Tinnitus management, what helps you?

[ILikeToBeBesideTheSea]

I've had tinnitus for 4 months now and still struggling to live with it. I've got various ear and head noises, they are all different to each other but stay the same generally. Any tips on how to accept this and make it a bit easier? I've been doing mindfulness and started seeing a counsellor but that is more for just general anxiety than anything to do with tinnitus.

I always have tv or radio on. Background noise means the ringing in my ears isn’t as noticeable.
I also sleep with rain sounds playing on an app or through Alexa, it would be impossible for me to try to fall asleep in silence (although that used to be the only way I could before tinnitus!) the ringing is just too noticeable in the quiet and would keep me awake. I’ve learnt to accept it now, it’s been 6 years, but I found it very upsetting in the beginning. Mine started after being given a prescription of propranolol for anxiety. It is listed in the side effects but I was so eager for my anxiety to be reduced I just took them. It got slight quieter when I stopped taking them but has never stopped.
Sometimes it’s louder than others, it’s louder when you think about it. Distracting myself playing games on the iPad or getting into a good book or film can take my mind off it so reduce the volume slightly. Sorry you are suffering, I hope you can find a way to push it into the background.

I tried all the apps etc with rain, white noise and nothing really helped me.

In quiet rooms it sounds worse so I always have a TV or radio on how.

In noisy rooms/open plan office it can be overwhelming and hard to concentrate so I listen to music in noise cancelling earphones.

At bedtime I just got used to it eventually, the less you think about it the less you notice it.

The hardest bit I find is the impact on my hearing, I find it hard to hear people talking in an open plan office or pub when there is a lot of background noise or loud music. I've been for hearing aid tests twice and they say my hearing is fine and there is no point in getting hearing aids as the problem is in the brain. My brother had tinnitus too, he got hearing aids and they didn't help so I didn't think they were worth paying hundreds or even thousands privately just to try.

After sinus headach and horrible nighttime tinnitus several weeks ago, I now horrible sticky mucus in my throat more one side than the other. Ear crackles lots when moving my jaw that side. Been struggling for so long now, did have a chesty cough as well but that's cleared. Covid test was negative.
Driving me nuts as constantly throat clearing or coughing. Dr says it's Post Nasal Drip. Tried everything but given up as nothing works!!!! Now just taking a ceterizine antihistamine and occasional sudafed. Feel very sick in the night due to swallowing rubbish. It's pushing my anxiety levels through the roof as just can't clear. Constant throat clearing makes my throat sore and hubby gets very frustrated with me doing it.
Private ENT Tel consultation Thursday.
Anyone else had experience of this at all?

@Witwicca

After sinus headach and horrible nighttime tinnitus several weeks ago, I now horrible sticky mucus in my throat more one side than the other. Ear crackles lots when moving my jaw that side. Been struggling for so long now, did have a chesty cough as well but that's cleared. Covid test was negative. Driving me nuts as constantly throat clearing or coughing. Dr says it's Post Nasal Drip. Tried everything but given up as nothing works!!!! Now just taking a ceterizine antihistamine and occasional sudafed. Feel very sick in the night due to swallowing rubbish. It's pushing my anxiety levels through the roof as just can't clear. Constant throat clearing makes my throat sore and hubby gets very frustrated with me doing it. Private ENT Tel consultation Thursday. Anyone else had experience of this at all?

I have this although not so much the post drip (cleared after a course of tablets) but ear feels full, congested and painful underneath(on the neck) . I've tried otomize but feels like it's inside ear so dr gave me beconase spray but have constant high pitched ringing in it now and sticky/popping sound when I yawn or swallow, I can pop my ears so not sure what's actually going on with it !

Please update after ent as I'm considering booking private myself as drs just want to give me something new each time and not one has yet told me to come in to actually look in my ear.

I have had this but just for a month. , I thought I could hear a buzzing sound from TV at night that's how it started but now its continual. I am listening to rain on tent sound on you tube at night which helps a bit and trying not to focus on it which is easier said than done. Especially as I sem to get spikes, when it is louder than usual and I am finding adjusting to that very hard. I have spoke to someone from Tinnitus Uk they are very helpful especially one very bad day. Everyone says you get used to it but its early days for me still so adjusting best I can. I often phone people in lockdown to distract myself and have low noise on in background, the worst thing apparently is to listen to it. I am using yoga with Adrienne, the one for sleep at night, before bed and it helps. I got a private ENT appointment but he just confirmed what I already knew that it was tinnitus and to try all the suggestions from Tinnitus UK to ease it. You have my sympathies, its horrible but I take heart from others who say in time it is manageable.

Hi
Will do
Like you the Dr just kept telling me to take meds, cortisone Nasal spray made my nose bleed, sudafed with expectorant seemed to make mucus worse but was recommended by the nurse. Plus taking 20mg of omeprazole in case it's reflux related. Also I was given a cortisone inhaler along with a blue reliever inhaler! Like you no-one wants to see you, so diagnosis is a bit of a stab in the dark.
😥

Hedgehoghutch
What tabs did the Dr give you for the PND?
Will definitely keep you updated

Have you had your hearing tested? I've had it for about 12 years now. It was partial hearing loss that caused it for me. A hearing aid helped massively and I also had therapy via the NHS which was good. I've completely zoned it out now unless I think about it but it does take some time.

@Witwicca

Hedgehoghutch What tabs did the Dr give you for the PND? Will definitely keep you updated

He gave me penicillin vk for my sinuses as they were terribly congested and I had constant cough and pnd for about 3 months just a 5 day course and if it didn't help he would give me something else but it did for me and I no longer have a constant cough/constant clearing throat or really that much of a Pnd in the day. I hadn't taken that one before normally it's amoxicillin but this one seemed to have really helped me.

I’ve had tinnitus for 15 years now. The one thing that helps me the most, is having background noise that’s quiet enough to not drown the tinnitus out entirely. Podcasts are excellent for this. They help you to habituate your the noise. If you cover the tinnitus up completely you’ll find it sounds much louder when you turn the background noise off.

I did have a lot of pain and headaches so think it was just a lingering infection hence the tablets

Hi Hedgehoghutch
I'm gonna mention antibiotics to the ENT consultant on Thursday. Back of my nose towards my throat feels like it's inflamed. Throat sore today due to constant clearing. Ear clicky. Bet she'll want me to go back on a Nasal steroid though. I don't drink and have never smoked so have no idea what's caused this inflammation. 😨

@Witwicca

Hi Hedgehoghutch I'm gonna mention antibiotics to the ENT consultant on Thursday. Back of my nose towards my throat feels like it's inflamed. Throat sore today due to constant clearing. Ear clicky. Bet she'll want me to go back on a Nasal steroid though. I don't drink and have never smoked so have no idea what's caused this inflammation. 😨

I replied to the wrong post below was ment for you . I still have plugged/clicky ear tho