Neurotransmitter Activity During Sleep Affecting How Tinnitus Sounds Upon Waking?

[JasonP]

This question has to do with people who have louder or quieter tinnitus upon waking. Do you think this is due to some kind of neurotransmitter "firings" in the brain during different stages of the sleep cycle?

If so, what specific neurotransmitters would be responsible and is there any supplement or medication that could be taken either right before sleep or right after waking that you think would help or that in your experience has helped?

 

[Dana]

My tinnitus goes up with in sync with the stages of waking up. It is true that sometimes I look for the T sound, curious if it is still there, and as soon as I wonder about it, it appears very loudly. I think finding it as soon as I wonder about it a little bit ruining the habituation process. I am not sure whether my T got better or my brain started to habituate and ignore it, as a sound that does not bring any information about the environment.
The neurotransmitters?
I do not know.
Just lack of them, I guess (GABA)

 

[JasonP]

My tinnitus goes up with in sync with the stages of waking up. It is true that sometimes I look for the T sound, curious if it is still there, and as soon as I wonder about it, it appears very loudly. I think finding it as soon as I wonder about it a little bit ruining the habituation process. I am not sure whether my T got better or my brain started to habituate and ignore it, as a sound that does not bring any information about the environment.
The neurotransmitters?
I do not know.
Just lack of them, I guess (GABA)

I have often wondered if another neurotransmitter could also be involved as well...for example too much glutamate activity. I wish we had a brain scientist on here that could answer all these questions.

 

[Michael B]

I've always wondered why sleep would put my T to sleep and would refer to it as my 'tinnitus miracle'. No matter how bad it was the night before, it will always be quieter upon awakening. Sometimes I'll just lie there thinking "This is the way it's supposed to be." Unfortunately, within an hour I'll know what it will be.

 

[Dana]

Unfortunately, within an hour I'll know what it will be.

So you have about an hour of relief, lucky you.
Maybe T is brought by your thinking about the problems in your life? Your brain fires up and the firing spreads into another area that it shouldn't?

 

[Dana]

T is partial epilepsy, with a fit triggered by various things.

 

[Dana]

I wish we had a brain scientist on here that could answer all these questions.

We need one like air, so we do not ramble here that much. Hard to find one working for free, though. Maybe we can hire somebody?

 

[Dana]

@Michael B
It happened to me to have a single negative thought that triggered not only loud T, but a spike. The moment after I had that thought!

 

[Dana]

Negative thoughts are one trigger of a seizure of T, a focal epilepsy.
Never be afraid!

 

[Michael B]

I can't say with any certainty that negative thoughts affect my T. After dealing with this for 5 years, the only predictable thing about this is its unpredictability.

 

[Dana]

@Michael B
God, you sounded just like nagler (no offence, just funny) A T fit is for sure caused by something, just because we do not know the cause does not mean that the cause does not exist. The fact that we do not know the cause is another story. I do not believe that T is "random", that's impossible. The law "any phenomenon has a cause" applies.

 

[Dana]

the only predictable thing about this is its unpredictability.

On second thought, you are right. You were talking about our mind's ability to predict it, not about T being objectively unpredictable, or random. Sorry.

 

[JasonP]

I've always wondered why sleep would put my T to sleep and would refer to it as my 'tinnitus miracle'. No matter how bad it was the night before, it will always be quieter upon awakening. Sometimes I'll just lie there thinking "This is the way it's supposed to be." Unfortunately, within an hour I'll know what it will be.

Wow that is very interesting. I am just curious, do you (or have you) take any medications that affect neurotransmitters? If so, what time of day did you take it (or took it)?

 

[linearb]

the mechanics of sleep are incredibly intricate and poorly understood, so...

 

[LadyDi]

I've always wondered why sleep would put my T to sleep and would refer to it as my 'tinnitus miracle'. No matter how bad it was the night before, it will always be quieter upon awakening. Sometimes I'll just lie there thinking "This is the way it's supposed to be." Unfortunately, within an hour I'll know what it will be.

Boy, not with me. My tinnitus is screamin' loud when I wake up, no matter what it was like the day before. The good news is it almost always fades back to normal as I get going. I find what helps me the most is to listen to my sound therapy tape on very low volume right away, while I have my (decaf) coffee. That and the nice soothing sounds of the shower and I'm good to go.

 

[Michael B]

For me, if I wake up to higher T, it will remain high throughout the day. If I wake up and it's lower, I have a 50-50 chance it will remain lower.

 

[JasonP]

For me, if I wake up to higher T, it will remain high throughout the day. If I wake up and it's lower, I have a 50-50 chance it will remain lower.

Do you know if Xanax or alcohol will lower your T and if so, if you take them at night will it be lower in the morning?

 

[Michael B]

Jason, I don't think alcohol works to lower T. Not for me it hasn't. You should talk to your doc or ENT about Xanax. It's meant to reduce anxiety and may work in the short run, but not long term of what I hear.