Stop Telling Me to Live with It or Habituate

I met an ENT doctor who has tinnitus, has habituated, and continues to treat people for all kinds of ear problems, including surgery for very difficult cases which are covered by his specialties. There has to be some ear doctors and scientists who have tinnitus and are working on discovering ways to put an end to it, through scientific, medical methods. If people like these refuse to habituate out of pride, or principle, or whatever reason you have for doing so, I doubt they'd be able to work as well, if at all, in their chosen careers. The cure for tinnitus may very well be discovered, or helped to be discovered, by somebody who has habituated to tinnitus.

 

I have fluctuating tinnitus from:silent, mild moderate and severe. Most levels of tinnitus can be hatituated to but sometimes treatment maybe necessary with a Hearing therapist or Audiologist. I have expereinced morse code tinnitus many years ago. You are in the very early stages of tinnitus and will experience alot of fluctuations in intesnsity and this is not unusual in the early days. This will improve. Consider this: if your tinnitus was severe and intrusive, I assure you that you wouldn't be able to use your computer at this moment. Try and see this as something positive. If you are working
that's also something to feel positive about. Read some of my positivity articles on my "started threads" which will give you a heads up on how to feel positive about tinnitus and life.

Michael

 

To my way of thinking.... let's say.... heaven forbid!! :::: that a cure will not be forthcoming in the very near future, does it necessarily follow that no one should believe in habituation (which is NOT a dirty word by the way) and that those who suffer (even the most severe) should not attempt to do all within their power to improve their situation AND try, to the best of their ability, to lead a productive and satisfying life? If not.... then surely the future will be one of doom and gloom, endlessly wringing one's hands in abject despair and just plain giving up! Which option do you wish to choose?

 

@Bobbie7 quote - "even the most severe" "to lead a productive and satisfying life". I believe one could adjust if their tinnitus was less than severe or catastrophic. Mine is catastrophic 16 of 24 hours a day. During that time I can't even turn my computer on. I can't move my head or neck when it's catastrophic.

With respect for your good wishes - Unless one has very severe to catastrophic tinnitus, then there should be no judgement as to them not being able to live a productive and satisfying life.

 

As I've mentioed before I've had serious debilitating tinnitus to the point where it is catastrophic. And yes this type of tinnitus one cannot habituate to and affects one's life considerablly and can only get better/improve by itself unfortunately. This is the most severe type of tinnitus and can make make a person's life a complete misery.

Michael

 

How then are you able to spend so much time on the computer if you suffer such distress?

 

This is quite true @Bobbie7 Anyone that has seriously debilitating tinnitus cannot use a computer at that time.

Michael

 

@Bobbie 7 To quote myself - "Mine is catastrophic 16 of 24 hours a day. During that time I can't even turn my computer on." I'm about at that point now, so the computer is being turned off.

 

You do realize that's ridiculous right?

 

Please explain what is rediculous and then I will explain why you are wrong.

 

Alright. The fact that it does't require much energy or mobility to use a computer. That's why people in hospitals or who are extremely sick can use a computer but can't go outside or socialize.

Saying Greg can't use a computer because he is so distressed is like saying a paralyzed person can't use a computer because he can't walk.

Explain away

 

With respect your statement has relayed to everyone on this thread that you have never experienced servere debilitating tinnitus. When tinnitus is severe it affects a person so much they are unable to think clearly. It for this reason many people with severe debiltating tinnitus are medically retired from their job under the grounds of mental incapacity. Unless you have experienced tinnitus at this level you cannot understand it. It is for this reason people commint suicide with tinnitus. Believe me on this I know what I'm talking about. Greg also knows what I mean.

 

I completely get it. I don't know much as you or greg in that regard sure, but I am fully aware that people with severe tinnitus are also much more likely to be suicidal, and for good reason. That being said you can still use a computer. People with bad chronic pain use computers all the time. You don't need laser sharp focus to be on one either. I would know because I'm supposed to be working on a project right now...

 

I hope you never get serious tinnitus to find out what it can do to you. If you know @glynis who is a good friend of mine, ask her about severe tinnitus and she'll be more than glad to explain to you that when this condition is loud and intrusive, you don't even want to turn on the PC I promise you.

