Tetrax

I had six weeks sober but I can't take the sound anymore. I wish to cut my left ear off where the sound appears to be. I won't but neither is there any help for the condition. It is over.

Pekelover2

Oh gosh, Tetrax! Please can you explain to us what’s going on? I’m so sorry.

least

The E NT doctors have been no help?

RunningScared

They make hearing aids to help with Tinnitus that are supposed to work very well.

Dee74

My tip is to make sure your ears are clear of wax.

D

Tetrax

I've had it since 2010 but the dreaded hissing sound has become all-consuming over the last year or so.

Steely

I've got it too Tetrax, and I know how you feel. People think it is only a sound, but fail to appreciate it can sound like a Lear Jet sometimes. Maddening. It started when I withdrew from benzos.

There are a number of drugs that are ototoxic, both licit and illicit. Are you taking any medications that might be causing it?

Have you tried any of the masking strategies? Have you looked at the website "Talking Tinnitus". Have you seen ENT specialist for strategies to deal with it? Have you ever "habituated" to it?

Mine is manageble at the moment, but dread it worsening.

I'm so sorry Tetrax. Please see ENT specialist and maybe talk with some of the people on "Talking Tinnitus". I know how awful it can be. Distraction does help.

There are people in audiology who can teach you how to habituate to it.

Again, I am so sorry.

It sucks, but it is not over.

Do I take from your post that you are drinking?

Pekelover2

Gosh this sound intense. I hope that you can get some help soon Tetrax. I can imagine that it’s unbelievably difficult to deal with. I don’t know what to say. We’re here for you!

Tetrax

Thanks, yeah I saw ENT at the start: they actually just said open a window to hear natural sounds haha. ******* NHS is a joke.

And yes I drink because there's no opening windows or anything else to murder that sound. The booze and the hangover actually does, at least for a while...

Dee74

Steelys suggestions' seem way better than more booze, Tet.

D

advbike

Sorry to hear that (no pun intended). I have had it for years - mostly just background but it has flared up badly from time to time - usually from loud music when I was drinking before, or riding the motorcycle at higher speeds without my earplugs in. The last time I made that mistake was around 2013 and that damn high pitched sound didn't fade for SIX MONTHS. It was triggered by everything - the dentist tool, flying in jets, anything and everything. I started using a sound meter app and carrying/using earplugs everywhere. After several months it finally became tolerable, as the doc said it would, and then one day I realized I didn't notice it anymore. Yes I still can hear a high-pitched background noise if I try but I'm used to it and it only gets louder with too much coffee or salt.

For me it now seems to react with my blood pressure - as mentioned diet can affect it significantly, so my question to you is - has something changed in your diet since you quit drinking? Caffeine? Sugar? Salt? All of those can trigger tinnitus.

Tetrax

I'm sorry you suffer too, my friend. The only change this time was my SSRI, but I've been on and off it for 20 years and you can see the conundrum: do I risk my depression with a guess at what might be triggering my tinnitus? That's all I've got though.

Steely

From what I've read alcohol can make tinnitus worse Tetrax. Raises blood pressure which in turn increases tinnitus.

Colin1

I don't remember when my tinnitus started Tetrax, but it seems like it's been with me all my life. I just turned 65. If it's quiet and I actively listen to it, it seems quite loud. My hearing is quite good, specially considering my age, so it doesn't bother that. I have joked with Mrs C to be careful if she says something quietly so I don't hear it from a couple of rooms away, because I can hear a pin drop from the other end of the house

It bothered me enough that I talked it over with my doctor I think when I was in my 30's and at the time there was nothing that could be done about it except to try a drug(s) that might help a bit. I said no thanks, I would just ignore it the best I could and I've been doing that ever since. It's just a relatively minor irritation that doesn't harm me and I learned to let it be. It became a part of me, something that will always be with me, and I made my peace with that.

When I read your first post I became aware of the sound and I'm still hearing it. Tonight it's kinda warbling, which is unusual I think. Before that it was still there but I was not noticing it consciously. In an hour I'll hardly notice it again. I have no kind of dread of it, it can't hurt me, cause me pain, or kill me.

I'm not trying to make light of it, nor am I saying 'just ignore it man'. I'm fully aware that we are all different, with our own personalities and sensibilities. Heck, I could never get myself to quit drinking for very long no mater what I told myself or how much I wanted and eventually needed to. (Until now hopefully!) I just wanted to share my experience with you on how I deal with it, what has worked for me. Do with this what you will Tetrax. I really hope you find some peace with it.

Colin1

Caffeine and nicotine really affect my tinnitus too advbike. And when I read 'blood pressure' in your post, I realized the warbling I mentioned in my last post is in time with my heartbeat. Go figure

Juve

Another person writing in who's noticing his tinnitus due to reading this thread.......

I had huge problems with this in my mid-20s., i.e, 30 years ago; underwent some pointless treatments.....what I've found for me is that stress will trigger an intensifying of the sound. Getting enough sleep is the best medicine for me.
I did once read of a meditation approach: instead of trying to escape the sound, actually focus your attention on the sound; after a while this can reduce its grip over you.

Let's all recover and heal.

--Johannes

saoutchik

I have it too, for 32 years now so I know EXACTLY how you feel including the uselessness of the NHS.

Advbike's comment about blood pressure is probably the one with the most potential to mitigate the worst of the noise (though God knows if anything is designed to raise blood pressure it's the infernal noise)

There is currently no cure but there IS some hope on the horizon, something called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) I don't know exactly what it involves but it is apparently showing fair results with no adverse effects. It is already used to treat depression.

I you go online there are some non chemical remedies - they didn't work all for me but there was nothing lost by trying.

Btw, drinking didn't make it better (or worse) but it made me in worse shape to cope with it.

All the best from a fellow sufferer.

Steely

And to add insult to injury some hypertensives are ototoxic. I'm on the calcium channel blocker Amlotripine which turns out to be the worst in this class. I've only been on it for a month and my tinnitus has worsened. Ugh!

Making an appointment to see my doctor to discuss change. In the meantime am trying to habituate, forget about it, pretend it's just like the noise a fridge can make. It's very difficult. Distraction seems best. Focussing on it only makes it worse.