Self-Inflicted Tinnitus YAY (Headphones) — Advice on Where Next Please

Hello all,

First off, a big thank you to the people who share their experiences and advice, especially those who have had some form of recovery yet return to help others.

I've been housebound for the last 6 months and working extensively on music production with headphones, and ignoring the warning signs (headaches/fatigue) until last Friday the high-pitched noise was suddenly present, and I had to conclude I had tinnitus.

Symptoms:

My tinnitus isn't so loud as some people's here - I don't feel that I have any hearing loss, and when my attention is fixed on something, or I'm outside surrounded by other stimuli, I can ignore it. It's a high-pitched tone, slightly more from the right ear but definitely also coming from the centre of my brain.

My inner ears also feel sore - a bit like mild sunburn.
So I guess that I also have hyperacusis to some degree - but the thing is, I can't tell if that's from ear damage or lack of sleep. I've often suffered with bad sleep, and would always be hyper sensitive to noise if I am super tired.

I haven't seen a Doctor yet, and I'm trying to make an appointment at an ear clinic just to confirm that it's tinnitus. The only positives I see from this situation is that looking around here and the web, while there's not exactly a cure, many people become habituated to it enough that doesn't dramatically affect their lives.
I want to sleep!

I don't want to take drugs, I can't afford anything expensive, so I'll go with trying to ignore it/change my response to it, and who knows, maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones who's brain re-calibrates on it's own and it may go away or heal in some way. I think I have had very mild and brief bouts before in my life which have over time disappeared, but nothing like this. First reaction is depression and anger at self for inflicting this, so stupidly, but all of the advice regarding success seems to be to drive out any negative response. In the first few days this has been difficult.

Can anyone with a similar history give advice?
Thanks in advance.

 

@Duderonomy

HI Duderonomy,

You have to stop using headphones even at low volume because your tinnitus will likely get worse a lot worse. Please click on the links below and read my articles that you mind find helpful.

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/the-habituation-process.20767/

 

Thanks for reading.

Yeah, I stopped with the headphones once I realised what was happening. Probably never ever again!

Also read through your links already - very informative. I think the biggest challenge facing anyone with any new condition is uncertainty, which breeds panic and fear which is a self-destructive cycle that seems to make tinnitus worse, so it's a great help to read people's histories and a whole section devoted to success stories.

I found a crickets-chirping-at-night youtube video which I'll put on loop at night, and hope that makes things easier. I think since Friday, I've had about 2 hours sleep a night

Last night was my best night's sleep since this started though. Slept 2 hours or so, woke up, but then managed to get back to sleep for a few hours. Sleep deprivation is what makes this really difficult.

 

With respect @Duderonomy unless you are someone with very special skills in speed reading. You couldn't have read all of the articles in the links that I have given you and absorbed the information in such a short space of time. My article: Tinnitus, A Personal View is 13,000 words and took me months to write. There is a lot of information there and I advise you to read it slowly and thoroughly along with the other articles. Believe me they will answer a lot of your concerns. When you have finished them. Please click on the links below and read further articles on tinnitus.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-complexities-of-tinnitus-and-hyperacusis.25733/

 

Ooops. Yeah, sorry for the misunderstanding - I'd previously seen and read those shorter links above by you which I found very helpful. I haven't read the "Personal View" yet, but will - thanks for putting so much time and effort into this for others to share.

 

@Duderonomy

Tinnitus is a learning curve and you have to understand what you are dealing with otherwise your tinnitus will not improve. In order for this to happen you have to take time and absorb information. It is no good skimming or rushing reading my articles or anyone else's on the forum because you will learn nothing and will be at square one.

Michael

 

I am also new to tinnitus and just wanted to offer my support. I feel somewhat like I caused mine too and keep going over the moments and hours before it started. The feelings of anger and anxiety are terrible. Hang in there and make sure to protect your hearing from now on!

 

lol duderonomy

 

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said.

Welcome to the fleet.

 

Thank you for the advice Michael. I was wondering, from all the stories you have heard, what are people's experience with hyperacusis and MRIs?

 

Hyperacusis can improve by itself or by having specialist treatment with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist. If hyperacusis doesn't improve by itself or isn't treated it can become a long term problem, resulting in a person having acute sensitivity to sound. People that have contacted me for help with noise induced tinnitus, haven't mentioned they have had any difficulty with MRI scans. This is not to say a person will not be affected because we are all different. MRI is usually a routine procedure, when a person with tinnitus is referred to ENT for tests and it's something that they should have as it is important.