 

When I first got tinnitus (Triggered from earwax impaction) my first few weeks were extremely loud. As loud as the shower if you're standing outside the bathroom. Not as loud as some people's tinnitus, but going from no tinnitus to that is really really bad. It went down after a while and improved by at least 80% after earwax removal, but it was awful. I didn't want to go to school or anything whatsoever, but I still used the computer. Used it to look for cures and what I could do, and that's how I found out to see a doctor about earwax. You absolutely can use a computer.

 

If it’s an issue of computer noise, smartphones do not make noise. I can understand not wanting to use a computer. The noise from my laptop bothers me, which is why I very rarely use my computer.

If it’s an issue of not being able to function, it likely depends on personality, age, and preferred coping mechanisms, too. There are people with incredibly severe, chronic conditions who still seek out online support and information. However, I think this is likely more true of younger generations.

My tinnitus made me withdraw from personal interactions. That absence brought me here. I think that’s true for others here, too.

And dear Glynis has Ménière’s disease, not just tinnitus. I can only imagine how much that complicates things. I get severe migraines and ocular migraines, I cannot be online when I’m dizzy and unable to see correctly. Though I do use text-to-talk then to send messages. I became somewhat resourceful when I lost my eyesight. Smartphones are pretty helpful!

 

Oops, forgot to respond! The crackling is not very loud, my constant tinnitus is louder. I still get it occasionally. I had fluid in my ears initially, and sometimes it feels that way still if I really focus on it. As for being stuffed up, absolutely. I’m dealing with seasonal allergies now. I use a saline spray, my ENT and my ear specialist recommended it.

 

You're symptoms aren't pretty strange for someone with fine ETs. If I had to rate my crackling I would say it's about 65dB. It varies but it's usually the loudest thing I hear.

I usually have fluid in my ears of varying amounts, mostly in my right. It sloshes around all the time.

 

Definitely get a nasal endoscopy when you see the ENT. It’s not a fun procedure, but it should give you some answers.

 

@Bobbie7 You state in your early postings that you had days of silence and then experienced an increase. You said:

"try and succeed at being understanding and pathetic but who can truly empathize who doesn't actually experience the torment of T?" "How can anyone who is capable of experiencing beautiful silence in their solitude understand! They simply can not."

I'm happy for you that your experienced T increase spike quickly went into "submission" and lowered in volume.

I have posted links from professional sites that basically state that those with severe tinnitus have torment as you stated. With "torment", one will have a difficult time experiencing a "happy and a fully productive life" as also stated in these medical links. Those with torment often have other underlying severe medical conditions.

There's a big difference between very severe torment and anything less.

Wishing you a continued happy and fully productive life with no further setbacks.

@Michael Leigh - Because you understand

 

@Greg Sacramento

I like to think that I understand hyperacusis and tinnitus @Greg Sacrmento having once had very severe hyperacusis that caused immense pain at the slightest hint of sound. Thankfully that is behind me and hope it stays that way. I have habituated to tinnitus twice in the 21 years having this condition and believe I've experienced nearly all manifestations of it. From mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe. According to my Hearing Therapist and consultant they don't often see people with my type of tinnitus. I am sure there are plenty people in this forum that experience fluctuating tinnitus. I do know this. When tinnitus is severe it is very difficult to concentrate on the most simplest of tasks.

Michael

 

Hi, person with chronic pain here. People with chronic pain and other physical disabilities use assistive technology and computer programs to use the computer. There aren't any assistive programs for something like tinnitus.

 

and is your hearing is very sensitive (e.g. hyperacusis) there are settings that will flash the screen instead of playing the tones associated with certain alerts so you can turn the sound completely off if necessary (look into the accessibility settings created for heard of hearing or deaf people).

 

There's background masking programs.

 

Hi guys....lol.
When my ears get to a raging state along with Menieres I can hardly post due to the tinnitus,brain fog ,lack of concentration,ear pressure and sickness and dizziness.
I use my phone and tablet to post but do have a laptop but don't have a place to keep it set up and dont need it for anyother reason apart from work related things.
I go quiet when im having a tough time and thats when its hard to give support to others till im on the mend.
Love to you all and im feeling more like my self tonight.
Its been a tough day also as would have been my mums birthday who passed away in june.
Love glynis

 

Hi Greg,

Did you ever try the IV NAD?

I remain interested in it. Restarting NR but am trying to figure out how to get NAD into OZ.