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Mental health

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Original poster

Suicidal because of severe tinnitus

20 replies

Texarkana67 · 22/03/2023 02:32

As the title says really. Got hearing loss and tinnitus after having microsuction on my left ear last May. Lost two stone in weight in two months, still can barely eat, haven't eaten a meal since last May. Been house bound since July, the tinnitus has really ramped up since about September, it's a hissing and extremely loud droning like a vehicle engine, this never stops and the only relief I get is the few hours sleep a night, I can hear it every where. I'm on mirtazapine reluctantly, supposed to give you an appetite but hasn't with me, I'm barely eating and can't function even struggle with getting washed etc. All this and my partner has serious health issues too. I've been feeling suicidal for months and not seen any improvements in the situation. I spend most of my time in bed, just can't see a good way out of this. Can't even sit down as it makes me feel queasy and restless. I'm so ready to go but not sure how to do it. Sorry just so desperate.

OP posts:

MaggieThatchersFridge · 22/03/2023 02:34

I’m so sorry, that sounds like torture.

I assume you’ve been seen by specialists? What have they said?

SweetCoriander · 22/03/2023 02:40

My hospital’s ENT/Audiology depts run a Tinnitus Clinic where patients have sessions with physicians and therapists/psychologists similar to a Persistent Pain Service. It’s a holistic approach to something that’s living unwelcome in your brain.

You might consider asking your GP to get you on the waiting list for anything like that in your area.

sympathies, OP

AlphaAlpha · 22/03/2023 02:48

A friend of mine has hearing loss and tinnitus, she bought some in-ear hearing aids from boots and they have completely changed her life. Her general well-being, sleep and tinnitus have improved considerably.
They were not cheap (around £2k) but Boots offered a payment plan over a couple of years.

Sunnysunbun · 22/03/2023 05:11

Hearing aids will help and seeing an ENT for support. I have tinnitus and my hearing aids have helped it enormously.

Suzi888 · 22/03/2023 05:18

You need to see an audiologist, have you been seen by a specialist?
It should not be left untreated. Sounds like hell.

Contact your G.P tell them you’re suicidal. Is it possible to go to A&E? The hospital will have audiologists - hope others come on with more helpful advice.

You need to be seen, ring 111 and tell them they may be able to help you.

converseandjeans · 22/03/2023 07:14

That sounds awful. Why did you have microsuction? Can you go back to that department where they did the treatment?

I imagine there's no joy in anything with all that constant noise in your head.

MNHQ

HopeMumsnet · 22/03/2023 10:19

Hi there Texarkana67,
We're so sorry to read that you're still suffering from this tinnitus, and extend our considerable sympathies.
Because you're feeling low, we wanted to flag a link to our Mental Health resources.
You can also go to the Samaritans website, or email them on [email protected]. Support from other Mumsnetters is great and we really hope you will be able to take some comfort from your fellow posters, but as other MNers will tell you, it's really a good idea to seek RL help and support as well. And the hearing aids sound like a potential help?
Fingers crossed that something helps soon.

Eyesopenwideawake · 22/03/2023 11:58

I haven't worked with tinnitus sufferers personally but I know some of my colleagues have. Happy to ask for a specific person to refer you to if you are interested.

KeanuKenunu · 26/03/2023 23:04

Sending hugs and sympathies to you and it makes me a little angry that you have been left feeling like this as your GP should have been working with you to maintain your mental health and help you through the panicky stage so you can start to habituate. Definitely should have fast tracked you to CBT (Cognitive behavioural therapy) for tinnitus. I have tinnitus too and it is challenging, isolating and invisible to others. Your partner being unwell will make you stressed which will make it worse. Staying in bed sometimes is good as you must be relaxed but it will also focus you on it if you are in a quiet place. I can immediately see some positives here to build on. You have someone who loves you and it is one ear. Build up from that. Find a sound which works for you - birdsong helps me - there is a particular video that I play over and over. Use that to distract, distract, distract. Lie down outside instead, breath in the air and the smell of the grass while listening to a distracting sound, anything tiny that is nice for you. Use the CBT training app called OTO which is excellent and has 10 minutes each day when you wake up. It also has sounds. The other good one is 'resounds' which allows you to put a combination of sounds together to suit you. Widex app has some nice tunes on and they are a popular hearing aid. The fact that these apps exist shows how many people have this problem. You are advised to play them just below the level of your tinnitus so it helps habituation. But you may just need to be able to forget about the noise and mask it to give you peace for a while. If you have hearing loss the tinnitus is the frequency of that as your brain is making up for the lost frequency, so a hearing aid may help and you can play sounds through them as well. They play lots of noises in your ear when fitting the aid but I would ask they don't do that as they can be loud. They can just set an aid to amplify your lost frequency then you can gradually wear it and get used to it one hour, two hours and so on. I have phonak hearing aids. Your brain will hear the external sound again which will assist with habituation. My favourite things to eat at the moment are cadbury mini eggs and tunnocks teacakes - buy your absolute favourite items to eat - it doesn't have to be 'real' food. I line these up on my bed tray with the laptop n birdsong playing...., you get the picture...

