Tinnitus Forum - Mytinnitus

Hi Elbarto

I'm 36 years old, have never had tinnitus in my life before until this year.  I've never had hearing loss or hearing problems before and my general hearing hasn't been affected by the tinnitus. 

I phoned my doctor, who told me it had maybe came from the flu and it would probably go away.  I didn't go to see him as I don't believe there is a "cure", however I would urge anyone who is concerned to speak to and visit their doctor. 

At the moment my tinnitus is 95% quiet in the morning, when I'm pottering about getting ready for work I don't notice it at all, I don't notice it when I'm driving or when i'm outside in open spaces.  At night when I'm in my flat alone I can hear it and when I'm going to sleep I can hear it.  However, it doesn't scare me now like it did at the start and it is very mild now. 

As for what it sounds like, on the right side it's like a high pitched constant ring, however it is very low now.  On the left side sometimes I get a hum, again it is very low now (compared to the first three weeks when it was at it's worst).  I would say that 80% of my day I'm not aware of the tinnitus now, whereas at the start I found it hard to get distracted from it for even a second, I was constantly aware of it and anxious by it.

I never got any help for it, I just tried my best to stay positive (which was very difficult in the first few weeks).  I also bought ear plugs for noisy places, such as the cinema.  I had to go to a friend's hen do recently and I was nervous about the tinnitus increasing, with my ear plugs in my ears were protected and thankfully there was no negative effect.  I'll probably never go to a concert or loud performance again.  Although mine wasn't caused by loud noise (as far as I'm aware), I wouldn't take any chances or risks with my ears now. 

I know I said in my original post that everyone is different and everyone's experience will be different, this is just my own personal story with it.

Hi Jeff, all is really good with me I'm happy to report.  When it's quiet, or I'm in bed, or I listen out for it, I can still hear the tinnitus, but it genuinely doesn't bother me now, I'm so used to it and it is so much quieter than it was at the beginning when I suffered badly with it.  The brain is a remarkable tool and it's like with a ticking clock, unless you listen out for it, the majority of the time you don't register it.  That is what the tinnitus is like for me.

Hi tomson,

Welcome to the forum.

Your panic and anxiety are understandable (give that this is a completely new and annoying experience), but you have to try to get over it, as it will make matters only much worse (since tinnitus is closely linked to the state of your nervous system).
In 99% of all cases there is no serious health issue associated with the tinnitus, so you are not in mortal danger in any way. 

As I said, tinnitus is a nervous condition that will eventually settle down again to less annoying levels, if not disappear altogether. It takes time though, and for the next few weeks and months you shouldn't necessarily expect an improvement. Nervous condition are notoriously long term, so don't be discouraged if any measures have little effect right now.

Thomas

Hi Thomas, Hi Tina

Thomas; i've read some of your content/advices and i appreciate it very much. Actually i'm the perfect candidate for all of this if i a look at my past 10 months prior to the start of the noise. As you know panic attacks are also coming from the "Vegetativen Nervensystem" (i'm german speaking, but found the english forum first) so it looks like i've entered the next...level of nervous problems. I dont  fear that the noise is a direct dangerous health issue. But i'm fearing the indirect issues  coming with it --- mainly because of the sleeping problem (job performance, future etc.). During the day i'm able (so far) to control it. Certainly i'm hoping that you are wrong about the time it will take, but "i dont like it but i guess things happen that way".

Tina; yes i was reading your posting and it was like looking in a mirror. At night i'm currently trying different things. Relax Music didn't work for me. I've tried this also a few months ago when i've had panic attacks at night. I'm trying to focus on my breath somehow, hear my noise until i fall asleep. The problem is that i'm waking up about the noise after 1,2 hours. The last nights i've took sleeping pills, But they didnt help that much. I think i will try tonight your advice about counting backwards from 300. About being a "worrywart": You are describing me again.

Thank your for your prayer, i will pray for you too. I've started to pray only 4 months ago for the first time in my life, since then i'm going down to my knees every night. I'm also practicing Jacobson Muscle Relaxation for several months. And i go reguarly out to nature for a walk or for jogging. I've done a lot for me and my health in the last months. Unfortunatly it didnt protect me from the start of this noise. I'm currently listening to a youtube video named "Tinnitus sound therapy 6 Hours"...it's just shower noise but it helps a little bit. I go now for a walk, will then pray on my knees and lay myself down on the bed...and counting sheep..

Take care

Last edited by tomson (09-11-2013 21:29:39)