Your opinion, Dr.

I think we all pretty much agree stress make make T worse. I would appreciate your opinion regarding T being caused by mental and or physical trauma. I have been a diabetic type II since 92, had a heart attack in 98 & again in 2001. In 07 I had colon cancer, they had to remove a foot of my colon. Two years ago I had a 4X bypass. Three months after the bypass the T began. I think/thought I have dealt with these medical issues pretty good. No depression or feeling sorry for myself. Could the above have triggered stressors unbeknownst to me and caused T. Last year I was told I had stage 3 kidney failure. All in all though, I feel pretty good, except for the T. After almost two years now it is still affecting my quality of life...
Age 67

 

Hi @gary -

A significant number of people first become aware of their tinnitus during a time of significant stress or mental trauma in their lives (studying for the bar exam, going through a divorce, during the illness of a loved one, etc.) In that regard some authorities see it strictly as coincidence, while others have come to view stress as a "tinnitus-emerger" - as if the stress uncovers tinnitus that was there all the time. I think the same can be said for physical trauma - because significant physical trauma can and often does induce a stress reaction.

Dr. Stephen Nagler