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Original poster

Does anyone have tinnitus?

82 replies

ILikeToBeBesideTheSea · 30/12/2020 09:12

I 'acquired' tinnitus about three months ago. Unsure of cause, different noises in each ear and a general head noise. I'm struggling with my 'new normal' (sorry, hate that phrase) I've read it can improve/you can get used to it so you don't hear it so much anymore. Can't imagine me getting to that point. Getting sick of it being the first thing I hear or think about when I wake up to it being the last thing I think about. It's affecting my life big time but I don't want it to. I worry it will get worse.

OP posts:
maverickallthetime · 30/12/2020 09:12

My daughter does and they said they won't do anything to help her 😔

Veiaola · 30/12/2020 09:15

My DH has it, sometimes are better than others, he tries to leave radio on to mask it. He has found loud noises can trigger it.

Original poster
ILikeToBeBesideTheSea · 30/12/2020 09:20

@maverickallthetime I don't think there is anything they can do, that's what I've been told also.

OP posts:

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General health
NastyBlouse · 30/12/2020 09:24

DH gets it. Started this year, so we think it’s stress-related. A doc suggested one of those nose things for Eustacian tubes but it didn’t make much difference.

He spent his youth listening to music too loud so he’s worried it’s permanent. That said, it comes and goes. Seems worse when his sinuses are inflamed. White noise helps tune it out.

earlydoors42 · 30/12/2020 09:27

I've had it way over 20 years and it doesn't bother me. My dad has it and got hearing aids with blockers so they may be worth a go. Get the GP to refer you to audiology.

Sensitivefuneralchange · 30/12/2020 09:30

I have it too like you OP for the last few months. Not sure what to do. Annoying. Worse at night when quiet. Also sensitive painful ears with headphones. unsure if related.

Cruddles · 30/12/2020 09:32

I have it but not enough to have any medical remedies. I have noticed it's only prominent when I'm tired or stressed so i try and think of it as my body telling me there's something that needs to be improved. When things are good it's not really there

afaloren · 30/12/2020 09:35

I’ve had it for the last seven years. You get used to it. I sleep with a fan on which drowns it out. I got it after a particularly nasty bout of proper flu.

MarcelineMissouri · 30/12/2020 09:37

Yes I have had it permanently in one ear for about 2 years now. I used the be obsessed with it and it really made me feel anxious and depressed. 2 years later I find it much easier to tune out. I have been given hearing aids (as I also have some hearing loss) that also block tinnitus by playing low level sounds - I have the sound of waves. This are amazing. But I can not wear them and still be ok. I also have sleep sounds playing when I go to sleep and all through the night which definitely helped too.

It does get easier.

The elderly wife of a friend has tinnitus which causes her to hear Christmas songs all the time! Now that must be weird.

ElfIsAnAss · 30/12/2020 09:44

I've had it 9 years. Found it very distressing for the first year or so. I found bird song/water/ocean noise helped at night. White noise apps are supposed to be good too but they made me feel ill!

I always have the radio on if I'm home alone so I don't notice it so much nowadays. I haven't needed noise/music at night for a few years now.

Mine gets louder if I'm stressed or upset and I get headaches quite often too. It doesn't bother me most of the time now as I'm used to it.

Original poster
ILikeToBeBesideTheSea · 30/12/2020 09:48

Has the noise improved/faded for anyone? So hard to accept that 'this is it' now. I'm only 35.....

OP posts:
SaltyAF · 30/12/2020 09:50

Hearing aids are used to 'treat' tinnitus (more as a distraction technique really).

CC2021 · 30/12/2020 09:54

I have it. Was just going to mention hearing aids too. Also if it effects your sleep, you can get little speakers that go under your pillow and you can play music / white noise / audiobook or something through it as a form of distraction.

Unfortunately it really is just a case of learning to live with it - distraction, mindfulness, support groups. Also download the Resound Relief app which helps with distraction.

