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Original poster

Tinnitus... Help!

14 replies

MakingPlans21 · 14/04/2021 20:53

Partner has tinnitus. Developed in recent years and seems to be worsening. Any tips? Anything you have tried that made it better, even if only temporarily or lessened rather than fixed it? Thank you.

OP posts:
Whoopsies · 14/04/2021 20:55

White noise helps me to sleep at night when nine is particularly bad. Also good ear hygiene, I have drops I use regularly as my tinnitus is much worse when they are blocked with wax.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/04/2021 20:57

Sadly, there's really nothing you can do about it aside from using methods to distract you from it. Background music helps. I have Alexa play thunderstorm sounds at night and it helps massively. I can sleep soundly without being disturbed by the ringing in my ears.

student26 · 14/04/2021 21:02

When watching tv or at night time I put rain sounds on as it masks it pretty well. Lots of white noise or other normal background noises. I really feel for him. I’ve had tinnitus since 2013.

ThornAmongstRoses · 14/04/2021 21:07

My tinnitus is awful at the moment - it’s gotten worse over the last month.

I’ve been referred to ENT/Tinnitus clinic and will also be having a hearing test.

The fact I’m constantly surrounded by noise probably doesn’t help.

meadowbreeze · 14/04/2021 21:07

I have it and I have found sleeping on one side is better than the other. If I sleep on my left it makes me block that ear and it's sooo much louder. We have just had really loud neighbours move in and it's so frustrating. If I plug my ears the tinnitus is so loud, if I don't the neighbors are sigh.
I have menieres disease so it used to come and go but sadly seems to have stayed after my last episode.
Have your DH look at the menieres disease diet. It often works well for tinnitus. A large part is salt intake. Not less or more just an even amount daily as jumps does cause it to get worse.

Original poster
MakingPlans21 · 14/04/2021 21:11

@meadowbreeze that’s interesting about ear plugs making it worse. Partner has found that wearing one sometimes can help as it’s a different, sometimes lesser, sound. Sorry you’re suffering with tinnitus and noisy neighbours. Nuisance neighbours are the worst!

OP posts:
meadowbreeze · 14/04/2021 21:19

@makingplans21 he needs to play around with whatever helps. I am a fairly young sufferer (28) and it started when I was 23 so I had all sorts of MRI scans to figure out the issue was and tons and tons of advice. The thing that's helped me the most is no alcohol. Honestly it's hilarious but when I go out I will have a drink and no more and my friends will say oh X's ears are screaming she can't have anymore. People think I'm crazy but it really has a massive effect on it for me so I avoid it at all costs. Regular water too. (men are particularly bad at this). Stress can be a huge trigger too. He will figure out what works and doesn't. Sometimes people experience flare ups too. Unless he has it due to trauma to the ear eg loud blast etc than I would definitely look at diet(salt and alcohol)/water intake and exercise.

Original poster
MakingPlans21 · 14/04/2021 21:20

It was possibly caused by a cotton bud. But has worsened since then.

OP posts:
Pottedpalm · 14/04/2021 21:26

I have tinnitus. I also suffer from glue ear frequently and as a pp said, sleeping on one side is better than the other for me. I find the tinnitus varies considerably from day to day; sometimes I’m hardly aware of it, other days it’s very intrusive. I have the radio on all day.
I do find that it helps to keep well hydrated, lots of water.

meadowbreeze · 14/04/2021 21:31

Ok if your husband likes cotton buds- I don't blame him! I have found that I get the same satisfaction but none of the danger by ( warning this is grim) scraping the inside of my ear with the back of a tweezer. It is the perfect shape for it and smooth enough not to hurt you but sharp enough for a nice scratch. I'm so sorry for the gross suggestion but I wipe it on a tissue, helps with the tinnitus as it keeps it clean and it's the closest feeling to a cotton bud I've been able to find.

AramintaLee · 14/04/2021 21:33

Apparently taking vitamin B12 helps but I think it depends on how you got tinnitus. I got it from chemotherapy and nothing will cure it.

I have an app called Beltone Tinnitus Calmer which has a range of sounds to help distract from the constant ringing sound. I sometimes use it to fall asleep. I always choose the sound of rainfall and thunder and it definitely works. My boyfriend also quite likes falling asleep to it and he doesn't have tinnitus lol.

If it's any consolation, you do get used to it (at the least majority of people) I don't actually "hear" the ringing until I think about it. Like I haven't noticed it at all today until I saw this thread and now it's all I can hear.

Original poster
MakingPlans21 · 14/04/2021 21:34

@AramintaLee sorry! Hope you can take your mind off it ASAP!

OP posts:
meadowbreeze · 14/04/2021 21:34

@AramintaLee hahaha same! It's making me think of all my tricks to get rid of it and I keep coming back to this thread.

AramintaLee · 15/04/2021 08:50

[quote MakingPlans21]@AramintaLee sorry! Hope you can take your mind off it ASAP![/quote]
Hope your partner is able to find some relief and that it is just a temporary thing Smile

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