Hello everyone. I'm a 57 y/o male, just moved to Houston. When this hit me, I was just siting, watching TV. I thought it was wax build up, but after cleaning my ears, the ringing didn't go away. Went to my GP and he told me I had an ear infection. He gave me some antibiotics, but after I finished, the ring didn't go away. I started getting scared because the ring would be really loud and I was having trouble sleeping. Now, I do have a heart condition and I take aspirin, along with several other heart meds. My GP suggested I stop taking aspirin for 2 weeks and see if the ringing stopped. He also gave me Ambien for sleep.
Two weeks go by and the ringing doesn't stop. Also, the Ambien didn't work unless I took a high dose, 20-30 mg. I would sleep for maybe 4-5 hrs, and would wake with this loud ringing in my ear. A month goes by and the Ambien stopped working all together. At the time, I was living in rural Pennsylvania and I made an appointment with a local ENT, but couldn't get in until October. So I found an ENT in New York who could see right away and I made the two hour drive into Manhattan.
The Dr. was very nice, but couldn't offer much. She had me get an MRI of the Brain, which was normal. Also I got a hearing test which found some high frequency hearing loss. I don't notice any hearing loss. She said to stop all supplements and to stop eating salt. She also recommended I see an audiologist in my area. I had already planned on moving to Houston in Nov. anyway, so I thanked her for her time and came away, empty handed.
Now I begin to go through some real anxiety. Lack of sleep, the loud ringing, so I consulted Dr. Google, reading about tinnitus and getting no relief. I saw an audiologist and all he offered was $5000 sound generators. My GP offered Belsoma for sleep, but they didn't work. I told my wife I couldn't live this way, that I rather be deaf or dead. I was also turning into an insomiac. I really scared my family. After 4 days of no sleep, my wife took me to the ER. I was doped up with 10 mg of Valium and 50 mg of Seroquel. I was able to sleep for 7 hrs. My GP then prescribed me with 25 mg of Seroquel at bedtime and Valium whenever the Seroquel didn't put me out.
So far, the Seroquel has worked for me and I continue to take it for sleep. I take Lipoflavonoid, but I don't know if it really helps. I also take Melatonin, Lavender, drink sleepy tea, whatever natural stuff to help me sleep. I find that I can handle the tinnitus better when I'm rested. I also use phone apps of white noise when the ringing gets very loud. I wear ear phones with red noise at low volume when I sleep.
I saw an ENT here in Houston, but he refereed me to an Audiologist, who recommended Neuromonics. It's $5000, and I said no thanks. She believes the tinnitus was bought on by stress. I laughed it off. I am retired FDNY/EMS. I've gone through a lot of stress in my life from the job. I also went through a cancer scare because I, along with all the responders, was exposed to asbestos on 9/11. I have some lung damage and went through an oncology screen for a whole year. So I don't by the stress explanation.
Right now, I'm on my own, in a city I know nothing about. Are there any support groups available here. Anyone here who can offer something. I like reading the forum here and I do believe the tinnitus can get better. But I sure would like some face time with people going through this.
Thanks for reading my story.
Two weeks go by and the ringing doesn't stop. Also, the Ambien didn't work unless I took a high dose, 20-30 mg. I would sleep for maybe 4-5 hrs, and would wake with this loud ringing in my ear. A month goes by and the Ambien stopped working all together. At the time, I was living in rural Pennsylvania and I made an appointment with a local ENT, but couldn't get in until October. So I found an ENT in New York who could see right away and I made the two hour drive into Manhattan.
The Dr. was very nice, but couldn't offer much. She had me get an MRI of the Brain, which was normal. Also I got a hearing test which found some high frequency hearing loss. I don't notice any hearing loss. She said to stop all supplements and to stop eating salt. She also recommended I see an audiologist in my area. I had already planned on moving to Houston in Nov. anyway, so I thanked her for her time and came away, empty handed.
Now I begin to go through some real anxiety. Lack of sleep, the loud ringing, so I consulted Dr. Google, reading about tinnitus and getting no relief. I saw an audiologist and all he offered was $5000 sound generators. My GP offered Belsoma for sleep, but they didn't work. I told my wife I couldn't live this way, that I rather be deaf or dead. I was also turning into an insomiac. I really scared my family. After 4 days of no sleep, my wife took me to the ER. I was doped up with 10 mg of Valium and 50 mg of Seroquel. I was able to sleep for 7 hrs. My GP then prescribed me with 25 mg of Seroquel at bedtime and Valium whenever the Seroquel didn't put me out.
So far, the Seroquel has worked for me and I continue to take it for sleep. I take Lipoflavonoid, but I don't know if it really helps. I also take Melatonin, Lavender, drink sleepy tea, whatever natural stuff to help me sleep. I find that I can handle the tinnitus better when I'm rested. I also use phone apps of white noise when the ringing gets very loud. I wear ear phones with red noise at low volume when I sleep.
I saw an ENT here in Houston, but he refereed me to an Audiologist, who recommended Neuromonics. It's $5000, and I said no thanks. She believes the tinnitus was bought on by stress. I laughed it off. I am retired FDNY/EMS. I've gone through a lot of stress in my life from the job. I also went through a cancer scare because I, along with all the responders, was exposed to asbestos on 9/11. I have some lung damage and went through an oncology screen for a whole year. So I don't by the stress explanation.
Right now, I'm on my own, in a city I know nothing about. Are there any support groups available here. Anyone here who can offer something. I like reading the forum here and I do believe the tinnitus can get better. But I sure would like some face time with people going through this.
Thanks for reading my story.
