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Original poster

Tinnitus....aaaargh!

44 replies

Pinkknickers · 26/07/2018 20:49

For the past week or so, I've had a constant quiet ringing in my head. During the day I don't notice it as I'm busy and there is general noise but at night when it's quiet, it's very annoying. Saw my GP today who says hopefully it will just go away but has referred me for a hearing test. A couple of weeks ago I had 2 episodes where everything sounded robotic but thankfully this particular symptom has not returned. Does anyone here suffer with Tinnitus? I have been very stressed and anxious lately and I know this can be a cause.

OP posts:
gandalf456 · 26/07/2018 22:59

One or both ears? Any particular trigger?

myrtleWilson · 26/07/2018 23:02

Presumably your GP checked that your ears are not blocked at all? Sorry - I've not had tinnitus but have had a blocked ear which drove me crazy... Hope you get it resolved

cookiesaurus · 26/07/2018 23:06

I get tinnitus regularly - usually before I go to bed.

Last year I suffered quite a bit of hearing loss after having a virus and I now wear two hearing aids. I tend to get tinnitus once I've taken the HA out for the night.

I think it occurs when our brains are trying to make up for the hearing loss. It's weird because as far as I am aware tinnitus ringing isn't actually a 'real' sound, although it sounds/ feels teal to us and can be incredibly annoying!!

I don't have any useful suggestions I'm afraid, but I do feel your frustration! If it's very bad, look into help groups at your local hospital. Mine isn't that bad though.

SubtitlesOn · 26/07/2018 23:30

I wear 2 hearing aids and I get tinnitus several times a week

The ones that really annoy me is when it is high pitched noises that I can't hear in real life but hear them in my head like my tinnitus is mocking me or making fun of me

I quite often say to my DH can you hear that awful noise which he can't cos it is in my head

Mine are different sounds iyswim

I use an app on iPad called OTICON which is fab for making other sounds to shut the ones in my head up, I like the pink noise one

Canwejustrelaxnow · 27/07/2018 00:21

Hi op. I got referred to a consultant who said I'd have to have an mri. I saw an audiologist at the same time and my hearing is almost perfect. Mri was clear. I saw a different audiologist for an hour's counselling service where everything was explained to me. I got a free white noise box for sleeping too. I'm due a follow up session soon. It's basically about acceptance. If you fret about it your brain will focus on it more etc.

swingofthings · 27/07/2018 06:26

I have been very stressed and anxious lately and I know this can be a cause
Oh yes it can indeed. I've had dreadful tinnitus on and off for 2 years now along with other symptoms that were bad enough to be referred to an ENT.

I now know that it is stress related. It is good news as means it is not permanent... if I can find a way to step away from the stresses in my life!

Crazymum88 · 05/08/2018 19:27

Iv got tinnitus it's driving me so mad, I'm struggling to cope, is there nothing we can do..

iklboo · 05/08/2018 19:32

I've got Ménière's disease with tinnitus in both ears. Some days (like today) are a lot worse than others.

I've been told they can't do much yet as my hearing loss isn't bad enough - they said I could have counselling but that's not going to stop the bloody noise is it? Hmm

Lynne1Cat · 05/08/2018 19:34

I've had Tinnitus every single day, for the past 12 years, following a car crash. I understand how you feel. I only notice mine when it' very quiet everywhere.

SiliconHeaven · 05/08/2018 19:37

I have constant tinnitus. Like most people I don’t notice it when I’m busy or it’s masked by outside noise. It’s very loud and frustrating at the moment of course. I really need to go for a hearing test because I’m sure it’s having a big impact on my hearing.
My GP told me it’s not an illness.

Crazymum88 · 05/08/2018 19:46

I wrote another thread not really sure how to use this site yet. This is forever then?

apostropheuse · 05/08/2018 19:51

I have a hearing impairment and wear two hearing aids. I have tinnitus too, but the hearing aids seem to help - it's only when I take the aids out that I'm aware of the tinnitus.

LogicMakesSense · 05/08/2018 20:07

I have it continuously too, fine during the day but soon as it goes quiet in the evening it drives me mad. If it's a really bad night for it I play music quietly through headphones to get to sleep.

I been to docs for it but was just given a load of leaflets basically saying there's nothing they can do. Great.

