Hyperacusis and Tinnitus from Noise

Hi Everyone,
I forgot to introduce myself. I suffer from tinnitus and hyperacusis from being too close to a loud speaker 30 Sep 2017. It's almost 3 months. I was devastated being a musician and cried daily for the first 2 months. I would say things started to improve around the six week mark in my hyperacusis by about 40% but since then gone back down to only 20% improvement.

I believe what caused it was exposure to every day noise which was recommended by my ENT who thought that i should not be wearing ear muffs too often and to try to get used to the noise. The set backs to my improvement in my case were:
- restaurant music and dish clanging noise and kids screaming with no ear protection (so I will have to wear ear plugs from now on)
- massage to my jaw and ear area
- acupunture (because for some reason my right side became numb after the session)
- sleeping on directly on the ear

What I think helped:
- good night's sleep or lots of rest
- I started magnesium chelate powder with b just yesterday and i felt my muscles immediately relax all over as i get super tense in my neck and shoulders which would affect my ear... I can actually feel something pulling my ear at times
- bending to one side for a while minute as if I am trying to get water out of my ear... I feel as if water draining and a pop
- laughing at comedy shows low volume or doing anything that makes me happy

I took turmeric tablets and is amazing for debloating but for some reason got me more ear pain do i stopped it after 5 days... or maybe i snacked on too many nuts which are inflammatory....

My audiologist and ENT both told me it would go away in about 3 months but that's in 1 weeks time so I feel very saddened that it hasn't happened as i was so hopeful it would heal.

I bought Alpine work safe earplugs as they offer higher protection than the musician ones but they are yet to arrive. Foam ones are not too comfortable and due to my ear pain I can't get custom ones made yet.

My questions are:
- has anyone noticed little things they did, ate or tips that improved their tinnitus and hyperacusis?
- does sugar and MSG and salt spike your tinnitus? So hard not to have sweet things over Christmas
- any success with vitamin B and magnesium chelate or how long before it was effective as just started yesterday?
- my jaws and ear sometimes click and i pop my ears all the time just by doing a wide smile with eyebrows up... strange?

But you don't have to answer all my questions just whatever input is appreciated.

I took a multi vitamin (which has all the b vitamins) since onset but it didn't really make much difference that I could see...

Any suggestions or advice even not related to my questions above is very welcomed as I need all the support I can get. I will start a diary as of today to outline my daily activity to see if anything helps because I hope to one day recover from this and work out what could have everyone on this forum and write something positive. I feel your pain. I am stuck at home as the world has become too noisy again today.

All the best
May

 

Eating a certain diet, may not improve your tinnitus but it can make you healthier and help reduce stress that can affect and increase your tinnitus.

Sugar is known to increase stress/anxiety and can give jitters. This can affect your tinnitus.

I use to take vitamin b complex, but it just gave me jitters and I stopped taking it.

My jaws click and snap when I yawn at times, I have seen no increase in my tinnitus. People are different so I cannot speak for other people.

Take care

These are some of the posts, that other members have found helpful.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/always-stand-your-ground.22972/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/you-are-a-champion.23000/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-power-of-accepting.25551/#post-294687

 

Hi @May .

I am mentioning my friend @Jazzer (Hi Jazzer )to lure him into this conversation. He is an excellent musician who suffers from tinnitus. His perspective and experiences may help you.

To follow @fishbone 's example, here are a few posts I have found to be helpful as well,

The following are writen by @Michael Leigh , who's posts I have found particularly informative and helpful (and that I often recommend to others):

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/answers-to-hyperacusis-and-habituation.12058/

Michael Leigh also wrote the following post on headphone use and tinnitus:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/headphones-and-tinnitus.12062/

 

Hi @Kolisar
- wife’s birthday + xmas eve - I’m really busy today but will try to come back before bedtime x

 

@Jazzer , cheers mate.

 

That was very useful ENT advice

 

Hi Kolisar and May.
Brief history to give you my context.
I started playing brass (cornet in SA band) at age ten. Switched to Trombone aged 18, and played Jazz professionally from 1960 up until now.
Had light Tinnitus for over 20 years, but severe chronic “T” since July 2014. 3 1/2 years.

