New LOUD Tinnitus

Hello,

I have been looking around forums a lot recently but have now been to a specialist (who wasn't very helpful) so thought I'd make a post.

On Friday 5th December, I attended a gig which was very loud. After the gig, My ear felt full and muffled, I thought nothing of it as it is common after concerts. I spent the weekend in London but didn't really pay attention to it as there's lots of loud background noise. Over the past week, it has got no better, if anything it has got worse. I really can't imagine living with this, I keep getting full of suicidal thoughts as it feels like my life has been taken away from me, It's only my left ear and I had been suffering from a chest/throat/sinus infection so had been taking antibiotics.

Over the past weekend, the noise seemed to be far quieter, but then on Sunday night it suddenly got very loud, far louder than I could cope with, meaning I got NO sleep and had to take the day off work. I went to the specialist today and he didn't really say a lot.

My hearing is perfect, there's been no hearing loss at all. I have been prescribed PREDNISOLONE steroids for 9 days. Are these effective? Any side effects or experiences? Just really paranoid about things getting worse, although I understand anxiety is a major factor.

What are the chances of my tinnitus ever going away? Bearing in mind it's noise induced and it's been 10 days? Some friends mention there's went after 3 weeks! But mine seems overly loud, I can't sleep at all, even with sleeping pills. I also read that it's not chronic until the 6 month stage.

My other concern is that my social life will have gone now. I enjoy going to football matches, will I need to wear ear plugs? I understand I won't be able to go clubbing and to concerts any more, but what about the cinema etc? Will ear plugs be my saviour from now on, and if so which ones do people recommend?

It probably varies a lot depending on the person, but what foods and drinks shall I avoid? Will alcohol be a thing of the past now?

Are there any experimental trails which I can enrol on? Or any planned for the near future? I read about AM-101 but I guess it's too late for that?

Is there anything else I can try to get trough this, such as any treatments?

I am only young, 22 years old, and it feels like my life has been ruined completely through one mistake of not wearing ear plugs. I keep getting really down and feeling like I want to take my life, but I couldn't leave my girlfriend who is the most important person in the world. I'm worried about my job too, I'm scared that I won't be able to cope after doing so well and earning promotions. I just can't imagine living with this or habituating to it as it's far too loud.

Thanks.

 

Hearing thresholds usually come back within the normal range for most 22-year-olds. The muffled hearing you describe was a temporary threshold shift; had your hearing been tested during that phase, then you would have seen a difference on your audiogram (vs. the one you just had).

Right after onset (=24/48 hours) of tinnitus from acoustic trauma and with associated hearing loss, steriods have some chance of reducing the severity of tinnitus.

There are side-effects, but a short course of steroids is considered to have a good safety profile.

Eat and drink what you like; some people find their tinnitus affected by certain foods and/or alcohol, but it does not have to be the case...

I believe Auris Medical is still recruiting - this is the latest information from their recent financial statement:

Clinical trial information: www.tinnitus-study.info

There is no such thing as chronic tinnitus. Either tinnitus goes away or it does not.

In my (personal) opinion for example, tinnitus is a cause for concern already 48 hours after onset, and a "real worry" if it persists beyond one week - not because it cannot go away (later on), but simply because there is a chance that it may not. That's how I see it.

Explore all options in the early stages (as you are doing). Protect your ears on a daily basis (whenever things get loud); hopefully you will see a gradual improvement.

My suggestion.

 

@geg1992 ...From your post I'm not quite sure if you have tinnitus, as you say: My ear felt full and muffled, then follow that a but later with: Over the past weekend, the noise seemed to be far quieter, but then on Sunday night it suddenly got very loud, far louder than I could cope with,...then you ask about if tinnitus ever goes away.
Muffled (and what I suspect may be a possible "bruised" feeling), and Tinnitus are not really the same thing. Though the former can certainly lead to the latter!!! So my advice is to be very careful right now - and maybe well into the future, regarding sound/loud sound situations.

ATEOS has given good advice above, though I'm afraid you are just going to have to become "educated" somewhat to your new condition, as indeed you have many questions and concerns for the future. TT is a great place to get that education. It will take time, and it will take effort. Your hearing is in your hands. If you get 'hit' once I think it is easier to get 'hit' again, as some people seem to have a staggering ability for sound abuse and never have a problem - others pay dearly. By the way, don't worry initially if you feel you are getting a bit "obsessed" by learning about tinnitus and wondering about it. That's normal and actually a better idea than ignoring it and pretending it is not there then getting even more damage. (Read Telis's story for example).

