New to Tinnitus / 5 Weeks In

Hello Everyone, My name is Natalie and I am 22 years old. I've just recently gotten mild tinnitus about 5 weeks ago. The sounds are a hissing/White Noise. It was very troublesome in the beginning as I also do suffer from Depression and Anxiety, and anyone with anxiety can tell you that it makes it even harder to get over as I am a worrier of my health already. Even though it is mild I think the reason for me being so worried is because it has been one of my deepest worries come true. I am a musician and I used to listen to music a lot, but at a reasonable volume because I was always worries about losing my hearing, developing tinnitus and not being able to enjoy my passion ever again. So as you can imagine this has hit me very hard, and i find myself depressed because of it. I have not listen to music in the same way, and I keep everything at low volume, except for my mother who is a loud talker with her TV nearly blasted. I spoke to her about my concern and she listens sometimes but just doesn't understand it.

As for causes, I had went just a week before I got it to a restaurant/bar/club that was not as loud, but as the day progressed the dj would increase the volume, constantly turning it up and down. But my ear didn't have any reaction to it. It didn't feel full or muffled or rang. Afterward, my mother is loud, I was sitting next to her in a car and she was constantly yelling and irritating my ears. But still no muffled feeling/no ringing. I went to sleep and was fine.

Now because of my depression and anxiety I take and antidepressant for it and a med for sleeping. The sleeping med I have been taking for 4 years now so I don't think of it has a problem or cause for this. However, after stopping the antidepressant for about three months without weaning off, and then retaking it after I went to that restaurant. I noticed as always when I would restart the antidepressant, the anxiety and depression would come on strong the first week and then I would start to feel better. But then one day I was sleeping and woke up in a panic anxiety because I was hearing the hissing and white noise. I thought maybe it was because the antidepressant was messing with my brain chemistry was trying to adjust in my system so the noise would maybe go away soon, but From there it never went away and is there all the time. However I have noticed it is quieter when waking up.

Another cause I think maybe is a head injury two years before or my TMD but I don't experience any pain. Or maybe even my Thyroid issue. I was at a TSH 7.1 a couple months ago, but now at a 4.9 near a 4.5 which is considered normal. But I still experience symptoms of hypo.

What Have I done about it? Well, I've went to my doctor and she said I don't need to take meds for my thyroid and will check again in three months. Now, I went to a ENT doctor. She said my hearing is fine/normal, except my left ear is a bit better than my left. I can hear very well so I don't think I have much hearing lost at higher frequencies, but I will find out. She only said if it doesn't go away to go back to her. I have an appointment with a TMD specialist but thats not until august, I'll try to get an earlier appointment. I also spoke to my psychiatrist and did my own research and there seems to be no correlation between the antidepressant Zoloft and tinnitus. I spoke to another experienced psych and he said the same. "Its not known to be a cause" But my psych did say he had tinnitus, a beep in ears for a couple of years that went away.

What do I notice? my ears are slightly reactive to music so I try not to listen at all. But, I don't know if its just me being conscious of it or if it is. I did go to Dorney Park and seemed to be fine, no raise in volume. but I had earplugs on the whole time.

How have I been dealing with it? I live in the city, New York city, and its not until you get tinnitus or a problem with your ear that you realize the city is so damn LOUD. So I wear earplugs and headphones on the train and just the headphones when walking the street. At home only when my mother is home I put the headphones on sometimes but when she's not, I let my ears breathe. I don't know if thats what I should be doing, or not, please let me know. I've just been so protective of them. This board definitely helped me a lot. Thank you guys. I have been feeling better lately. My sleep isn't affected, I can still sleep well and I have adjusted to the noise, I am just trying to figure out its causes even though I know sometimes there isn't one. All I can say know is that I am afraid it will get worse and that's keeping me from enjoying music again, from enjoying school, (i'm in film school), and just being around normal situations in general.

 

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you have some element of hyperacusis which happens to many people after they develop tinnitus. At least that happened to me a few years back. Everything sounded so loud, even normal sounds, that I had to protect my ears with earplugs. But forum members advised me to use prudence in doing so. Too much protection can lead to sound sensitivity. So reluctantly the earplugs were coming off for the normal sounds. Within the year, my hyperacusis slowly faded away. So hopefully yours will be a temporary one too. Try not to use the headphones for normal sounds or don't over protect it. Also keep the volume low and below that of your T. Our notable member here @Michael Leigh is well informed on the use of headphones so perhaps he can advise you better on it. Try to keep calm and relax as much as you can about the situation, as stress and anxiety are bad for your T. Try not project the future that things will get worse. I made that mistake back then and suffered a lot needlessly, because today I live a normal, productive and absolutely enjoyable life, much different than what I was worrying about back then. Take good care. God bless.

 

A number of people had reported that as their T would start improving, they would start hearing hissing instead of a high-pitch tone. Hopefully you didn't hurt your ears as much as those people (as you are starting at a point that it took them months to get to). I think there is a good chance that you will get a lot better in the next 2-5 months.

 

I most definitely feel for you and understand your situation. You are young and have tinnitus. I too was young when I got tinnitus and It's hard to balance things out. You already know that protecting your ears is the most important thing that you should be doing. I will say this as well, don't over-stress yourself either, that doesn't help with the tinnitus and it could bother you more.

I carry a DB meter on my iphone and check my environments and see how loud they are, if they are loud and damaging i wear my ear plugs. Remain strong and enjoy your life

 

Thanks so much. I do have a db meter on my phone. And i have been checking certain enviroments. I also have made some changes health wise. I now say when it comes to music nothing physical in this world is worth my sanity. But im sure later on ill get back to music. Im just cautious
now and adjusting. And i needed a break, honestly

 

Yeah i havent heard a high pitched sound since it started. And i feel it is getting better, just extremely slowly.

 

Hmm, i had thought about hyperacusis but didnt think i fit the criteria. But this slight sensivity may be something. Thanks for writing me.

 

The word "slowly" doesn't begin to convey how slow it can be. Don't think "weeks" - think "months."

 

Will do, thanks!

 

Good to hear it's getting better. I too got spontaneous tinnitus 1 yr ago, but mine never went away. I wish you all the best with your recovery, recovery or not, either way, try taking zinc and anti oxidants before any exposure to loud events (being a musician). They are glutamate antagonists and can help prevent further damage, speaking from my own personal experience.

Best wishes.

 

Thanks so much. Yeah, I was thinking about supplements but not sure how to go about it.

 

Visit my anxiety thread for techniques on dealing with the anxiety thats worrying you so much. Ive been where you are. I find im getting better everyday.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...om-anxiety-tinnitus-associated-anxiety.22257/

Just a girl trying to help. Thanks for reading.