Life sometimes throws brick walls against us but we can get through it.

cornflakegeneration · 26/03/2023 23:15

I also have tinnitus which used to be horrendous but is now only audible when I'm in a very silent room.

Have you had any tests done? Or any appointments with a tinnitus clinic?

You are not alone in feeling suicidal - I think this is not unheard of in tinnitus patients.

cornflakegeneration · 26/03/2023 23:17

Did you have no tinnitus before the micro suction? Was it definitely this that caused it?

One sided ongoing tinnitus should be investigated.

Littlefish · 26/03/2023 23:36

I had almost constant tinnitus until I started wearing hearing aids.

It's almost completely gone now. I can hear it a little when I take my hearing aids out at night, but I'm asleep really quickly and it goes.

LlamasUnited · 26/03/2023 23:48

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Hang in there, it will get better. It seems unbelievable now I know, but as a fellow sufferer, i can tell you it’s true your perception will adjust. I was left with zero support following diagnosis, but thankfully things did improve and now I only notice it occasionally, and mine was severe. You’ll be ok, just give it time.

Elieza · 26/03/2023 23:58

That sounds awful. Sorry that’s happened to you.

Go back to your GP and explain how horrendous it is. If he won’t do anything wait until later and phone 111.

I went to private acupuncture. Costs around £50-£75 where I am. Helped me a lot. It’s got a good track record for this.

I’m sure I read that tinnitus is why Amelia Earnhardt went up in planes all the time as it drive her mental but the planes drowned out the noise in her ears.

rebekahnorris · 27/03/2023 00:02

I have the same noises as you... I have habituated with the help of the tinnitus association. Please call their helpline

tinnitus.org.uk/
0800 0180527

rebekahnorris · 27/03/2023 13:53

tinnitus.org.uk/how-we-can-help/

HealthyFats · 27/03/2023 14:07

Hi OP,

I also have tinnitus- constant white noise. I'm sure you've already tried everything I'm going to say but thought I would say it just in case. A tinnitus app such as ReSound can be really helpful when you're finding it hard. It can also apparently help you hear your tinnitus less over time as it trains your brain to listen to the sounds and not the tinnitus. For me, ironically, the white noise setting works the best. I also found getting a proper explanation from an ENT consultant of the relationship between the ear and the brain made a big difference as it gave me confidence that I could habituate.

For me, discussion groups haven't been helpful as I find they make me focus on it more but they are helpful for some people.

Who have you been seen by? Sudden onset tinnitus and hearing loss should be investigated properly.

lpeez · 28/03/2023 00:39

for you OP

My DDad was suicidal because of tinnitis too.

Please refuse to be fobbed off and demand to be taken seriously.

Also do try the hearing aid thing and see if it helps.

SummerBloomTune · 21/09/2023 20:05

cornflakegeneration · 26/03/2023 23:15

I also have tinnitus which used to be horrendous but is now only audible when I'm in a very silent room.

Have you had any tests done? Or any appointments with a tinnitus clinic?

You are not alone in feeling suicidal - I think this is not unheard of in tinnitus patients.

Can I ask what do did to get to that stage?.

MsRosley · 22/09/2023 22:27

I've had tinnitus most of my adult life, and it's getting worse. I was saved by reading an article on how to ignore it. Every time you notice the ringing/roaring, distract yourself. Don't allow yourself to dwell on it, and you'll find you're less and less aware of it. It hasn't gone away, but it stops bothering you so much.

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