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PennyCat
Is gabapentin safe for tinnitus? My psychiatrist really wants me to take it right now because I'm so severely anxious but I'm scared of worsening even more
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RunningMan
Some people get visual snow or other visual symptoms, which may go away if you stop. Some people report it has been very effective for sleep.
PennyCat
@DimLeb It's not 'just' anxiety. It's so severe and debilitating, I can't stop vomiting multiple times a day and crying all day. Nothing is helping. If I don't have the support of medication I don't think I'll be here much longer
B
For what is worth, I have been on Gabapentin for many years without any change in my tinnitus, and it has helped my anxiety. I definitely would keep the dose low, but if you are at your breaking point, a trial of it might make sense.
DorianP
This reactivity is killing me. I can't believe it only started because I paid attention to my TTTS again and built up anxiety. I really hope it gets better.
PennyCat
The thing causing me the most issues rn is dysacusis. I keep getting more distortions over my fan and it gives me a lot of anxiety. Does this usually improve?
PennyCat
I need my fan to sleep but the distortions scare me so much. I've vomited 3 days in a row from anxiety and I can't stop crying all day every day. I don't know how to get through this anymore
Sodlin
Today we drove past a construction site when i was talking to my mom in the car. I held my fingers in my ear while we drove past the site since they were using jackhammer right next to the car and responded to her question. I was like "wow that was loud talking with the fingers in the ears" i know that occulision effect can make it louder but there is no way that can actually be damaging right?
Sodlin
I am not as anxious about the incident anymore but im very irritated since its very hard to not hear it and im also for some weird reason im very sleepy.
imagine doing something so silly that running into a wardrobe could ruin ur entire week... -.-
PennyCat
Okay last post for now. Sorry I haven't replied to everyone, I read all of your messages and appreciate every one, I'm just too overwhelmed to reply a lot of times. Thank you everyone, seriously.
PennyCat
Also, random, but how do you react to posts now?? I only see the like option but sometimes I wanna use a different reaction. I'm not used to the updated site yet lol
DorianP
You have to hover your mouse over the "Like" icon for a few seconds to see all the reactions. It took me a while to figure out as it doesn't seem to work on mobile.
PennyCat
Ah okay @DorianP that makes sense, I only ever come here on mobile and was wondering why I couldn't get it to work
PennyCat
Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone. It means more than you know. I turn 25 in a little less than a month and hope I'll be feeling better by then. I was a scared 22 year old when I first got T. Now I'm a scared near 25 year old… lol
Kam75
I first got tinnitus when I was 21 year old, during my Erasmus exchange program (but it was very mild). So I know what it is to have hearing issues during youth. I'm 34 now, and I have been having exremely disabling tinnitus for 6 years.
PennyCat
I just want someone to help me. But nobody can help with this and I can't help myself
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H
Hey, it's been a while. I don't visit as much as I used to, but I've had plenty of ups and downs—tones that have come and gone. There are occasions when you can fall out of habituation; it's only natural. You're going to have to ride it out; you'll be okay, I promise you.
PennyCat
Hi @Hardwell, long time no see. Thanks for taking the time to write to me. It's oddly comforting seeing some familiar people who were with me at my worst. It's been really hard dealing with the loss of habituation and the new distortions/tones but I'm doing my best to plug along. Hopefully I feel better soon
Kain
Sorry you're going through a tough time at the moment. Even though we can't help you directly, know that all of us know what you're going through and you are not alone. We're all rooting for you.
PennyCat
I genuinely can't get through this. It's worse and worse every day. I don't know what to do. I can't do it I really can't
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Kam75
It's almost the same for me, my tinnitus keeps getting worse each year :cry: Even the strong combination of drugs I take too sleep no longer works (Mirtazapine, Quetiapine, Alimemazine, Melatonin). I'm stuck in my room, losing my mind and my life. This terrible condition took everything from me... I don't want to live like this for the 40 years to come, but I don't want to kill myself neither.
kingsfan
I felt this way the past couple of months after my trip to LA, but through all the negative thoughts, sleepless night, and horrible agonizing anxiety my brain was silently adjusting. I'm already having better days, and even though I do have new tones, I am adjusting to them. I still have trouble when I'm at the store with earplugs in and trying to focus over the new noise, but it's a work in progress.
kingsfan
You'll get there even if you go kicking and screaming.
Sodlin
Well the spike from last incident is here and very loudly, trying to stay calm but very hard. Funny how life was doing really good for 2 weeks and then a idiot incident running into a wardrobe door sets me back to having panic and high anxiety again. Always feels like 1 step forward and 2 steps back with this condition.... Just hoping the spike wont be permanent.
MindOverMatter
This the nature of tinnitus @Sodlin Ups and downs. Dont let the downs get to you too much (easier said than done, I know), and they will usually be way more shortlived. That has been my experience.

