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Original poster

Tinnitus?

16 replies

elisenbrunnen · 04/03/2022 16:06

Anyone got tinnitus - or more specifically, has anyone alleviated the symptoms?

DP has had tinnitus now for a while, it seems to be stress related, although obvs loud noises trigger it off. He is an electrician and is usually diligent about earplugs when hammering, drilling etc, but if he forgets, or is rushed, it will obvs trigger it, and then he stresses that it is worse and then stresses that he can't sleep... atm he is also stressing that he's taking sleeping tablets to sleep, and they are not for long-term use Hmm
It's doing me in too, he is getting so stressed he was hitting himself on the side of the head to try to stop the noise. That really didn't do any good, but he's just going round in circles.

Dr can't help - DP has had an MRI to check for physical cause, a throat spray to unblock the tubes, olive oil, sleeping tablets and ADs. What have you tried that might help?

OP posts:
givememarmite · 04/03/2022 16:30

I have had tinnitus for years but it has got really bad over the last two year, exasperated by stress. I am not in the UK so I don't know if this kind of treatment would be available there but I had a course of infusions with vitamin B, magnesium and a number of others things I can't remember now! The aim is to improve blood circulation. I also took tablets with a ginkgo extract. It did help alleviate the symptoms and when it gets bad again I take the tablets over a week or so.
It might be worth looking at alternatives like TCM or homeopathy if you can't get anywhere with the GP although I know it's not for everyone.

Re sleeping, I listen to a podcast or just some white noise on an app if I can't get off to sleep. The problem is that the tinnitus is amplified when it's silent around you so seems so much worse at night when it's quiet around you.
I hope he finds something that helps, it's can be so hard to bear at times.

MinnieMountain · 04/03/2022 16:54

I use a white noise app in bed called White Noise Lite. It has lots of sounds, so I use the one with the most similar tone to my tinnitus.

Original poster
elisenbrunnen · 04/03/2022 17:43

Thanks - that's really helpful! He already takes a load of vitamins and pills, marmite and has been on a course of CBT. We are also trying 'meditation' apps, in the hope that he can zone out the noise.
Minnie - i'll look at that app; he used to love the noise from an old machine (condenser) in my house, it was a low hum that seemed to relax him (tho he could have been relaxed because he was with me - we don't live together) and we've never found a white/grey/brown/pink noise similar. I've never had anything like it, but I've said can he not listen to it, like you would listen to crickets, or the waves, or wind? I think the meditation will help with that, in that he can 'embrace' it iyswim.

It's all got to be better than hitting himself round the ears!

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MinnieMountain · 04/03/2022 17:57

I tried embracing the tinnitus. Somehow the artificial noise is less annoying. Maybe because it’s consistent? I keep mine on all night.

nontoxicstuff · 14/02/2023 19:29

My husband has tinnitus and used to be really bad up all night really stressed. he's a lot better at managing it won't go completely but managing is the way. He uses all sorts from meditation to supplements to sound machines, he watches all the videos,. Some talk nonsense and are so fake don t believe half the stuff his main one is the English guy on youtube or the other place that has some info the living tinnitus hope they help someone my husband said at its worst he felt really low.

ArnoldBee · 14/02/2023 19:47

Time, sleep and less stress. The only advice I was given by the NHS was to keep my heart rate low and regular. I am 7 years in and its a lot better to deal with. I use distraction techniques and have the tv on when I'm falling asleep. I have been told by fellow sufferers I will hardly notice it when I hit 10 years!

nontoxicstuff · 15/02/2023 22:37

My husband was told a technique where you actually are supposed to focus on the actual sound of your tinnitus. I asked him where he heard this he couldn't remember, has anyone else heard about this it seems a strange way to me?

ciderhouserules · 16/02/2023 14:39

@nontoxicstuff I had heard this too - the premise seems to be to focus on the tinnitus 'noise' as if it is 'white noise'. So it's like reframing the tinnitus noise as if it was 'waves', or 'wind' or seaside' or whatever.
In the end the focusing seems to be beneficial, as it becomes more a 'comfort' than an 'irritant'.

It won't help my DP, as he is extremely noise-averse. Hates any sort of repetitive or continuous noise, so tinnitus is maddening to him. I think he could do with relaxing and accepting it, as it's not going to go away! I know it's maddening, but him getting maddened by it is not helping! Sleep would help - but of course he spends so long getting noises on his phone/in his earphones, then gets wound up by it all...
He's currently looking at food-causes. Curry apparently. Spices definitely. Hmm Wheat. Sugar. Tea/coffee/chocolate Hmm
I know i seem unsympathetic (and I do get that way) but realistically, it is NOT going to go away. He needs to live with it. It could be worse.

goldielockss · 25/11/2023 03:21

elisenbrunnen · 04/03/2022 16:06

Anyone got tinnitus - or more specifically, has anyone alleviated the symptoms?