Michael

 

Hi again. You mention in another thread being treated for hyperacusis with TRT. What is that?

 

@Duderonomy

In my article: Tinnitus A Personal View, that I sent to you in the link yesterday. In it I explain what TRT is and how it is used to treat Hyperacusis and tinnitus. Please read it. I will place the link below. Briefly, TRT involves counselling with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist and wearing 2 white noise generators. Treatment can take up to 2 years. More is explained in my articles in the links below.

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/trt-as-i-see-it.19555/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-is-trt-and-when-should-it-be-started.19024/

 

Toss the headphones, they will only cause more problems for you.

Stock up on earplugs, and protect from additional noise exposure, and avoid when possible during the next several months. Additional noise will only make this worse.

I take omega3, about 500 mg daily, and find it useful. The evidence is worse than weak, but I have found it useful, and there are isolated reports of it being useful.

This will take months or even longer to heal.

 

How important is seeing a doctor, if they're really only going to tell me what you guys have already outlined?

I'm in Canada as a tourist awaiting a work visa, so I can't see a doctor without paying some heavy fees I can't afford. I should get my work visa (and social security + health access) in a month or so. I'm in a situation of having to weigh up if I should fly back to England to see a doctor, just to be told to avoid loud noise and not stress about it, but now I'm concerned about hyperacusis. Can it wait? Maybe in a month the sensitivity and discomfort in my ears will die down naturally - or is this something I shouldn't leave to chance. Thing is, if I'm referred for 2 years of TRT, I can't do that in England anyway, I'd have to wait and do it in Canada (if it's offered).

Sorry for the stupid questions...

 

@Duderonomy

Your questions are not stupid Duderonomy, but I get the impression you cannot be bothered to read in full the information in my articles that I have given you. If you did then there would be no need to be asking your questions as all the information is in my posts.

I have explained in the link : New to tinnitus what to do - that the best treatment for ordinary tinnitus which is usually "noise induced" is to do nothing. Most ENT doctors like to leave this for a while 3 to 4 months 6 months would be better, providing there are not additional problems such as: deafness, dizziness or acute pain in the ears then a person should be seen sooner.

I have also explained that TRT is a specialist treatment and expensive and not always required. In the Link: What is TRT and when should it be started, I explain around 6 months after the onset of tinnitus, if a person is having difficulty habituating to tinnitus.

It is important to be examined at ENT. I can only advise the procedure for treating tinnitus in the UK. When referred to ENT by a GP it can take 3 to 4 months to be seen 6 months would be better in my opinion. This is for straight forward tinnitus without additional problems as I've mentioned above.

With respect I say to you. If you read the information in the links that I have given you and not skim through them, a lot of the concerns you have would be answered.

All the best
Michael

 

I am having a bad day, 6 days from an MRI I wish I didn’t have. Wide bore Siemens 1.5T, supposedly new.

Flimsy headphones, now earplugs... I was complacent, it’s “routine” right? F- NO. The tech never mentioned the noise, I expected a soft “whirring” to take a quick 20 minutes nap. They warn you about having metal on you or braces... never mentioned the damn noise.

My right ear feels full and is painful, and my tinnitus is more than I’ve ever had it since 2002.

Nothing is routine, medical people screw up all the time.

 

Well, after about 4 days I managed to habituate to a degree and sleep like a baby. The hyperacusis has gone either as a result of time, or because I started eating a little raw turmeric every day for a week (which I read is an anti-inflammatory). That has been really good, as I was more worried about that than the ringing. I can wash dishes and hear reasonably loud noise now without discomfort, and the inner-ear sunburn/swollen feeling has gone.

I have some days when I forget the tinnitus is there for long periods, and others when it seems a bit louder, but I don't let it upset me... maybe over time I'll get to a stage of really, really not noticing it at all.

I think the great advice on here has helped, and the section on success stories which gave me some hope during the awful first early stages. Thanks all.

I wanted to respond to Luman's PM, but I can't find the reply button - calling it a conversation is a bit of a misnomer LOL. Anyway, thanks for the advice and support @Luman. As somebody with a similar history, I wondered how long you've had tinnitus, how manageable it is now, if you're still able to do your work (with sound specifically).