To think this tinnitus might go away.

[BadgeringBastard]

I sort of know how this will go, but any glimmers of light… 6 weeks in to sinus infection that’s cleared and left fluid in middle ear. Doctor said it can take 3 months to clear - totally fine but I’m driving myself mad with the tinnitus.

I know loads of tinnitus is permanent but might this go away, given that I haven’t yet cleared the cause? I can’t sleep. And I co-sleep. And I’m literally shaking in my head with anxiety at bedtime. I’m such a mess.

Yes, never bothered me since, over 20 years ago.

@Echobelly That’s the dream!

White noise didn't work well for me, but it is good for lots of people. There are lots of different sorts on Spotify so you may find one that is good for you. What I have trained myself to do is to listen to other noises and ignore the tinnitus sound. Mine is also worse when I lie down. Where I live, there is some traffic noise, so I keep the window open and listen to it. It does work, but it takes a while to train your mind. If you are getting periods with no noise, that is a good sign that it isn't permanent. I don't know if you would consider sleeping tablets for a short while? It made a difference to me as the more tired I was, the more stressed I was about it and the worse the tinnitus was.

@sonjadog Ah good idea but not sure I can take much as still BFing.

I think there is still hope for you that it might go away or drastically reduce when you get over this ear problem (fluid etc).
The problem is that the longer people go with tinnitus, it actually becomes a brain issue rather than an ear issue.
This is proven because people with long term catastrophic tinnitus have had their ear nerve severed through surgery in an attempt to cure the tinnitus, and they could still hear it even though there should be no way for them to continue to hear it. The problem is originated in the ear, but affects the brain in the auditory cortex.

I have had it since 2015, I think due to damage from in-ear headphones played at silly levels while on the treadmill. Unfortunately for me it never went away, started in the left ear then spread to the right ear too.
I've had a brain scan to check for a tumour, and apart from ruling that out there is little that can be done apart for habituation - which basically means getting used to it.
When I was told this at the height of the problem, I was devastated and went to some very dark places. I just could not imagine living with this noise forever and never hearing silence again.
But over time, I began to think of it less and less, and I really only think of it when someone mentions tinnitus or I read something about it.
I manage at night with a pair of "earphone headband" headphones (sleep phones that are stitched into a flat headband so that you can sleep with it on and it's comfortable for lying on your side) and a tiny tiny noise machine that has a sound card with all different kinds of white noise and gentle noises that is actually proven to help you sleep). I play it all night. Here's a link to the machine:
Worlds Smallest Sound Machine - Tinnitus : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal
Care

It's been a game changer for me for sleep.
During the day try to keep the TV or radio on at a low background volume.
And whatever you do, DON'T keep going into quiet rooms to listen and "check" for it - the more power you give it, the worse it will get.
Think of it like a candle flame; a candle flame in a room full of lights and noise and distractions seems very small and insignificant, but take that same candle flame in a dark room with nothing else there, and that candle flame is the ONLY thing you will be able to see. Tinnitus is like that - it is a minor inconvenience when you get used to it with life's many distractions, but if you feed it, it can grow into a monster and become the only thing in the room.

You WILL get through this whatever the outcome is.
Stop Googling about it and don't feed the monster.

Good luck

Try acupuncture. It worked for me.

@HootyMcBooby That is all so incredibly useful and so kind of you - thank you so much. I’ll be saving this. Already trying to tune it out - so interesting re: the severed nerve!

I’ll give it a shot @Elieza. How long were you suffering before it stopped?

I had a sinus infection that took months to clear and I couldn't take anything due to pregnancy. The ringing did stop eventually. Fingers crossed for you.

@TickyBooo Yep sounds familiar! Thanks so much.

try swimmers ear med

Great post. That is exactly how I have approached my tinnitus. I've had it for about 9 years now. Most of the time I barely notice it, then I'll be reminded about it and it's as loud as ever. Stress definitely doesn't help. I've accepted that it's a part of me now and that definitely helps.

Mine is worse when I think about it, sometimes I forget about it altogether for many hours.
I find sleeping with head slightly raised is better, also drinking plenty of water seems to help.

Acupuncture fixed it first time for me but it did come back later once the phlegm built up again.

But the difference was amazing.

I had a different cause from you though but acupuncture does things western medicine can't do perhaps it can fix your issues too. Defo worth a go if you can afford it. £45 to £60 where I am.

I've had tinnitus for as long as I remember, as a child I just thought everyone had it. I suppose because it's always been there it doesn't bother me at all.

It’s probably still inflamed and swollen, given that it’s still popping. It can take months to settle down.

I got tinnitus from Covid. I am used to it and it doesn’t bother me much, but what’s funny is as soon as I read the title of your thread I could hear my ears whistling and it’s getting louder the more comments I read!

I've been to the drs about this this week as it's been continuous for two weeks. It turns out I have an ear infection and now on antibiotics. Could yours he that?

Yes, me too! I have noticed this before that when I talk about it, I seem to start focusing on the sound, and it gets louder.

I’ve had tinnitus for 30 years, which developed during a bad ear infection, and am able to ignore it most of the time; if you focus on it then it seems louder. If I have a bad cold or ear infection then it does play up but then recedes again.

If you are finding it worse lying down at night then get lots of pillows to prop you upright and try and sleep in a semi-upright position. I used to have to do this when I had years of very chesty coughs and would cough until I vomited when lying down. It’s not a particularly comfortable way to sleep and you will probably keep waking up if you slump sideways, but sometimes it’s needs must. Also play some white noise sounds for distraction.

You’re all brilliant. Not bad for a nest of vipers 😉 (I’m “new” here but also many usernames old). The pressure is definitely shifting I think. Had good periods of it not being there today but then as soon as I lie down in the quiet, it’s back. Hopefully once the fluid had shifted for good it’ll be cleared.

It was an ear infection I think - many weeks ago - and I did get some penicillin but now it’s the stubborn fluid and ETD I think. Hopefully on its way out.

I’ve had tinnitus for as long as I can remember .. I didn’t actually realise the noises I have were not normal until covid - I commented to my dh about how silent it was at nights (when we weren’t allowed out, no traffic etc) .. I passingly said well silent apart from the permanent buzzing/ringing - he was clueless as to what I meant, after further chat, I discovered that having constant noises/ringing/pitches in my ears/head, was not, in fact, experienced by everyone!

I imagine yours should go OP given that it was brought on by an infection initially 🤞🏻

I had horrendous tinnitus for 3-4 years after starting an anti-depresent drug.

Bizarrely what stopped mine was after the first COVID jab! I have no idea if there's a link?

@TwixOwl Oh god you must’ve been delighted!