How common is Tinnitus?

[Mcoco]

I developed tinnitus in December in one ear after an ear infection. I am habituating now, slowly but I am getting there. My question is how common is tinnitus? Does anyone else have it too? Do you find you can just block it out?

Had it since June 2022 after microsuction in one ear. It is deafening and I'm suicidal. GP no help. Been house bound for three years and mostly bed bound for two years. Not been able to eat a meal since it started, just survive on snacks. It's ruined my life and relationship with my partner. Really don't think I'll be here much longer it's absolute torture.

I am so sorry to read this. Can you not go back to the g.p for a referral to the mental health team. There will be somebody that can help you to cope with this and go back to some normality. It is a horrible condition and hard to cope with but with the right care and advice you will get there. Please dont give up and reach out for help.

My partner went numerous times on my behalf in 2023, they won't do anything. I'm also losing my teeth as been unable to get to a dentist. Just been waiting to die for last three years. Was left deaf in left ear from the microsuction. Tried phoning Samaritans several times last year but they didn't answer, crisis team were useless. Think can only get help if pay privately, all my savings getting used up.

I have had it a couple of years after I had a bad cold. I have habituated to it- the Oto app really helped. In the past I have found a chiropractor helped but switched to osteopath after I read some concerning things. I do find it’s much better when I’m relaxed and there is less stress in my life. I might try acupuncture because there is one locally that has helped lots of people I know with various complaints. Strenuous exercise can cause a spike but I’m not willing to give that up. I also notice it spike if I have a night out and drink too much alcohol. I did have a CT scan a couple of weeks ago in case it’s a neuroma and I’m waiting on those results.

So sorry to hear this. As boccaallupo has said is it worth trying acupuncture? You never know i think everything is worth a go. I have also heard of people having it for years and it suddenly disappears.

My mum is nearly 80 and has it since her early 40s. I am 45 and starting to get how she described hers starting but haven’t had time yet to get checked out.

I hope your scan is OK. May be worth trying acupuncture I find tinnitus just so random. I have quiet days and noisy days. No idea why or what triggers is. I just try my best to ignore it and keep busy and mainly keep hopeful.

Might be the peri menopause?

Could easily be (just looked it up!) am very probably bang on the perimenopause stage right now, mums tinnitus never went away though and she was on hrt and supplements so I don’t know that it would matter if it is hereditary in that way, interesting to know that takes place though!!!

I'm so sorry. I understand how difficult it can be. I went suddenly deaf in my right ear 4 years ago and have been left with loud buzzing/ringing in that ear. I can't mask it and loud noises makes it roar. I thought I'd never be happy again when it first started. However the best thing for me was to get out and socialise. I'm a primary 2 teacher and at first the structured play every day was a nightmare. My tinnitus would be up to a 100. I've also 2 primary age kids which involves playdates and soft plays. The first 5 or 6 times in a restaurant/pub was a nightmare. I could barely hear my friends talk and my right ear was roaring at me. The social anxiety of not hearing people is tough too. It still sucks at times but being busy, seeing people, working has really really helped me to habituate and ignore it for large parts of the day. I still have bad days and I've recently developed a horrible bass rumble tinnitus in my good ear but I'm slowly getting used to it. Go back to your GP. You could try CBT or anxiety medication. There's also a good book called 'Rock Steady'. It helps you to accept the noises as not a threat. Please don't give up hope. There is help out there. Breathe through the bad days. Start with just getting outside. Focus on little things that give you comfort, a warm cup of tea, a soft blanket, chocolate. I also joined a Mono hearing group on Reddit where I spoke to lots of people going through similar experiences. So many people were positive and supportive. It's a great community. One small step at a time.

Yes it does sound like a connection there
I always thought maybe hrt would help and resolve the tinnitus but not necessarily then. Your mum sounds like she coped well with it though.

Mine is linked to stress, where I grind my teeth at night and then it brings on the tinnitus which is a faint whirring sound.
It goes when my stress is gone.

I've heard of a number of tinnitus sufferers trying this but it didn't help. I'm too ill to leave the house anyway, can't shower or wash my hair this is completely debilitating.

Thank you but I'm too ill to leave the house, even going in back garden is extremely difficult. It's just as loud outside as it is inside and every day is bad, there are no quieter days or any let up at all. I've always hated noise, avoided concerts and cinema as they were far too loud. I can't function at all. My partner has heart issues and I can't cope with all this much longer.

You may benefit from a mouth guard then it's an idea to book a dental appointment.

Amazing advice and you are coping so well. Some days are harder than others but I think acceptance and trying to live your life is all we can do.

I am so sorry to hear all of this. But as eatmorechocolate44 said take small steps at a time. Can you try to get outside daily even for a ten minute walk? It may be a few minutes walk in the garden and then build it up to a walk in your street. Can you try ear plugs if everything is too noisy? As you have been housebound for so long your ears are now so sensitive because you are not used to every day sounds. Can you try small steps each day? I too think you should phone your g.p and desperately ask for help. Anti depressants will most likely be a huge help for you. You may see things so differently on medication. I really urge you to please try your g.p again.

