I'm Fine — Tinnitus Is Basically Not a Thing Anymore

[DamagedJoe]

Seven months is nothing. It took me fourteen months before I started to feel better. You will know it is starting when your sleep begins to return to normal.

Let me guess — you are waking up around 2:30 a.m. and struggling to fall back asleep?

It already feels like an eternity to me. To be honest, I cannot sleep at all without masking. I tried in the beginning, but now I do not dare to anymore.

And yes, at first, I slept for a maximum of 2 hours — 4 hours with medication.

 

[Tom Cnyc]

It already feels like an eternity to me. To be honest, I cannot sleep at all without masking. I tried in the beginning, but now I do not dare to anymore.

And yes, at first, I slept for a maximum of 2 hours — 4 hours with medication.

So, your body releases cortisol heavily twice a day. The first time is when you wake up, to help you get going.

The second time? Around 2:30 a.m. This release helps transition you from deep sleep into REM cycles.

If your baseline cortisol levels are too high, that 2:30 release can mimic the morning one. You wake up and cannot fall back asleep. I recommend checking out some insomnia podcasts—they explain this really well. There are many good ones out there.

I hated this aspect during the first year of my tinnitus and the first five months after my concussion. But it gets better.

Really work on lowering your cortisol. This can be done through exercise, meditation, and simply giving it time. Try somatic tracking exercises and box breathing.

I keep repeating this, but you have to balance your autonomic nervous system. That begins with the stress bucket.

I promise you, you are safe, and you will be OK again.

 

[Ken219]

@Kam75, you posted, "Two years ago, I considered myself almost cured. Although my tinnitus was constant and intense, it no longer stopped me from living or sleeping properly." That will happen again!

 

[Joeseph Stope]

Jehoshaphat!

The medics should examine two individuals in depth:

1. @Kam75, who exposed himself to moderately loud social gatherings. As a result, his tinnitus and hyperacusis worsened significantly—to the point of becoming almost unbearable.
2. @Tom Cnyc, who did much the same but to an even greater extent—yet his tinnitus and hyperacusis improved. You might even say they got better.

With the new inner ear scanning techniques currently under development, perhaps some valuable insights could be gained by comparing these two cases.

The alternative approach would be more expensive and difficult. That would involve a clinical trial from scratch, comparing two patient groups:

• 30 tinnitus and hyperacusis patients who continue partying and attending concerts (count me out),
• and 30 similar patients who lead quiet lives and avoid late-night bars, loud restaurants, and similar environments.

Duh… any volunteers out there?

 

[Tom Cnyc]

Jehoshaphat!

The medics should examine two individuals in depth:

1. @Kam75, who exposed himself to moderately loud social gatherings. As a result, his tinnitus and hyperacusis worsened significantly—to the point of becoming almost unbearable.
2. @Tom Cnyc, who did much the same but to an even greater extent—yet his tinnitus and hyperacusis improved. You might even say they got better.

With the new inner ear scanning techniques currently under development, perhaps some valuable insights could be gained by comparing these two cases.

The alternative approach would be more expensive and difficult. That would involve a clinical trial from scratch, comparing two patient groups:

• 30 tinnitus and hyperacusis patients who continue partying and attending concerts (count me out),
• and 30 similar patients who lead quiet lives and avoid late-night bars, loud restaurants, and similar environments.

Duh… any volunteers out there?

You are completely ignoring everything I have written.

I am not suggesting a four-day rave on the first day. What I said is that you need to balance your nervous system and gradually reintegrate.

Honestly, you might want to give it a try.

 

[Strife_84]

After six years of tinnitus and hyperacusis, I was basically cured. I could live a normal life (avoiding loud places), and I hardly noticed my symptoms at all in the past few years. Life was good, and in many ways, I was actually happier than before I developed this condition. I did a lot of mental work during those years, discovered new passions and hobbies, made new friends, went back to school, and found joy again.

Then, a month ago, I went to a bar and a club with a friend and brought my earplugs. I thought that since I had been feeling so good lately, I could handle it with earplugs in.

I could not have been more wrong. I've now experienced the worst spike I've had in six years, and my condition hasn't been this bad in a long time.

Thankfully, I've been slowly improving. But in my case, no matter how well I feel, it's safer to avoid loud places, even with earplugs.

That's why I personally don't agree when people say things like, "Just go live your life! You will improve! Stop fearing, start living! You only live once!"

No, I'm not suggesting anyone should lock themselves inside four walls. But everyone should make choices based on their own well-being.

For me, six hours of "living" led to more than a month of suffering—and counting. It was my decision, so I can only blame myself.

Be cautious with this condition. One of the most important lessons I've learned is that a false sense of security can be your worst enemy.

 

[Joeseph Stope]

You are completely ignoring everything I have written.

I am not suggesting a four-day rave on the first day. What I said is that you need to balance your nervous system and gradually reintegrate.

Honestly, you might want to give it a try.

First of all, I want to say a big thank you for taking the time, making the effort, and having the patience to share your story and clarify the parts that were difficult to understand.

