Hi All

[agaton spik]

Hi everyone,

Guy from Sweden here. Got tinnitus August this year. Not sure where it came from but I think several things may have played into it. A loud concert, stress from work and possibly unhealthy diet (do workout though).

Like many else in the beginning, I'm really depressed right now. :-(
I've been a lurker here for a while and I rarely engage in forum activities but I felt like writing something today.

My tinnitus is, I think, around the 5 or 6 khz frequency. Not a clear tone but more whistling and shhhh like. The problem is that it's impossible to mask. Listening to music actually makes it even worse because it seems to always compete with the other sound and then getting even louder.

Interestingly enough, I've noticed that my tinnitus decreases to almost nothing after having a few drinks/beers.
At first I thought it's simply because you typically don't give two shits about it when you're drunk, but there seems to be something more to it. Reading and learning more about the inner workings of the GABA and Glutamate receptors it seems to make sence in my case. I'd say I'm OCPD minded and a control freak (software developer and all heh). If something new/unknown/unwelcome comes up I easily get anxious. I'm guessing that's why I have so hard time to let go of my tinnitus.

Anway, thanks for reading.

 

[Leah]

Welcome aboard. If you have been lurking you have read many of the theories and helpful hints.
Hmm, might try the drinking thing.

 

[Sherri786]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your T. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Markku]

Hey agaton and welcome!

It's unfortunate your tinnitus is of the type that seems to compete with other sounds. I know there are several people here who have this problem. We even had a thread about it, I need to see if I can find it.

Yours is so recent though that it could still go either way. I vividly remember mine felt better after a few months.

Have you seen a doctor? Had an audiogram to test your hearing? Any measurable hearing loss?

It's peculiar why some people's tinnitus is worsened by consumption of alcohol, others not one way or another and then some say it improves their tinnitus. I guess you are lucky in that regard, although it's not a suggested daily treatment protocol

But yeah, as Leah said, I hope you've benefited from the existing information here; there's plenty. See you around and keep us posted on any changes.

-M

 

[agaton spik]

Thanks for the feedback everyone,
Yeah, I did an audio test a few weeks ago. They added a question mark to the higher frequency range (4-6 kHz). I'm guessing it's because I was sorta trigger-happy during the test, i.e. "hearing" tones I probably didn't really hear.
I later did some tests of my own through some Android apps and I think in the end that I've probably lost hearing of some frequencies in that range. Not so much that I would need a hearing-aid though.

The forum has been a great resource. I've read many threads and followed the progress of several forum members, especially Louise (hang in there and hope you're feeling better!).

About the alcohol. Yeah, probably not a good idea to get wasted too much. I'll try to keep it on a moderate level even if it's somehow more tempting now to down a few more beers.

I'm going to see a doctor in a few days. I'm considering giving SSRI (Citalopram or Sertraline?) a try just to see if it can help me calm down a couple of nothes.

I'll definately let you know if there are any changes to my cause. I get the feeling that many who gets better don't bother to post their sucess stories. I for one would LOVE to read more about people who've gotten rid of or habituated their tinnitus!

 

[agaton spik]

Got some Citalopram a.k.a Cipramil/Celexa through my doctor today. Will start taking it on Sunday. Whatever happens next I'll follow the wisdom of Jack Burton:

Just remember what ol' Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, and the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big ol' storm right square in the eye and he says, "Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it."

 

[Darren Knight]

Damn straight!!!

 

[gary]

If alcohol helped me, I would not hesitate to use it myself. As long as my Dr. gave me the OK with the other meds are taking for other health issues.

I am in no way, shape, or form suggesting this to any one. This is my personal outlook.

Let us know how the Citalopram a.k.a Cipramil/Celexa work..

Good Luck & Welcome Aboard....

 

[meeruf]

I'll definately let you know if there are any changes to my cause. I get the feeling that many who gets better don't bother to post their success stories. I for one would LOVE to read more about people who've gotten rid of or habituated their tinnitus!

My success story is coming. Even if my tinnitus leaves or stays! I'm not going to leave this forum with only misery. I will end it with victory. Just give me some time!

I'm from Norway by the way, nice to have more Scandinavians here.

Funny that alcohol is helping you. I have not touched alcohol since I had my setback. My father have been a DJ in many years and raped his ears. He never got tinnitus, and drinks a lot. Maybe that is the solution! xD

 

[Dishman]

Honestly I've been drinking beer at night since the onset...It most definitely helps me, don't even notice T unless I'm thinking about it, its got me thinking lately that I may have had tinnitus for years and I just recently started focusing on it and looking for it, which lets it be there. I used to tell myself "silence is deafening" and I remember hearing something like tinnitus sounds back in the day...but I would never be looking for the sound which I find myself doing awake or when going to sleep now since I learned many things about this tinnitus and its sounds. Seems as though my auditory system is on high alert and I am noticing EVERYTHING whether it be INSIDE (ear clicking/cracking) or OUTSIDE (everyday environmental sounds).

