Tinnitus tips

[mjf981]

I'm hoping to get some advice on managing intrusive tinnitus. I developed it last year in May in both ears after an illness and some mild hearing loss. I have a sizzling in both ears and a low droning pulsing noise in my left ear. To say it has been distressing is an understatement. I've never had mental health issues until this showed up, but it has sent me to some very dark places :(

I have made some progress and am out of the 'distress' stage. But, it still consumes my thoughts and I absolutely hate it. I mask it at times, but when I'm out it seems to get louder around noise (the sizzling noise, not the drone). I think this is called reactive tinnitus. At night, the sizzle settles down but then the droning engine noise takes over my head and left ear and affects my sleep.

I'd love to get to a stage where I don't think about unless I read about it, as some people say they can. Is it just a time thing? Or is mine maybe too loud to do this (I'd say it's probably moderate if not severe in loudness and intensity)? I still can't imagine not hearing it for periods of time.

So for those who don't mind their tinnitus....how long did it take to 'get there.' And did you do anything special or just try to get on with your life and try not to think about it? Thanks.

I think I just made piece with it’s part on me and will never improve. I know it’s depressing but as soon as I accepted that it got easier.

i also hate silence and ALWAYS have TV or music or radio on.

you can do this :)

I think the acceptance is just so hard. To go from silence to always having to have other noise around me and still hearing the sizzle over the top of it....ugh :(

I understand OP. I went suddenly deaf in one ear nearly 5 years ago and have been left with loud buzzing/ringing in that ear. I always hear it. It can't be masked and loud noises makes it roar (and I'm a primary school teacher). Last April I developed I think similar to you a low rhythmic bass droning. It was so confusing especially as I have hearing loss and my other tinnitus. I thought it was household noises until I went on holiday. It kind of comes and goes whereas my deaf ear is buzzing loudly all the time. It really triggered a lot of anxiety last year and I struggled with this new intrusive sound. I still struggle now and again but time and acceptance really does help. I generally sleep well (& that's with no masking as it doesn't help me) and for the most part day to day I successfully ignore it. Maybe try CBT, it does help. Stay off negative tinnitus forums. It feeds the anxiety. I guarantee you it will get less intrusive and you will begin to habituate to it.

You say you have some hearing loss. Do you have hearing aids? I've been told that they can help with the tinnitus.

I was given hearing aids and they do help.

I also have a Snoozeband which plays calming sounds via Bluetooth at night. I set it for an hour and have usually dropped off before it stops.
SnoozeBand™ – Snooze Band https://share.google/TFM6KDAIqZP7JlKkP other brands are available.

My tinnitus is the ‘classic’ high pitched whine. I had it off and on for a few years (when ill or after exposure to loud noise), then my mum got breast cancer about 20 years ago and the tinnitus became a permanent fixture, probably because of stress. At that time it was extremely loud and drove me insane, but over a few weeks (maybe months, I can’t remember) the intensity reduced somewhat and stayed like that. It still ramps up to much louder when I’m stressed or anxious, which is quite often for me. Mostly though, I don’t notice it unless I think about it (like now) or if I’m in a particular quiet place. I find that the general noise of everyday life disguises it. At night I listen to an audiobook, partly because I can’t shut down my racing thoughts, but also because it disguises the noise of my tinnitus. I do feel for you, because I remember feeling so utterly distressed by it. But that genuinely did pass over time.

I also have the constant high-pitched whine. The answer for me is always having background noise - radio or music during the day. I have the My noises App on my phone and listen to that on a timer for 30 mins as I go to sleep. Mine also amplifies with anxiety or stress, so trying to reduce that too.

My tinnitus is due to an acoustic schwannoma resulting in total right sided deafness. I’m only conscious of it when I’m tired but unable to rest or, as a poster said, when I see or hear the word. Right now I am conscious of a persistent high whine which will fade once I stop thinking about it. It’s definitely worse in loud, enclosed spaces.

Thanks everybody.

I think what stresses me the most is knowing that for the rest of my life I'll have these (2-4) noises in my head. I so used to enjoy just sitting in silence or nature reading a good book. The fact that this will likely never happen again.....I think I'm grieving to be honest.

I've heard that it is much harder for quiet introverted people to adjust to tinnitus, which fits. My loud bubbly extroverted friend who never switches 'off' doesn't care at all about hers. Whereas for me, it's totally life changing and depressing. I have hope I can continue to 'zone it out' but I thought I'd be further along with this 9 months on. If where I am is as good as it gets, well its depressing :(

PS. - because it's only the highest frequencies that are affected the audiologist said that hearing aids wouldn't help and just cause more problems, so didn't advise them. I did get a second opinion on this and she said the same thing.

I've just sent you a PM

Mine is because of Meniers Disease. Always have a high pitched wine, sometimes have a mechanical rumble and sometimes a noise like a washing machine spin cycle.
The whine bothers me at times...then I know it's time for some early nights and what my consultant refers to as self care. Basically I try to eat better, sleep better and relax if I can.
The rumble came on after Christmas and I think it was stress caused due to building work....as that's progressed the rumble has gone.
It will get better. I don't often notice my normal whine and I am a quiet introvert. I sort of hear through it if that makes sense...rather like I can see through my glasses even when they are smudged. I have the radio on to go to sleep when it's bad.
There is a tinnitus support clinic at Guy's (although I haven't seen them). I wonder if there is anything similar where you are?

I’m so sorry you are suffering. It is miserable. I have pulsatile tinnitus which worsened after covid, particularly at night.

I always play white noise to help me sleep. But what has helped most is Mounjaro and/or the associated significant weight loss. No idea if this is relevant to you but I thought it was worth mentioning, as the improvement is startling.

I have whistling/whining in both ears. I can hear it now because I’m thinking about it, but I don’t notice it most of th time at work or when I’m focussed on something.
a snoozeband helps at night. I listen to podcasts.

Once you have researched all possible things to help it, I would try to stop thinking about it (e.g. with a rubber band on your wrist that you twang every time you think about it).
I've had it for 42 years since a childhood illness (a constant ringing and whining, but also pulsatile tinnitus and exploding head syndrome which I assume is related) and while every five years or so I go through a phase of it keeping me awake, I generally don't think about it. I don't think my life would have been much different if I had experienced silence and I'm sure that in a year or two you'll think the same.

Thats interesting about mounjara lessening yours SpiralSister! Unfortunately I'm (probably too) skinny so won't be going down that path. Maybe if I gain weight the same thing would happen for me..