Im 57 and have had it for 6 years. It got significantly worse after I had covid in 2021 and again after a flight last month, although that eased off again. Im used to it but I hate it. Sometimes it keeps me awake. The only thing that helps is brown noise.

I have the permanent very high pitched electrical whine. Which I assume is peri though not responsive to HRT and also hearing damage from working in loud music.
it’s definitely heard in my head not either ear.

I have long covid CFS and some autoimmune issues and have a new noise more recently on top. It’s not constant but when I am feeling particularly run down. Like a whoomph whomph deeper tone almost underwater like something is moving about in my brain. It’s creepy. Then it can resolve sometimes into matching my heartbeat so that’s I guess that this is pulsatile tinnitus? Can you have that without the regular heartbeat?

I'm so sorry you are going through this and it's gotten this bad for you. Have you other health issues keeping you bed bound? I remember when I first got tinnitus I thought that mine must be louder than everyone else's. Other people I spoke to still had fine hearing so in my head they couldn't understand what I was going through, other people could mask it or hear it when it was quiet whereas I could never escape mine and noises made it even worse. It's like my tinnitus is trying to match the volume of exterior noises some time. I went down the unhelpful thought pattern of this is one of the worst things that can happen to a person because I can never have peace, there's no relief, I can't just close my eyes and go to sleep etc etc. Gradually I learned to sit with it and stop trying to escape it. It's not a threat, it's just noise, it can't hurt me. I started to accept that everyone has different struggles and that many of us are just trying to put one foot forward and sometimes get through the day. It is something that will continue to be difficult but on the bad days I take faith that there were good days before and there will be good days again. It really sounds like you would benefit from therapy and maybe medication. Don't let your GP fob you off. I really wish you well.

I tried standing on the front door step for a moment but the noise from traffic was overwhelming, I'm deaf in my left ear as a result of the microsuction, I can't tell where the sound is coming from it's totally debilitating. I've been on anti depressants for almost three years, against my will. They are supposed to give you an appetite but so far it's not working.

I have no sound directionality either (very annoying I'm a busy classroom 😟). I found walking outside very difficult too but now I don't even think about it. Loop ear plugs are good (though I hate sticking things in my ears). My husband gave me his Bose noise cancelling headphones, they are a game changer. I now I look weird but I wear them to the cinema now when I have to take the kids as movies as flipping loud. I completely understand the noise sensitivity. Try plugging your ears and a little bit of noise exposure at a time and slowly build apon it. Also maybe you need to try a different medication. Some antidepressants have tinnitus as a side effect so it would be worth looking into. You could maybe try a hearing aid. They don't do anything for me but I'm not sure about your level of loss.

That is all such amazing advice. It may be that a slow build up to sound exposure would work. I always thought the bose headphones were just for music. Do you mind if I ask you which ones you use? I have been to the theatre twice and used alpine ear plugs but I am not so brave with the cinema I found it loud even pre tinnitus!

I think your advice about anti depressants is so helpful. It may be that the anti depressants fsjhyr is using is making the tinnitus worse. It may be worth changing them after 3 years as they are not working and there maybe something more effective.

I would also try eating regular meals, even if you don't feel like or aren't hungry. For me, regular diet is essential for keeping it under control. Avoid salty food (I have met other people with tinnitus who also say salty foods make theirs worse, so it seems to be a thing). Generally, having a routine helps, going outside and engaging in activities that take your mind off it. However, it sounds like these steps are still a bit ahead of you, so going back to the doctor and trying another antidepressant may be a good first step. Different anti-depressants affect tinnitus differently, so you might find one that helps turn down the sounds.

Bose Quiet Comfort - they are expensive but they are amazing at blocking out sound yet I can still hear the person speaking beside me (& that's with one working ear 😂). There is a sale on at the moment. There are different functions on it (but I'm useless with technology 😂🙈. My husband sorts it out for me). I've worn them in the classroom too during play when the noise is over whelming but it's actually amazing what you can adapt too. I'm ok with most noises now. I have to avoid live music though. I was at a birthday bowling party a few wks ago too. I should have brought the Bose then. It was the sharp noises that was a bit jarring. 🙈😂 And don't get me started on class parties at soft play or the flipping swimming pool but again with kids I've had to get on with it and I've coped ok. I do have some moments of panic when it's a super noisy environment and it's a relief to get home. Hope you find them helpful.

www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/products/headphones/noise_cancelling_headphones/QCSC-HEADPHONEARN.html?mc=05_PS_NC_PL_00_GO&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20517332778&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5c_FBhDJARIsAIcmHK8gMjvR7xRVIOKk1OVK7WOFD8yaTdsuL7jyS2viUF1P0ZIUPUtiUSIaAlX5EALw_wcB#v=QCSC-HEADPHONEARN-BLK-WW