I May Be Counting My Chickens — Hopeful Progress in My Tinnitus Journey

[FellowSufferer]

Hi everyone,

This is not a success story, at least not yet, but I am posting because I have had a noticeable reduction in my tinnitus over the past month. This gives me a great deal of hope. I developed tinnitus in February 2022 from listening to loud music on headphones. After some initial worsening, it stabilized at roughly 6 out of 10 in volume and has remained that way ever since. It caused me quite a bit of distress. I was not really habituating, but I did learn to distract myself.

Last year was a bit of a nightmare for me in other aspects of life, and, long story short, I moved back in with my parents after living on my own for a year and a half. I also promised myself that in 2025, I would do everything in my power to eliminate, yes eliminate, my tinnitus.

The two main things I have tried are Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and supplements. I have been self administering TRT for a month using an MP3 player and Koss earbuds while reading books on tinnitus. I am also waiting for a doctor's appointment in February. So far, it feels like it is really helping. In addition, I have been taking Ginkgo, Turmeric, Hawthorn, Vinpocetine, Magnesium Powder, Garlic, and Pomegranate, which I think might be helping to calm my brain and those overactive bursting neurons that researchers believe create the tinnitus signal. Just generally destressing and doing less has also made a difference.

Anyway, I hope to give another update at some point with more improvement!

 

[FellowSufferer]

February Quick Update

My tinnitus progress seems to have plateaued a bit. I've continued using the MP3 player with earphones, but I admit I haven't been as consistent as I'd like. I also haven't been using my mouthguard to prevent teeth grinding at night or taking my supplements every day. I'll try to be more consistent with these in March.

The good news is that I've started seeing a private TRT practitioner in London. I get along well with the audiologist who will be administering TRT, and he has given me a Phonak sound generator to play soothing sounds. I'm feeling quite hopeful about this, especially once I figure out how to replace the default, annoying white noise with something better. Regardless, I'm optimistic about making better progress in March!

 

[FellowSufferer]

March Update:

I have been more consistent with the sound therapy this month, and there is definitely objective progress, which is encouraging. At the start of the year, I measured my minimum masking level in the late 20s to early 30s on my MP3 player, but now I am reliably getting readings in the early 20s, and I even hit 20 a few days ago. This improvement in the volume of my tinnitus has made me less anxious about it. So I think it is working, and if I continue to stay consistent with the pink noise sound therapy, I should see further gains. I will post again at the end of April.

Regarding supplements, I have added Zinc Picolinate to what I am taking, but I have not noticed any significant change from it. I definitely think the Magnesium is helping to generally calm my brain, which is naturally overactive.

 

[momus]

When I first developed tinnitus, I went to their headquarters in Portland and picked up some brochures. Their approach to TRT and your homemade version are not the same. Theirs is a structured and intensive program that lasts one to two years, during which you are required to wear the sound buds continuously. The program also includes extensive counseling.

In my experience, healing starts when we begin to habituate to the sound. Even just speaking with a supportive therapist might help, allowing you to release some of the fear and agitation.

I have had some success using bedside noise generators and a box fan to help me sleep.

 

[FellowSufferer]

April Update (Slightly Late):

My use of sound therapy this month was inconsistent because I went paintballing early in the month, and someone fired their gun too close to my right ear. I did not notice any effects on the day itself, but starting the next day and continuing for a few weeks, I had sharp, intermittent pain in my right ear. I was unable to do sound therapy properly in that ear and could only listen to the soothing noise through my left earbud.

Thankfully, my ear is back to normal now, but I am quite annoyed with myself for not wearing hearing protection. I have now restarted Tinnitus Retraining Therapy properly and have also resumed taking the supplements.

I think the tinnitus has improved slightly, even though I was not consistent with the therapy. I measured the minimum audible level of the pink noise in the 6 to 9 range on my MP3 player, which is lower than before. However, the minimum masking level remains about the same, so I am not sure what is going on there.

The best thing that happened this month is that I ran the London Marathon for Tinnitus Quest and raised $10,000. An anonymous donor very kindly pledged to double that amount to $20,000, which is just incredible. Considering the knee trouble and shin splints I had during training, the fact that I completed the marathon feels like a miracle.

I will post another update at the end of May!

 

[JarnoNL]

Keep posting. I like reading it. 20.000 is a big amount.

 

[SafeMusicFan]

The best thing that happened this month is that I ran the London Marathon for Tinnitus Quest and raised $10,000. An anonymous donor very kindly pledged to double that amount to $20,000, which is just incredible. Considering the knee trouble and shin splints I had during training, the fact that I completed the marathon feels like a miracle.

Thank you so much for that!

It is thanks to people like you that we will eventually find better treatment options, and maybe even a cure, in the not-so-distant future. I am confident it is possible, provided we continue moving in the same direction and bring people together to take action.

 

[FellowSufferer]

Keep posting. I like reading it. 20.000 is a big amount.

Cheers, mate! I will do that. It makes me feel better to know that others are reading.

Yes, the money should really help. I believe Tinnitus Quest is different from all the other charities.

Thank you so much for that!

It is thanks to people like you that we will eventually find better treatment options, and maybe even a cure, in the not-so-distant future. I am confident it is possible, provided we continue moving in the same direction and bring people together to take action.

You're welcome! It was looking very uncertain, but thankfully, I finished it without any injury. I am confident as well.

 

[FellowSufferer]

May Update (01/06/2025)

Not much change this month, though perhaps a slight improvement again. I definitely need to be more consistent and make sure I get the full six or more hours of sound therapy every day.

My latest tinnitus measurements in the diary are: Minimum Masking Level 18 (R3) and Minimum Audible Level 2 (R3). The "R" just means the sound is louder in the right ear, as my tinnitus is slightly stronger on that side. Apologies if the values are unclear, as they are simply based on my MP3 player settings. Still, they are lower than they were in January, when the typical MML was in the low 30s or high 20s, and the MAL was more like 15 to 19.

So I would say the tinnitus level has improved from a point where it caused a deep feeling of hopelessness—where I thought I could never live like this for another 20, 30, or 40 years—to a point where I now think I could live with it. It is still quite annoying and distressing, but it feels manageable. That said, I am still going to try to eliminate it completely. That would be amazing. Just imagine how much I will appreciate peace and quiet once I have it again.

I also just started the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy part of my TRT course, so hopefully that will help me develop a better approach to dealing with tinnitus.

I'm continuing to take the supplements, though to be honest, I think only the Magnesium, Turmeric, and Vinpocetine are actually having any effect.

I also need to remember to wear the nightguard every night to stop teeth grinding.