 

[rena]

hi i use red wine but i do live in france lol i have now been told i suffer from TMJ clicking jaw and hope it is the cause of my T i also have headaches and other stuff related to it going to have a mouth piece made
(my hub hopes it will stop me talkin!!) as i think i am clencing my jaw and have been since the onset of things (burn out/stress) but i think TMJ is worth considering will keep posting my progress

 

[agaton spik]

Time for an update.

I've been on Citalopram for almost three weeks now and I raised the dose to 20mg a couple of days ago.
Not sure if it things have helped, but at least I'm starting to feel a bit like Peter Gibbons in Office Space now.

The tinnitus is still there, maybe at a slightly lower volume, but it doesn't always bother me that much
like it used to. I can't really tell if it's because of the Citalopram or neuroplasticity. It's almost as if
my brain is now trying to tell me that my tinnitus has always been there and that it's a normal thing. Still,
there are some good days and less good days. Mostly good days though.

I've stopped caring too much about what I eat and drink because I felt that it was mostly Nocebo. Caffeine, salty and spicy food is still high up on my menu.

Let's see where my tinnitus odyssey will take me next...

 

[Markku]

What a nice update @agaton spik.

You seemed like a very rational guy to begin with. You were depressed, you acknowledged that many are in the beginning stages, you researched and read the previous discussions, took the appropriate steps (in this case, including an SSRI).

You are the perfect example of a common tinnitus case. The first couple of months can be tough, then it tends to get significantly better - habituation or whatever anyone wants to call it kicking in.

I get the feeling that many who gets better don't bother to post their sucess stories.

This. 100% agreed.

I'm grateful you took the time to come back and give us an update since many people don't. It's understandable; life goes on once the noise is no longer constantly bugging, so it's easy to forget to come back and tell the good news.

All the best for your future, and I hope T continues to become less and less of an issue.

 

[agaton spik]

Hi all, time for an update!

It's been several months since my last visit here. Gotten more used to my tinnitus now. Still munching Citalopram, 20mg each day. It works well and I will go with the 'if it ain't broken, don't fix it' route for a little while longer.

Believe it or not but there are some days where my tinnitus is completely gone! Really nice, but it's rare. Still, the tinnitus itself doesn't really bother me that much all the time anymore. The occasional problem however is that my tinnitus is sometimes (perhaps unwarrantedly) getting the blame for everything that may have put me into a not-so-good mode. Like:

* Not enough sleep. Tinnitus fault!
* Hangover. Tinnitus fault!
* Stress at work, Tinnitus fault!
* Bored. Tinnitus fault!

Still though, given the fact that I've experienced days without tinnitus and that when I do have it, I can cope with it and even ignore it when I have more important things to do, makes life much easier now. I've read so many mails now with people contracting tinnitus and getting depressed. My advice is:

1) Don't panic!
2) You're not alone.
3) Try to hold out for a while, you're brain and body will try to their best to adjust to the changes, but it may take some time.
4) Try to occupy yourself with something else. Your mind can usually only focus at one thing at a time. If you're doing
something interesting. You will forget that you have tinnitus.

Thanks for reading!

 

[alifalijohn]

Thank you for the advise, I should have gone out today, because it is a beautiful day in Toronto Canada, but I opt to stay home and feel sorry for myself, I will head your advise, there is worst things in this world. thanks Hang in there..we are here for each other!.keep in touch!

 

[agaton spik]

It's August now and it's been more than a year later since I contracted tinnitus so I thought I'd make an update.
My tinnitus has gone lower over the months and I don't mind it at all these days. Some days it's even almost gone, and other days it's there but I fail/forget to notice it.

One of my friend asked her husband for some advice when I talked to her a many months ago. He has had tinnitus for many years and when she asked how long it would take to get used to tinnitus. He told her, "two years".

For me it has been one year now and I think that's how long it took for me to completely forget about it and ignore it.

With that said, I love this forum and I hope that people who has recently got tinnitus will find comfort reading what other has people experienced, and realize that it is fully possible to habitate it if you just try to have some patience and cool down! It's difficult, but anyone can make it through. Just look at my first post!!

I also want to stick to my promise and don't leave just because I'm "cured", because I think people need to hear more about these success stories!!

 

[Karen]

Agaton,

Thank you for returning to Tinnitus Talk! It will really give others hope to know that you have experienced lowered tinnitus and the stress related to it. You will be a great help to many people, I'm sure. We're glad you've returned!

 

[Ken219]

@agaton spik Good to hear after a year your T is under control. That 2 year estimate was conservative. Glad you made it in one year. Keep the faith for others and stay on this forum for encouragement.

 

[agaton spik]

Thanks Karen and Ken,

Don't worry, I'll be around and try to help and encourage people whenever I can!

 

[Teri]

@agaton spik....I love reading these stories as well as other "newbies". Thank you so much for posting and please keep us posted on your continued success!

 

[agaton spik]

Thanks Teri, don't worry, I'm gonna be around here and try my best to encourage people that things is gonna be alright!