I've had tinnitus for 5 weeks, think it's getting worse. So scared.

[FeatherySquawkington]

I'm not coping very well with the fact this is probably permanent. I have two noises, one a middle pitched tone that fluctuates slightly up and down and a constant very high pitched noise. I think the high pitched noise is getting louder. Got an ENT appointment next week but fully aware there is nothing they can do really. I don't want this forever 😭

[Zebrahooves]

Have you seen your doctor?

I have permanent tinnitus, high pitched, whistling constantly.

The trick is to try to ignore it. I listen to podcasts on a night, have the radio on low etc.

I would love to hear silence, it it is not to be.

[FeatherySquawkington]

@Zebrahooves Do you know what caused yours?

[FeatherySquawkington]

GP couldn't see anything obvious wrong. Dentist said jaw muscle quite tight, probably due to clenching.

[InDubiousBattle]

I had some tinnitus counselling and it was really helpful, has anything (even remotely)been offered?

[InDubiousBattle]

Is it in both ears?

[FeatherySquawkington]

No, nothing offered. Was just given a print off info leaflet.

[FeatherySquawkington]

Definitely noise coming from left ear, high pitched sound feels like it's in my head, mainly right side but hard to tell really.

[ramblingsonthego]

I have a fan on all night which helps distract from the tinnitus. The more you think about it the louder it becomes. It is shit, mine started after a ruptured ear drum and it is now permanent.

[Hayeahnobut]

I've had it for years. You do learn to live with it. As others have said, don't look for silence, definitely don't use earplugs, background noise helps.

[TheBitchOfTheVicar]

I have made my peace with mine; at points early on I wanted to cut my own head off!

Podcasts in bed help me sleep.

[chomalungma]

It's such a weird thing.

The sound is 'always there' but you can learn to ignore it - so is it 'still there' when you don't notice it?

[FeatherySquawkington]

The sound in my left ear is actually very easy to mask so I don't actually notice it until I go to bed an even then I can easily 'not hear' it. It's the high pitched constant static noise that I'm struggling with, can't really cover it up and very intrusive.

[Whattheworldneedsnowislove]

I've had mine for years, it is loud but like others, I have learned to tune out of it during the day. It now only drives me mad if I wake in the night.

Mine gets worse with stress or when I am anaemic.

[lifestooshort123]

Join the Tinnitus Support Group UK on Facebook - I've been a member for years and you can vent and moan about T and there will always be some support on there. There are recommendations re white noise, hearing aids and how to habituate. Good luck - I've had mine 10yrs plus and just call it an unwelcome lodger now!

[saraclara]

My GP referred me to the local hospital for investigations and counselling. There was no obvious cause (which I expected) but the counselling was helpful and I was given a machine which creates different masking sounds.

Mine is reasonably ignorable, thank goodness (the classic high pitched sort). I'm only really hearing it now because I'm thinking about it. I do dread it getting worse, but so far (two years on) it hasn't.

[bellalou1234]

My tinnitus started about 2 years ago high pitch sound that comes and goes.. mine comes and goes and has gone for a bit

[FedUpAtHomeTroels]

I've had it for over 20 years, it used to be quieter. But has become louder with time. Dh moans I have the TV on for background noise all the time, but it helps me.
At night I sleep on my good ear and the noise seems to drown out anything else, so I can sleep through rain and storms no problem.
I've never had mine cchecked with the doctor as I just figured nothing could be done about it. Mine is high pitched like an electrical sound. Ds is 26 and has started to have the same thing.

[Snowpatrolling]

I’ve had mine since I was 5 so 30 years. I have a mix of sounds. It’s horrendous! Like others said you do learn to live with it and find coping mechanisms. Like another person I always have tv/radio on in the background. On low, if I put the radio or tv on to loud, when it’s turned off my tinnitus is worst.
I’ve had episode where I’ve crumbled to the floor as it’s become to much to bear. But on the whole I cope.
I’m waiting for my 4th lot of tinnitus counselling but been postponed due to corona.
I got to say my hearing aids actually help a ton!!! There’s a kinda white noise going on so been ok in the days.

[FeatherySquawkington]

How long roughly did it take people to get used to it or at least not be too bothered by it?

[RosesforMama]

My tinnitus was magically cured by a root canal in a tooth that was cracked....I had lived with it for about 3 years...

[FeatherySquawkington]

I went to the dentist, he didn't find anything wrong with my teeth. I do have an impacted wisdom tooth but it's not causing any issues so he advised to leave it alone.

[ginghamstarfish]

I've had it for about 10 years, it doesn't bother me much as I guess I've just got used to it. Yes it is more noticable when you're in bed or suchlike, but doesn't bother me. I was upset at first, for a while, but thought I'd just have to accept it and live with it. There are far worse things.

[RosesforMama]

Impacted wisdom teeth can apparently cause tinnitus...

[joanwinifred]

I'd get the impacted wisdom tooth taken out, as that definitely can cause it.

[Icenii]

I've just had it for a week. My hearing feels bunged up too. I had really bad compacted wax 2 years ago and wondering whether it has gotten bad again already. But my jaw and neck also hurts and headache in my temples. Worried I have jaw issues and it won't go away too. Hope you get it sorted.