyperacusis. This all resulted from Caloric Test/VEMP on Jan 15 that I did.

 

Part of it could be due to hormonal changes at night time and of course part of it is the tinnitus you hear. I would suggest masking the sound at night. I know a lot of people seem to like the Marpac Dohm white noise generator. I got one but unfortunately it did not mask my type of tinnitus. (Of course my tinnitus is unmaskable but I don't really notice it in the shower most of the time). As far as depression, I wonder if Omega 3 fatty acids might help with your depression. Unfortunately I am no doctor so I can't say for sure. I hope you feel better asap.

 

Thank you @Mellow7 @dpdx @JasonP

@Mellow7
I've got episodes of anxiety and depression even before T but in mild form, nothing so severe.

@dpdx
I don't know the cause of my T but it worsened after my best friends wedding in October. I didn't care earplugs . I have had T since December 2016 and I habituated in 30 days first time... Now I can't habituate since October, it's just worse and worse

@JasonP
Sure I will try to mask my T every night. I think masking is good for T. Thank you!

 

I am also miserable like you. My T never improved after Jan 15, it is loud and intrusive every day. It is crazy how much my life changed just in a span of 1 year, from optimistic to pessimism, from completely healthy to unhealthy, from relaxed to anxious, from loving life to having dark thoughts.

Hang on there, we will probably have to wait it out until 2019 to see if it will reduce, also we have those treatments coming on so there is hope.

 

I also heard it only in the night, but today my ear is full and there is a new tone and I feel enraged. For you, I am sorry that you have several tones - I used the one I had treating as a background noise and slept well, but I do take medications for sleep since long before I know what T was.

 

@dpdx
Hope you feel better as soon as posible!

@Michael Leigh @billie48
I would like to know what do you think about my tinnitus and if you have some advice for me, I'll be very thankful guys

 

@Widex ,
It sounds to me you are having missfireing signals and causing multiple tones.
Anxiety and Depression wont help it.
You need to find ways to relax and try lift your mood a little and going for short walks will help.
I hope your having support from your doctor for anxiety and depression and maybe medication will help you for a while.
If you have come down off medication or stopped or changed medications it can cause it also.
love glynis

 

HI @Widex

It all depends what originally caused your tinnitus, as this will give an indication why it is getting worse. If it is an underlying medical problem associated with your ear then this needs to be investigated at ENT so tests should be carried out. If your tinnitus was caused by "exposure" to loud noise, which is one of the most common causes of tinnitus, then "exposure" to sound is the likely reason it is becoming more intrusive. Do you listen to audio through headphones? If your tinnitus was noise induced, my advice is not to use headphones even at low volume.

You have said the tinnitus is more noticeable at night. Do you use sound enrichment at night? Or do you sleep in a quiet room? If you sleep in a quiet room without using sound enrichment then I advise you to refrain from doing this. Please read the post below and then click on the links and read my posts.

All the best
Michael


Anyone with tinnitus particularly if it is intrusive, should avoid silence especially at night. This is mentioned throughout the TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy) book written by Professor Jastreboff. In fact silence is considered to be harmful. The brain and auditory system never switch off. When we are asleep or in quiet surroundings, the brain has the ability to increase its background activity. In doing so it will also increase the tinnitus making it louder and more intrusive. By using low level sound enrichment, it supplies the brain and auditory system with sound and thus, helps prevent the brain from increasing its own background activity. Over time it the tinnitus is suppressed.

This is particularly evident in people that tinnitus due to hearing loss. When the brain is unable to hear certain sounds/frequencies from the outside environment, it will turn up its internal gain to hear those sounds/frequencies. In doing so tinnitus can develop and over time become more intrusive. Once a person is fitted with a hearing aid/s, the brain no longer has to work so hard turns down its gain (volume control) and over time, the tinnitus is reduced too.

Sound Machines

I have recently been asked about the benefits of using a sound machine after someone read my post on another thread, please find it below.

Sound Oasis makes the best sound machines in my opinion and they are specifically designed for people with tinnitus although anyone will benefit using one. The quality of their digital sounds will be far superior to any homemade sounds that you compile if your intention is to use them for sound enrichment.

A sound machine can be used night and day but do their magic best when we are in deep sleep. It supplies the brain and auditory system with sound enrichment. Over time, the tinnitus is pushed further into the background making it less intrusive and will make the path to habituation easier.

I have three Oasis models. The S-650 is very popular and the one I usually recommend people buy. It comes with a variety of sounds on two sound cards. Additional cards can be purchased. The S-850 travel, is more expensive and compact. It has 18 on-board digital sounds and doesn’t use cards. Some people might be bothered by the clock’s blue backlight at night-time. It dims but cannot be turned completely off; the S650 backlight can be set to switch off automatically.

The S-5000 is the top model. Larger and more sophisticated than the others and can only be mains operated. It uses a three-speaker system, that has a subwoofer for increased depth and definition to the sound. According to Oasis, over 140 on-board sound combinations are possible. It has FM/AM radio and an external sound source can be selected via the auxiliary input. There are a host of other features.

