Hi!
I am semtis. I am 27.
How I got my tinnitus:
I got my tinnitus in November 2010 after prolonged exposure to loud music. Tinnitus developed in both ears and it had a very high frequency "pure tone". At the time my tinnitus was very quiet and I could only hear it if there was no other sound in the room. Tinnitus in my right ear was a bit louder than in my left ear and I really had to concentrate to hear it in my left ear. At first I had trouble going to sleep, but after a few months it was manageable. I started to use foam ear plugs (-35 db) for prolonged or excessive noise. In 2014 I got myself rubber ear plugs (-17db) as the foam ones did give me blisters sometimes.
How it progressed:
In November of 2014 it got worse after another sound exposure. The difference was barely noticeable, as I only noticed it if I had a long day when I would be exposed to higher than normal volumes. It showed as a "funny" feeling in my ears and I could hear it also in my left ear without having to concentrate as much as before. But I could still go to sleep normally.
In summer of 2015 I noticed my tinnitus would rise in volume after strenuous exercise, but it would return to previous levels after 20-30 minutes.
In November of 2015 it got really bad after a sound exposure. This is the first time I went to see a doctor, but it was in emergency room. They told me I had some redness in my right ear, both of my ear drums are fine and I got prescription for Betaserc and another appointment two days later to test my hearing, which showed "perfect" hearing except 5 decibel dip at 6000 hertz on my right ear. In the two days volume of tinnitus did reduce, but it was louder than before the exposure and now I could hear it even if there was sound in the room and I could hear it in my left ear without having to concentrate at all, the frequency in both ears lowered from very high to high.
Betaserc had some effects, the frequency lowered a tiny bit, but went back up after I finished the course of treatment, the sound of tinnitus also changed, which I believe was objective tinnitus (hearing blood flow), but that reverted as well after I finished the treatment. During the treatment I would sometimes slightly lose my sense of balance after standing up; the feeling was different than when you suddenly stand up after lying down for a while. Overall it did nothing to help my tinnitus.
In 2016 going to sleep was starting to become not as easily doable as before, due to increased volume of tinnitus, but during day time I could still function normally as long as there was no excessive noise. In summer of 2016 I got myself custom ear plugs (-25db).
In November 2016 after another sound exposure and a road trip volume of my tinnitus spiked higher than ever before, it did go down after a few days, but it was noticeably louder than before.
In February 2017 I noticed I could no longer function normally after exposure to "normal" sounds after 3 or 4 hours (start of my hyperacusis). I would get pain in my ears after long conversations along with increase in volume of my tinnitus and had to completely remove myself from noisy environments due to pain. I started to severely limit personal interaction with others.
In early May 2017 I got a spike after a sound exposure and when I was going to sleep I had my first "panic" attack, cold sweat, feeling of impending doom and elevated heart rate. Spike took 5 days to subside. In July I got a spike after 60 km car ride and it took a week to subside. In August I got a spike after another 60 km car ride and this time it took 3 weeks to subside.
In September 2018 I got a spike after sound exposure and tinnitus in one of my ears changed from "pure tone" to really annoying continuous "white sound". That completely reverted in about 2 weeks.
My situation now, as of December 2018:
I can not function normally. Social activities, shopping and most sports are impossible for me, because of tinnitus and hyperacusis (pain in the ear from sound). Traveling is a huge issue. I prefer being up at night and sleep during the day. I sleep with Peltor's earmuffs. I can read books and watch movies, but with volume so low I need subtitles. I rarely listen to music and even then for a short period. When I am exposed to excessive noise, my tinnitus rises in volume and I get pain in my ears. Because of that I will wear ear protection most of the time, and I will be limited to reading only, until the spike passes. This is extremely frustrating, because it feels like life is passing by and I can only sit and read. If a spike is severe I will stay up so long until I feel I will be able to fall asleep in under a minute. Traveling by car even for 10 km and with double ear protection will result in a spike and ear pain. It seems all I can do is read, watch movies, browse the net and go for nightly walks and this is very isolating.
As long as I am not experiencing a spike and/or pain I can think clearly. I try to go for a 60 minute walk everyday.
My hope is that by 2022 or 2023 we will get a cure that will enable me to live a normal life.
