Well Meaning Nonsense... Tinnitus Is Not the Same as Severe Chronic Tinnitus

[Jazzer]

I had low level Tinnitus - Tinnitus I had to actually listen out for, for twenty five years.
It never really bothered me, I used to joke about it.
"There's a bloke whistling in my head all day long. I wouldn't mind, but I don't like the tune.
It's the 'One-note Samba."

Just over three years ago it doubled, and it's no joke. Severe chronic Tinnitus.
Well meaning friends, relatives, say to me
"Yes....I get that sometimes....I just don't take any notice of it, I just ignore it."

They simply do not understand.
Tinnitus is not the same as Severe Chronic Tinnitus.
You wouldn't compare a chilblain to gangrene would you?
So I'm busy researching the best management strategies.

Best wishes everybody xx

 

[Kolisar]

"Yes....I get that sometimes....I just don't take any notice of it, I just ignore it."

Yes, unless they have experienced it at its potentially debilitating levels, they do not understand. I had toothaches before but never understood how bad they could get until I needed an emergency root canal. The problem, in my opinion, is the people who have had a "little ringing in their ears", think that is as bad as it gets.

What ever management strategies you find and that work for you please post about them. I am sure many here could benefit from alternative management strategies.

 

[Tweaker]

Totally agree. I had mild monotonal tinnitus in one ear from childhood. Ironically I found it quite soothing as I fell off to sleep. In 2010 it changed. I now have multiple tones screaming in both ears. It's a totally different beast. Now I don't sleep.

 

[jimH]

They simply do not understand. Tinnitus is not the same as Severe Chronic Tinnitus.

I understand your point. I think, for the most part, a person's perception of Tinnitus is based upon their own personal experience. So, for those that have only experienced it at the either a low or moderate range it may be no big deal. Many, if not most of them, are able to cope and habituate without much of a problem. I'm speaking now from almost 35 years of living with T at various levels, low, moderate, loud and severe.

As for me, I've lived most of those years with it in the moderate to loud range. However, I did experience it at the severe level in addition to H for some time. I can attest to the fact that there's a quantum leap in suffering and the "wearing down effect" of severe Tinnitus as compared to T at lower levels. Call it what you want, severe, catastrophic, or debilitating. Those that have experienced it at those levels in the past or are at that level now, they know exactly what I mean.

 

[Jazzer]

Thanks for your input jimH,
I'm so sorry we all have to suffer this condition.
We are reluctant heroes, without question.
I really appreciate the opportunity to meet on here, and support each other as we do.
Best wishes
Jazzer

 

[Jazzer]

Totally agree. I had mild monotonal tinnitus in one ear from childhood. Ironically I found it quite soothing as I fell off to sleep. In 2010 it changed. I now have multiple tones screaming in both ears. It's a totally different beast. Now I don't sleep.

@Tweaker - have you tried melatonin for sleep.
Your doctor will prescribe it for Tinnitus, as Circadin 2ml.
I use a pill-cutter, and take just 1ml at bedtime.
I get about 6 hours sleep on one mil. Amazing.
No side effects whatsoever for me.
Best wishes
Jazzer

 

[Gman]

I had low level Tinnitus - Tinnitus I had to actually listen out for, for twenty five years.
It never really bothered me, I used to joke about it.
"There's a bloke whistling in my head all day long. I wouldn't mind, but I don't like the tune.
It's the 'One-note Samba."

Just over three years ago it doubled, and it's no joke. Severe chronic Tinnitus.
Well meaning friends, relatives, say to me
"Yes....I get that sometimes....I just don't take any notice of it, I just ignore it."

They simply do not understand.
Tinnitus is not the same as Severe Chronic Tinnitus.
You wouldn't compare a chilblain to gangrene would you?
So I'm busy researching the best management strategies.

Best wishes everybody xx

What do you think caused it?
I think this unexpected worsening is in the back of every T sufferers mind.
My wife gets T too but doesn't care at all. Says it's all in my head, which is infuriatingly true.
Hopefully yours calms down over time.

 

[Jazzer]

What do you think caused it?
I think this unexpected worsening is in the back of every T sufferers mind.
My wife gets T too but doesn't care at all. Says it's all in my head, which is infuriatingly true.
Hopefully yours calms down over time.

@Gman - "...it's all in your head,"
- typical response from a non sufferer.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Gman - "...it's all in your head,"
- typical response from a non sufferer.

I fully agree with you @Jazzer
Michael

 

[Gman]

@Gman - "...it's all in your head,"
- typical response from a non sufferer.

Well true she is a non sufferer, but in my post I mentioned she does get T. She simply doesn't care or pay any attention to it. She said she's had it since her 20s, before I knew her!

