New Here (3 Weeks In)

I found that i can reduce my T about 40% by avoiding all foods that contain moderate to high salicylates, salt and caffeine, maybe sugar and i've been able to reduce my "tonal" T using a notched 8400 hz wav mp3 file, however haven't been able to do much about my white noise T, but i think the the wn T is alot more bearable than "tonal" T which sounds like a tea pot whistle. But hang in there you will get used to it over time, but do watch what eat and research any and all medications for ototoxicity.

here is a success story:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/an-interesting-thing.9626/

 

Sorry to hear it didn't get better (yet).

I saw you have ETD which could cause T by the way of fluid accumulation in the middle ear. I read that a mushroom called Cordyceps works for people with T caused by fluid accumulation in the middle ear, perhaps that could be something to try out? Here is a study on it: https://swansonhealthcenter.com/topics/cordyceps-sinensis/
Just don't reseach to much about the mushroom.. I think it just tastes like oatmeal and il keep it at that.
It worked for Ankie on the forum btw:

 

Update: After the caloric test and the big spike. I have T on both ears, T in left ear is quite intrusive/loud, i developed a new baseline. H is on both ears and its awful. Tinnitus on Right ear can be louder than the T on the left ear

 

Update:
Not getting better. I really messed it up now. I quit my job and took sometime to relax. After the caloric test (Jan 15) and the fire alarm (Jan 17) in the library things became very bad.
Initially i had only T on the left ear which was mild, currently i have these symptoms.
-Higher (moderate) Tinnitus on Left Ear
-Tinnitus on R ear which is mild
-Hyperacusis on both ears, with Severe H on the left ear, turning a page of a book hurts like hell, when i talk my head feels like it will explode. I had to quit my job and completely withdraw, no going outside anymore at all, just stay in my room.
-A feeling like something is hitting the eardrum on both ears, this comes on and off
-Ear popping on the right ear

 

Sorry to hear this, i can't imagine how you must feel. It does sound as though you really need to rest your ears so as bad as it is at least you can take the time out that you need now. I feel like iv made some progress with mine but only because I'm lucky enough to have stayed home since christmas and kept everything quiet. Before that i was living normally but it was having a very negative effect on the Tinnitus i think. Ive realised i already had some T before my incident and i put this down to iPod abuse and 10 years as an alarm engineer, messing around with 115db sirens and drilling masonary up ladders with no protection. (stupid). So like you i have proabably built up hearing loss and then thrown fuel all over the fire one night with live music. Iv not suffered H or hearing loss that i know of, just ear popping quite a lot and fullness the odd time in the beginning.

However since ive cut out all noise in my life and not really left the house much these past 2 months its helped massively, i sense my T is returning back to what it always was when i was blissfully unaware that it was anything other than the sound of silence. Its still there but its a much much softer tone now and much easier to live with/listen too. I always thought is was just the sound of the blood in my head and the cogs turning. The only problem i have now is that i now know what it is and that its a 'condition'. BUT at least i know now i need to take care of my hearing and iv learnt so much from it. For about 6 weeks it was hellish and what I'm getting at is that it does get better and even if it doesn't go away completely living with whats left once its calmed down is really not that bad. Hang in there just do the time and things will improve. I hope you get better soon be strong and know that time will heal you now you are doing what needs to be done.

 

You will most likely feel a lot better in about 3 months.

 

I made peace that my tinnitus will never go back to the way it used to be

 

A month has passed and I am not getting better. Loud/Intrusive Tinnitus on L ear, ear fullness, hearing loss, T on R ear, and Bad hyperacusis on both ears.

 

@dpdx,
I think it can take a year or so to look back and see how far you have come.
Hope you will progress in coping better so try stay positive and have hope for a better future.
Love glynis

 

Glynis, I made such amazing progress from onset to November. T reduced drastically and it was like everything was the same as before. Cant say the same thing now. Hopefully it gets better in 2020.

