I Experienced Brief Remission

Around 4am this morning, I woke up to go to the bathroom and noticed my tinnitus was next to non-existent. I looked for it and barely heard it, at all. Its only been about 6 months but experiencing life without it felt strange. I did notice that despite the absent of the noise, my ears felt full. I've long suspected ETD as a possible cause but have never known for sure where or not it was.

Perhaps the problem will go away on its own. That is really the only possibility since I don't believe a cure is possible and because I'm too poor to afford stem cell therapy. Oh well, there is residual inhibition at least.

 

This is such a good sign.This fact increases the chances that your T will go away one day, either by healing or habituation, and "habituation" means that you do not hear T (brains does not listens to it anymore) until after you look for it (and brain does the search you want and finds it).

Hours or even minutes without T means that what causes T comes and goes, so it's not a permanent damage, which would be hard or even impossible to treat, but something that your body may even fix.

If it went away this morning, it will go away in other days.

The fact that that you do not know what have caused the emergence of T means that nothing very serious happened to you.

I'm happy for you.

 

The almost non-existence of T at 4 am was not residual inhibition. RI happens after hearing certain sound/sounds, and doesn't last for long. It couldn't have lasted from the time you went to bed until 4 am, in case you listened to something before falling asleep.

 

Well after I searched for it, ut slowly crept back. I stopped taking Gabapentin for two days and have resumed it today.

 

That is good news @Gl0w0ut and I hope the tinnitus continues to improve for you. It is important that you are seen at ENT for tests to get a proper diagnoses of what is causing it. As you know you are in the early stages and tinnitus has been known to go away and many people do habituate within the first year perhaps a little longer. I know you are not keen on the idea of habituation, a lot of people new to this condition feel the same. This is mostly due to the amount of focus the brain puts on the noise and in the process can affect one's emotions considerably. As time passes this will improve and things won't seem so dire I assure you.

You can do a lot to help yourself if you want to. By reinforcing positive thinking, over time will help dispel and demystify the negative thoughts that you have. I read your posts and fully understand how you feel and want to vent your frustrations as you so aptly put it. However, I advise that you read some of the success stories on the "positivity thread" and read some of my articles on my "started threads". You may think what's the point as it won't stop the tinnitus. By regularly reading the posts and articles that I have mentioned, will help you to look at your tinnitus and life differently and more positively. It doesn't happen overnight but a lot can be achieved if you are patient.

I have had this condition for 21 years and I believe experienced nearly all manifestations of it from: mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe. I tell you based on my experience, getting to grips with tinnitus and moving forward is 90% mental attitude. As I've said this takes time but you will surprise yourself at what you're able to achieve if you try.

If you fall, pick yourself up and try again. Our greatest glory is not in never falling but getting up every time we fall.

All the best
Michael

 

Do not search for it, you block habituation, and searching for it not only may be "a success", but increases the volume of it, too.

 

I would have done the opposite. What happened today wasn't a late effect of the Gabapentin you took three days ago, IMO. If i do not confuse you with another member, you said that T worsened right after Gabapentin.

Just my two cents.

 

It's month 6, at least. Saw an ENT twice and both were worthless. Cause is suspected but unknown.

 

I hear you @Gl0w0ut ENT doctors are physicians they are not tinnitus experts neither are they tinnitus counsellors. If there is an underlying medical problem that is causing your tinnitus, they can treat it medically with tablets or surgery.

It is the Hearing Therapists and Audiologists that specialise in tinnitus treatment and management that know about this condition. It is not unusual to find some of them have tinnitus. They were either born with it or acquired it at some time in their life. If need be you should be referred to one of these health professionals for treatment and there are various treatments available. Counselling can be particularly helpful. As I've explained to you getting to grips with tinnitus is 90% mental attitude. They can help you to look at life and tinnitus differently and you won't feel so negative.

This is the reason I recommended that you regularly read the "positivity threads" and my "articles" on my started threads as they are a form of counselling. By regularly reading them printing them if necessary, will reinforce positive thinking. It's like going to see a Hearing Therapist for tinnitus counselling. Regular sessions are needed to help condition the mind to think differently. Believe me it can be done.