EverlastingGodstopper · 05/08/2018 21:24

Even a small hearing loss can cause high-pitched ringing, so it's certainly worth checking that.

I have 24/7 unmaskable tinnitus along with occasional episodes of sound distortion like you described. I hear: songs, hymns, opera, piano music, whooshing, beeping, humming, roaring, rumbling, static, and goodness-knows-else. Sometimes it moves into my brain so I hear things like the National Anthem emanating from the middle of my head.

I am deaf, and it is simply hyperactive neurons trying to 'latch' onto non-existent sounds. My cochlear implant helps: if all I could hear was tinnitus, I'd go insane!

Perhaps try some white noise apps when it's bothersome? I use the Sound Oasis 650 sound therapy machine which also helps. Then there's tinnitus counselling (although my audiologist just shoved a leaflet about hyperacusis at me and told me to live with it!).

I'm on Sertraline and Diazepam (as needed for the worst episodes) because of it. I sometimes take PharmaGaba, but supplements like this are a personal choice and I'm wary of recommending them.

Like you, I have found that stress is one modulator. Seems we have to become zen masters to calm down the noise!

EverlastingGodstopper · 05/08/2018 21:28

Have a look at,

mynoise.net/

I find it insane that there is no official medical treatment for intrusive tinnitus: CBT techniques are obviously important, but you wouldn't tell someone in severe pain to cope using only those methods, and yet, we are expected to do the same!

It's false that nothing can be done: it's a brain phenomenon, and hyperactive GABA receptors are thought to play an important role (hence my taking PharmaGaba). Explains why two glasses of wine calms it down!

Ta1kinpeace · 05/08/2018 21:29

Tinnitus is not real
its your auditory nerve reacting incorrectly to the world around it
so to control it you have to make your body take control of that nerve

put your hands over your ears palms outwards
push the sound away physically
do it again and again till the volume goes down

if you hear the noise, consciously turn the volume down

if you can control it in the first few months you might get rid of it

KlutzyDraconequus · 05/08/2018 21:40

Tinnitus is not real
its your auditory nerve reacting incorrectly to the world around it

That's weird, I was told mine was due to a very real accident with explosives that's damaged my very real and physical ear drum. No mount of 'Pushing sound away' can repair the physical damage.

Ta1kinpeace · 05/08/2018 21:43

Oh, there will be real damage
mine was an infection
but for that damage to turn into constant noise is an internal feedback loop which can be reversed
ALL nerves can be retained

I've had tinnitus for over 30 years and my ability to manage it varies over time

BusterGonad · 06/08/2018 03:41

The robotic episode was probably ETD, the tubes of your ears going funny and sucking your ear drum into a distorted shape. I've get that and have tinnitus.

Coyoacan · 06/08/2018 04:16

I imagine there is all different kinds of tinnitus. I've had it for some eight years now. It comes and goes and there are days when it is particularly interferes with my hearing. I also need hearing aids now.

A friend of mine, who was staying with me had it particularly badly and we found a recording of a shower on Youtube that worked as white noise to help her sleep.

Crazymum88 · 06/08/2018 10:37

Does anybody take anything to help you cope with it.

Original poster
Pinkknickers · 06/08/2018 17:31

Thank you for all your replies. I had a hearing test today and my left ear shows some quite significant hearing loss but no right ear has perfect hearing. I have been referred to ENT for more comprehensive tests. My tinnitus hasn't changed, it's no better or worse. Just the same quiet ringing in my head, so annoying.

OP posts:
Crazymum88 · 09/08/2018 18:47

How did your hearing test go Pinkinckers?

Original poster
Pinkknickers · 09/08/2018 22:23

I had the test on Monday, there is some hearing loss in my left ear (right ear is all good). My GP called yesterday to discuss the test and said it showed I can hear high and low pitch sound but struggle to hear mid-range sound. I'm not entirely sure what that could mean but i have an appointment with ENT on 22nd Aug. Thank you for thinking of me.

How are you? You're suffering too aren't you?

OP posts:
mineofuselessinformation · 09/08/2018 22:35

Ta1kinpeace, please do educate me in how to do that again.
I have one-sided tinnitus (most of the time, unless the other side joins in, which it does occasionally).
If you have the answer, you really should let the NHS know so that they can spread your wisdom.

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