Long Time Sufferer

Hi everyone,
My name is Rob, and I've had this for 10 years. I have looked for a forum like this before, and I'm glad to have found this one.

I'm looking forward to hearing about other peoples experiences and attempts at treatment.

Thanks

 

Hi Markku,

My T is unchanged for several years, but it is present all the time, and in the last month it has been a bit louder (it varies in intensity and has for years as well). This has brought it to mind and with the holidays I've had more time to think about it (for better or worse).

To answer your other questions, I feel lucky in that coping is not a problem, since mine is nowhere as bad as many seem to suffer. To me of course it is a problem, but compared to some others, it's not bad. I am aware of it, but most of the time is is ignored, just another background noise. It never goes away, but it's at a level that I can live with. Only when it gets louder, or has a sudden short spike, does it bother me.

I am sure it is caused by long term exposure. I rode motorcycles for 15 years, and the wind noise would make my ears ring after a long day of riding. I also work in the aviation industry, and again long term noise exposure.

I try to protect my hearing these days, but of course it's too late now.

 

I wish I knew what caused my tinnitus. I've had it now for about 6 months and it seems to be getting worse. I know that stress makes it worse.

Anyway, one evening I noticed slightly some noise from my right ear. I thought it was a building noise. Then the next day I noticed my ears were sensitive but it would go away.

But one morning it was unmistakably loud hissing coming from my right ear. I knew that I had tinnitus then.

Since then I have had acupuncture, which relaxed me a little but really didn't help, went to my family MD, who said there is not much that can be done about it, and I believe my family MD doesn't really understand the kind of tinnitus that I have. It is coming from the neck and it is somatic tinnitus. Sometimes it's louder than others.

Today it is really bad, sounds like a wind storm. I am at a loss as to what to do. I really don't want to get a hearing aid. I have taken Xanax, which helped a little, but wish I knew a specialist that could help me. I believe it is from stress and muscle and neck tension.

 

Have you seen an ENT and audiologist? Had a hearing test?