How to Not Fear Your Tinnitus Might Get Worse in the Future?

Hello everyone, this is my first post on this site after having ghosted many threads and forums looking for advice back when I was reacting very badly to my t. I'm happy to say now that I'm dealing with it much better, and even as I type this I can hear it and I'm not really bothered by it. I think I'm rather blessed in that I think my form is quite mild

I wanted to ask, how do you not let yourselves worry about things that may make it worse in the future? Whenever I'm walking through downtown I'm always worried that the sound of cars, speakers, motor bikes, etc will be the thing that 'makes it worse. One activity that I enjoy is Brazilian Jiu-Jitus, which I practice specifically because it does not involve punching/kicking people in the head. However sometimes I will accidentally get hit in the head by someones knee or elbow while we are rolling around. Heck, anytime I bump my head in my kitchen I have small moment of panic where I'm wondering 'Oh no, is this the thing that makes it worse?'

How do you let go of that fear? Because while I've eliminated things that I feel are very likely to cause the t to spike (I don't drink coffee anymore, and I never go to metal concerts anymore) I'm still scared that any loud noise/blow to the head will cause it to get worse. And I don't think the right response is to just live in a soft quiet, padded room and never go outside right?

Thank you for reading, and any advice.

 

I have been training boxing as a sport as long as I know. When I got tinnitus back in 2016, I stopped training for about eight months and then resumed after realizing that my tinnitus is not reacting to any sound, food or drinks. It is not somatic either. I sometimes receive heavy blows to my head from my sparring partner but never had a spike as a result. My advice is, live your life as a normal person, do some experiment and see if your tinnitus reacts to sound or when you practice Jiu Jitsu. If it spikes as a result, then you have to take necessary steps to prevent it from worsening. After thirty months, my tinnitus has got to a point where I don't notice it anymore. I sometimes hear a faint hissing when I get to bed but most of the time it is silence.

 

Well it depends. Are you prepared to deal with the consequences of it potentially worsening from these activities?

I don't think changing your life around to mitigate risks of further damage is unhealthy. Is it something any of us want to do? No. But that comes with the territory of this condition. Some people can continue their lives just fine and not get any worse, while others have had their tinnitus get much much worse.

 

I guess he is asking how much is realistic to avoid.

I don’t protect against everyday noise unless there is a situation that is excessive. I also don’t go to clubs, concerts, bars, or loud restaurants anymore. Some people would consider this overly cautious while others would say that I am not protecting enough. It is all subjective.

 

Tinnitus will get worse over time even if you protect your ears 100%. Age related hearing loss over the decades will make tinnitus louder.

BUT, we have some very promising treatments for tinnitus coming out in the next 10 years. Also, some people’s tinnitus doesn’t get louder as they age.

 

CBT can help you with that.

 

Better safe than sorry.

 

I went to a loud restaurant the other day (hovering between 80-90 dB). I was there an hour a half with maybe a half hour in the 72-80 dB range with a five minute break. I thought I was challenging myself, being "brave." I regret it. T has been at least bothering me more. I am comfortable at 80 dB and that is just the facts for now that I have come to accept.

 

So you're saying you would protect your ears 24/7?

 

I think your fear is a reasonable one. The main way I succeeded in habituating to my tinnitus was by limiting any loud noise exposure as much as possible. Avoid noisy situations where possible, have a pair or earplugs ready and maybe also a noise measurement device.

None of us are exactly the same of course. For example, coffee (in moderate proportions at least) has no effect on my tinnitus at all though it clearly does on yours. In terms of blows to the head, these may not cause tinnitus to spike but are best avoided on health grounds. But only you can judge whether the exercise and enjoyment you derive from your sport justifies any risks involved.

 

I would say clubs, concerts, bars, loud restaurants are a no no. You can still go to restaurants. Do you need 'clubs' concerts' and bars? Save your money and liver.

 

I avoid all loud situations as much as possible. I would certainly not be in a boxing gym, or even a regular gym.

No movies, no concerts, no loud music. I had to grind down a pipe with a grinder yesterday and I was definitely wearing earmuffs. No more electric guitar

I'm not saying wear earplugs 24/7.

 

Oh okay. I just got a little confused when you say better safe then sorry as a response to Jack Straw's response, causse he seems to avoid all those things.

I agree it's best to avoid loud situations as much as possible. I would have no problem with a regular gym though. I have been to several before and they are not loud at all, but I know gyms are different and a gym that had loud music blasting I would not set foot in either.

 

It could be much sooner if the gatekeepers would get some attention for them. The 3M earplug scandal is still fresh on people's minds and we are doing a poor job capitalizing on it.

 

A gym is certainly quieter than grinding a pipe down.

Are you worried about the music they play in gyms? Most gyms have music around 65-70 dB. Just wear ear plugs.

 

3M should be investing 100s of millions annually to tinnitus research.

 

Wear ear plugs around 65-70 dB? Why?

 

Because worrying about the future prevents you from enjoying the present, nothing can stop what will come so what is even the point of trying. Yes there is a good chance age will worsen your tinnitus but I'll deal with that day when it happens.

 

Yeah, that's what I tell myself over and over again, but it hasn't made the fear go away or even get any less. It is sadly much easier said then done. But yeah.......not much to do/say about it.

 

I guess impulse noise from plate clanking and slamming can reach 80-85 dB momentarily.

 

Plates clanking in a gym? Now I'm confused I must admit

 

Weights dropping.

 

Weight dropping isn’t as intense as you may think. It registers around 80-85 dB. With ear plugs or sound isolation headphones you are fine.

 

At my local gym the weight lifting department is far away from the fitness/machine department.

Luckily. It really smells in the weight lifting department :/

 

@coffee_girl I agree with coffee_girl. I do not fear it getting worse. Unfortunately as a long time sufferer spikes do happen and they are unpredictable.

 

I thought your ears were "repaired" to a certain degree by Dr. Shim?

 

Yes, my hearing seems to have improved and my tinnitus has gotten much better, that being said, I am terrified of damaging them further. Dr. Shim even told me that my ears will be very vulnerable and I believe him.

Think about it, any new hair cells and synaptic connections will definitely not be as strong as the ones we are born with.

 

How long will they remain vulnerable?

 

Good question. How could I know? My best guess is forever. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

Has your been stable over time (with fluctuations of course)?