On My Way to Recovery from Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

@Vassili
@ Tara Lyons

Vassili, I have the same question as Tara Lyons regarding hyperacusis.

What did you do in the early months when you were having a lot of ear/head burning & pain?

What are you doing now?

Thanks a bunch!

 

I do nothing special to cure it. I'm just waiting for it to go away completely. For me it's almost gone but some level of unpleasant sensitivity is still present. Symptoms fluctuate a lot.

 

@Vassili ok, thanks I’m sick of my ears always feeling so weird!

I know it requires patience.

 

You will make it through. You see, we selfish people often like everything to happen over night. But life does not work this way...

 

Sometimes I took Ibuprofen 600 mg to ease the pain and go to sleep. That's it. Basically I just waited for it to go away

 

@Vassili so so true!

 

I forgot how wonderful it is to live without a headache. I can already tolerate tinnitus but headache... I feel that I can't think properly... my mind is numb... Plus tongue started burning lately. If I will make it I'm not going to return to music. Those days are over.

 

Hello @Vassili

Tongue burning... Lingual nerve???
Have you had any dental work completed recently?

 

No, no dental work but thank God this symptom does not bother me anymore. I had it for almost 2 days.

 

@Vassili

Glad to hear tongue is better.

I'm still having ear and head burning. I can't: work, drive, shop, shower, watch tv or listen to anything.
People's voices are still too loud even with double hearing protection.

I'm not overprotecting in the house aside from the tea kettle, microwave, washer and dryer.

How was your sound tolerance the first few months when you had pain 24/7? Were you this immobilized?

I don't know how much longer I can tolerate this life.

 

Hello, Linda!

My sound tolerance was awful. It was a very tough time for me. First 3-4 months I basically sat at home. I started working from home (plus we had a lockdown order at the office so it wasn't a thing that I had to ask for). I sat at home and only went to a mall to buy some food and sometimes went for a walk. It was a time when everything was unpleasant for me no matter where I was at the moment, at home or outside or wherever elsewhere.

 

I also have this burning ears sensation, they also can become itchy.
My ENT suggested taking Alpha-lipoic acid, this reduces inflammation.
I remember him saying this was also prescribed for people that have a burning tongue.
It has been about a year since I had this burning sensation again, but now about a week I've had a spike so I started taking it again as of today.

 

Hello, @Midas!

Do you still have tinnitus and hyperacusis or have you recovered a long time ago?

 

@Vassili
How are you doing these days?

I'm now 2 months in and although I've seen improvement I still struggle daily with weird ear symptoms. Worst is a feeling of sensitivity in my ear and jaw pain.

Burning came back but has since subsided. Weird tingle has gone for now.

Shaun.

 

I am doing OK. All my symptoms became mild enough to live and not think about them much. I can get through the day and not think about my condition till evening. In the evening it usually gets slightly worse but not that critical to make me panic. I think I still have a long way to go but something tells me that next Summer I will be fine.

In my case first 6-7 months were absolute HELL. Then things started to change.

Hold on, Shaun. Only time heals this thing.

 

Thanks @Vassili. That's what I'm holding out for. Just to be able to go through the day and not think about it would be amazing.

I'm only 2 months in so think I'm been too impatient. Over the month I've seen upward trending results. Day to day I don't notice a change.

Shaun.

 

@Vassili I'm so scared and feel so alone. What if this noise doesn’t stop. I miss silence.

 

Try not to think about it. Just ignore this negative thought.

 

To Junior and to Us becoming Boss of our thoughts...

The Sopranos Legendary Scene, Junior Becomes...

 

@Vassili ...No doubt, the mind is truly where the battle is. Had as spike back in December, the first six months was pretty rough, but right around month 7 & 8, things got a bit better, still hear it, but doesn't create as much panic. Now if I can get my ETD taken care of in right ear, things would be pretty okay. Oh well, just another thing to overcome.

Stay strong everyone!

 

Hi @Eloy Resendez Jr,

I totally agree with you. I had a major spike a few months ago. I literally went from a 1.5/10 to a 7 perhaps 8/10. Nothing masked it.

I spent a good few days feeling as stressed and down as I could possibly feel, but then I decided to just carry on as I was before the spike.

Of course it was an ultimate struggle, but after a few weeks I noticed the sound started to subside.

However, it never truly came back to baseline. And I still struggle with the new volume more than the original - though I'm sure it will become easier again.

We just have to keep going people. Like many others have said, it will get easier.

Also Eloy, I've tried to private message you but I can't for some reason.


Steph

 

@ShaunR

Hi Shaun,

Your only two months in, PLEASE give it time. I was a suicidal basket case (still am, but not as bad) when this started. I’m extremely type A, perfectionist. Etc. when this started, I lost my shit. I’ve noticed improvements at 7 months in. Stay the F away from loud noise whatever you do. This is a nightmare. Truly is. But time is of essence here. You will see changes. Every day I wake up and I’m like... “another day of this.” But every day the noise seems to be somewhat improving. We all just have to hang in there.

 

@Tara Lyons

Thank you for your kind words

My hyperacusis progress seems to have ground to a halt this week. Thankfully burning ears hasn't returned, however face pain and jaw ache are 24/7. Also ear fullness.

I know you're right about time. I'm so impatient and want it gone yesterday but I know that's not realistic. Like you I'm a perfectionist. I'm also OCD so beyond obsessed over my ear.

I hope you continue healing

Shaun.

 

Oh yea I had pain hyperacusis. I got pain in my ears from sitting at a table with my aunts talking. Their voices were hurting my ears and I didn’t have plugs and I stayed and continue to be around noise that was hurting my ears. I left when I got physical pain. Also got a shock like pain after turning off my TV in April and was on the floor crying. But none of that has happened since so that must be an improvement.

I want it gone too. I would give every dollar away in my savings account to have this gone. Seriously. Every. Single. Dollar. And mine isn’t even intrusive. It’s just f’ing awful, disgusting, and I’m not sure how this exists.

 

Sometimes my tinnitus turns into a quiet warm hiss. If only it could always be like that. I would have considered it as silence. As for now... evenings are the worst. Feels like a school bell is in my ear.

 

@Vassili it's so maddening. Mine has turned to a low buzzing sound but I’m so sick of hearing noises in my ears. I know some people have it FAR FAR worse - I’m aware - but mentally I can’t handle this! I loved silence, I am naturally a quiet person so this has been SUPED hard. The depression that has overcome me since this happened is unreal. I just need to get back to normal. I hope you do too. And all of us.

 

@Vassili what does it sound like when you wear ear plugs? Mine is just a sensation of diff noises but it doesn’t seem too loud anymore. A lot of different tones.

 

Static noise with quiet electric buzz. Sometimes a tone for a few seconds. In the evening gets worse. Sounds like a school bell (right ear).

I am really happy for you getting better.

 

@Vassili it is hard to tell if I’m getting better because the noise is literally nonstop! It’s so crazy. Like it never ever stops.

 

I would have been happy to experience any positive change if I were you.