My Tinnitus Has Changed ...

Hi All -

As many of you know I have had tinnitus for more than twenty years now. To spare you the details, I'll simply attach my story to the bottom of this post.

Anyway, I did TRT in 1994-1995 and since completing TRT I have been doing really well. My tinnitus has remained as loud as ever - like a cross between a thunderous jet turbine and a screaming teakettkle - but I no longer react to it. And thus - while it can occasionally and unpredictably distract me - it causes me little, if any, distress.

I have often referred to the fact that the only thing that makes my tinnitus significantly louder is the spices in Thai food. But since I love Thai food, I eat it every once in a while and for the next day or so "pay the price" in terms of an increase in loudness. Again, since I do not react to it, the fact that it is louder for the next day does not really affect me.

Well, that's all changed. For the past ten days my tinnitus has made a quantum leap in loudness. It is louder - markedly louder - than it has ever been in my life. I cannot identify any reason for the change, but for me this is a whole new world of noise. I have kept thinking that it will settle back down to its normal turbine/teakettle level, but that has not happened.

We TRT clinicians tell our patients that if they get an exacerbation of their tinnitus at some point after finishing TRT - as can happen in maybe 10% of cases - that they should take their devices out of their dresser (or wherever they have stored them) and start using them again exactly as originally instructed. We say that TRT is like "relearning how to ride a bike" - far easier and quicker the second time around - and within a couple of weeks they should be fine again.

Well, I am about to find out if that's true or not first hand. An hour or so ago I inserted a pair of GHI Tranquil Simplicity I OTE devices (my old Viennatones are sort of relics from the stone age). I haven't used sound therapy since finishing TRT in 1995, but I'm sure using it now. We'll see how it goes.

I'll let you know.

stephen nagler

 

As a long time T'er and a few relapses. As you are a 'giver' it is time for us to give back to you. I wish you well. G-d speed.

 

@Dr. Nagler, have you ever considered giving retigabine a shot?

 

Not sure if you plan on giving us updates or if you're gonna do the no-forum thing that TRT recommends but good luck, either way. My thoughts are with you.

 

@Dr. Nagler

Best of luck. We can have a race to habituation. Take care.

R

 

Thank you ... and to all who offer good wishes.

Yes.

I've never believed in the "no-forum thing." I just tell my patients to keep it all in perspective. That's what I plan to do.

stephen nagler

 

Good luck, doc.

T is in some studies described as a pathological pattern in the auditory cortex. Maybe such patterns needs no particular reason to develop further.

 

Hi Dr. Nagler, I am sorry for you the T has become louder all of a sudden....
It also make me sad, because I always thought: "Well, Dr. Nagler has T for more than 20 years and it's loud, but he has habituated and his T never did change or became louder". ... But now you wrote this message and your story does effect me. I am really sorry for you, you are always supporting us. And now I read your story in the 'support' department. Can you calm yourself down? Do you think 'it's just a spike for a while, it will turn lower' ? What are you 'saying' to yourself now? Wish you the best.

 

Really sorry to hear that doc. You of all people should be the last to have to experience a major spike like this. Your work on T and with the people on this forum (including myself) is so invaluable, I only hope that this is just a temporary spike for you.

Good luck and keep us posted

 

I'm sorry to hear that your tinnitus has increased and I wish you well on your road to recovery.

 

He'll habituate again and be fine. The man is a legend

 

Well if that's the case, then I'm not a particularly happy legend. I'll check back in a day or two and let y'all know how it's going with the broadband sound generators.

stephen nagler

 

Take good care Dr. Nagler. I hope your TRT equipment will work wonder on you and I hope your spikes will settle down.

 

May good lord speed you away from the noise and thank you for being the person who you are to help so many.

 

@Dr. Nagler

Wow, so sorry to hear that, a real shock. God be with you!

 

My prayers are being sent to you this very moment. You who have given so much energy and time, to all of us here, will be made whole again soon! The good Lord will intercede and bring you back from Hell, once again! Keep the faith.

God Bless!

 

I am so sorry to hear of your distress @Dr. Nagler . You have helped me tremendously and I will keep the best hopes and prayers for you. It's our turn to support you--and we will.

 

My heart goes out to you and your family. I will pray for you...

 

Dr Nagler, is it time for another audiogram?

 

Have you tried far infra red hot sauna therapy? I will be trying it myself this week. I have read online that it helps with the ringing. Google it for some information. I know you will be fine. Sending you positive energy and hugzzz.

 

For acute worsening there are 3 treatment protocols
1) pulse corticosteroids + vitamins[b1,b3,b6,b12,C,D,E] + antivirals(valacyclovir) + vasodilators + NAC + magnesium + aminoacids + HBO + full sleep
OR
2) pulse corticosteroids + full sleep
OR
3) full sleep

With 1) you have more changes to recover than 2) with 2) you have more changes to recover than 3)

(bold are very important)

TRT / RTG and other methods are total fail acute worsening is acute damage in hearing and TRT / RTG does not treat the hearing damage.
Time frame window from acute worsening and pulse corticosteroids treatment is very narrow max 24hours.

 

@Dr. Nagler
All the best from my side. Hopefully the noise goes back down to baseline and you will report another success story here.

 

So sorry to know that doc. I am sure you will be back on track soon with a even better success story than before which will inspire us all even more now. You have been a big support to us in our thick and thin times. Praying for you

 

Lets hope this is just a temp. Spike. We are with you in this together. If you ever need anything more than moral support, i will always be there for you.

 

Dr Nagler, my thoughts are with you and I wish you every success in getting back to your usual level of habituation. You've been so kind helping many people on this site. If the power of prayer works, you're sure going to know about it! Beth.

 

I haven't been on the forum myself in a while, save to occasionally check the research news. Very sorry to hear your Tinnitus has taken a turn for the worse Dr. Nagler. Hopefully it's a temporary blip so hang in there. Everyone is behind you here. Take care!

 

I am so sorry to hear that Dr. Nagler. Really hope that you feel better soon. We are all support you in the same sprit you always helped us.

 

Dr Nagler, wishing you well. I believe that in no time you will be back to feeling better. Thank you for being here and helping so many people with there questions. It's very stressful when these spikes of T come for unknown reason. I have been struggling too and I will hold you in my prayers. Take care.

 

Feel for you, @Dr. Nagler. Hope it's temporary. Wish you well

 

@Dr. Nagler I wish you quick recovery.