Tinnitus - any advice?

[QueenOfCats]

It's driving me bloody batty - it's constant, I wake up with it and fall asleep with it, I hear it most of the day, it seems to alter it's self so that regardless of background noise I can still hear it.

I have been referred to ENT by the Gp but in the meantime, any tips to stop me from actually going insane?

Hopeful bump

MP3 player at bedtime? I imagine it's quite difficult to get to sleep.

A friend recently told me to take 1000mg of magnesium and it has worked. It comes back a bit, so I'll take more tablets for a few days and it goes away again. It's amazing.
And I've had tinnitus for about 3 years.

There is actually a video on youtube of a shower running and it is really good for masking the sound of tinnitus. A friend of mine had it so bad one night that she wanted to go to A & E. But we already knew what the problem was and apparently incurable, so I googled, found this and it really helped. And there are these to download to an mp3 player:
www.virtualdreamer.com/tinnitus.html

I also have tinnitus but it is not so bad any more. Still I'll have to try the magnesium, thanks LuckySaint

Have you looked at the BTA website (I'm sorry I can't do links but it is the British Tinnitus Association)?

I think your only option until you get your appt through is looking into masking the sounds. There is an app called Sleep Bug that I really like as you can customise it for your personal preference. I prefer running water and I always have a radio on during the day to help mask it. Other things you can do in the interim is look at caffeine intake, diet etc. In my experience it does get worse if you stress about it, I also get spikes when I get over excited

Once you have had your appt other things can help like hypnosis, magnesium, ginko biloba Etc. Do ask your ENT about medications (think its called serc something, it didn't work for me but it does for some people) and tinnitus retaining therapy. The ENT may also talk to you about hearing aids and in ear masking buds. I have hearing loss so wear hearing aids in both ears and it is manageable during the day but I do notice it at night.

Good luck and hope your appt goes well

Thanks so much - will buy Magnesium today and have downloaded a white noise app too. Really glad I asked, I wouldn't have thought of either of those!

I can't use ear phones but will play the white noise tonight - hopefully that will help.

Also going to look at the BTA website and cut down on caffeine - again, things I wouldn't have thought of

Try not to get stressed either. I find stress ramps mine right up. After I was assaulted 18 months ago, mine went from a 6/7 to a 10 and has stayed there.

Didn't know about magnesium though! might look at that myself.

Thanks for bringing this up OP.

I'm going to try the magnesium too. I've had it for years, it's so annoying.

I found antihystamine helped when I had tinnitus I think mine was caused by a virus but it went on for a good 4 maybe 5 months! X