Week 2, I'm Scared and Feel Helpless

I am in week 2 of new tinnitus and hypercausis after an awful ear infection in both ears. I'm really struggling and feel very low right now. I saw doctor last week and she just told me to go back in a few weeks if it's still just as bad. I know there isn't much can be done, my mum got it last year and I've seen what she's gone through. I'm barely sleeping even with masking noise and anxiety is through the roof. I have a Managerial job which I am trying my best with but I had to come home Friday because the noise was too much to bear.
I am already thinking dark thoughts and I don't know what to do. I'm only 38 and loved my life, feel like it's over. Seen some posts about early steroid intervention, should I pursue this? Please help!!!

 

Consider enrollment with a clinical trial such as AM101/AUT63 if your condition does not improve. Steroids may be helpful in the very acute stage and under certain conditions. In general, I would recommend seeing an ENT as soon as possible if a person develops severe tinnitus. Admittedly, there is often not much that can be done in these instances, and an ENT is often more focused on attempting to rule out anything serious (rather than actually help treat the condition itself), but still I would recommend a consultation to establish a basic diagnosis. Ideally, an ENT should be consulted within 24/48 hours after developing tinnitus (especially if severe or if cause is acoustic trauma). I would recommend finding a specialist at an ENT surgery clinic.

Your tinnitus may improve over time on its own.

 

Seeing a ENT would be a good idea. This may be of little comfort, but I will say it. I think it is very likely that what you hear now will not persist. Anxiety is cranking up the volume. As the threat lessens, the sound eases and abates in most cases. My understanding is that 3 out of 4 (or some similar stat) resolve within a year. Also, most find that the new sound becomes just another part of the background. We notice when in a quiet environment and say, "there it is." But it does not annoy. I hope all works out well for you.
M

 

Thank you Mike for your reply. I'm going to make an appointment for GP again tmrw and ask to see ENT. I can feel anxiety cranking up as it gets nearer and nearer night time. Making me feel sick right now. Going to take some sick time off work for a while also as I don't think my busy stressful job will help right now. Praying for some sleep tonight! Thanks for your help

 

ccan

Try to take a deep breath and know that eventually you will be okay. You are so new to tinnitus that yours may resolve by itself. If it doesn't then you can learn from posters here. I can promise you that it will get better. I am in my 17th month and life is okay--I still have tinnitus but it doesn't bother me. I habituated my reaction, as you will. It just takes time. You can get some anti-anxiety meds to help in the short-term.

 

Hi Kathi. Thanks for your reply. Can I please ask what helped you in the early days? Did you have CBT or similar? medication? Any advice would be gratefully received

 

Hi Susan welcome,

The first few weeks,months of t are difficult we understand your suffering.
its hard to believe at the moment you will get better and most likely make a full recovery.I thought My life was over but have got my life back and so will you.
sleep is an issue with t but over time will become easier once your anxiety eases,try not get wound up either makes t seems worse deep breaths like Kathi said.
Try some melatonin or chamomile tea or maybe a good antidepressant/aid.
You need to get as much rest as possible this will help you get better quicker.
it's not easy sue but you will find your way you will have good days and bad days but hopefully sooner rather than later your t will diminish.
t has taught me a lot of things you probably thinks that sounds crazy but for me has been a positive thing,out of bad always comes good.
all the best
God bless
shaun

 

Thank you Shaun. All of these posts from you lovely people keep making me cry. You are all so nice and supportive.
I keep reading about melatonin. What is it please? Is it something I buy from a chemist or does a Dr have to prescribe it?

 

Alright sue,

Melatonin is something you can buy online I think the time released is better And it's natural.
We have been there so understand don't let t get the better of you.
sue my mum had t we got it at same time go figure,hers was due to a very bad ear infection she treated the infection the t

 

Sleep is not a problem for me. But when I want a really good snooze, the following stack knocks me out. YMMV. Antidepressant only as a last resort in time after exhausting all other options.

3 mg melatonin
900 mg Valerian root
300 mg magnesium
15 mg zinc
cup of chamomile tea

 

Thanks Mike. I'll do some internet shopping tomorrow and stock up on these. Would love something to just knock me out and sleep right through. I'm sure the lack of sleep is just making the anxiety worse. Hope u all sleep well tonight

 

SusanGee,

When you see your ENT, Ask him about taking a course of Prednisone. This needs to be taken within the first few weeks for it to be effective. Please, don't delay!

I take Melatonin, 3mg time released, L-Theanine, 5htp and magnesium oil, rubbed into my skin. I also take 1200mg calcium, 1200mg of fish oil and vit C. 1000mg's 4 times a day.

