Tinnitus

[mycatcontrolsmewith5g]

I’ve had tinnitus in one ear for 20 years now, just interested to share people’s experiences of it. It got worse after I went to Lewes bonfire withought proper ear protection about 3 years ago (I know very stupid!!) I’ve got some fancy earplugs now.
since then it’s off and in in terms of loudness

Recent post flu like virus it’s now very loud!
What alternative meds have people tried? X

I’ve had it since I went to a really loud nightclub in my 20s (30 years ago) Following to see if anyone has any ideas. I manage it by having earbuds in with something playing.

I have had it for about 10 years constantly, but not too intrusive until the past 6 months maybe. Now it gets much louder (I can hear it over people talking/background noise) more frequently and for longer. Every time I get dread that it will stay that loud. But a few days later it does reduce back down. The overall volume is louder than it was a year ago still, then the moments (which can last from 10 minutes to a few days- they used to last 20 seconds) of even louder ringing and a weird feeling accompanies them.

I'm not sure if it is something hormonal combined with a often screaming toddler. I'm 42, and breastfeeding. I wear earplugs when little one is crying as I am terrified to make it any worse than it is already.

I know this volume will eventually fade into the background in a year or so, so long as it doesn't get worse, but right now is causing me a lot of anxiety.

I play yoga music and have an air purifier on at night. The yoga music isn't enough to drown it out, but combined with the white noise the air purifier gives off I can sleep. In the day I can mostly ignore it whilst distracted. But times like tonight, when it is on one of its louder moments, it does bother me. But I'm just practising ignoring it and hoping for my sanity it will eventually fade.

The anxiety with tinnitus can be horrible
I actually rang the tinnitus helpline when mine spiked after the Lewes bonfire and it was great, worth a try: this very seasoned calming bloke reassured me that my brain would get used to it. X

I'm still struggling with an oscillating droning noise in my left ear, after 7 months. It changes second to second and I'm really finding it hard to get used to. I always thought I was mentally strong but this has brought me to my knees :(

I think massaging my cheek in front of of my ears helps a bit.. or it helps me psychologically..I have it constantly if I listen for it.. so I choose not to..

You know how and why it started? X

I, and some of my colleagues, work with tinnitus with good results.

I’m 61 and have had it constantly since my 20s, so around 40 years.

My dad also had it from a young age, and his eventually turned into (or he developed…not sure how it works to be honest!) Menieres Disease, which is really bloody awful!

Mine is worse when I’m ill or stressed…when it’s unbearable…but otherwise I manage to tune it out. Right now, because I’m thinking about it, it’s really loud but I know I can manage it, and will tune it out once I stop writing on here 😬

There is support available out there, but unfortunately no cure as far as I’m aware 😢

Solidarity with you though OP ✊

I have had pulsatile tinnitus in one ear for over three years. MRI clear. I can tell you my heart rate at any given moment just by listening. It’s there now, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Clear as a bell.

@Eyesopenwideawake what do you do?

Remedial hypnosis – specifically I'm a CONTROL System practitioner.

I got some really good ear plugs for sleep, counter intuitively it really calms the tinnitus
and the same for concerts etc x
very expensive they come round and pour stuff into your ears to make moulds…but I think thus far they are worth it…

Acupuncture helped mine a lot.

@mycatcontrolsmewith5gcan I ask who you used for the earplugs? I really want to get some
custom moulded ones after trying every other kind over the years

@mjf981 see your GP. Unilateral tinnitus in particular needs medical investigation.

https://ultimateear.com/

I have. I was very unwell with a systemic bacterial infection earlier this year that affected my ears. I was in hospital for a week. Had an MRI which was clear. Basically its damaged my ears, though I hear ok day to day at this point. But been left with awful awful tinnitus :(

I've had it about 30 years comes and goes. Slightly high pitch hum. Gets worse when I hear people mention it so this thread has set it going!

I’ve had it since about 2018, never had ear issues before. It’s generally a gentle hiss, gets worse when I’m feeling unwell (particularly a cold)

Strangely I’ve trained myself to see it as a calming noise, mainly because it’s a constant rather than a distracting beat. I generally don’t notice it

Mine is unilateral. Agreed, I had an mri scan years ago…so get it checked if it’s just one ear.
being ill anxious tired etc..

when COVID lockdown started I thought there was some heavy machinery action going on in distance! Realised it was fear/anxiety creating a new ear tone.

its kind of like a barometer for what’s going on physically and mentally
its fine but sometimes it still does my head in a bit even after having had it for 20 years.
…for new sufferers: you CAN live with it x

Please be very careful about having an mri. The noise the machine makes may make tinnitus worse, and could be a cause of some people’s . Also be wary about getting your ears syringed for wax, again, it’s a noisy procedure - it’s possible to get was removed manually, but usually only privately.

If the dr refers you for one you could wear ear plugs?