Hang in there—or maybe I should say hang in here. As long as it does not push you out of the "sweet spot" of trouble-free tinnitus, you're in a good place.

New University of Michigan Tinnitus Discovery — Signal Timing

A startup funding report from the University of Michigan has just been released. Auricle is briefly mentioned. Quote: @Fra, it is very old. Do not read anything into it.

www.tinnitustalk.com

Look here! At long last, Professor Susan Shore is holding her coming-of-age event on Tuesday, June 17. And it looks promising.

As for me and my particular tinnitus problem? Well, read this from one of the researchers:

Putting the Brakes on Hyperactivity in the Brain - Hyperacusis Research

Dan Polley in his laboratory (all photos courtesy of Dan Polley). We asked Dan Polley, one of our scientific advisors, about his auditory research. Dan is currently a professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School and the Director of the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories at Massachusetts Eye and...

hyperacusisresearch.org

It really drives home the point that tinnitus and hyperacusis are both incredibly complex conditions… and then there is hearing loss on top of that!

Everyone's story is different, especially when they are difficult ones. In my case, I had very sensitive hearing as a teenager. Then, at the age of 39, I developed tinnitus and an increase in hyperacusis.

I have certainly learned a lot from the discussion around your story.

 

[Kam75]

I feel for you. But you are exactly why I believe these forums can take a toll on your nervous system.

Hi @Tom Cnyc, I beg your pardon. My intention was not to take away from your success story when I shared mine.

I only wanted to warn others so that they do not end up in the same situation as me.

I can confirm that it is extremely important to be careful after experiencing sound trauma, as things can get worse.
We are a community of sufferers, and I simply wanted to share my experience in the hope that it helps others avoid the worst.

However, I should not have written that last message in which I lamented my fate, because I now realize it only added to the negativity.
I asked the moderators to delete that post, but they did not. I sincerely apologize again if I ruined your success story.

@Joeseph Stope, thank you for your testimony. I have of course already consulted the best ENTs in Paris, including the so-called "French tinnitus specialist" Alain Londero.
I will not go into it now, because that would only add more negativity, but to be brief, it was not helpful. No one has a miracle solution to offer.

@Kam75, you posted, "Two years ago, I considered myself almost cured. Although my tinnitus was constant and intense, it no longer stopped me from living or sleeping properly." That will happen again!

Thank you so much for your message. It means a lot to me, and it is exactly the kind of thing I needed to hear.

After six years of tinnitus and hyperacusis, I was basically cured. I could live a normal life (avoiding loud places), and I hardly noticed my symptoms at all in the past few years. Life was good, and in many ways, I was actually happier than before I developed this condition. I did a lot of mental work during those years, discovered new passions and hobbies, made new friends, went back to school, and found joy again.

Then, a month ago, I went to a bar and a club with a friend and brought my earplugs. I thought that since I had been feeling so good lately, I could handle it with earplugs in.

I could not have been more wrong. I've now experienced the worst spike I've had in six years, and my condition hasn't been this bad in a long time.

Thankfully, I've been slowly improving. But in my case, no matter how well I feel, it's safer to avoid loud places, even with earplugs.

That's why I personally don't agree when people say things like, "Just go live your life! You will improve! Stop fearing, start living! You only live once!"

No, I'm not suggesting anyone should lock themselves inside four walls. But everyone should make choices based on their own well-being.

For me, six hours of "living" led to more than a month of suffering—and counting. It was my decision, so I can only blame myself.

Be cautious with this condition. One of the most important lessons I've learned is that a false sense of security can be your worst enemy.

Unfortunately, I identify very strongly with your story. That is exactly why I shared mine in this thread—not to spread negativity (even though that may have happened unintentionally), but to warn others.

I don't know for sure. I use someone who works remotely. She saw the tinnitus and even identified which ear was worse. She says it is getting better and that it will eventually go away. It is definitely better than it was.

What about this guy? He does not charge unless you feel that it has helped. He has some testimonials on his website specifically for tinnitus.

https://www.guerisseur-magnetiseur.eu/temoignages/

Best wishes.

Ah, this person reminds me of something. A member of Tinnitus Talk once told me about him.

I called this healer, but for some reason I cannot remember, we were not able to work together.

 

[Tom Cnyc]

OK, since people can't seem to resist posting negativity in a thread meant to be positive, I'll share a quote from Sarah Polley:

"Everyone tells you to listen to your body, but very rarely does someone ask you, 'How much are you listening to your body?'"

Yes, be careful. Wear earplugs. But truly ask yourself how much you're listening to your anxious brain. If you didn't have tinnitus, would you go to that event with earplugs, or would you skip it altogether? If you didn't have tinnitus, would you be wearing earplugs in your current situation?

Those questions will help guide your decision.

I am not encouraging anyone to damage their hearing. Personally, I don't go to places like gun ranges, where certain firearms can produce sounds over 160 decibels. But a 110-decibel club is fine for a few hours with 25 decibels of reduction. Build up to it, because if what you're doing is objectively safe, the issue is likely coming from anxiety.

