Like a Newbie to Tinnitus but Not...

Hi all at TT.

I’ve been reading through many posts for a fair while so I figured I may as well sign up.

From years of stress / family issues and following a few days use of propranolol BetaBlocker medication, I’ve had an onset of very loud invasive tinnitus starting July 2017 which has hung around to date. It’s completely turned my life upside down. I’d been struggling with sleep beforehand, but since this new onset of loud T the insomnia become much worse. This has led me into depression and more recently bad anxiety / and occasional feelings of detachment. I’m currently now just on 30mg (mirtazipine) AD nightly, which helped greatly with sleep Initially. I was also prescribed sertraline AD but had to come off it as it wasn’t helping. I had a short spell on diazepam which I found helpful for anxiety but the Doc won’t prescribe beyond short term use.

The odd thing is I’m no stranger to Tinnitus. For many years I’d say I completely habituated to the point I’d pretty much forgotten about it. I would experience spikes come and go, but nothing like the persistent volume and presence of T now. This new beast is like a relentless laser beam shrill, very loud and high pitched, mainly panned in my left ear, with a low hum like engine running in my right ear. It’s pretty much unmaskable. I say unmaskable, but unless I have headphones on extra loud (which of course wouldn’t help matters) I can hear my T over all other external noise.

The various ENTs I’ve seen state my actual hearing is pretty good. I’ve had a standard MRI (clear) and tried everything from acupuncture, meditation, hypnosis, cranial sacral therapy (which I do rate for relaxation), counselling, diet alterations, cardio and I’ve recently cut back on the above and started CBT with a Tinnitus specialist in London.

I drink rooibus tea, take multi Vitamins, Ginkgo, and my diet is day is pretty sensible, eating balanced meals every few hours. I try avoid excessive MSG, sweeteners, salt, sugars, alcohol as I find they now exacerbate my T.

I can say from past experience that habituation with T at a lower background level is much easier to achieve. My new friend has my attention 99% the time. I just hope that in time it backs off enough to lead some sort of normal life once again.

Nice to meet you all

 

Welcome to the forum

Unfortunately, some meds are very helpful , but they can also cause other issues. This forum is filled with many great people that care and will support you no matter what. Having a good diet can be helpful and keeping stress at a minimal is always recommended.

Be well.

 

Thanks Fishbone. I know what you mean Re: meds. I wouldn’t take mirtazipine unless I really needed to. ATM it’s an essential med for me to sleep and seems to be one of the least offensive ADs for exacerbating T.

 

Welcome to Tinnitus Talk @Mark GH,
Sorry to hear about your new sound causing you a lot of problems.
I have a high hiss in both ears and a drone sound also at the same time.
I do have hearing aids with maskers to use when I need a break as it can be tough.
Had a two hour computer course at work today in a room with other staff members all had audio info going off so I turned mine off and just read the instructions etc.
I hope your tinnitus sounds settle as you have been doing great.
Love glynis

 

Thanks Glynis. I had read many of your posts to other members - previous to joining the group. You seem a very caring soul.

 

Interesting story.

Out of interest. How long had you had the tinnitus that you had habituated to. And would you attribute the increase in loudness purely to the combination of stress and the betablocker medication?

 

Hi Sanj

I’d say 15 years with T, habituation happened somewhat naturally as it wasn’t that invasive. Major Increase due to stress and a nervous breakdown and I believe also from a very short spell on beta blocker meds.