I struggled like mad for much of that time, but more recently my adaptation to it has improved.
Each morning I practice a meditation routine, actually in a lovely warm bath, which you will find in one of my posts.
My hearing damage and Tinnitus is mostly left side. I am still playing, but use an ear plug on that side. My music is traditional jazz, and being an improviser, I need to hear the other instrumental lines, to be able to respond, and take solos.
So far so good; but if I notice an increase in “T” I may have to call it a day.
That would be a great shame to me.
As a Jazzer, I still have stories to tell.

As I am unable to switch my T off, I realise that my emotional response to it is crucial.
Having Tinnitus, I know I have to expect ‘hiss.’

As I wake up to noise each morning, I now tell myself:
“Easy Dave - hiss is perfectly normal.”

I manage to defuse the situation before it becomes another bad day.
Adapting to this ‘new normal’ has been really important for me.

I have not personally tried the vitamins and supplements, so can not help you there.

With regard to ear plugs for general everyday sounds, I always have a pair with me, and do not hesitate to pop them in if my surroundings are loud and worrying.
I am going to a couple of family parties over Christmas, and will definitely use them, and adjourn to a quieter room if necessary.
People will tell you ‘but this noise isn’t even loud.”
They have no idea! If your cochlea is damaged, very few noises are quiet or moderate.

Your traumatic incident is still quite recent though May, and I really hope your problem eases back for you.
However, you must try to keep calm, get good sleep, try some meditation, and come on here to relate particularly to those with a positive attitude, and long standing experience.
Incidentally, I do use a low dose Melotonin tablet to give me deeper and longer sleep.
In the U.K. the tablet is call Circadin (Melotonin) and just 2ml does the trick for me.
Very best wishes May,
Jazzer x

 

@Jazzer, thank you my friend.

 

Thanks Fishbone and Kolisar for your info - i really appreciate your help and prompt responses!

Exactly right Bobby B, i don't think the ENT understood H at all and i asked him so many questions on supplements, ears popping, foods to eat, what else i can do etc. The only advice he gave me was that if i kept being a nervous wreck and anxious all the time (which i was in first 6 weeks) it will not get better. I was wearing ear muffs when he was talking LOUDLY to me in his office, and he told me he thought ear muffs were bad and i shouldn't be wearing them. He says don't goto really noisy places but don't need to wear ear plugs at normal circumstances. But i don't think he has a clue how unbearably loud speeding motorbikes and buses stopping and starting. He also wanted to test how loud i could take sounds bit i refused that test because of this wonderfully helpful forum of experienced people with their kind advice. Otherwise i don't know how bad my situation would have become!

I am going to see a naturopath recommended by a friend but he's so in demand the earliest is February. I believe food and minerals help but just gotto get the right balance.

Sorry i am actually taking magnesium glycinate not chelate. It helped a great deal last few days that i just started on muscle pain that is. It's in powder form in a drink so maybe it's better absorbed. I will be buying magnesium oil to rub on my ear to see if it helps and i will update everyone later on this.

Jazzer, thanks for your suggestions. I was wondering :
- what ear plugs you use for performing (if i heal alot more i will definately have ear plugs on stage)
- you mentioned you have "chronic" T... does it change sound or remains same...
I do wonder what is safe to us with h and t, what decibels and how long to endure.... i have a decibel app... i find anything over 50db is painful over time... so for me i can't practice keys for awhile. Pianos are loudd. You are very brave and tough to still do so much music and is very admitable. Music is my life also and i can't imagine doing anything else. I hope i will find things that will help improve h and t for everyone. Not giving hope as still early days.

I met up with a friend of mine who plays the piano but she injured her right arm possibly from indoor rock climbing. Her Dr told her her sprain will go away in a few months IF she doesn't use it at all ie no typing no writing no nothing. So she says its going to take 2x as long as she needs to use it... so maybe the same applies to ears, if we keep using it too much, it will take longer to heal....