Mbear · 30/12/2020 09:55

It is worth speaking to your GP about, I’ve developed this over the last 6 months. I’ve been referred to audiology (goodness knows when I’ll be seen/spoken to) as mine is uneven, so this is a precaution.
I find it so hard to describe the noise though to others, and I have different sensations as well - I have no idea if this is normal. So the other night we were building IKEA wardrobes and my ears were almost vibrating with every bang and wotnot (metal sliding door frames). I sometimes feel like I’ve been swimming and it hasn’t emptied yet!

Peckhampalace · 30/12/2020 09:59

I have had a whistle in one ear off and on for years. Mostly don't notice unless I think about it and it is worse when tired/stressed. I got used to it so it fades into the background. As pp if it becomes obvious I need to take better care of myself for a few days until it fades again.

ElfIsAnAss · 30/12/2020 10:06

@ILikeToBeBesideTheSea

Has the noise improved/faded for anyone? So hard to accept that 'this is it' now. I'm only 35.....
I was the same age as you getting it....I had a massive panic attack which triggered it. Husband is an audiologist and has said it's very rare it's treatable. You do get used to it.

The trick is not to think about it. Easier said than done I know but it works! Try the white noise apps/music/radio. Sitting in silence makes it more obvious.

ElfIsAnAss · 30/12/2020 10:07

It's not faded or improved at all and as I said in pp, it gets worse if I'm stressed but you will learn to live with it.

BumbleBeegu · 30/12/2020 10:11

Yes I have it in both ears. I've had it for 15 or so years...I'm now 56 so probably a similar age to you when it started. My dad also had it, and I believe it can be hereditary (although not always) and my brother also has it...so clearly in our family it is 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Firstly...try not to stress about it as this will exacerbate it. My 'noise' gets louder/buzzier the more stressed I am. Also if I'm unwell it's worse, which isn't helpful, but good to know in advance so you can account for it happening.

Second...as you know, there's no cure and it won't get better, but there are ways of managing it. Some days I rarely register my 'buzz' as I have learnt to block it out. It's always there...but I can tune it out. It takes time to do this though and you will need to learn your own ways of coping. There are lots of support groups online that will help you.

Third...you can try external devices to help. I have tried a hearing aid (I do also have a 20% partial hearing loss in one ear) but this didn't really help me so I don't use it. It does help some people though. What I do find helpful is listening to background noise when I'm going to sleep (which is when my tinnitus feels much louder). I ask Alexa to play 'sleep sounds thunder storm' which is like a white noise background sound. I've tried a few different noises but this one works for me. There are hundreds to choose from! I sometimes have to play this when I'm working too if my buzz is too loud 🤦‍♀️

Hope this helps 💐

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 30/12/2020 10:18

Covid has left me with a near constant ringing in my ears. No idea if it connected remedied or not. Learning to live with it. 😕

MadamFlutterby · 30/12/2020 10:18

Yes, me too. Perfectly OK until around 3 months ago. I'm 55 - not sure if that's relevant.

My doctor has been fabulous and conducted a series of blood tests just to rule out anything underlying. My blood pressure is on the high side which is unusual for me so maybe its connected?

I'm also waiting for for an opthalmic appointment at hospital and was referred via my optician who discovered optic nerve pressure behind both eyes - not sure if the tinnitus is related?

Its so frustrating isn't it?

For me hot showers seem to offer a short period of relief.

Original poster
ILikeToBeBesideTheSea · 30/12/2020 10:18

Thanks for all your advice. I suppose the thing I need to take away from this is that I've got it for life and need to crack on and accept it. Hard pill to swallow. The only thing that was giving me hope was that the noise in my right ear comes and goes and the noise in my left ear can sometimes be so quiet I can hardly hear it but then can ramp up again later in the day. Changes pitch with jaw movement/swallowing/yawning too which is weird.

OP posts:
Original poster
ILikeToBeBesideTheSea · 30/12/2020 10:20

In fact the quietest period is generally when I first wake up - it's almost like I haven't got it but then soon kicks in.

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 30/12/2020 10:21

I do, I have constant ringing in my ears. I have got used to it over the years, I generally don't notice it.

MacDuffsMuff · 30/12/2020 10:21

I've had it for 28 years and unless the tone changes, which it does from time to time, I don't notice it much. I am now because I read this thread but when I do something else it'll go back to 'normal'.

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