New Member Seeking Information to Help Support Partner

[Rose&lillies]

I'm here not as a tinnitus suffer myself, but to gain information on how I can be a better source of support to my partner who suffers terribly from pulsitile tinnitus. I hope to gain a better understanding of what he deals with on a daily basis. What I need to do or say to help him in off the ledge when he is depressed, anxious, in pain, can't sleep and talks of suicide, sadly often and in detail.

I commend all of you who suffer from this debilitating condition. The courage and strength you show when facing an ailment that many people do not understand with to my understanding has no cure in sight at the present moment.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful support network and I look forward to learning as much as I can.
Thank you

 

[Karen]

Hi, @Rose&lillies ,

Welcome to Tinnitus Talk! I commend you for coming here to learn more about tinnitus, and for wanting to be a source of comfort and support to your partner.

Pulsatile tinnitus can be very challenging to live with, and to deal with on a day-to-day basis. I know, because I have pulsatile tinnitus myself. I've had it for 7 years, ever since taking a blood pressure drug for the first time. Your partner is probably experiencing what I felt when my PT first started; I was depressed, overwhelmed, and frightened. It took me a long time to get to where I could function normally again, and to accept the condition for what it is, and move forward with life.

What you can do to help him most is to listen, to be compassionate and understanding, and comforting as well. It would also be a good idea to learn as much about this condition as possible. You can research it online, and you might also want to check out Whooshers.com, if you haven't done so already. There, you will find a lot of information and resources for people with PT, as well as success stories and other information.

You can also suggest to your partner that he should consider going to a doctor or specialist to get checked out, just to be sure it is not a fixable problem. If the cause can be identified, many times people have been cured, or at least helped, by medical intervention

Some things that have helped me cope with PT are exercise (keeping one's blood pressure as low as possible), following a good diet, and getting plenty of sleep at night. The sleep problems took time for me to work out, but I finally learned how to tune out the noise in my right ear by lying on the opposite side. I also take various supplements that help, such as a daily vitamin pill, magnesium glycinate, fish oil, and NAC (N-acetylcistene). He should experiment, and find some supplements that work for him. Some PT sufferers benefit from taking antidepressant drugs, but I preferred to take the more natural route.

Another thing he could do would be to try out a hearing aid. For some, hearing aids work to help block the tinnitus sound with white noise in the affected ear. He could try a 30-day free trial, to see if this might work for him.

I'm sure others will have additional suggestions for you. Again, thanks for caring and for wanting to learn more about this condition!

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[Rose&lillies]

Hi Karen,

Thank you so much for taking the time to wright me such an informative and in depth reply, outlining not only your own personal struggle with PT, but your offerings of suggestions. They are greatly appreciated.

I will be sure to take on board and adopt your helpful strategies and advice so I may be able to hopefully, in some way, be a comfort to my partner, as he does suffer terribly.

He has tried everything, and I mean everything that is available. We do not give up hope that we will be able to find a way for him to not only manage, lessen his condition. And we never give up hope that he will again live a full life where he doesn't suffer so terribly.

Sincerely and Best Wishes
Rose&Lillies

 

[billie48]

Welcome to the forum. You are a wonderful partner to your other half. Karen has offered you wonderful info and experience dealing with PT. Since a big part of our suffering for T is mental, I think your partner can benefit by reading success stories here on TT where one can find hope and many helpful strategies. I shared many helpful coping strategies on my success story. Perhaps ask your partner to read this.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...w-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/