Hypervigilance and overfocusing on the spikes make them tenfolds worse.

Remember, this too shall pass.
Sodlin
Thanks for the uplifting spirit. Been 3 days now and its still roaring in one of the ear :/ I seem to never manage to "keep calm" during these spikes and somehow subconcius get anxiety ridden over them. Think i should have learned after all these years!

Yes overfocusing sure makes them worse!
orenge01
Couldn't've said it better myself. 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards is exactly what it feels like :/
DorianP
I've been under a lot of stress over the last few days, and now I'm getting a feeling of ear fullness in my right ear, accompanied by a very strong reactivity to everything. It's so bad I can't focus on anything. What am I supposed to do in this situation?
PennyCat
Can severe anxiety cause a spike/cause new tones to appear? And can those said tones go away again once anxiety settles or am I fucked forever now with a new perma worsening from my anxiety?
D
In my experience, extreme anxiety can absolutely cause tinnitus spikes and potentially new sounds, and they can also settle down and go away too, but it usually takes a while---potentially months even after the anxiety is gone.

Things can absolutely get better, but you need to get your head right, and then just wait for slow improvements. That's my experience as someone with extreme anxiety (and OCD too).
Kam75
It is often said that anxiety make tinnitus worse, but I'm not so sure whether this is true. I take as an example the fact that two years ago, I stressed enormously and continuously for at least 2 months (for a personal reason that had nothing to do with tinnitus), and this didn't aggravate my tinnitus or prevent me from sleeping.
Sodlin
Agree with DD314. Can take a long while after the anxiety is over before it goes back to normal
Tom Okay
Damn those cars and tucks. I was walking down a pedestrian street a truck wanted to drive past and honked right in my ear. Got really anxious and angry. Now my ears are screaming louder than ever (it seems… I hope it's just my alerted nervous system giving fodder to the tinnitus).
Sodlin
Been there done that. Its so annoying that people must for some reason keep making loud noise. i spiked a couple of time bc of carhorn but i think its mainly because ive been "panicked" about the situation.
Sodlin
Havent been in here much since ive been having some really great weeks. Today it was a loud sound. I had 2 wardrobe doors open next to eachother and by accident when going in smacked one of them with my shoulder so they banged against eachother making a very loud sound. Measured to 109-111 DB and it was right next to my ear :/ Hope i wont spike.
kingsfan
It seems like you spike easily but haven't had any permanent increases, is that right?
Sodlin
Yes i do spike easily i also can "change" the TT alot with neck, jaw etc. (if i bend over to pick something up with earplugs for example i get a very loud HUMMMMMMMM). ive had some some increases but those have been PROPER loud sound like concert without earplugs, muffler explosion etc. Its hard to say if it gets louder or not alot of the times from these "normal loud sounds" but most tend to get back to baseline.
orenge01
We seem to be quite similar in the fact that I also didn't use this site at all because I was generally doing fine, but now with this mega spike I'm back here again. So it goes. Hopefully this passes soon, I'm tired of this monthly emotional rollercoaster which is T :/
I'm glad you got a lot better from this spike though :)
Kain
Had orientation for college on Monday and had to sit in a gym. Luckily, I was somewhat accommodated and they let me stay outside until it actually began (the announcer was rallying up the students before hand) and I got to leave a little before it ended to avoid the cheering as they called each major. It was such a long and loud day but so far i'm feeling okay! 🙂
PennyCat
The more I freak out, the worse my T gets (or seems). And then I freak out more. And then it gets worse. I threw up 3 times today from anxiety. I'm worried I won't get thru this this time
PennyCat
I've been crying on and off all day with some severe panic attacks. Woke up in a cold sweat due to anxiety as well. I don't know what to do :( My OCD about my T is killing me
BrOKeN_1
Find an outlet asap. Do something. Anything to distract yourself from obsessing. Otherwise you will only continue to spiral. Try meditation and light masking before sleep. And when you wake get moving immediately. Clean. Walk. Watch cat videos on YouTube. Anything but sitting with destructive thoughts about T. This method helps me. Expect the cat videos.. I'm more of a dog person. Lol. 🙂
delta784
hey varda methylprednisolone Iv damaged my brain how can i live like this im stupid i read that you were right science never created harm free medicine im so dumb should've taken pill version %100 instead of IV i dont know why i did that why everyday im asking this. my quality of life f'ed i have visual snow syndrome terrible tinnitus ear pain because of this poison
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delta784
i used iv not oral im stupid
Varda
IV steroids to treat hyperacusis? That seems pretty unusual. I usually see reports of it being injected into ear drum for ear related issues. You are not stupid. Doctors are over-glorified. People are not aware that doctors are incompetent and do not care about you. They only care about billing your insurance company as much as possible.
delta784
i had very very mild t and mild loudness h then i had ear pain in right ear which was going away anyway i panickled fluid leaked from my right ear then she gave me iv prednisolone instead of oral pills. which break my blood brain barrier affected my brain. I am just plain stupid to trust these incompetent f*s im only 29. I didnt even smoked in my life but at the same time iv steroids given too many people idk
C
Hi @billie48, yours is the first story I came across that has given me a shred of hope. I can't be away from a specific rain sounds video without my head and ears hurting and vibrating from the shrill. Did you get this type of pain in the beginning? Thank you 🤍
billie48
I had severe hyperacusis that couldn't handle most sounds, including conversations spoken too close to me, feeling ear pains like being drilled. Many people experience hyperacusis or reactive tinnitus and it eventually fade away within a year. I had hyperacusis twice and both times they faded.
delta784
how old are you
mandyc
Im 53. My scalp actually feels like it is on fire. Im really scared that this wont stop. I had a migraine a few days ago too. Not sure if taking an antihistamine known to help with sleep has made things worse
SpiralPath
Hey! You perfectly describe the feeling I have. When you can continue your life but it's colorless and joyless. I think I'm not cut out for that too. This is just against all my live principles. It feels like some highly intelligent creature created this condition with all it's sadism and cleverness in order to punish us and see we suffer. This condition is too evilly smart.
S
Sorry to hear you've joined us on this crappy journey... your introduction story remarkably reminds me quite a lot of my life. It doesn't sound like your tinnitus is too horrendous but Yup! I don't intend to reach old age living like this, it may be okay for some but it's not for me. At the moment, I'm just enjoying what time I have left doing everything I still can within my means.
D
I cannot agree more with that statement. Add to the mix ear fullness, spasms, dysacusis etc, and you've got the perfectly evil punishment.
PennyCat
I miss all of my friends from here, you all always encouraged me to keep going when I didn't think I could. I really need that right now. IDK how to do this all over again.
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BrOKeN_1
Wash Rinse Repeat