Michael

 

@Gl0w0ut Dana is perfectly right you must try and not search for the tinnitus. People new to tinnitus often do this and it can become a habit if one is careful and will delay or block the habituation process. Use sound enrichment whenever possible. Please read my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View, in the link below.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

 

Not looking to habituate. Looking to damage the brain so it cannot maintain hyperactivity.

 

That's a new one on me and certainly sounds like a solution. If it works please let me know....
All the best
Michael

 

Frankly, at this point it is extremely difficult to take you seriously and I fail to understand how you can derive any pleasure/satisfaction from your persistence in making foolish comments. You say you want to "damage your brain"; is this a rational response to those many posters who are earnestly trying their best to help you??

 

You again? If you take issue with what I say then don't come to my threads. Seriously, go away if you are just here to criticize me.

Yes, I am dead serious. You cannot cure a brain with chronic tinnitus. Drugs like AM-101 is going to cure acute tinnitus, but those of us with the chronic affliction are still stuck. Being kind to the brain will not make it change its mind. The only way to potentially stop the noise to antagonize it. Tinnitus is a homeostasis response, so we have to take that "survival" function away from the brain. By eliminating tinnitus we restore a gap in hearing frequency, and we would do that by antagonizing the hyperactivity of the auditory cortex. To prevent relapse, the brain must be deprived of its ability to maintain the noise it so dearly wants.

 

That's good news I hope it stays quiet. Lots of love.

-Taylor

 

Hi Barbara @Bobbie7

Glowout's attitude and negative response to tinnitus I've seen many times over the years. As a member of a forum and counselling people with this condtion. Some pull themselves out of it others don't do so well and spend much of their time being miserable which is unfortunate. One particular person is a member of this forum. I and other members counselled him. He was one of the most negative people that I've met. And yet, this person today I hardly recognise from a year ago. He is full of vitally and a zest for life. His name is Marcus and my post about him is below.

From darkness into light.

Tinnitus is not an easy condition to live with when it is severe. So it always pleases me to hear when someone habituates and is able to put the passed behind them and look forwards to a brighter future. A forum member contacted me recently to express just that and has agreed for me to include some of his comments although his name has been changed. Anyone having difficulty habituating I hope they will find this post helpful.

Last year Marcus was in a distressed state and convinced he would never see light again at the end of the tunnel. He works as an electrician and while up a ladder one afternoon, suddenly heard a loud ringing coming from a fire alarm that was on a nearby wall. He didn’t pay it much attention and wasn’t concerned about his hearing as he believed it would soon stop. He continued working but this proved not to be a good idea as the alarm continued for another twenty minutes. When it finally stopped and there was complete silence he then noticed ringing in his ears. Over the following days and weeks it gradually became louder and more intrusive.

I remember his out pouring and condemning himself in this forum as if it were yesterday. He couldn’t believe he had done such a thing. Staying in that vicinity with no hearing protection and not coming down off that ladder had resulted in his whole life being turned upside down. With the benefit of hindsight one is often able to see mistakes that could have been easily avoided if they only knew. In his own words life as he once new it was completely over. Married with two young children he enjoyed regularly going out with the family but all that came to an abrupt end. I and other forum members tried to make Marcus look at the positive things in his life and not to give up hope but little of this was having any impact. The walls of negativity that he had built up to surround himself were just too great and it seemed no amount of good advice was able to get through.

His symptoms will be familiar to those that have suffered noise trauma to their auditory system. Intrusive tinnitus with hyperacusis, that can vary considerably especially in the early onset of the conditions. I understood his distress at not being able to enjoy listening to music even as a form of distraction from the noise. Everything sounded distorted to him as if it is coming out of a broken speaker and his ears would hurt when certain sounds were heard. His appointment at ENT was some time away which is often the case when tinnitus is not accompanied by dizziness, balance problems and impaired hearing or continuous pain in the ears.

Contrary to what some believe, the best treatment for tinnitus in the early stages and when there are no additional symptoms, as mentioned above is to leave it alone. The ears and auditory system are very delicate and often right themselves when left alone. Many people habituate to tinnitus within the first six months sometimes a little longer and the condition has been known to go away completely. Marcus had taken time of work, as he just wasn’t in a good place and couldn’t function properly. One good thing is that he was under the care of his GP and taking medication to help cope with his moods. Tinnitus can be such an emotional roller coaster in the early days so often no two days are the same. An antidepressant often helps a person from becoming too down so acts as a safety net when those low points arrive.

