Tinnitus driving me insane!

[greensmurf]

I've always slept and been able to get to sleep really well. At the moment the tinnitus is driving me f*ing mad. All I hear when trying to get to sleep is a low buzzing noise.

It mostly coincides with my neck pain and headaches. Apparently there is no cure cure or medication for it, is this right?

Many thanks.

I am posting because I think my dodgy neck and tinnitus are connected. I go to a chiropractor and often the tinitus will reduce after a visit. I can also reduce the volume of the false sound by moving my head, lowering the pillow hieght slightly. You have my sympathy - my tinitus ( I hear my own pulse but it started as rumbling) has got really loud recently and higher pitched and I wake from dreams with people screaming because it is so loud it gets into my dreams!
You should see your doctor to rule out other causes of the tinnitus.

Meant to say yes there is no quick fix cure BUT there ways to manage it. You may need referral to an ENT clinic.

Hi magso

It's awful isn't it! I can get it any time, I am mostly aware of it when I'm trying to get to sleep, when my neck is at it's stiffest or when I'm having a good day with my joints. I do think it's connected tho. It started at around the same time as my joint probs back around June time.

Thanks for the tips, I will try those.

Is it just your neck you have problems with?

I see a rhuematologist about my joints next month, so I will mention it.

No I have arthralgia and malagia but the tintitus is older than both these problems. I have a DX of CFS/ME. I have had tintitus for many years and a painful neck for even longer. I do hope yours can be helped.

How was your arthralgia and malagia diagnosed and how does it affect you?

Can't spell can I? Myalgia I mean. Myalgia (muscle pain) and arthragia ( joint pain) are symptoms not a diagnosis in themselves. I was very ill with pneumonia 2 years ago and have had swollen joints etc ever since. I saw a rheumatolgist who xrayed my hands feet and found not much ( ie joint damage only as it should be no worse) so whatever is causing the pain is not damaging the joints which is good..

Oh so is that classed as reactive arthritis? Hope you manage the pain well. :-)

i have suffered all my life although to be honest i don't really notice it now. My tips:

Do not become dehydrated!!! Always makes it worse
Smoking a no-no, related to dehydration I think....
Avoid loud noises
Do not be in silence!! even an open window or a radio out of tune helps
Try not to listen to it because it DOES make it louder
Stress makes it louder.....

Thankyou. Yes I've noticed that stress makes it louder. I think I'm going to start listening to music in bed. Is yours connected to anything else?

mine was caused by mumps when i was young and i have significant hearing loss also in both ears. It is always a signal to your brain that there is damage somewhere from what i remember being told.....even if it is temporary.

It's a horrid thing and a catch22 if you can't switch off from it I'm afraid.....

mine is a high pitcher 'feedback' squeal. Had it for 10 years. ENT specialist said caused by standing too close to speakers at gigs! Now avoid silence like the plague, often have mp3 player with mini in ear headphones onlow constantly. Sleep is not easy but having the radio onl ow works as does listening to a track called weightless by the marconi union.
Depending on the cause your gp can prescribe some meds for it. i tried them but didnt work.
When stressed I can go completely deaf with it!
You do learn to live with it.
Your ENT specialist will have details of local support groups which do help.

I have it too. Mainly a high pitched loud squeal but sometimes also a lower pitched wooshing sound. Very strange, very distracting, wearing and stops me sleeping Mine is associated with dizziness/ vertigo & nausea. Horrid. Have had 3 different kinds of meds and none stop the tinnitus.

I have it too, it began after a virus. I also have some hearing loss on the same side. You have my sympathy, I was completely freaked out when it started.

It helped me to remember it's just a noise. I notice it more when I'm anxious, tired, drinking(!) and generally run down.

Low background noise does help a bad attack - I hear a kind of low frequency 'burst speaker' sound, and anything with a similar frequency helps, like the server at my work! There is some good advice above, I know there are various bits of equipment that you can buy to help.

YY about talking to your doctor. I had a hearing test, and now have a hearing aid which helps my hearing loss and means that 'normal' sounds mainly cover the sound of tinnitus during the day.

I'm sure I have hearing loss too. Also I woke up with ringing in my other ear this morning and can get ringing after a loud noise.

Anyone else get this?

I used to go gigging and clubbing a lot, and my ears would usually ring for a while afterwards. I notice now that, if I've got any kind of bug that affects my sinuses etc then I sometimes have tinnitus in my left ear too. I don't go gigging so much these days lol.

Have you thought of going for a hearing test?

I should do really shouldn't I?!

I have had tinnitus for years now. I have the White noise constant hiss type with some high pitched whistling thrown in for variety.

But I 'forgot' I had it until I read this thread. Like someone said earlier I don't listen to it now.I tuned in on beginning to read this thread but now it's fading again. Still definitely there but not that noticeable now. I'm finding this fascinating because I know tinnitus is incurable and remember the feeling of dread when I found this out at the start. I thought I would never sleep easily again.

Stress does seem to make it worse and probably dehydration and drinking add to stress rather than reduce it.

Flaming iPod ! Wouldn't let me edit properly

I wanted to add that - this may be quite coincidental though - I had a period of very poor sleeping . Stressed out totally. I was reacting to every slight noise in the night and waking fully after a few hours sleep. I can't remember why now but I decided to give ear plugs a go. I tried several types but ended up with simple foam ones. They worked like magic and seem to have reset my sleep ability. I don't use them now as I can drop off easily now and rarely wake during the night. Maybe it's because of the improved sleep that my tinnitus has become less noticeable? Or maybe the ability to sleep has reduced stress so I don't listen to the noises at night so much.

Whatever the reason ,I am convinced that the ear plugs have helped the overall problem and am eternally grateful.

I've had it my whole life, when ai was younger I used to sleep with the radio on low to cancel out the noise. Now I am used to it and sleep fine.
And no, no meds or treatment:(

Have it also. High pitched electrical screeching type noise. To sleep I have headphones and listen to various you tube relaxation videos. But I sleep much better in the day when there is more general noise around.

another sufferer here ,kunahero what meds would those be ?

My 15 year old suddenly developed tinnitus and it’s turned our lives upside down. We’ve been to the doctors, ENT, holistic and tried osteopathy but nothing has helped. He feels like he has a prison sentence and is falling into a depression. I’m unable to reassure him because I can’t find any posts or websites where people have overcome or cured their tinnitus. I don’t know what was the root cause, the doctors haven’t been much help tbh, and even if it was identified I don’t know if knowing would help to undo this. All I can say is that I’m desperate for some help and reaching out to you for some answers. My son is a sweet, generous and empathetic human being and this tinnitus is ruining his life and his future. I am full of sadness and feel utterly helpless.