Memories

I would like to share with you a little finding of mine, which I consider very positive and like to think of when things feel really bad.

Just after I realized I had T, my life broke into two parts: the blessed times before it, and the hell after it. Sometimes I would remember something nice, but immediately the thought would pop-up: "Hey buddy! This nice thing happened to you before your wreck, but now it's just pain and suffering for you. Cheers!"
It's like having a tagged photo collection. Everything 'before' was tagged with happiness, everything 'after'... well, I didn't have that many memories immediately after the onset.

Since that times I had an opportunity to go and spend a vacation in NYC with my wife. I was terribly afraid my new T would spoil the experience for both of us, but it turned out to be great, even though I kept thinking about my T a lot, and obviously kept hearing it.

Now, when I'm back home, and sometimes an episode from this trip comes to mind, I catch myself thinking: "Well... It felt so great, true, but that was without that noise in your ears, now get back to suffering."
"Waaaaait a minute! It was AFTER I got my T". But the memory is 'tagged' as the one from the happy times.

I don't know what exactly that is supposed to mean. Probably, that there is life after T and it can be quite an enjoyable one!

 

An interesting experiment. I think I often do the same, except instead of T/no T it's more like before/after a spike.

 

I said it in another post, My T has been a positive force in my life. It drove me into a wonderful world of acoustic music, and an exercise/nutrition program that has changed my life.

 

I, too, have had positive things come to me through tinnitus. I appreciate my life more, am more compassionate to others with chronic illnesses, take better care of my body (although I could do more) and love my supportive husband more than ever.

Thanks for getting those positive thoughts flowing for us, @Garden Ring!

 

Right on Garden Ring!! Great stuff man!! Keep up the positivity, it works!!

 

I can relate to more compassionate to others with chronic illnesses. I look at people differently, every time I see someone with an obvious physical challenge like wheelchair user or something like that, I pause and reflect. I'm more aware of them and I compare myself to them. T is invisible and sometimes I wish it wasn't. May seem weird to write that but I truly mean it. I guess I just want some respect for what I'm going trough if that makes any sense.

 

Tinnitus can lead to people living healthier life styles. Less suger , less alcohol, less salt, more sleep...more exercise. You are forced to make changes or deal with the tinnitus levels and spikes when eating junk foods other wise...I am learning the hard way..

 

My tinnitus is not in a good place today. I found myself tearing today. How do you deal with the hissing during the day? I've called my ENT to up my dose of Remeron to 15mg. I wake up at 4a every morning and then can't fall asleep. Maybe if I sleep more it might help. The music under my pillow didn't help and the fan did a bit but I'm fighting the T and the fan. Does anyone have suggestions?

 

Try 5mg melatonine before sleeping.

 

Hi @Linda Marie

I have loud hissing also and not sure what to do about it... very weird & annoying condition. I used to take Gabapentin+Clonazepam to quiet it down, but it doesn't seem to work very good anymore. It seems the brain gets more resistant to it the longer you use it. Hopefully the Remeron will quiet your hissing. I have not used that drug long enough to know if it helps T...works good for sleep though! The article (or post) below is from 2010. I am trying to get Skype working as I have never used it before.

@just1morething

Success with Klonopin and Gabapentin
BobsDream [/URL]

I just wanted everyone to know that I’m having success treating my tinnitus with Klonopin and Gabapentin. I’ve been playing around with different doses and here is what I’ve noticed. I’ll rate my T on a scale of 0 to 10 with 10 being the screaming tea pot.

I also want to mention that I've only been on this now for about 3 weeks so this isn't a long term study.

Gabapentin by itself - no effect.
Klonopin .5MG by itself – Spiky results. I’ll usually get an hour of 1-4 and then a spike to 8 -10 followed by some 1-6.
Klonopin .5MG and Gabapentin 600MG. Gives me 3.5 hours of 1-3. After that it slowly goes up to a 2-6
Klonopin .25MG and Gabapentin 600MG Gives me 2 hours of 1-3. After that it slowly goes up to a 2-6

Right now I’m taking Klonopin .25MG and Gabapentin 600MG about 4 times during the day and I’m getting some pretty good relief. I’m usually in the 1 to 3 range with spikes of 6 between doses.

A few days a go I was taking Klonopin .5MG and Gabapentin 600MG 4 times a day and I was between 0-1 most the day. At that dosage it’s almost a cure. There were times where I couldn’t hear it even when I tried. It’s clear that the Gabapentin somehow magnifies the effects of the Klonopin. I’ve read a new study about Pregabalin which is the new more powerful Gabapentin and it claimed that it also magnifies the affect of Klonopin.

