New to Tinnitus, Need Help

I'm going to ask my questions first in case no one wants to read my book that will be underneath. So here they are:

How do I continue on when this is in my ear or mind 24/7 and I know it is permanent so it won't go away and will likely get worse?

Also, how can I enjoy time with my family? They are what is most important to me.

Is habituation real, or a myth like I expect, but if it is real does it mean I only hear it when I think about it?

This is my first real week of T, although I believe I may have had it for a long time but it just didn't bother me. Now, however, I am an anxious wreck.

My ring sounds like either a low cricket or just a white noise in quieter environments. Loud noises shut it out, but not noises as simple as the tv.

This all started after I went to a NASCAR race and of course I didn't wear ear protection. I went to my doctor 2 days after and he said it would be gone by Sunday, but it is now Friday and it isn't improving.

I don't know, but I am just so dejected. Any responses I get would be lovely. Thanks.

 

There's a good chance it's going to fade with time.
Good luck!

 

Really? Is that common? Has it for you?

 

No, but I'm in a minority...
...and also I have a disease that is actively eating my hearing, so it's not comparable to an acoustic trauma.

 

@Crook24 not trying to provide false hope but my first bout of prolonged ringing (tinnitus) occured after I went to a very loud function with no protection. It did eventually go away. I read a study here that 70% of cases tend to spontaneously dissipate!

So wishing you good luck friend

Cheers!

 

That is good! Thank you! But, may I ask, how did it come again, and when did it dissipate for you as in how long? And if I may trouble you, where can I find this study?

 

@Crook24

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/spontaneous-recovery-stats-over-70-recover-3-studies.21441/

Current bout is from medication. I'm praying it disappears once my body metabolizes all of it out of system.

Original bout occurred around 4 days before I noticed it fade. You have to remember this forum likely attracts more long term sufferers so just try and believe in yourself and your doctor.

But I also honestly recommend preparing for the worst. I believe in habitualization, I accidentally manage to do it quite a bit, this won't keep you down!

 

What is the worst? Thank you.

 

Well the possibility that it dosnt go away, hope I don't scare you!

 

My auditory system went completely berserk this summer, and has sort of settled down a bit although most days I hear it all day ranging from mild to moderate+. I'm new to this also, think I may have had it longer as well without knowing it, and naturally I'm very concerned. One thing that I try to remember is that there are literally tens of millions of people in the United States alone with chronic tinnitus, the vast majority of whom seem to be doing fine and living normally, which makes it seem very unlikely that habituation is a myth. In your case, it's not only possible, but probable, that you will recover and not even have to go there. Good luck, and hang in there.

 

Even if it won't go away, it will most likely fade (or the pitch might change and become more bearable). If it already sounds like white noise (after less than a month), it is a good news, as this is easier to ignore compared to a high pitch tone.

Thank you for sharing! How long did it take to go away, in your case? Did the stage where you could hear it only in quiet rooms last a long time?

 

You might want to protect your ears and not expose yourself to moderately loud noises like that of a vacuum cleaner or a blender. I would definitely do this for at least 6 months after onset.

 

HI @Crook24.

Many things can cause tinnitus the most common is exposure to loud noise. Although tinnitus is a common condition it comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. Tinnitus caused by loud noise exposure is also different when it has been caused by a medical problem that is associated with the inner ear. In many cases it is easier to treat and can reduce quite significantly in some cases going away completely.

Please click on the links below and read my articles on tinnitus that you might find helpful. Try to read them I full and not skim through them. I strongly advise you not to use headphones even at low volume at least for a while. However, if I were you I would never use them again.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-questions-answers.22937/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-answers.22554/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/from-darkness-into-light.22234/

 

Well, it has actually been worse today, the 6th day. It's has been a ring or cricket like noise that needs a loud noise to mask. It is only in my left ear. So, I don't see how things are going to get better. How do you all cope? Obviously, I am very anxious and depressed.

 

One last question, how do sinuses affect tinnitus? I know it's not the cause, as loud noise was, but what affect could stuffy sinuses cause.

 

You've only had your T for a couple of weeks. Way to early to think it is permanent. It will takes months for it to fade. I'm 11 months in from a loud concert and I'm 80% faded.
The good news is it will most likely fade away, the bad news it is will most likely take 6-12 months for you to see significant improvement, and up to 2 years to fully fade to zero.
Protect your ears from loud noise with earplugs for the next 8 months or so, (and for the rest of your life if you don't want to go thru this again!)
it take time, time, and then more time

 

@jjflyman hey thank! Is that possible? Not saying I don't believe you, but is their somewhere I can read this? It would make me feel a lot better. Is yours in only one ear?

 

That is normal for it to get worse for the first week or so.
IMO you will be fine, but it will take a long time

 

I've been thru T 2 times, once 12 years ago from VERY loud power equipment for an hour. My ears hurt and were piercing loud. It took 18 months, but they faded to ZERO. I'm in my second bout now, and it's faded 80% so far (11-12 months)
Actually, noise induced T almost always resolves itself within 1-2 years.
See this page:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/panic/
The second paragraph talks about it most likely fading away.

 

Can you provide a link from a reliable source that shows evidence of this? Everywhere I read says after 6 mo the, spontaneous recovery is unlikely.

 

Back when I spent a lot of time learning about T, I saw multiple sources mentioning that "2 years" rule of thumb. I am having trouble finding those sources, but a quick search resulted in
https://www.ncrar.research.va.gov/Education/Documents/TinnitusDocuments/01_HenryPTM-HB_1-10.pdf
"A general guideline is that tinnitus of at least 12 months duration has a high likelihood of being a permanent condition (Dobie, 2004b). However, it also has been suggested that a person must have experienced tinnitus for at least two years before it should be considered permanent (Vernon, 1996)."
Link to Dobie 2004: https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en...AfBTNxz1AY#v=onepage&q=dobie tinnitus&f=false

"Six months" is just a time interval that insurance companies use to classify a condition as being chronic. It has no medical basis.

Many members of this forum state that the first time they got tinnitus, they eventually got to hear silence after 12-18 months. This is evidence contradicting the statement above from that Dobbie 2004 study.