Hi, I'm Jesse

I have been lurking around this site awhile now and have decided to create an account. Many of the stories here have given me hope. I have also learned alot about my condition.

My tinnitus began after a particularly painful ear infection in my right ear. I went to a clinic and was prescribed antibiotics for a week. After the end of the week I had a fullness feeling and mild ringing. I went to a ENT specialists, had my hearing tested and was told the fullness would go away but that I was stuck with Tinnitus. He told me "You'll just have to learn to live with it". I cried in my car for awhile after that visit.
Time went by fine for awhile and I adjusted. I wasn't going to let this defeat me. Hell, everyone has some problem. But then about a few weeks ago college started. Due to some psychological reasons, my anxiety jumped through the roof and my tinnitus became a roar that I couldn't shut out.

So far I have it back under control with mild anxiety levels. I will sadly be cancelling this semester to... come more to terms with my T. I will be seeing a doctor soon at TallGrass in Topeka, Kansas to see if they can help me.

My hope is to lower my T by just 50%. Even if they can't help me much I know I can beat this. But if they can help me at all then I'm going to take it.

 

Hi @Lighthouse, and welcome.

I am sorry to hear that you had to cancel this semester. I hope that you will pick your education back up next semester. Where you have expressed that you can get your tinnitus and anxiety (which is common with tinnitus, as you probably have already read here) under control. That, in my non-medically trained mind, is a good sign. If you are able to get it "under control" you will probably be able to habituate. Many people here have said that focusing on things, in many cases things that take mental or physical effort, can help alleviate symptoms. And, for mental focus, school is probably a great source. You can turn your tinnitus into an educational advantage! Think about it, to help alleviate your symptoms ,you need to focus mentally, studying requires mental focus; think of the grades you will be able to get while also keeping your symptoms in check!

We have numerous students amongst our community, who are excelling in their education. You do not have to let this stand in the way of achieving your goals.

That is precisely the attitude you need. You are stronger than this. I know you may not feel like it at this time (trust me, we all have been there and return there sometimes), but you are. I have suggested this to many people before, rad through the posts and replies, find some people who you see as helpful, or say things that resonate with you, that you feel are coping well with their tinnitus. Now, find their "Introduction" posts; you will find the following:

People who feel defeated
People who feel that they have no strength to deal with it
People who feel that there is no way they can carry on
You will also find some who were even feeling suicidal.
​

Yet, now, they are not only coping, but are helping others.

As for the doctor telling you that you "just have to live with it", get a second opinion, then a third, or even a fourth. There are doctors who are not so quick to give up, doctors who understand tinnitus and know what is possible.

Hang in there, it will get better, it will get easier.

I wish you luck in your battle, please let us know how you are doing and keep us updated in your progress.

 

Hey man !

Regarding the bold sentence, I think every ENT likes to say that !

How do you feel nowadays ?

All the Best !

Christophe

 

Its been a month now since my breakdown and two weeks since my hearing test with a audio-biologist.

The doctor said my loss is not in normal speaking ranges. I imagine I have hearing loss in the higher ranges but I could be wrong. Ultimately she said there was nothing they could really do for me besides maybe vitamins and a therapist who is used to Tinnitus patients. Overall not entirely what I wanted tot hear but it did give me some closure.

Everything has gotten better. I'm not obsessing over the ringing or freaking out about it. Sure sometimes it annoys the hell out of me. I have returned back to my normal state of mind and have begun filtering it out pretty well most of the time.

One of the biggest things I've decided is I'm not going to let this rule my life. Sure, I have ringing in my ears. But its not that loud that I can't ignore it. This is my life and the only one I have. All the ringing has done (besides cause me unneeded stress) is given me perspective on life.

I can understand it can be hard at first but ultimately its not the end of the world. I choose to move on with my life. As one guy said on here that gave me resolve "You don't think about having your pant's on, the Tinnitus is just like that".