Hey @Marshall, did your tinnitus get reactive due to over-protection? If so, can you tell me more about that? How are you now?
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No. Mine started off stable after covid. I took prednisone plus antibiotic ear drops from a doc a week after onset. I developed immediately high freq tin I could hear in the shower, distortions, and audio hallucinations. It became reactive a month later. I wasn't protecting like I should, bc I was trying to be "tough"…
A couple of alarms, fire alarms, dog barking on ear, etc.. maybe it would of gotten reactive without all this stuff, I have no proof.
When I started overprotecting, that's when my sound tolerance started to get way worse. My ears reacted to everything and I started feeling like I was being assaulted by noises. But I have no proof if this was going to happen anyways. I started getting better when I started pushing through uncomfortable (but safe) noises. I don't protect unless it's a constant noise above 75dbs
Actually, I think reactivity was getting worse when I started over protecting. But again? I'm not sure if it was going to happen anyways. I don't protect unless it's a constant white noise above 75dbs. And obviously around possible loud sounds. I always got earmuffs only hip. And use them in loud environments bc I know for sure loud noises makes it worse. I've had multiple setbacks bc of it.
I've read so many post on here. Most people I see who over overprotect are still struggling with loudness hyperacusis. And even pain hyperacusis. The stories of people getting better from what I've seen is people who pushed through "safe" noise slowly. And ended up with better sensitivities.
I think time plays a role. But there is a possible of sensitizing your auditorial system. It's hard to push through when it feels so wrong and is debilitating. Gradual exposure to noise on a good time scale is what has gotten me better. My worst I couldn't talk bc I thought my head would explode from nose. It was painful as well. I get stabbing pains in my ears and burning pains. And needles poke feeling
But I try not to focus on it as it happens less and less and it's not to noise but pretty random.
Most the stories of people avoiding sounds and never go outside or sleep with earplugs or just protect inside seem to spike to lower noises. I have no proof though this is just what I've come up with while reading countless stories for months on end.
And this is my antidotal story. If I was not in the military and was forced to leave the house and work. Idk if I would of gotten better and I'd probably still be house bound from anxiety and the PTSD of it all.
From my experience too, ,without overprotecting from safe sounds, the less noise I'm around the better the tinnitus is. And continues to get