 

[Strife_84]

OK, since people can't seem to resist posting negativity in a thread meant to be positive, I'll share a quote from Sarah Polley:

"Everyone tells you to listen to your body, but very rarely does someone ask you, 'How much are you listening to your body?'"

Yes, be careful. Wear earplugs. But truly ask yourself how much you're listening to your anxious brain. If you didn't have tinnitus, would you go to that event with earplugs, or would you skip it altogether? If you didn't have tinnitus, would you be wearing earplugs in your current situation?

Those questions will help guide your decision.

I am not encouraging anyone to damage their hearing. Personally, I don't go to places like gun ranges, where certain firearms can produce sounds over 160 decibels. But a 110-decibel club is fine for a few hours with 25 decibels of reduction. Build up to it, because if what you're doing is objectively safe, the issue is likely coming from anxiety.

You just do not seem to understand. It is not about being negative, and it is not about being anxious. It is about giving people a warning.

I went to a nightclub about a month ago, wearing earplugs. I got the worst spike I have ever had during my six years of living with this condition.

I was not anxious when I went there. I was relaxed and having fun. But I still ended up with the worst spike ever.

Why did I go to the nightclub? Because for the past few years, I had basically felt completely normal again.

This has nothing to do with fear, anxiety, or anything like that.

@Kam75 and I are simply trying to offer a different perspective.

I am happy that you can go to clubs again and live a normal life. That is great! But just as a warning to others, you need to be extremely careful with this condition.

If someone now decides to go to a club thinking, "Well, that person on TinnitusTalk said I would be OK for a few hours," and then their condition worsens, it could be devastating.

It is not about you. We are happy for you. It is about providing another point of view.

You say, "Just go out and have fun." I say, "Be careful and think twice," because my experience with earplugs was absolutely horrible.

That is why this condition is so complicated. There is no single truth. We all have the same condition, but our symptoms can vary a lot.

I really do not understand why you get so angry just because someone offers another opinion. You are healed. You can live a normal life.

I do not understand why telling people to be careful with this condition makes you angry.

 

[Joeseph Stope]

OK, since people can't seem to resist posting negativity in a thread meant to be positive, I'll share a quote from Sarah Polley:

"Everyone tells you to listen to your body, but very rarely does someone ask you, 'How much are you listening to your body?'"

Yes, be careful. Wear earplugs. But truly ask yourself how much you're listening to your anxious brain. If you didn't have tinnitus, would you go to that event with earplugs, or would you skip it altogether? If you didn't have tinnitus, would you be wearing earplugs in your current situation?

Those questions will help guide your decision.

I am not encouraging anyone to damage their hearing. Personally, I don't go to places like gun ranges, where certain firearms can produce sounds over 160 decibels. But a 110-decibel club is fine for a few hours with 25 decibels of reduction. Build up to it, because if what you're doing is objectively safe, the issue is likely coming from anxiety.

What is the name of that movie again? One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest! That is it.

Of course, that movie was about the inmates living locked up on the funny farm. There is nothing crazy about us, right, Napoleon?

Ha! Just kidding, @Tom Cnyc. But let me say that you are one very lucky person, and you give the rest of us some hope by having broken free.

There seem to be two groups in the tinnitus and hyperacusis community. The first group manages to get used to it and move on with life. The second group does not. To be honest, I get by until the next acoustic assault happens. Last month, it was the dentist making that screeching noise while cleaning my teeth. The month before, I got caught full blast in a fire alarm.

So, although I am not as much of a hard case as @Kam75 or @Strife_85, the three of us all belong to the unlucky group. And I, for one, am afraid of it getting worse as the years go by. I am what you Americans call a senior citizen now.

I have a gut feeling that there is some technical problem inside the auditory system somewhere. Is it damaged synapses, damaged inner or outer hair cells, stereocilia, nerve damage, or something in the brain like you described?

It was nice of you to stop by and share your story with us poor folks.

 

[Ken219]

OK, since people can't seem to resist posting negativity in a thread meant to be positive, I'll share a quote from Sarah Polley:

"Everyone tells you to listen to your body, but very rarely does someone ask you, 'How much are you listening to your body?'"

Yes, be careful. Wear earplugs. But truly ask yourself how much you're listening to your anxious brain. If you didn't have tinnitus, would you go to that event with earplugs, or would you skip it altogether? If you didn't have tinnitus, would you be wearing earplugs in your current situation?

Those questions will help guide your decision.

I am not encouraging anyone to damage their hearing. Personally, I don't go to places like gun ranges, where certain firearms can produce sounds over 160 decibels. But a 110-decibel club is fine for a few hours with 25 decibels of reduction. Build up to it, because if what you're doing is objectively safe, the issue is likely coming from anxiety.

If I had known about tinnitus and how unreliable the NRR of earplugs is, the answer would have been no! Now that I have tinnitus, the answer is still no!