Suicidal

You’ve had this since 2013 right? Has it gotten worse?

 

Yes. It's a brain problem, and the brain can change. I've gotten some pretty nasty spikes, and baseline increases, but that's due to hyperacusis, and not due to more hearing damage. So tinnitus severity is obviously not a 1:1 correlation to hearing loss, a lot of variables go into it, in the brain. Some people are just lucky to have their hyper activity dampened over time.

 

Hi Brian,

Yes. Tinnitus and hyperacusis since 2013 (ear infection/ciprofloxacin/clindamycin).

It seems a lot more intrusive, but I am also a lot more anxious (perimenopause).

This year has been stressful. Loss of my aunty, handling her affairs, a head injury, root canal, loss of my job due to mandates here, a septic knee bursa - required treatment with a dose of IV Cefazolin and a weeks worth of Cephalexin.

I was fine for many months, as in either background tinnitus or not being bothered by it.

I had been taking Quercetin for a few months for histamine excess and the head injury, but stopped when someone posted a link on here to a study on zebra fish (suggesting ototoxicity). Having to stop the Quercetin is frustrating because I have read a study showing it may have an effect on the KV7 potassium channels, so unknowingly that is why my tinnitus was so much better. I have no clue.

I was very anxious the day I needed to head into hospital to have my knee treated. I was worried about having to resort to antibiotics. That was at the end of October.

So, tinnitus has been giving me grief, alongside the return of anxiety, irritability, depression and panic attacks for around 2 months. I miss being able to sit in the quiet and not feel relaxed anymore.

I am shy of mainstream medicine. I am now paranoid about taking herbs also. However, my anxiety and irritation is so bad that I have consider taking something even to habituate again.

Last night, I tried taking 400 mg Magnesium, and a supplement containing Ashwaghanda and Lavender. Didn't help. Woke up in a state of panic and fear. Tried to meditate. Helped a little bit, but spent most of today trying to find something to help me through this.

I have purchased another product, as recommended by a naturopath today, that contains a few GABAergic herbs. I am not planning on taking these on a regular basis, but I am exhausted and need some mental rest.

My naturopath had suggested white peony a few months ago to regulate my hormones. I never took it.

But, reading up on it today, it seems to not only modulate hormones, but is used in traditional Chinese medicine as an anticonvulsant and can impact TNF-alpha - so may help with neuroinflammation.

So, to answer your question. It seems more intrusive, but is capable of fluctuating. Haven't really figured out why it fluctuates though.

 

I know you are going through a difficult time at the moment @DebInAustralia. If possible try to get some counselling with an audiologist that is experienced with tinnitus, as I believe this will help to lower the stress and anxiety you are going through caused by the the condition. Try to stop reading any more data and information on tinnitus treatments, as I think this will add to more stress.

Stress can make tinnitus worse and tinnitus makes stress worse. It can become a vicious cycle.

You need to try and slow things down.
All the best

Michael

 

Thanks Michael,

I have considered the role of cortisol in this. You probably make a good point.

I did have an audiologist appointment booked recently, but was unfortunately, cancelled.

I'll try the CBT, but my anxiety is so elevated right now, I'm not entirely sure of how effective it will be.

I'm going to try a sleep aide tonight and considering something to help modulate my hormones as recommended to me by my naturopath.

I do have OCD. I often wonder if this affects my ability to 'let go' of the noise.

 

I think CBT will help you @DebInAustralia, and with medication to help lower stress. In addition to this I suggest you start doing relaxation and deep breathing exercises at home which will cost you nothing, apart from 30 minutes once or twice a day. YouTube has plenty of these and they come with music and narration to guide you through the exercises. Find a quiet place where you can lie down and relax and turn off the lights. Believe me it will help you because tinnitus is mostly mental.

Once your mind and body begins to relax you will start to notice the benefits. You will feel more positive about life. Your focus on the tinnitus will reduce and slowly it will be pushed further into the background. This won't happen overnight so give it time. This is the reason I have advised that you try and stop reading up on data and information on tinnitus treatments. Your reasons for doing this is understandable due to what you are going though. However, the stress and anxiety it creates, often makes the whole process counter productive because tinnitus is mostly mental.