Hear are my concerns. We all know Klonopin is bad. The body will become physically addicted and eventually it will take more and more to get the same affect. By year two I will probably need to double my dose. By year 5 it probably wont work at all. It also makes you stupid. Temporarily I hope. This is why I’m trying to figure out the minimum amount I can take and still be comfortable.

I really hate taking all these pills all day long but it absolutely works for me so I'm going to keep doing it as long as my doctor allows it.

 

1morething:
I don't care for the pills myself. I'm taking the Remeron at night to sleep otherwise I can't. My doctor changed my dose from 7.5m to 15mg. I just don't have a remedy for daytime. I'm an active person and my ringing comes mostly early evening a bit stronger. You've had the T quite a bit longer mine started Dec 2013 and am still experimenting.

 

Hi Johno,
I tried 3mg and 5mg for two days and it didn't work. I'm not a patient person I guess I should have taken it longer. I am on 15mg Remeron one night so far. Slept good but woke at 6a this morning put lavender balm on my temples and under my nose slept another 1 1/2 hours. Still experimenting but the eves and early morning are the worst. Thanks for the tip. Maybe I should have gone the natural way for a longer time but was only sleeping 4 hours a night.

 

@just1morething: try downloading www.skype.com/download it's fairly easy.

 

I agree, the less pills the better, and I forgot to look at your date of onset. I am actually trying to get off of Zolpidem (tapering) and use more Remeron for sleep. Thanks for the link to Skype...I am nearly set up for that but have no experience.

 

not a problem. where are you located? Onset Dec 2013. A lot of uncertainties now

 

I'm in southern Minnesota. This a very good sound machine:http://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/product/Sleep-Sound-Therapy-System/200694?question=sound

 

Have you checked out the House Ear Clinic? Maybe there is something you can do for your tinnitus right away like taking Prednisone? You are early in your onset. I suppose your ENT would know. @Karen would give you excellent advice.

 

Hi there, Thanks for the tip. I'm trying to click on the different sounds but not working for me. I'll try again.btw - my daughter visited and loved it there. Her husband was checking out the university. Got a bit cold brrr

 

None in Northern Calif. Thanks for the lead. Is Prednisone ok I believe it is a steriod

 

Yes it is, and your ENT would probably know if it would benefit you. I think the House Ear Clinic is near LA. @LadyDi would be great for advice as well.

 

Hi Linda

I am a newbie like you. 29/11/13

I am sleeping better than I was in the beginning.

I don't think it's the method I use to get off to sleep that works. I think I am less anxious about being able to get off to sleep. I don't blame lack of sleep on t anymore. I remind myself that I had many a night (pre t awareness) that I would have issues with getting to sleep and/staying asleep. Somehow this diminishes t's power over my sleep time in my head, and I fall asleep now with a small fan on beside the bed. ( I was already doing this anyway because I sleep hot) Like many of you, I tried white noise, pink noise, relaxation cds, hyno cds...didn't help! sleeping in a different room (if you have a noisy and/or restless partner) could help too. Going to bed when you are ready for bed is a good practice too.

Have a look at this link. There is a section on sleep that might help you too Linda.

www.tinnitus.org.au

I will say I feel very tired a lot of the time however. As I am new to t, I accept that this fatigue and lack of concentration is inevitable, but will resolve over time as my brain adapts.

I hope this helps

 

Thanks! Right now I am on Remeron 15mg higher dose last night. I'd like to take something natural but right now I probably couldn't sleep. Hard though when I wake at 5 or 6a and then have a terrible time getting back to sleep. LadyDi knows quite a lot. Is she in the medical field?

 

Thank Deb. Very helpful. I've always had a difficult time sleeping the whole night. I am a worrier and I do concern myself with not sleeping and do wake early around 5-6a and the hissing comes. Hard to get back to sleep. I stay up until 10:30p which is late for me for that reason. I also use a fan, can't seem to find music I can sleep by. I appreciate your advise.

 

Thanks Karen. My ENT never mentioned P. I'm new to Remeron just a few nights. I guess if you ask 3 doctors they will give you 3 different answers. I will mention it to him. Thanks so much.

 

Having T since Novermber 2015, I realised the true value of others - I really find now that if I concentrate on other people and not myself, my T goes away - and of course I've developed a big new group of friends with whom I am having a really good time - nothing hugely special, just great to be with them as I know they care a lot about how I am feeling. Just a thought that might help others.

 

Hi Andrea,

Hope all is well, great post. Did u go for the treatment u we're talking about?