 

[Jazzer]

Yes, unless they have experienced it at its potentially debilitating levels, they do not understand. I had toothaches before but never understood how bad they could get until I needed an emergency root canal. The problem, in my opinion, is the people who have had a "little ringing in their ears", think that is as bad as it gets.

What ever management strategies you find and that work for you please post about them. I am sure many here could benefit from alternative management strategies.

My best approach to this problem so far
@Kolisar

'Expect Tinnitus.'
Don't allow it to come in as a surprise every morning.
Don't allow it to shock us into despair.
We know we've got it.
It's a part of life.
Okay - well so what.
"Easy Dave - hiss is perfectly normal."

Best Wishes mate,

Jazzer xx

 

[Philippe79]

My wife gets T too but doesn't care at all.

Good for her. For some people, it can be like that. But what we are talking about here, is completely different and shouldn't be downplayed...

 

[glynis]

I have to say that mine is to sever with hearingloss but thanks to my lovely duel purpose hearing aids life is a lot better .
Love glynis

 

[Tweaker]

@Tweaker - have you tried melatonin for sleep.
Your doctor will prescribe it for Tinnitus, as Circadin 2ml.
I use a pill-cutter, and take just 1ml at bedtime.
I get about 6 hours sleep on one mil. Amazing.
No side effects whatsoever for me.
Best wishes
Jazzer

I have tried it but not a prescribed formula. I bought from PharmaNord, which should be a good quality. It can help a bit sometimes but only strong meds seem to give me any proper sleep. I may get either no sleep or 3 to 4 hours with melatonin, so of some help I guess. Unfortunately I have a spike at moment from young child screaming very loudly and very high-pitched right next me for a few seconds. The electrical pitches I hear have amplified because of it. Hopefully will improve in a few days.

 

[Jazzer]

I have tried it but not a prescribed formula. I bought from PharmaNord, which should be a good quality. It can help a bit sometimes but only strong meds seem to give me any proper sleep. I may get either no sleep or 3 to 4 hours with melatonin, so of some help I guess. Unfortunately I have a spike at moment from young child screaming very loudly and very high-pitched right next me for a few seconds. The electrical pitches I hear have amplified because of it. Hopefully will improve in a few days.

@Tweaker

I suppose you've tried the self hypnotic suggestions?
I use them if I wake and want to get back to sleep.

 

[Jazzer]

I have to say that mine is to sever with hearingloss but thanks to my lovely duel purpose hearing aids life is a lot better .
Love glynis

Hi @glynis - though I have some high frequency hearing loss, my major problem is definitely Tinnitus. It is unmaskable, and the thought of adding another tone to it is unbearable to me.

 

[glynis]

@Jazzer,
Sometimes White Noise Generators can help set below your tinnitus so your brain works hard to pick up the quieter sound and help your brain not focus on your tinnitus .
I found them helpful.
I now have to wear hearing aids but the relief they give me from my tinnitus and getting my laugh and smile back and to be so happy again is well worth it and wear them with pride love glynis

 

[Jazzer]

@Jazzer,
Sometimes White Noise Generators can help set below your tinnitus so your brain works hard to pick up the quieter sound and help your brain not focus on your tinnitus .
I found them helpful.
I now have to wear hearing aids but the relief they give me from my tinnitus and getting my laugh and smile back and to be so happy again is well worth it and wear them with pride love glynis

@glynis Yes I do have hearing aids but rarely wear them as sudden bursts of noise would bother me.
Happily I can still smile, laugh and joke.
Company is a great diversion isn't it.
Love
Jazzer xx

 

[glynis]

@Jazzer ,
Aww its lovely to hear you can still smile and laugh and joke and I can tell your positivity will keep you going.
Love glynis

 

[Nanny chocolate]

Hi, just been looking at your posts. My long term T has got a lot worse and also now in both ears. Still so very frightening, I can't go back to work yet. I have an ENT appt and I expect I'll be given hearing aids and maskers. It's like pain, nobody can tell exactly what we are going through. Hugs to anyone struggling just now. Eve

 

[Gman]

Good for her. For some people, it can be like that. But what we are talking about here, is completely different and shouldn't be downplayed...

I most definitely am not downplaying it. I'm here aren't I?

 

[Philippe79]

Oh, sorry, my mistake, I must have got confused.. If you look at the title of this thread.. 'Tinnitus isn't the same as severe chronic tinnitus'.. In that case, i'm just really interested to learn the methods used in dealing with this. If you can give me any advice, it would be really appreciated. I didn't realise that maybe it was just a simple case of 'not caring about it' or 'working out, it is just all in my head'. To me, that is very impressive.