New here. First started experiencing tinnitus in later Nov. - early Dec 2013. Need advice.

Hello,

I'm 26. I first started noticing my tinnitus late Nov. early Dec. and it was mildly in my right ear. Since then it has become higher in pitch and moved more so to my left ear with the intensity of the right ear, which was originally the only one, declining.

I am an audiophile and frequently listen to my headphones. However, I do not listen to them loud or listen to a lot of bass heavy music. Honestly, I mostly listen to podcasts and people talking. Also, since noticing the tinnitus in December, I have quit listening to music almost entirely.

I do not have insurance at the moment and am tempted to sign up for Obamacare or just shell out the cash to see an ENT without one. I am afraid of doing such a large investment just to have somebody tell me "you have tinnitus there is nothing we can do."

I am getting very concerned and my tinnitus is stranger than most described cases as it changes ears, pitch, and volume. I work very far away from home (nearly full-time, not enough to get insurance) and I have to drink a large amount of caffeine to maintain this lifestyle. I would say some days I drink the equivilent of 10-15 cups of coffee.

Please help.

 

Hi ajp120, welcome to the forum. Hard to say what you should go, it's just been a month since you got t, and it may go away if you do the right things.......protect it from further damage by keeping away from loud noises...don't wear ear phones....sometimes it causes moisture to build up and then infection. Take the right supplements. Read through other posts in this forum so you know more about it.

I don't drink caffeine ,soda anymore. Avoid alcohol, try eat healthy, avoid salt.

 

Welcome to TT ajp120!! (Although I wish you were not battling tinnitus, and therefore didn't need to be here!). but since you are, Welcome! TT is a fantastic resource for support & information. I have just recently joined and it has helped me immensely!!

Initially I saw 4 different ENT's, because I couldn't accept the "there's nothing we can do for you" (except take your $$$!) BUT, you may want to see at least one good ENT just to rule out the small possibility they can help. They also might be able to refer you to specialist (like an audiologist, etc..). But, again, more $$!

As you are experiencing, and may have researched, the first few months of having T are the worst!! But you will begin to learn to live with it. Being on this site will certainly help! Try to ditch the caffeine, exercise, try breathing exercises, focus on what does bring you joy in your life (I know it's hard right now!!) and focus on that! Explore the "Treatments and "Alternative Treatment" sections of TT and consider some of the treatments and therapies discussed there.

Don't lose hope! I have had severe chronic T since Oct 1 2012, I went through the darkest of times and have emerged on the other side! My T is still there but my life is WAY better! It can and will happen for you too!!

 

I dont think, your T is noise induced. You wrote, you didnt listen music or sound loud. Maybe you just drink a lot of coffee. Try lowering dosage of coffee - from 10-15 cups to 3-5 cups. I drink 3-4 cups of coffee daily and my T is the same, but 10-15 cups, i believe, it may make T louder. But probably too much coffee is not the main problem. Hmm... hard to say. Maybe some ear infection.

 

Wow, thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

Yeah, I did consider myself an audiophile but I didn't really listen to music very loud, but I guess what I consider loud might not have been what my ears considered. What really makes me think it might not be noise induced it that I have not listened to my headphones since Nov. and my tinnitus still has a dynamic life of its own...as if something is affecting it. Hope I made sense of that.

Anyways, I am on a tight budget and most ENT options will cost $$$ and if I get on Obamacare the plan may not begin for several months where it may go away by treating myself better and then I'm stuck on a plan don't really want. But I guess conversely, you can't never be to cheap or cautious with your own health.

I have started taking Ginko Biloba. I don't know that it has helped my T, but I actually think it has helped my memory. I don't know that it is placebo since I never really consciously took it for that purpose.


I'll keep everyone updated. Hope your T collectively heals as well as mine,
-ajp

 

Hello You said that you drink a lot of coffee, so that probably could trigger it, also constantly being tired. Maybe try reducing the amount of coffee consumed. Also, maybe some lifestyle changes would help (so that you wouldnt have to travel so much and be tired all the time). Im not saying that it will work a 100% but since no one knows what excactly causes tinnitus and the causes vary from individual to individual, maybe it forth a try Probably you should try to do it slowly,eg. start reducing the amount little by little. Maybe you could try herbal teas instead.

 

Hi ajp120,

Welcome to the forum. I even recently developed T in December. I still don't know the reason. My condition is quite similar as yours - I listen to music sometimes, drink coffee.

I also read that there is a link between hypertension and tinnitus. So, try to be calm. Yesterday, I was stressed and working late night on PC, today I noticed that my T sound is louder than other days.

@Stina, any improvement after medication ?

 

I developed an allergic reaction ( avery strange one) to Xanax so my doc switched to another one. Unfortunately ive taken only 1 pill so far so i will see

 

allergic to Xanax ? what kind of symptoms you had ?

 

I developed a strange rash on my back. It is not listed in the known side effects and my doctor said she has never seen that in any patient. However after I stopped using it the allergy went away in 3 days so I suppose it is just me who is allergic to it.

 

Stina, glad to hear it went away! I hope what ever your doc switched you to will help!!

 

Has yours gotten better?

 

I recovered from my spike last week, thanks! That was no fun, but moving on now! Really doing a lot of research and considering new therapies, while also just sticking to the basics (low stress, exercise, good diet, breathing, etc..). Thanks for asking!!

 

Now there is a "swirling tinnitus" sound that wasn't there before. My tinnitus is so dynamic and changing that I am really starting to doubt it was audio damage from headphones since I quit listening to headphones in November.

At first is was only in my right ear and very strong, then in both ears, then stronger in left but in both, now its almost only ringing in my left but with swirling sounds in both.

Should I see an ENT? (who will refer me to another person who will send stuff off to another lab and ultimately result in paying 3-4 different people). I am relatively broke, but at the same time I am becoming very concerned.

 

apj120, does it seem to mimic your heartbeat?? Swirling like "swishing"?? Maybe Pulsatile Tinnitus. I do not have that, but many here on TT do. There is even a section on the main page for that, check it out. I believe Stina and Karen both battle with PT.

 

Go here:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/#pulsatile-tinnitus.48

 

That link just brought me to the forum menu

 

If you look in the middle of the page you'll see the "Pulsatile Tinnitus" section

 

Just got home form work and oddly the Tinnitus sound has changed again. There is no swirling, but its very very high pitches with occasional pings that sound like needles poking metal or glass pieces touching ....

 

my tinnitus, when i pay it attention, changes so often! you'll be more in tune with the "differences" for the first few months you have it. i hope you start to ease your mind about it. it takes time, but we're all here for one another!