Hi Everyone, I'm Nick (One Month of Tinnitus)

Hey everyone,

My name is Nick, I'm 19 years old and from Amsterdam. I play drums in a band, and my tinnitus popped up about a month ago after one of our - probably way too loud - rehearsals. It wasn't unusual for us to go home with a ringing in our ears, but this time for me it didn't go away... (I wear plugs now). It's a high pitched noise that seems to be a little louder on the right side. It's most noticable when I try to sleep and when I wake up.

All in all, it's been troubling me a lot for quite some time, but up until a few days ago I stayed quite hopeful it might go away. Now I've reached the stage at which I'm not sure where to turn to. Two weeks ago I went to the doctor to get my earwax cleaned out because I thought that might've caused the ringing, but it didn't help. I'm planning to get an appointment with the ENT, but I'm afraid that all he'll be able to tell me is "Deal with it, you'll habituate."

Now, I've been reading through some posts here, and from what I'm understanding I'm still at an early stage. Besides visiting an ENT (which I probably will), are there any things that I can still do to reduce the tinnitus as much as possible? Do I need to hurry with some kind of treatment? I read something about prednisone treatment, although I'm not sure whether that's something that many people have tried successfully.

I'm looking forward to your response/advice and I would like to let you all know how happy I am to have found this forum!

Nick

 

Since your tinnitus is so new and may be related to acoustic trauma, you may want to get your doctor/ENT to prescribe a course of prednisone or other corticosteroids. Members here highly recommend new T patient to get this treatment as soon as possible. Here is a discussion thread on this treatment:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...dexamethasone-others-oral-and-injections.348/

 

Turn the volume down. Get electric drums to practice on. You are new to this and it could fade. Perhaps even take a brake from the band and let your ears rest. also look into AM101
Also protect the SHit out of your ears. Double up protection for rehearsaL if you do play . Earplugs and ear muffs on top.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow, will ask to be redirected to an ENT.
@billie48, apparently prednisone treatment can't be done in the Netherlands, so my best chance at treatment is to go to Germany... Will look into it though.

Taking a break from the band isn't really an option at the moment since we have many shows in the planning and a single release as well... I'm gonna get some professional plugs next week, and protect the shit out of my ears for sure.

 

Hi

Been a drummer too (about 15 years, happy T-less then). My T came 5+years after i stopped playing drums in bands (focused on DJing and dance music later)
My T is possibly TMJ related (or stress or maybe meds) cause years after i quit regular DJ ing i had no chronic T. But i have to say i quit dj ing completely because of my T since 2013!

Anyway as a bit of a veteran in noisy environments a few tips. I was always carefull with my ears as a dj and drummer. We were soft rock and i rather had our guitar players very powerful amp not blowing directly into my ear. Try to not overdue it in rehearsals (especially not for hours in a row, take 15 minute breaks every now and then)

I can vouch for musicans ear plugs! I own these and they are great Some even fit in ear stage monitors! (i never used them with in ears , so no experience on that)

http://www.variphone.com/nl/mep-2g
http://www.variphone.com/en/mep-2g
(kinda like etymotic's)

The variphone or etymotic ER 20 could be a short time solution, they are not so comfy as customs and not as linear (blue model = small ear canal, white= big ear canal)
Regular foam plugs will muffle, but i rather have them in around loud noise then to risk louder T or long setbacks.

If you use -22 or -25Db you'll probably be fine. That makes 100-105 more like 80-85Db wich should be safe for quite a while. But do take more silent breaks at rehearsals, it gives your ears some rest.

 

I would take Soul Station's advice....