How Do Tinnitus Sufferers Deal with Being Constantly Tired?

Hi, I've had tinnitus for about 6 months now & it's never the same 2 days in a row. The only guarantee is that it will be there when I wake up. I'm lucky in that my doctor is giving me sleeping tablets so I get to sleep easily, the trouble is when I wake up at 4/5 o'clock I can't get back to sleep. I'm not working & live alone so it's a very long day if I get up at that time so I just lie there listening to wave sounds to stop me going mad.

How do people deal with being tired all the time? I am almost suicidal some mornings at the thought of another day of being shattered.

 

HI @Barry O'Connell

I have corresponded with you on another thread and hope that you have read my posts in the links I provided. Tinnitus can vary considerably as you have described in the early stages but in most cases settles down in time. If memory serves me correctly, you mentioned listening to audio books through headphones? I hope you have stopped this as I advised even at low volume, as there is a risk of making the tinnitus worse.

Please keep in contact with your doctor and discuss how you feel. Click on the links below and read my posts again, as they can give some reassurance that things do improve with time. Try to keep using low level sound enrichment especially at night.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

 

Hi @Barry O'Connell,

While I'm by no means an expert when it comes to tinnitus, after nearly nine years of having it I consider myself experienced. So take what I say with a grain of salt.

You didn't mention your age and what you do to keep yourself busy doing the day? I ask because age can play a factor in sleep with or without tinnitus as well as the activities you're involved in during the day.

I know for myself (I don't work), I need to do at least one physical thing per day. Not only does that help tire me but it also makes me feel like I accomplished something good with my time.
When I do wake up early (earlier than 6am), I have my sound machine at my disposal and I try to concentrate on it rather than my tinnitus sound. It doesn't always work but sometimes it gets me an extra hour or two of sleep.

Finally, whenever the thought of suicide is mentioned, it's time to seek help with your doctor and/or professional.

Mike

 

I play mellow folk music through earbuds when I wake up early and the tinnitus is bad . then I drowse back off. I have found that about 50% of the time the spike reduces to about a level of three or four. I know some people on the forum are adamantly against using earbuds but I have found that it helps me.

 

Although my tinnitus has not improved, I started to do a lot of my usual activities after about nine months. I cook most of my meals/try new recipes now, go to yoga 3/4 times a week after work, signed up to audit a class next semester, etc. When I am busy doing various activities, my tinnitus does not bother me too much/hardly at all. My tinnitus is still a big issue (very loud when I'm at work (lonely cubicle), at home or trying to sleep), and I still have sleep and concentration issues. My sleep has improved where I'm able to function pretty well during the day. I had the exact same sleep problems you did; I took Trazodone for six months but was only able to sleep 4 hours (sometimes only two hours or none) per night night and felt very groggy/tired the next day (side effect of prescription sleep pills). After 5-6 months, I found I was able to doze off without Trazodone and I was able to sleep a couple of hours to later 4 hours without Trazodone. I soon stopped taking Trazodone about 3 months ago and currently take an OTC supplement (which has GABA, 5-HTP, Magnesium, etc.) and was able to get about 4-5 hours of sleep per night. Now, depending on my sleep hygiene, I can sleep 5.5 hours to 6 hours pretty regularly which isn't too bad. So, my point is that improving sleep is a long slow process. Don't expect to get good/great sleep right away. I think, for severe tinnitus sufferers, we have to accept our new normal and not expect to have great sleep.

While the prescription sleep pills are providing sleep, I think they also add to the grogginess/tiredness the next day. Now, even if I don't sleep many hours, I don't feel as tired as I used to when I was taking Trazodone.

I've been using the SoundPillow for the last 6 or more months and that has definitely helped a lot. It is basically the only thing that helped of all the things I've tried.

 

I'm among those who no longer use earbuds but I might take you up on the idea of listening to mellow folk music. Thanks for the suggestion! Hey Google...

 

Thanks Michael I will read the information but not today as I'm feeling particularly tired, looks like some good stuff. I have been reading up on it in various places & calling helplines so I'm getting some understanding.
I have though spoken to 3 professionals,I think, about using headphones & they've all said it is fine. Can't remember if I specifically said I listened to audio books or music though. My tinnitus is often quiet when I'm home with the TV on but kicks in as soon as I leave the house & audio books or music help.
I'll hopefully be seeing my doctor on Monday

Take it easy
Barry

 

HI @Barry O'Connell

Take your time and read my articles when you're able to do so. Regarding the 3 professionals that you spoke to about using headphones.

It is your choice whether you decide to follow their advice. My opinion on this is as follows: Those professionals that you corresponded with who have said using headphones is fine, I have every confidence they are professionals in their designated jobs. You haven't said so but I will assume they are either ENT doctors, Audiologists or Hearing Therapists? However, this does not mean they are professionals or indeed experts in tinnitus. I doubt whether they have ever experienced tinnitus and if any of them have,I will presume it's at a low to moderate level and they have habituated.

With all due respect to you, you're making a classic mistake as many do that are new to tinnitus and believe ENT doctors are tinnitus specialists. They certainly are not. ENT doctors are physicians that know about the anatomy of the Ear, Nose and Throat. They are able to treat these organs medically or surgically. Any underlying medical problem associated with them or within the auditory system, that is causing the tinnitus, they will try to treat. When there is no underlying medical problem causing the tinnitus, the ENT doctor will refer the patient to Audiology to see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment and management.

I advise you again to be very careful on using headphones even at low volume. Speak to @HeavyMantra who was told by ENT doctors and Audiologists that using headphones was fine; he followed their wrong advice and now his tinnitus is much worse. Not everyone with noise induced tinnitus is adversely affected by headphone use but it is a risk. Just peruse some of the many posts in this forum from people with NIT that returned to using headphones and regretted it.

I wish you well.

Michael

 

@Barry O'Connell

Well, I followed the only advice I was given at the time. I wish I had found this forum sooner, but it's mostly when a persons distress is high enough that they come to forums such as these.

I suspect I got mild tinnitus from overusing headphones. Then, I sang loudly for way too long with in-ear monitors. I think the occlusion effect + the music from the headphones was a really, really bad combination.

Will listening to audiobooks on low volume increase your tinnitus, with over-ear headphones rather than earbuds? Probably not. But think deeply if the risk is worth it. Tinnitus is unforgiving and bleak and you have to adjust. Just get some small speakers or listen to the books on your phone! I myself have hit "rock bottom" with my T and would never do anything that could make it worse, I'm suicidally depressed as it is. Please don't join me in the pit, do the right thing and ditch the headphones.

I recently read that sealed earbuds produces a thousand times more sound pressure than regular headphones. Not sure if the source is credible, but that would explain why I got nerve damage from using earbuds at a reasonable volume. I'm still in disbelief to this day.