Tinnitus is pants

[PeskyandIknowit]

I've been getting tinnitus for the last couple of months and it is driving me mad!!! It feels like it's always there, especially when it's quiet. Gp wasn't very helpful and my family don't seem to care when I tell them. Help!!

I have it and it's awful. I'm so sorry you're dealing with it.

Get an Alexa or a noise machine for sleeping. I play thunderstorm sounds every night and it has saved me.

There is no treatment for tinnitus so we just have to manage it. I never sit in a silent room anymore because it's horrible. I always have music playing to cancel out the ringing.

I’ve had it since 2015. It’s sometimes louder than others but it’s always there.
I have to sleep listening to rain sounds on my iPad or Alexa. If it’s too quite all I hear is the ringing. At home I always have the tv or radio on for background noise or the ringing drives me demented. They are the only tips I have I’m afraid. Presumably the GP checked your ears and there’s no build up of wax? Seemingly that can cause ringing. I’ve also read on MN that people have been referred for an MRI with tinnitus, I never have and didn’t know that was a thing in some places. Maybe there are suggestions for coping on tinnitus U.K. sorry you are also suffering, it is pants.

https://tinnitus.org.uk/

You need to ignore it (yes, I know) and your brain will stop noticing it.

I was told that you need to retrain your brain, as what you are hearing is the workings of your ear. That is for me, I don't know about you. I have hearing loss in the same ear as the tinnitus.
I was told not to be in silence have a little noise going on. whether it's the t.v or music. If it's quiet then your brain only has the tinnitus to focus on, where as if you have background sounds it can hopefully stop the tinnitus slightly or completely. It can take a while but it might be worth it. Maybe ask to be referred to the e.n.t department in hospital.

My GP referred me to the hospital at my instance. My tinnitus was mild, but my late husband's extreme tinnitus drove him to a breakdown, and so I desperately wanted to be checked over in case mine deteriorated.

My hearing was checked, I had a neurological test, and then was referred to their tinnitus counsellor who was excellent. She equipped me with a machine that emitted a variety of white noise/relaxing/disguising sounds to help.

Mine has fortunately remained mild, but it helped enormously to be taken seriously and be checked over properly.

Maybe check if any of your local hospitals had a similar clinic, and go back to your GP and be a bit more insistent?

Meanwhile, check every medication you take (even over the counter stuff) for side effects. Even ibuprofen can cause tinnitus.
I'm pretty certain that mine was caused by a course of Naproxen when I cracked a rib. I now avoid any anti inflammatories where I can, and read every drug information leaflet, to avoid making it worse.

Oh it’s horrid isn’t it. I feel like mine was trigged by a Covid jab but it could just be menopause. Mine is worse if I’m dehydrated so I try and keep on top of that. I also feel like it got slightly better with a daily dose of vit B12 (I use a spray). I read there was some evidence for that. But of course it could just be me getting used to it. It is amazing what your brain can deal with. I had some floaters in the centre of my vision which I thought I would never be able to deal with, but now I can’t see them at all. Good luck.

Mine was caused by too many concerts when I was younger, and riding a motorbike without ear protection which is very common.

Look after your ears, and try and encourage your children to also. Tinnitus sucks.

I’ve had it since I was 4, you really do get used to it after a while.

You have to choose not the to listen to it.. listen to your breath, but acknowledge it’s there and choose to focus in your breath.. that helps me not go mad with it

Don’t ignore it, I had pulsatile tinnitus for a year before I saw the gp who sent me for an mri and lumbar puncture which showed I had pressure on my brain ( intracranial hypertension) it’s not always just an annoyance sometimes it’s am indication something isn’t ok

Just now I googled 'tinnitus clinic nhs' and the results seemed to identify a whole bunch of hospitals that offer support. Maybe look to see if any are local to you?

I have it too. Like a PP I think mine is related to long term anti inflammatories. I've stopped taking them and its improved marginally but not gone away. I can distract myself most of the time but at night it drives me crazy - hence my late night Mumsnet habit! No advice sorry, but sending sympathy.

You just reminded me about my tinnitus thanks😆 You're right. It is indeed pants. I find stress and hunger make it worse. Like others have said, you can learn to tune it out.