I spoke to my uncle who also had tinnitus for advice. He says i should excercise until i sweat to release toxins, avoid loud places or use fingers instead of plugs if no ear plugs at the time, socialise, travel to parks and nature and walk, think positive, drink lots of water, write a daily diary to reduce stress and release thoughts, and so many people suffering much worse and they can still live on so i should do the same.

I hope that helped someone.

Love and best wishes until next post
May

 

Thanks Fishbone and Kolisar for your info - i really appreciate your help and prompt responses!

Exactly right Bobby B, i don't think the ENT understood H at all and i asked him so many questions on supplements, ears popping, foods to eat, what else i can do etc. The only advice he gave me was that if i kept being a nervous wreck and anxious all the time (which i was in first 6 weeks) it will not get better. I was wearing ear muffs when he was talking LOUDLY to me in his office, and he told me he thought ear muffs were bad and i shouldn't be wearing them. He says don't goto really noisy places but don't need to wear ear plugs at normal circumstances. But i don't think he has a clue how unbearably loud speeding motorbikes and buses stopping and starting. He also wanted to test how loud i could take sounds bit i refused that test because of this wonderfully helpful forum of experienced people with their kind advice. Otherwise i don't know how bad my situation would have become!

I am going to see a naturopath recommended by a friend but he's so in demand the earliest is February. I believe food and minerals help but just gotto get the right balance.

Sorry i am actually taking magnesium glycinate not chelate. It helped a great deal last few days that i just started on muscle pain that is. It's in powder form in a drink so maybe it's better absorbed. I will be buying magnesium oil to rub on my ear to see if it helps and i will update everyone later on this.

Jazzer, thanks for your suggestions. I was wondering :
- what ear plugs you use for performing (if i heal alot more i will definately have ear plugs on stage)
- you mentioned you have "chronic" T... does it change sound or remains same...
I do wonder what is safe to us with h and t, what decibels and how long to endure.... i have a decibel app... i find anything over 50db is painful over time... so for me i can't practice keys for awhile. Pianos are loudd. You are very brave and tough to still do so much music and is very admitable. Music is my life also and i can't imagine doing anything else. I hope i will find things that will help improve h and t for everyone. Not giving hope as still early days.

I met up with a friend of mine who plays the piano but she injured her right arm possibly from indoor rock climbing. Her Dr told her her sprain will go away in a few months IF she doesn't use it at all ie no typing no writing no nothing. So she says its going to take 2x as long as she needs to use it... so maybe the same applies to ears, if we keep using it too much, it will take longer to heal....

I spoke to my uncle who also had tinnitus for advice. He says i should excercise until i sweat to release toxins, avoid loud places or use fingers instead of plugs if no ear plugs at the time, socialise, travel to parks and nature and walk, think positive, drink lots of water, write a daily diary to reduce stress and release thoughts, and so many people suffering much worse and they can still live on so i should do the same.

I hope that helped someone.

Love and best wishes until next post
May

 

Thanks Fishbone and Kolisar for your info - i really appreciate your help and prompt responses!

Exactly right Bobby B, i don't think the ENT understood H at all and i asked him so many questions on supplements, ears popping, foods to eat, what else i can do etc. The only advice he gave me was that if i kept being a nervous wreck and anxious all the time (which i was in first 6 weeks) it will not get better. I was wearing ear muffs when he was talking LOUDLY to me in his office, and he told me he thought ear muffs were bad and i shouldn't be wearing them. He says don't goto really noisy places but don't need to wear ear plugs at normal circumstances. But i don't think he has a clue how unbearably loud speeding motorbikes and buses stopping and starting. He also wanted to test how loud i could take sounds bit i refused that test because of this wonderfully helpful forum of experienced people with their kind advice. Otherwise i don't know how bad my situation would have become!

I am going to see a naturopath recommended by a friend but he's so in demand the earliest is February. I believe food and minerals help but just gotto get the right balance.

Sorry i am actually taking magnesium glycinate not chelate. It helped a great deal last few days that i just started on muscle pain that is. It's in powder form in a drink so maybe it's better absorbed. I will be buying magnesium oil to rub on my ear to see if it helps and i will update everyone later on this.