You need calm and tranquillity in your life. One of the best ways to achieve this, is with deep breathing and relaxation exercises that costs you no money at all.

I wish you well,
Michael

 

People in benzo withdrawal are well advised to avoid Valerian. It's generally fine in limited, non chronic doses for most people. How useful it is, varies.

There's no magic here. I take daily Clonazepam because it does a thing and works and none of the supplements or other drugs I tried worked.

 

Have you taken the COVID-19 vaccine?

 

I have just sat and read every comment on this thread and it has made me feel I'm not alone.

I'm really struggling at the moment with my tinnitus. It is only in one ear and have no other symptoms other than the tone changes when I move my jaw.

It started a year ago and I've tried to ignore but it's started to take over as I've developed terrible anxiety and worry as to whether I'll ever get over it.

I've tried to habituate but can't seem to get over it. I have an appointment with a chiropractor next week who I do hope can help as I can't go on like this.

Sleep is the biggest problem as that creates more anxiety and stress and my work is suffering as I can't concentrate. I have a supportive family but I can't handle the constant ringing... it just doesn't stop.

I've a clicky jaw and had ETD which cleared up but t is still here. I'm not sure if it's linked to my jaw, neck or something else and think the unknown is causing anxiety. I have been around 5 departments within the NHS in the UK and no one has been able to provide any answer.

 

Hi @Rtg123.

What tests have you had at ENT and have you been referred to Audiology?

 

I have been to Audiology and they won't take it any further as there is no hearing loss. I've had 2 hearing tests and they came back fine.

 

No.

 

Well I’ll make it simple. Either you live with it or you don’t... sad but true.

 

Hi @Rtg123.

Thank you for the information. What you have described is not the normal practice, when a tinnitus patient in the UK is referred to Audiology under the NHS for help with tinnitus. Please read @Eleanor89's post in this thread, who is having TRT with counselling and was issued with white noise generators. I had the same treatment.

Once a tinnitus patient is referred to ENT under the NHS and have had hearing tests and MRI etc., the ENT doctor will decide whether the tinnitus is caused by an underlying medical problem or if it is noise induced. There are many medical conditions within the auditory system that can cause tinnitus. Please read my article below titled: Tinnitus, A Personal View, where they are explained at length. You may also find other information helpful.

If the doctor is able to treat the underlying medical problem that is causing the tinnitus then he/she will attempt to do so. With medication or surgery or a combination of the two. However, if the tinnitus is noise induced, which is one of the most common causes of tinnitus, the patient will usually be referred to Audiology. Here they will see either a hearing therapist or audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management.

Treatments vary between NHS hospital trusts and what they have to offer. A person may be offered TRT, CBT, counselling, sound therapy, mindfulness, relaxation classes, medication, hearing aids, white noise generators. One or a combination of these treatments will usually be offered.

If you have been to five hospital departments and haven't been offered any of the treatments that I have mentioned above, then I suggest you have a talk with your doctor. If necessary write to your local MP. Be as polite as possible and explain about your tinnitus and the difficulties that you have been going through. Mention that you have been to Audiology and been offered no treatment. I am sure you will get a response, but I don't think you will have to go this far.

Talk to your GP and ask for help. Keep going back and be as polite as possible. If your doctor refuses to refer you back to ENT, say the following words exactly as I am going to write them, and remember to keep calm: Doctor, I am requesting a referral back to ENT for help or to another hospital.

You will get the best help and long term aftercare for tinnitus under the NHS, that no private practice can match in the UK. Please click on the links below and read my posts.

All the best,
Michael

New to Tinnitus, What to Do? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Basically modern shamanism. Nice.

 

Might as well just pray to God. At least that’s free!

 

You maybe right but I'm not going to refuse free treatment if it's offered to me, that wouldn't be smart

 

Modern medicine offers no comfort to us sufferers.

If some people find some comfort or help in ‘shamanism’, what’s wrong with that?

 

Thank you for the reply and your time.