Marcus became a frequent visitor to this forum and I believe it helped him, although his outlook on recovery was quite bleak and negative. Perhaps knowing there were people around him in this virtual world of cyberspace, gave him the support and sanctuary that he needed to vent his frustrations which at times I believe were overwhelming. I hadn’t seen him for quite a while but got an acknowledgement from him recently by private messenger. I have omitted my comments.

It changes a lot over time doesn't it. Not just one’s perception of it but the tone itself.
For me it ranges from a jet engine noise to hum, I used to hear it all the time but now I only hear it in silence.

Just past the 1 year mark for me. Feeling much better now. It sure does take time.
How's things with you? I really appreciate the help and advice you have offered to me over this time, and the help from other people in the forum.

It's a terrible condition. I did go too see Guns n Roses last weekend at Slane castle. Used professional ear plugs, was a great show and no negative consequences apart from a crazy two day hangover lol

The fact the concert was outdoors made it possible, it still peeked at over 115db at times.
I still haven’t been seen at ent yet, did bother chasing up the appointment. No point really. I will take your advice and chase up ent and see if I can get an appointment. Just to do the tests.

Yes, I'm much much better now, I was in a very dark place. It was a terrible time. Things have improved, the distortion in music has gone and things sound normal again. I can even setup an eq system hear the different frequencies, when I first suffered this I couldn't hear bass, everything sounded flat, really was a bad time, I'm surprised I survived it to be honest.

I now have a new appreciation for sound and music. I just wish I understood this before. I still have slight balance issues but mostly I am happy my hearing has improved, It is very difficult too accept when it happens as I am sure you know.
I will always use hearing protection at loud events, concerts etc. The guns n roses concert felt fine with my pro plugs in and I noticed many others using plugs too. Good to see.

I’m back at work and able to spend time with my family. Thanks Michael for your advice (even at those times when I didn't believe it)
Marcus

 

@Michael Leigh - This is a very encouraging post Michael and I hope that @Gl0w0ut realizes there is hope for improvement.

 

@Dana does that mean that the amplification of perceived tinnitus due to hearing protection (collusion effect, less external input) may increase the t volume?

 

@Gl0w0ut GREAT NEWS. why don't you check your E tubes. If they are inflamed and find a way to treat this, you may have big improvement.

 

With respect to you I will say the following: You haven't had tinnitus that long. If you were more polite towards me and not "Shout" using block capital letters, then I would explain to you why Dana is correct. Because of your attitude you will be non the wiser.

I wish you well
Michael

 

Much better and more polite. See what one can do if they try? However, your arrogance may need some time to improve but you show great promise.

Please keep up the good work.
Michael

 

lol....I can't help but laugh either...

 

Dude, knock it off. You and threefirefour need to stop commenting on every thread I make.

 

And you need to stop complaining on every thread that is made.

 

Like you don't also? Fuck off with that. Stop liking every comment. Go make your own threads.

 

I thought you actually had legitimate grievances, but liking everything? Yeah you're just a troll. Shame I thought I found someone else who agrees with me on most things. Whatever.

 

I do, I just want you to go elsewhere and stop bothering me like the nuisance you are.

 

No apparently you don't. You're probably the one person here who's more unpopular than me, and I borderline try. I would try to reason with you but you clearly have aspergers. Enjoy making your hearing worse by not wearing earplugs retard.

 

Wow, using autism as an insult. Very impressive. I don't give a rats ass about my hair cells anymore. Tinnitus is tinnitus, and regardless of how loud it is my life sucks with it. You are no different than I. You and Equalizer both just like and comment on all of my threads. You share in my frustration, but go make your own threads. Stop following me around like a stalker and liking everything. I don't need a fan club, a hearing aid, or fucking earplugs. Try being original for once.

 

The autism dig stuck. I was probably right. You sure think highly of yourself if you think you had a fanclub at all. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: I like everyone I agree with. You're not special and I'm sure @Equalizer agrees.

Enjoy offing yourself once your tinnitus gets extremely bad from you idiotic life choices. Try not being a retard for once.