I am semtis. I am 27.
How I got my tinnitus:
I got my tinnitus in November 2010 after prolonged exposure to loud music. Tinnitus developed in both ears and it had a very high frequency "pure tone". At the time my tinnitus was very quiet and I could only hear it if there was no other sound in the room. Tinnitus in my right ear was a bit louder than in my left ear and I really had to concentrate to hear it in my left ear. At first I had trouble going to sleep, but after a few months it was manageable. I started to use foam ear plugs (-35 db) for prolonged or excessive noise. In 2014 I got myself rubber ear plugs (-17db) as the foam ones did give me blisters sometimes.
How it progressed:
In November of 2014 it got worse after another sound exposure. The difference was barely noticeable, as I only noticed it if I had a long day when I would be exposed to higher than normal volumes. It showed as a "funny" feeling in my ears and I could hear it also in my left ear without having to concentrate as much as before. But I could still go to sleep normally.
In summer of 2015 I noticed my tinnitus would rise in volume after strenuous exercise, but it would return to previous levels after 20-30 minutes.
In November of 2015 it got really bad after a sound exposure. This is the first time I went to see a doctor, but it was in emergency room. They told me I had some redness in my right ear, both of my ear drums are fine and I got prescription for Betaserc and another appointment two days later to test my hearing, which showed "perfect" hearing except 5 decibel dip at 6000 hertz on my right ear. In the two days volume of tinnitus did reduce, but it was louder than before the exposure and now I could hear it even if there was sound in the room and I could hear it in my left ear without having to concentrate at all, the frequency in both ears lowered from very high to high.
Betaserc had some effects, the frequency lowered a tiny bit, but went back up after I finished the course of treatment, the sound of tinnitus also changed, which I believe was objective tinnitus (hearing blood flow), but that reverted as well after I finished the treatment. During the treatment I would sometimes slightly lose my sense of balance after standing up; the feeling was different than when you suddenly stand up after lying down for a while. Overall it did nothing to help my tinnitus.
In 2016 going to sleep was starting to become not as easily doable as before, due to increased volume of tinnitus, but during day time I could still function normally as long as there was no excessive noise. In summer of 2016 I got myself custom ear plugs (-25db).
In November 2016 after another sound exposure and a road trip volume of my tinnitus spiked higher than ever before, it did go down after a few days, but it was noticeably louder than before.
In February 2017 I noticed I could no longer function normally after exposure to "normal" sounds after 3 or 4 hours (start of my hyperacusis). I would get pain in my ears after long conversations along with increase in volume of my tinnitus and had to completely remove myself from noisy environments due to pain. I started to severely limit personal interaction with others.
In early May 2017 I got a spike after a sound exposure and when I was going to sleep I had my first "panic" attack, cold sweat, feeling of impending doom and elevated heart rate. Spike took 5 days to subside. In July I got a spike after 60 km car ride and it took a week to subside. In August I got a spike after another 60 km car ride and this time it took 3 weeks to subside.
In September 2018 I got a spike after sound exposure and tinnitus in one of my ears changed from "pure tone" to really annoying continuous "white sound". That completely reverted in about 2 weeks.
My situation now, as of December 2018:
I can not function normally. Social activities, shopping and most sports are impossible for me, because of tinnitus and hyperacusis (pain in the ear from sound). Traveling is a huge issue. I prefer being up at night and sleep during the day. I sleep with Peltor's earmuffs. I can read books and watch movies, but with volume so low I need subtitles. I rarely listen to music and even then for a short period. When I am exposed to excessive noise, my tinnitus rises in volume and I get pain in my ears. Because of that I will wear ear protection most of the time, and I will be limited to reading only, until the spike passes. This is extremely frustrating, because it feels like life is passing by and I can only sit and read. If a spike is severe I will stay up so long until I feel I will be able to fall asleep in under a minute. Traveling by car even for 10 km and with double ear protection will result in a spike and ear pain. It seems all I can do is read, watch movies, browse the net and go for nightly walks and this is very isolating.
As long as I am not experiencing a spike and/or pain I can think clearly. I try to go for a 60 minute walk everyday.
My hope is that by 2022 or 2023 we will get a cure that will enable me to live a normal life.
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