I will indeed go back to my GP. I have mentioned on 2 visits I think it could be related to ETD as I have a popping feeling when talking on occasion but they dismissed me. My tinnitus is not a loud screaming noise but more like a crowd or waterfall.

I'm hoping a chiropractor can assist a little.

 

I understand the way you feel @volsung37 but respectively disagree with you. There are plenty treatments for tinnitus that can help people to cope better with the condition. They may not be cures but they can often improve a person's quality of life and that is better than nothing. I believe you live in the UK, if this is the case you should talk to your GP and get a referral to ENT, who will then refer you to Audiology and hopefully you can get some help.

Negative thinking and the belief that no treatment is helpful because they are not cures, will only cause you more stress and unhappiness.

Michael

 

Your ENT doctor should have given you a diagnoses based on the results of your hearing test and MRI scan. I note that you have been told, that you don't have hearing loss which is good. However, if you believe your symptoms are related to ETD (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction) then you should have been advised of this by your ENT doctor who specialises in medical conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat. Treatment for ETD range from: nasal decongestants to surgery.

I advise you to seek help under the NHS and get a diagnoses for whatever is affecting you and causing the tinnitus, before seeing anyone privately.

Keep in mind you are new to tinnitus. The most common cause is exposure to loud noise. If you have regularly been using any type of headphones, including earbuds, Airpods or headset, then any of these devices might be the cause of your tinnitus. In any case my advice is to talk with your GP and get a referral back to ENT.

Michael

 

A psychiatrist told me I don’t have to be scared, because I’m not dying from my symptoms. Is there a profound truth to this? I told him that I am dying from these symptoms, if these symptoms are driving me to suicide.

 

Your psychiatrist wants to help you and it's true, the symptoms or noise of tinnitus cannot kill you. However, your psychiatrist has never experienced tinnitus at a severe level and therefore, can never understand how it can seriously affect a person's mental and emotional wellbeing. It is the distress of tinnitus noise that can make a person feel like they are dying and want to end it all.

Please try and see an audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management. Many of these health professionals have tinnitus, and will be able to help you through counselling because they understand the way tinnitus can affect a person emotionally. You may need medication in the forum of an antidepressant, to prevent you from feeling too down.

Please go to my started threads and read the following articles: New to Tinnitus, What to Do? Tinnitus, A Personal View, The Habituation Process, Tinnitus and the Negative Mindset, Acquiring a Positive Mindset, Hyperacusis, As I See It, Will My Tinnitus Get Worse? Tinnitus, and Mental Health.

All the best,
Michael

 

They don't understand what it means for a person to go through perpetual increasing torture.

What was their response to that?

 

Some people's suffering seems to get aggravated by a vicious cycle in which anxiety and tinnitus loudness reinforce each other.

It seems possible that the psychiatrist thought of that mechanism, and tried to interrupt the cycle.

Other than that, I feel it's a breathtakingly stupid remark. So no, I don't think there is a profound truth to this.

 

I wish tinnitus and hyperacusis were my only problem.

 

I think he didn’t expect to hear that. He went still, and then I started babbling about how most of my suffering is probably based on my anxiety about the situation and not the situation itself, sort of just telling him what I thought he wanted me to think.. Just to get it over with

 

I am sorry you are having additional problems beside your tinnitus and hope they are resolved soon whatever they are. Please take your time and read my articles and try to see an audiologist.

 

I just hate this and it seems to be typical that therapists think that we are suffering from tinnitus because we think we have "something serious" and a little pet in the back to reassure us that we are not in fact dying is good enough. No, I feel like shit and often suicidal because the noises drive me insane, the constant hyperawareness, the limitations have stolen my life away.

Sorry for venting and also sorry for your experience.

 

On the topic of things psychiatrists has said...

The one I went to for some time asked me several times to describe my tinnitus, and the follow up question was always ”do you also hear voices?”.

I later read in the journal that she had written something along the lines of ”it can't be ruled out that the patient is experiencing atypical hallucinations”.

They also tried to convince me to start taking some antipsychotic medication. I asked about possible side effects on ears and hearing, and it was ”no, no problem.” Of course I looked it up when back home, and I found things like ear pain and tinnitus on reported side effects... thanks...