It's how it goes with this condition. You will manage as before I believe. It can certainly be soul crushing when you feel like your starting from scratch agian. But generally you will manage. And even though it seems rough now. It doesn't usually take as long as the first time around. SPIKES ARE HELL.
PennyCat
@SpiralPath @tpj Thank you both. I'm having a really hard time right now. A bunch of distortions that previously settled/lowered are back with a vengeance, I'm sure due to my anxiety. I just want to get thru this :(
PennyCat
@BrOKeN_1 Thank you :( I guess I didn't really think of this as a spike but it makes sense. All of my spikes have been permanent increases, but this seems like just a falling out of habituation. Although now that my anxiety has been elevated for a while, my tinnitus does seem much worse and seem to be spiking.
PennyCat
I don't understand how I managed to fall out of habituation so randomly and suddenly. Every little sound is freaking me out. I can't stop listening to the orchestra of tones no matter how hard I try ;(
kingsfan
I think even the most subtle increase in tinnitus can cause our nervous systems to go on high alert
PennyCat
@kingsfan Last week my T didn't actually seem any worse, I was just more aware of it. But now it seems much worse, altho my guess is it's because of how anxious I've been. My nervous system is definitely on high alert. I'm having panic attacks left and right
kingsfan
This is highly anecdotal, but were you having other stressors in your life previously that you have now cleared up? Strangely, my tinnitus always seems to be less of a bother when I have another immediate stressor (fire to put out). I do believe I have undiagnosed ADHD though.
S
Getting there. Slowly, but I am starting to feel like my old self again. (Before the nightclub 3 months ago,not before the first accident 6 years ago) Still, my T gets worse when around sounds or I talk out loud. But I actually sing again in the mornings. Haven't done that in months.
weehiru
Now why did I get a noise increase from a comedy show of all things? Frustrating. Taking it as it comes. Hiss hiss hisssssssssssss
Pixelito
Hey there, buddy. Did you have hearing protection? Comedy shows are loud places. I don't go anywhere where there is going to be applause. Please be careful. Spikes mean more damage. More damage is trouble down the road.
weehiru
Hi @Pixelito , didn't see this until now. No I didn't.. many times I had to plug my ears with my fingers. Even a year on from exposure hyperacusis has only gotten worse for me. I've learnt my lesson now though, I usually don't go anywhere fun without some foam earplugs.
Pixelito
I recommend seeing an audiologist and getting yourself some good molded earplugs. It seems like you still like to go out to loud places, you want the best protection possible. Best of luck, my friend. And protect, protect protect, your ears.
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