The purpose of using a sound machine is to have it playing in the background without drawing attention to itself unlike a radio. For this reason, music mustn’t be used at night for sound enrichment, as it will draw the Brain’s attention and delay habituation.

In my opinion and the advice of Professor Jastreboff, developer of TRT. Sound enrichment particularly at night should be used by anyone that has intrusive tinnitus. I would go as far to say, it is imperative to do so if you want to help yourself. Over time you will get used to having sound around you both during the day and night. I find it strange to be in a very quiet room now having used a sound machine for so long.

Michael


PS: Many people have contacted me after they have habituated to tinnitus and stopped using sound enrichment at night, only to find their tinnitus becoming intrusive again over time. The rule of thumb: avoid quiet rooms and surroundings especially at night by using a sound machine.


https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/[/user]

 

I am still shocked we dont have treatment for this condition. I consider this on the range with AIDS, Cancer, etc.

 

An increase can really suck. I think the factor of: 'it could get even worse any minute' plays an important role in how much it effects you.
I have light T now, but 3 weeks ago it spiked for 10 days to levels in which I could hear it during the day.. that was really something else there. Im really happy I have my low T back again. I think if you do a lot in preventing further worsening you will feel a lot better. I heavily invested in prevention and am more confident it won't get worse.
What I did was:
- Get rid of high powered speakers in my room
- Get volume limited earphones that max out on 85 db max (Etymotic EK5).
- Have elektronic earplugs with me all the time (Etymotic Music Pro earplugs)
- Have heavy passive earplugs with me in my wallet all the time (Earpeace HD earplugs)
- Limit exposure to areas with loud sounds like festivals
- Walk around the house carefull not to knock shit over (because im clumsy), this way I don't knock metal pans against other pans and stuff.
- Any moment i notice loud sounds that I don't really trust I pop in the elektronic earplugs that limit sound db to max 85db so im safe. It feels really good knowing that I won't be exposed to loud sounds for a set period of time btw!

If possible you should try and find out what caused it and why it could be getting worse. Perhaps eating really cleanly or doing a blood test might get some insight into this.

I hope you settle in and habituate to your lite T again, I have lite T as well and at least we have our rest during the day!

 

Tinnitus has been around for centuries and goes back to the Egyptians, when the first written account and medical treatment for it was recorded. Some say not much progress has been made in the medical field for treating it and I disagree. With such a close mind it’s not surprising they have difficulty accepting medications, therapies, white noise generators and hearing aids have been effective in helping people to have a better quality of life.

I believe we have come a long way since the Egyptians applied infused oil, frankincense and tree sap to the external part of the ear using a reed stalk. The Mesopotamians found benefit chanting a mantra or meditated to help ease the whispering in the ears as it was called. Physicians believed in those remedies and therefore, who are we to say they didn’t make life more tolerable for some people?

Today there are many treatments for tinnitus. If a person is able to get access to some of them they may find the quality of their life improves. Some of these treatments are listed below. I don’t think any treatment will work if a person is looking for a "complete cure" for tinnitus or someone that focuses on being negative and believes a treatment will not work. Many medical conditions cannot be cured but a lot can be managed with treatment to help a person have a better quality of life.

Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Counselling - With a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist trained in tinnitus management.
The wearing white noise generators (for sound enrichment)
Using a sound machine for sound enrichment. Or listening to music tracks via mp3 player
Relaxation exercises
Hearing aid. Improves hearing loss and can lower tinnitus
Anti-depressants and other medications like: clonazepam
Neuromodulation
Mindfulness therapy

 

CBT didnt help me. I dont want to take drugs, dosent help solve the problem, but it creates more. We need to have some sort of volume reduction mechanism. My TINNITUS used to be 2/10 and very mild, now that is is 9/10 every day. I just turned 28 and I am disabled, cant work, focus, read, write, listen to music, etc. On top of that I have severe hyperacusis. For people who have mild tinnitus those things would work perfectly, but somewone like me the only help is if there is a treatment.

 

I answered your quote. Which said there is no treatment for tinnitus. There certainly is and many people benefit from them. I take clonazepam when my tinnitus reaches severe levels. I was prescribed it in 2010 and have never had any problems with it. It was and still is a lifeline for me when nothing else will work to reduce the tinnitus. I hope one day you are able to change your mind and perhaps give CBT another try. TRT or medication.

I wish you well.
Michael

 

TRT costs a fortune here in the USA. CBT didnt help me. I think we need to push for a treatment/cure. Those things simply aren't enough. I have intrusive tinnitus and severe hyperacusis which was caused by caloric test/vemp, so I need to have something that will bring me back where I was in October when my T was low. Susan Shore Device will perhaps do that.

 

I wish you the best of luck.
Michael

 

I read that alcohol makes tinnitus worse. I could sure drink a nice ice cold margarita.

 

Thank you @Michael Leigh, your posts are very helpful. I really hope that I can habituate to this new level!

@dpdx
What's Susan Shore Device?