 

Update April 20,2018: I am not getting better, severe/intrusive tinnitus on left ear and severe hyperacusis on the right ear. There are days where its moderate and I can ignore it. The only place where i dont hear tinnitus is my shower or when driving. I did an audiogram yesterday and it was normal, a dip at 3hz to 15db. I was recommended to do TRT since my audiologist thinks I am a severe case. When i first got T back in September of 2017 T was low, no hyperacusis, nothing. I did have hyperacusis late October from overprotecting but that went away. Ever since the caloric test/vemp that was done on Jan 15 the condition has worsened. Tinnitus and Hyperacusis have not gotten any better. The sound of my own voice hurts me and the sound of others talking hurts my ear. Tinniitus cant be masked and sometimes I cry a lot. I will keep you all updated.

 

Update May 18 2018: Not getting better at all. I am actually starting to loose sleep because Tinnitus is so loud. Hyperacusis on the R ear is terrible and even when I speak moderately it hurts me. Tinnitus is quite severe and I can hear it everywhere just not the shower. I am sure that I have caused further damage to my cochlea cells by doing the caloric test (ear syringing). In Sep-Dec I was able to mask my T with the sound oasis machine. .I am not able to do that anymore. I cant hear T when i am in the shower, otherwise I hear it all the time everywhere.

My T is a screeching metallic sound that cuts through everything. Sometimes it gets so bad that it causes my head to hurt. I am in a much worser place than I was when i got Tinnitus. I have high blood pressure now, today i measured my BP and its 137/83.

 

@dpdx I wonder if Sotalol 40 mg twice a day for blood pressure would help.

 

Update June 13, 2018: Not getting better. Intrusive/Severe Tinnitus and Severe Hyperacusis. I cant speak without causing discomfort. Tinnitus is so loud that it covers up everything. I can hear it over running faucets. I sleep very little about 1-4/per night. Cant hold a job ,focus, concentrate, read, etc. Social life completely destroyed. I mostly stay in my room the whole day.

 

@dpdx,
Have you tried white noise generators set below your tinnitus ?
You need to start re training your ears to everyday sounds so maybe if you use hearing protection to get out of your home maybe take them out in a park or quit area and build up from there and the walk will be good for you.
Take that first step ...
love glynis x

 

Update July 12, 2018.

Couldn't sleep last night how loud Tinnitus was. It is a very high pitched dentist drill which is not maskable by anything, well the only thing that can mask it are the shower and a busy road. It cuts through everything and I noticed that I have to shout so I can hear my own voice better. I also ask people multiple times to repeat themselves as well for the same reason. Severe Hyperacusis is still present, people talking loudly, or me talking, objects clattering, etc causes extreme discomfort to my right ear. Dark eye floaters make it so hard to look at the blue sky because all I see are dark dots flying across my vision. I see them on walls, on the computer screen, while looking down at the sidewalk, etc. Visual Snow is hard to cope with. I only see it on dark surfaces but its mostly noticeable during the night. It looks like bad reception on tv. With Severe T and Visual Snow it takes some time to fall asleep. I usually sleep 4-5 per night with frequent interruptions of sleep during the night. Oh how I wish I can go back to December when I had just Mild T (Which was maskable) and no Severe H, Visual Snow, Dark eye floaters, Starbursts, etc.

 

RECAP

SEP 23 2017- Onset of Tinnitus L ear, Moderate Tinnitus for two weeks.
OCTOBER 2017-Mild T, with Mild Hyperacusis from overprotecting (2 weeks)
NOV 2017: Mild T
Dec 2017: Very Mild T
Jan 1-15-Very Mild T
Jan 15: Caloric Test/Vemp Test (100 db)
Jan 17: Fire alarm
Jan 16-21: Moderate T
Jan 21-Feb 4-Extreme T L ear, Mild T right ear
Feb 4: Severe T, Severe H, Mild H left ear,
March: Severe T, Severe H, Mild H left ear, Dark Eye floaters
April: Severe T, Severe H, Mild H left ear, Dark Eye Floaters
May: Severe T, Severe H, Mild H left ear, Dark Eye floaters
June: Severe T, Severe H, Mild H left ear, Dark Eye Floaters, Visual Snow
July: Severe T, Severe H, Mild H left ear, Dark Eye Floaters, Visual Snow
August:
September (1 year anniversary):
​

 

With all this going on ha e you seen a neurologist? If you are in the US I would suggest a visit to the Mayo clinic. My wife has nerve pain that 5 specialists couldn't diagnose which Mayo diagnosed in 10 minutes and confirmed with tests the next couple days