Tinnitus from Loud Concert — New Year's Fireworks Made It Worse

Hi, this is my first post. My name is Martin and I got tinnitus for the first time in 2004 due to being at a concert with far too loud music. I got tinnitus with a high frequency tone in my left ear. Since I could only fall asleep if I had it quiet around me, the situation became very difficult. I was on sleeping pills every night, Propavan (Propiomazine 25mg) for a year before I could sleep without sleeping pills. Then my tinnitus went down to a low volume . Since then, I have been able to sleep well until now.

On New Year's Eve 2020/2021, the accident occurred :-(

Me, my wife and my kids were out watching fireworks. I was using hearing protection, but unfortunately only those that protect up to 15 dB. Now I have much higher tinnitus than the first time I got tinnitus and do not understand how I will ever be able to sleep without sleeping pills. I have taken so much sleeping pills, Propavan (Propiomazine 50mg) that they have stopped working, and I was recently awake for four days in a row.

My doctor gave me an antidepressant medication two days ago, Mirtazapine 30mg. The first night I slept 8 hours. The next night I slept nothing. From what I understand, it is actually better to take a lower dose of Mirtazapine to be able to sleep. Has anyone here tried a lower dose of Mirtazapine?

How to sleep when you have a loud high frequency tinnitus tone? I have tried with ambient sound of rain and white/pink noise, but still do not succeed in sleeping :-(

 

@Forestjump

Hi Martin and welcome to the forum.

You have had noise induced tinnitus for quite a while and therefore have experience with it. I suggest you have a word with your GP and ask if you can be referred to ENT for tests on your auditory system as you are concerned about the increase in your tinnitus. Between you and I, this is just to make sure everything is as it should be. If nothing untoward is found and the tinnitus is still problematic, then I think you should be referred to Audiology, to see an Audiologist or Hearing Therapist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment.

The fact that you are experienced with tinnitus I think you should return to basics and start from there. Try to use low level sound enrichment at night by using a sound machine by the bedside. More about this is explained in my post: New to Tinnitus, What to Do? Tinnitus, A Personal View in the links below. If you are a user of headphones, earbuds or headsets, my advice is not to use them even at low volume. However, the choice is yours. This is just my advice.

When you have time go to my started threads and read my posts: Hyperacusis, As I See It & The Habituation Process.

All the best
Michael

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

 

Thank you so much for your support Michael

I think I need to learn to sleep with some sound enrichment. But it will certainly take a long time to get used to. I think I will buy a sound pillow as I am a side sleeper and unfortunately used to sleep on my left ear that has tinnitus.

 

It is now 4 months since my tinnitus got louder and still no improvement :-(

When I started taking Mirtazapine, I thought it helped my anxiety and that I slept better. But in the last week I have slept worse and worse, which has made my mental state really bad. Today I cried a lot in front of my loved kids. I have already had a panic attack and am terrified of getting another one.

It was easier to deal with tinnitus when I slept better, but now I do not know what to do. I have read that there will be a new sleeping pill in a year called Daridorexant which seems good. But as the situation is now, I do not know how I will survive a year with bad sleep and loud tinnitus :-(

 

Hi @Forestjump, how are you doing today?