DP has had tinnitus now for a while, it seems to be stress related, although obvs loud noises trigger it off. He is an electrician and is usually diligent about earplugs when hammering, drilling etc, but if he forgets, or is rushed, it will obvs trigger it, and then he stresses that it is worse and then stresses that he can't sleep... atm he is also stressing that he's taking sleeping tablets to sleep, and they are not for long-term use Hmm
It's doing me in too, he is getting so stressed he was hitting himself on the side of the head to try to stop the noise. That really didn't do any good, but he's just going round in circles.

Dr can't help - DP has had an MRI to check for physical cause, a throat spray to unblock the tubes, olive oil, sleeping tablets and ADs. What have you tried that might help?

Hi there OP, I know this is an old thread but my husband is currently going through pretty much what you have described here, except had no MRI. Just wondering how he is doing now, over a year on?

Original poster
elisenbrunnen · 25/11/2023 11:11

Hi - well, there is no change; DP has had to accept that the noise will be with his, in some form, for ever. The MRI btw, showed nothing amiss.

Certain things trigger it - chocolate, salt (crisps, nuts etc) , dried fruit... but he found a glass of milk at night, with some sour cherry juice (both aid sleep) and a dram of brandy/whisky helps him sleep better (and avoids that stress!)

I think acceptance of it is a big step towards reducing the stress. The stressing is the worst for it.

OP posts:
mrswhiplington · 25/11/2023 11:45

It took me a while to accept my tinnitus. Stressing over it definitely makes it worse. I've had it for years now and barely notice it. It's a part of me. Mine is probably age related so there's not a lot to be done about it.

Kenwoodmixitup · 25/11/2023 12:01

I live happily with tinnitus. When it started I was beside myself. At that time I couldn’t comprehend ever writing my first sentence.

The key for me is understanding that we have evolved hearing to sense danger. Hence tinnitus triggers such strong reactions because it’s all sited in our evolutionary brain. Once I accepted this, I reduced my reactive rates. Now tinnitus is simply there.

I can have spikes which remind me of the intense feelings. I now have the self-talk to talk myself down.

KnutonHardz · 25/11/2023 12:20

Some great and insightful replies here, that I've shared with my DF. He's really struggled with it in the past months, plus some serious health issues. He's worked in noisy environment most of his life with lots of machinery (in the army, army/construction, farming) and being in a quiet place makes it much worse for him. Thanks for the replies, as it also helps my understanding.

goldielockss · 26/11/2023 22:03

elisenbrunnen · 25/11/2023 11:11

Hi - well, there is no change; DP has had to accept that the noise will be with his, in some form, for ever. The MRI btw, showed nothing amiss.

Certain things trigger it - chocolate, salt (crisps, nuts etc) , dried fruit... but he found a glass of milk at night, with some sour cherry juice (both aid sleep) and a dram of brandy/whisky helps him sleep better (and avoids that stress!)

I think acceptance of it is a big step towards reducing the stress. The stressing is the worst for it.

Thanks. Yes I know this is where we are aiming for too really, and so does he. But at the moment DH is just down the pit of despair a lot of the time and can't get himself out. Interesting about the different foods though. Something to look into I think.

DaisyDoor · 26/11/2023 22:17

I’ve had tinnitus for a few years now. What works for me is very much not listening to it- I was advised that this was the worst thing to do, effectively training your brain to hear it. It’s better to have something else to listen to or to distract yourself in another way.

The other thing that has helped has been trying to accept my tinnitus as part of me caused by my ears and brain trying too hard (age related tinnitus can be m an overreaction to the slightly reduced aural input that comes with age). This shift really helped me- seeing it as a harmless part of me rather than an external thing inflicted on me. I even say “calm down, little ears” when I can’t help but notice it.

Cruelly, there’s nothing worse for tinnitus than worrying about tinnitus- stress can make it worse as can focusing on it. The more ok you can get yourself to feel about it, the better it is likely to get. For someone really struggling it might be worth thinking about CBT.

Original poster
elisenbrunnen · 27/11/2023 13:55

Thank you @DaisyDoor - seeing it as a harmless part of me rather than an external thing inflicted on me this is something Dp really struggles with. He has very much a 'victim' mentality over it - 'Why me?' - and the hitting himself over the ears is really distressing for him (and me!) and ofc does no good whatsoever.

I don't know if the foods actaully trigger it, or whether it is just the way it goes. I don't know if i could give up chocolate, crisps, nuts and dried fruit if it were me, and it may well be that by him cutting these out, the tinnitus will respond louder if/when he does eat them again (so it's a vicious circle, really.).

Calm down, little ears! Love that!

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