- Aug 22, 2015
- 102
- Tinnitus Since
- 1/20/15
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Most likely acoustic hearing loss
I'd like to start a thread for folks who are currently in the process of undergoing TRT, and to discuss how and when to gradually phase out the use of the TRT noise instruments (NIs).
The Jastreboff/Hazell book does not provide a patient with a protocol or method for determining when or how to phase out the use of the NIs. I think it is a very subjective decision. Improvement with TRT is by no means "linear", but it would be helpful to provide patients with some subjective guidelines to help them determine how to taper usage of the NI's.
If you are a proponent of TRT, then you don't dispute the benefit of wearing the NIs, but there doesn't seem to be any specific protocol for how to determine how to taper their usage.
Here's my own experience ...
Initial TRT counseling and NI usage allowed me to rapidly stop usage of meds previously required for sleep and anxiety relief.
I then went into a period of using the NIs as much as possible for 3-4 months. During this time period I adjusted to them, lost anxiety, and started to imagine a life in which these stupid noises didn't bother me.
About 6 weeks in, I napped for the first time during the day, wearing the NI's. First time I napped during the day in several months. Hallelujah.
Within the first month or two, a couple of nights I slept without the NIs.
After three months, I stopped wearing the NI's a day here or there.
At six months, I had a quick relapse. It was as if I forgot I had ever had T. Sounds good doesn't it? Went back to wearing the NI's almost constantly for 3-4 weeks, then was right back on track. Scary, but I remembered my counseling, and kept the faith. My perception had changed, but the T had not. My perception relinquished. Was it a change in the seasons, a little depression, a fight with the spouse, or all of the above? I won't ever know. What I do know is that the T did not change during that time period. My perception increased, scared me for a bit, I recovered, and I went right back to baseline improvement.
I'm 7.5 months into TRT now. I wear the NI's every night, and perhaps 50% of the time during the day. I skip days here and there. If I don't feel I need them on a given day, I don't wear them. If for some reason I feel I need them, I put them on.
What are other folks who are using Noise Instruments doing? I would love to know. I'm glad to be in a place to be talking about not wearing them anymore. They don't bother me at all ... this sounds really stupid but I will always regard them highly and perhaps nostalgically for the relief they have given me --- now that I say that, they have been my friends through this difficult time. This is especially ironic considering I cried the first time I put them on. OK, this is getting personal and emotional .... the thread should be about ...
How does one know when and how to taper off usage of TRT noise devices? What's the protocol?
Thank you!
Trebor
The Jastreboff/Hazell book does not provide a patient with a protocol or method for determining when or how to phase out the use of the NIs. I think it is a very subjective decision. Improvement with TRT is by no means "linear", but it would be helpful to provide patients with some subjective guidelines to help them determine how to taper usage of the NI's.
If you are a proponent of TRT, then you don't dispute the benefit of wearing the NIs, but there doesn't seem to be any specific protocol for how to determine how to taper their usage.
Here's my own experience ...
Initial TRT counseling and NI usage allowed me to rapidly stop usage of meds previously required for sleep and anxiety relief.
I then went into a period of using the NIs as much as possible for 3-4 months. During this time period I adjusted to them, lost anxiety, and started to imagine a life in which these stupid noises didn't bother me.
About 6 weeks in, I napped for the first time during the day, wearing the NI's. First time I napped during the day in several months. Hallelujah.
Within the first month or two, a couple of nights I slept without the NIs.
After three months, I stopped wearing the NI's a day here or there.
At six months, I had a quick relapse. It was as if I forgot I had ever had T. Sounds good doesn't it? Went back to wearing the NI's almost constantly for 3-4 weeks, then was right back on track. Scary, but I remembered my counseling, and kept the faith. My perception had changed, but the T had not. My perception relinquished. Was it a change in the seasons, a little depression, a fight with the spouse, or all of the above? I won't ever know. What I do know is that the T did not change during that time period. My perception increased, scared me for a bit, I recovered, and I went right back to baseline improvement.
I'm 7.5 months into TRT now. I wear the NI's every night, and perhaps 50% of the time during the day. I skip days here and there. If I don't feel I need them on a given day, I don't wear them. If for some reason I feel I need them, I put them on.
What are other folks who are using Noise Instruments doing? I would love to know. I'm glad to be in a place to be talking about not wearing them anymore. They don't bother me at all ... this sounds really stupid but I will always regard them highly and perhaps nostalgically for the relief they have given me --- now that I say that, they have been my friends through this difficult time. This is especially ironic considering I cried the first time I put them on. OK, this is getting personal and emotional .... the thread should be about ...
How does one know when and how to taper off usage of TRT noise devices? What's the protocol?
Thank you!
Trebor