OK...for anyone. One of my "things" here! Note what @geg1992 reported:

1. On Friday 5th December, I attended a gig which was very loud. After the gig, My ear felt full and muffled, I thought nothing of it as it is common after concerts.
2. ...and I had been suffering from a chest/throat/sinus infection so had been taking antibiotics.

My old caution! 1 + 2 = 3
Loud sound PLUS drugs/medications (even if not killer otototxic) are more dangerous in combination,IMHO!
Geg, it would be interesting to know if you were taking an aminoglycoside antibiotic for instance. Do you recall the name or have the prescription bottle still?

Good luck, and sorry your specialist did not "say a lot" (like - maybe keep away from loud concerts???) but at least was aware of the prednisone/prednisolone connection...may be a bit late, but best to try!

Best, Zimichael

 

There is absolutely a chance that your tinnitus will resolve (get quieter, go away, or not bother you). However, it may take a while (months or a year+), so it's probably best to learn to cope with it in the short run while you wait for your nervous system to adjust. The 2 keys are:
- Masking sounds (critical for immediate relief, reduce fixating, help with sleeping)
- Sleep meds (ie Lunesta, Trazaone, etc. - see you primary care doctor for recommendations). Getting your sleep under control should be your primary objective after you have got your hands on the devices and sounds needed to mask. Ween off the meds when you are comfortable doing so.

Tips for masking - listen to an mp3 player to distract your attention. I find it's best to do so 24/7 if necessary to avoid fixating on the sound if needed. I find real recordings of crickets to mask the sound and be the least annoying of after hours of listening. Also, numerous apps on your smart phone can make this easier. In particular, I find on Android Player Pro (has eq and can play over other apps) and the White Noise (has balance, fader, pitch, blend, and can play over other apps) apps are very helpful. These apps can blend sounds over phone calls and music. If you are clever enough there are good recording on YouTube that can be found and used. AllMyTube by Wondershare is a great utility.

Emotion management - Focus on a future where you are not bothered by tinnitus - it will be here. In the short run you will have good days and bad days. They are really not an indicator for what's to come tomorrow. Be proud of your good days and give yourself a break on your bad days. The good days will begin to occur more and more.

Blame - I'm a musician that has always used ear plugs (for 30+ years) Then, I have them off on a show that was supposed to be quiet and a new drummer starts pounding away on loud cymbals. I put in earplugs but it was too late. My point - even if we are careful things happen. But, people make much bigger mistakes as well and losing your head over it is wasted brain power - redirect to recognize that your discomfort is relatively temporary - especially at your young age. You will surely be over this at some point and will enjoy your life without tinnitus bringing you down. My guess is that it will go away or a treatment will be discovered - just not right away.

Music - I still play with my band but I now use a pricey in-ear monitor system that blocks out the external sound and allows me to hear at a comfortable level regardless of the volume levels. I do so whenever there is a drummer or PA involved. I still hear the tinnitus but I'm not going to let it rule my life in the short run.

Keep your head up the best you can as this to shall pass. You have the benefit of entering an era of highly advanced and ever improving technology and science - that is if you need it as your nervous system may just take care of itself. After 2.5 months of no improvement of loud tinnitus in both ears and head my right ear has cleared up for 2 weeks now. So, don't underestimate you nervous systems ability to resolve things.

The Internet - is a double edge sword - lots of good and important information but a collector of largely negative and/or misinformation. So, be careful not to get caught up in what you read. Take the helpful hints and go back to having fun in spite of your tinnitus. I promise it can be done

 

This sounds EXACTLY like me at 22 years old. Looking back, my friends who urged me on to loud places was the worst thing in my life. I'm 56. I've learned to deal with spikes and be cautious of medicines and loud sounds. I learned that high volume is the enemy. People can talk about food and vitamins etc... but here we are with fragile ears living in a loud world. Loud music is the enemy. I think you'll learn to cope. If you have serious thoughts of self harm, it's in your interest, and your girlfriend's to seek a professional to talk to. They're out there in your town. And what you describe in your head is actually typical and 'normal' for someone who's been to a loud gig and has a respiratory infection. Since you asked, Steroids and antibiotics can be both good and bad for T. I have a feeling you'll be reporting back to us with positive news soon. Good luck !!