Really Struggling... New Here

Hi,

I've been looking at this site for help for a year now and find its great, finally signed up

I was after any advice with regards to how people cope with other sounds in the house (people opening /closing doors, rocker light switches, kitchen sounds), all those little sounds that used to never wake me as I wore earplugs or could exercise.

I have become very ill from tinnitus and also have adrenal fatigue and CFS...I'm unable to exercise hardly at all and cannot walk far at all. I have to rest often. This is due to lack of sleep.

I've found that of I have a house to myself, I start to get better sleep, but this hardly ever happens. I rent with friends, am not rich to rent alone and don't have health to move. Currently I staying with my folks who have been great, but it's quite a small bungalow where you can hear everything.

I find that if I get woken up during my 'nodding off' period at about 9.45/10pm, even by small sounds, it wakes my system up too much and I can't get back to sleep. I have explained to parents importance of quiet but I think it's hard for them to be as quiet as I need.

I have no other options for quiet places to sleep and don't know how to sort this out. Of course I am also dealing with T and making sure I am calm enough in the evening to sleep with that too...for which I use water sounds...

Anyone any ideas? I've just been getting iller and iller this last month.

Can not get sleeping tabs from docs anymore as I had them a while. Tried amytriptaline 2 nights ago but with my cfs, they were too much :-/

 

Personally I "mask" the T as much as I can at night by having water and rain sounds play all through the night. I have a bed side speaker that just plays off my iphone apps.

Getting good sleep can be a process. Learning how to calm yourself down before bed and not ruminating on things can help put you to sleep.

Example; take a hot bath or shower before bed and don't watch TV in bed. Also do NOT stay in bed ruminating on the T. If ,after, 30 mins you are doing that get out of bed and go do something else and return once you are calmer.

I am just over 3 months in and have Seroquel and Xanax to help me through the night. That wont last forever though...

 

Thanks Dayma, yes I use similar masking to you.
Biggest problem I have is other sounds waking me up from other people moving about the house. It takes me enough effort to wind diwn and sleep with tinnitus, then someone flicks even a light switch and I'm awake again...

 

@Loz,
Try Nortriptyline,it's more tolerated than Amitryptaline and will help you sleep.
Love glynis

 

Do you have Hyperacusis?

This is very common with Tinnitus, but I think this is where all your problems are starting from.

Why not? Your quality of life takes precedence and there is a variety of medications you can try to help with your sleep. Mirtazapine is an AD very popular as its safer for tinnitus sufferers and helps with sleep. Perhaps ask your doctor if this would be suitable.

You can also try:
- Melatonin
- Passionflower
- Valerian Root

 

Thanks all. I have tried mirza opine (my phone won't let me spell it!), made me feel mentally ill...will ask about nortryptaline. Valerian / passion flower...These worked when I was less ill!

Thanks much for the advice x

 

Perhaps if you begin wearing earplugs again, eventually you will be able to fall asleep despite hearing T...

 

@Loz Fear not, because even people without tinnitus have trouble with sleep maintenance (actually sleeping through the night). Our brains and nervous systems are all wired differently so what works for one person may not necessarily work for the next. Life is noisy and full of stress. Issues at work or home can easily throw us "off kilter". The key is to develop some kind of ritual/mechanism that works for you when it comes to calming yourself down and reassuring your nervous system that all will be okay. Maybe learning some meditation and/or breathing techniques will help? Or listening to some relaxing music before bed can be a benefit? How about reading a book to steal your mind away from other distractions? It is not easy, but you can do it! Just do not give up or depend solely on medication. Best of luck!

 

@Loz This is now my routine for sleep, take long hot shower, fan, I have a sound machine on ocean, no tv, 2 Tylenol pm. I tried meds they did not work for me, An eye mask, - works for me. You need to zone out for yourself. And when you hear people louder up ocean sounds. Get a sign for door please be quiet.

 

Thanks Mike. Yes, I do lots of meditation and try to distract myself. You're right though, it is hard! I have just realised after another practically sleepless night that my hyperacusis seems to hone in on buzzy sounds (there is one outside...we'll I think they come from many things )...It gets louder through the night and is very hard to deal with...like my ears are totally at mercy to it...am trying not to be distressed. My parents were great last night and much quieter, but it feels like my brain is just looking for a problem :-/ I feel so stuck. The only thing that keeps me going is that I tell myself this will eventually stop. (And this forum, family and the one friend I still see).

 

I have predominantly hyperacusis, but my tinnitus became noticeable and pervasive for the first time back in October. I have had for sometime very abnormal sleeping patterns and get to bed very late and often wake up between 11 am-12 pm. Things have been somewhat improving recently, but I have been recommended sleeping medication by a specialist. The kind my PCP prescribed didn't sound appealing to me though, and I haven't heard much from either recently.

How much are these really effected by sleep though? Your post here gives the impression this is central (though I might be misreading, since I kind of just woke up.)

 

I suggest you speak with your doctor if you're not happy with what he has prescribed. There is certainly other medications available that will assist and can be taken on a long term basis.

Its very common including myself that symptoms of tinnitus and hyperacusis are impacted negatively by poor sleep. This applies to other areas of life as well. If sleep improves, I really believe many other areas of your life including tinnitus will improve.

All the best.

 

Do you have H @Pleasure_Paulie ?

 

During my onset of Tinnitus I did quite bad. It’s since become manageable and only bothers me if I’m very tired or agitated and annoyed.