I am doing acupunture and taking traditional Chinese medicine for my T. I would say you're in the early stages, so see the ENT doc and ask about the Prednisone. They usually give you a shot in the office and place you on an 8 day tapered dosage. initially, it shut my T off! However, in my case, there was to much cochlea damage, for it to work, long term. You maybe lucky and benefit from this cortiosteroid treatment.

I will put you in my prayers. keep the faith and hang in! It may resolve itself quickly in your case.

God bless,

Sailboardman

 

If it gets bad enough, you should talk to the doctor about anti-depressants. Anxiety through the roof and dark thoughts are what I read in your post. Anti-depressents can help with these things if you have trouble coping on your own. I used Clonazepam and it helped a lot get over the first couple weeks. If H and T are your only troubles then you are going to be just fine. There is an endless loop that gets started with anxiety, and more T and more T, then more anxiety then more T and more H, until you reach the breaking point. You have to calm yourself down to stop the spiral and things will get better. If you cant do it on your own, then there are meds to help.

 

Welcome Susan. So you have both T & H. I had both of them too 6 years ago. They sure scared the heck out of me. They were so alien and scary. My T is still around, an ultra high pitch dog whistle but it doesn't bother me anymore. My severe H turned all normal sounds glassy in quality. All sounds hurt, even people's voice in conversation. I had to wear ear plugs all the time but the plugs blocked all outside masking sounds, making the T so unbearably dominant. I withdrew from all social contacts and events. When even driving sounds hurt, I couldn't even go out much initially. Too scared to make things worse. Yes, those were some very anxious and depressed days. So I know what you are going through. But don't worry. Things will get better. My H just faded over time within the year it started. I have read many members report the same for H. It was very limiting to have H, but it can fade over time. So relax. If a panic prone person like me can recover over time, have faith that you will too. I wrote my success story to explain my struggle from darkness to light and I list about 10 points to help me turn around. Because you and I both have T & H, if you are interested how I coped with the 2 devils, you can read it up here:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...w-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/

 

Try the steroid thing, but it's my understanding it needs to be done within 2 weeks of t. But I stress I may have this wrong.

 

Hi..................I developed T a month and a half ago. When it started I became anxious, depressed, then the panic attacks came. I saw my medical doctor twice a ent and then an audiolgist. I felt that my life was over. I just couldn't see myself living with this constant noise. I ended checking into treatment center on an outpatient basis to help with the anxiety and depression. As time is passing it is getting much easier to live with. As the other responders have already commented. I hope it does go away but if it doesn't I simply will not let it ruin my life. I am already to the point where i can go for a pretty long period of time and not even notice it and my T is pretty loud. Some very positive things have happened in my life since i've developed this that I will share later on. Hang in there.............it truly does get easier to deal with and like most have said it will probably go away. Things like this are difficult but they make us stronger. God bless you and just take it a day at a time.

 

Thank you for your positive words. I am getting help from a home support crisis team now and have a little medication and daily support which is helping somewhat. I'm still deeply worried and scared and hoping everyday that things will improve. I'm glad you are dealing with things better. I hope I can get there quite quickly.
All the best and bless you x

 

Hi Susan, glad to hear you have a home support team to help you out. Hope your condition will improve. But remember, things will take time and so you try to calm down by ignoring the day to day struggle, knowing in a few months you will be much improve. You may want to read up on how reaction determine the suffering level of T by reading up on Dr. Nagler's Letter to a Tinnitus Sufferer here:
http://www.ata.org/nagler-letter-to-tinnitus-sufferer

Follow his advice to write down you worries and fears and try to counter them with more realistic and positive ones. This is one of the practices in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy o CBT. During the initial struggling phase of T life, your brain is under the control of the limbic nervous system and so you have excessive worries and fears called 'cognitive distortions'. The body tries to help us by its fight or flight response, but T is not really life threatening and so it is a misguided response by the body. You need to stay calm & positive as much as possible. Try abdominal breathing to calm and try mindfulness meditation to help cope with anxiety and stress. Slowly your normal parasympathetic nervous system will return and then you will be able to manage your emotional and anxiety level much better. Youtube has many videos teaching people mindfulness meditation as well as abdominal breathing. Your H should slowly fade if you don't over protect. So things will settle down if you just stop worrying about the future. Take care.

 

It's a hormone that helps you sleep better. If you're in the UK, you won't be able to get it without a prescription unless you buy it internationally.

 

Make sure you mask your tinnitus at night and get some sleep. I know the first few weeks or even first month it will be difficult to get a good sleep because your brain is in alert state trying to figure out where the noise is coming from..

Eventually in a few months your T might lower and you will fall asleep without any medications.. again that depends how loud your T is.

ENT etc don't know much about T, unless they have T themselves.. trust me.. ENT will look with a flashlight in your throat, nose and ears.... that's what your pcp can do too... but heck yea just see an ENT just in case.