Jazzer, thanks for your suggestions. I was wondering :
- what ear plugs you use for performing (if i heal alot more i will definately have ear plugs on stage)
- you mentioned you have "chronic" T... does it change sound or remains same...
I do wonder what is safe to us with h and t, what decibels and how long to endure.... i have a decibel app... i find anything over 50db is painful over time... so for me i can't practice keys for awhile. Pianos are loudd. You are very brave and tough to still do so much music and is very admitable. Music is my life also and i can't imagine doing anything else. I hope i will find things that will help improve h and t for everyone. Not giving hope as still early days.

I met up with a friend of mine who plays the piano but she injured her right arm possibly from indoor rock climbing. Her Dr told her her sprain will go away in a few months IF she doesn't use it at all ie no typing no writing no nothing. So she says its going to take 2x as long as she needs to use it... so maybe the same applies to ears, if we keep using it too much, it will take longer to heal....

I spoke to my uncle who also had tinnitus for advice. He says i should excercise until i sweat to release toxins, avoid loud places or use fingers instead of plugs if no ear plugs at the time, socialise, travel to parks and nature and walk, think positive, drink lots of water, write a daily diary to reduce stress and release thoughts, and so many people suffering much worse and they can still live on so i should do the same.

I hope that helped someone.

Love and best wishes until next post
May

 

Thanks Fishbone and Kolisar for your info - i really appreciate your help and prompt responses!

Exactly right Bobby B, i don't think the ENT understood H at all and i asked him so many questions on supplements, ears popping, foods to eat, what else i can do etc. The only advice he gave me was that if i kept being a nervous wreck and anxious all the time (which i was in first 6 weeks) it will not get better. I was wearing ear muffs when he was talking LOUDLY to me in his office, and he told me he thought ear muffs were bad and i shouldn't be wearing them. He says don't goto really noisy places but don't need to wear ear plugs at normal circumstances. But i don't think he has a clue how unbearably loud speeding motorbikes and buses stopping and starting. He also wanted to test how loud i could take sounds bit i refused that test because of this wonderfully helpful forum of experienced people with their kind advice. Otherwise i don't know how bad my situation would have become!

I am going to see a naturopath recommended by a friend but he's so in demand the earliest is February. I believe food and minerals help but just gotto get the right balance.

Sorry i am actually taking magnesium glycinate not chelate. It helped a great deal last few days that i just started on muscle pain that is. It's in powder form in a drink so maybe it's better absorbed. I will be buying magnesium oil to rub on my ear to see if it helps and i will update everyone later on this.

Jazzer, thanks for your suggestions. I was wondering :
- what ear plugs you use for performing (if i heal alot more i will definately have ear plugs on stage)
- you mentioned you have "chronic" T... does it change sound or remains same...
I do wonder what is safe to us with h and t, what decibels and how long to endure.... i have a decibel app... i find anything over 50db is painful over time... so for me i can't practice keys for awhile. Pianos are loudd. You are very brave and tough to still do so much music and is very admitable. Music is my life also and i can't imagine doing anything else. I hope i will find things that will help improve h and t for everyone. Not giving hope as still early days.

I met up with a friend of mine who plays the piano but she injured her right arm possibly from indoor rock climbing. Her Dr told her her sprain will go away in a few months IF she doesn't use it at all ie no typing no writing no nothing. So she says its going to take 2x as long as she needs to use it... so maybe the same applies to ears, if we keep using it too much, it will take longer to heal....

I spoke to my uncle who also had tinnitus for advice. He says i should excercise until i sweat to release toxins, avoid loud places or use fingers instead of plugs if no ear plugs at the time, socialise, travel to parks and nature and walk, think positive, drink lots of water, write a daily diary to reduce stress and release thoughts, and so many people suffering much worse and they can still live on so i should do the same.

I hope that helped someone.

Love and best wishes until next post
May

 

the H is there to alert us that the ears need a rest from noise so dont ignore it
H will eventually pass but it may take 1 or 2 years
be patient. for plugs try the macks soft foam those do a solid 32db when put deep and are not visible to others
for noisy commute/shopping/street etc. i just use the peltor x5a those are huge but who cares they are the best for noise reduction

 

Hi @May - I nearly missed your questions here because you need to highlight me with the prefix
@Jazzer

* I normally use the standard ‘tree type’ ear plugs sold in Music shops, because I can push them in hard if necessary, or ease them out a bit also.

* I have had a constant loud hiss for three and a half years with no change.

* I need a good decibel app, and would like to know what you use?

* Jazz bands are still feeding me gigs, which I take and pop in the diary. But I am watching pointers, and if I find more deteriation occurring I will have to stop.

I did put two samples of my music up on here to indicate what I play.
Under the title,
HAVE MUSICIANS GIVEN UP PLAYING,
in reply to @Bobbie7 there is a solo piece on
“When you Wish Upon a Star.”

In reply to @Kolisar ’s query,
THE ALBUMS YOU HAVE PLAYED ON,
there is a band ensemble number
“Struttin’ With Some Barbecue”
where I had to hear the other musicians lines clearly, to improvise and respond.

You may find them interesting.
If you can’t find them, I’ll try to repost them.
Best Wishes May

Jazzer xx

 

@Jazzer. Yes would love to hear your music. Welcome to repost.
Sorry about your constant hiss. Mine fluctuates alot its going crazy actually, fax machine to beep to musical tones to buzz, does anyone know why T worsens? But msg and noise definately makes it worse i have been experimenting.

 

When You Wish Upon a Star

 

@Jazzer you are an amazing jazz musician. Omg! Clapping! I wish your tinnitus would go away. My uncle saw a Chinese Dr and told him he needs to improve his kidneys health. Maybe kidney tonic pills may help you. Such a shame. But wow. Very entertaining

The app is called "decibel metre" but you can download a few and test them out and see which suits you best. Some draw graphs too but i chose a simple metre one. Usually its 60db standard restaurants or cafes with people chatting and louder with music. Didn't know the world was so loud.

Wow never heard of standard tree type ear plugs...?

Thanks @Bobby B. 1 to 2 years is a long time. May i ask if you have h or t still .. i am having trouble loading your info right now as my internet is slow. I was thinking maybe i need to move to county area as my family is pretty loud sigh.

 

Struttin'

 

Can you see that for band playing I need to be pretty careful about volume, but I also MUST ALSO HEAR the other musicians lines, in order to respond appropriately.
I ear plug my damaged ear, but only partially plug my better ear.
It’s a real balancing act I can assure you.

 

@Jazzer you are an amazing jazz musician. Omg! Clapping! I wish your tinnitus would go away. My uncle saw a Chinese Dr and told him he needs to improve his kidneys health. Maybe kidney tonic pills may help you. Such a shame. But wow. Very entertaining

The app is called "decibel metre" but you can download a few and test them out and see which suits you best. Some draw graphs too but i chose a simple metre one. Usually its 60db standard restaurants or cafes with people chatting and louder with music. Didn't know the world was so loud.

Wow never heard of standard tree type ear plugs...?

Thanks @Bobby B. 1 to 2 years is a long time. May i ask if you have h or t still .. i am having trouble loading your info right now as my internet is slow. I was thinking maybe i need to move to county area as my family is pretty loud sigh.

 

@Jazzer you are an amazing jazz musician. Omg! Clapping! I wish your tinnitus would go away. My uncle saw a Chinese Dr and told him he needs to improve his kidneys health. Maybe kidney tonic pills may help you. Such a shame. But wow. Very entertaining

The app is called "decibel metre" but you can download a few and test them out and see which suits you best. Some draw graphs too but i chose a simple metre one. Usually its 60db standard restaurants or cafes with people chatting and louder with music. Didn't know the world was so loud.

Wow never heard of standard tree type ear plugs...?

Thanks @Bobby B. 1 to 2 years is a long time. May i ask if you have h or t still .. i am having trouble loading your info right now as my internet is slow. I was thinking maybe i need to move to county area as my family is pretty loud...

 

Sorry everyone. Next time i will just post once. I think takes awhile for my post to go through so i keep resending. I hope you're all enjoying this Christmas break!

 

Thanks for your appreciation and kind words May......you know what musicians are like, let’s face it, you are one.....it’s our oxygen...hahaha...!