I'm brand new here so who the heck am I to offer advice, you ask? Well, while new here I've suffered with severe tinnitus (high pitched) for over 28 years. Plus hearing loss. Plus vertigo. Plus chronic ear infections. I got tinnitus at age 25 while serving in the Navy when I was unlucky enough to be very near an explosion. I lost my hearing for a couple days and was thrilled when it came back. However, the high-pitched ringing never did go away. I've lived with it so long it's more of an annoyance now although there are times when it drives me crazy. But it hasn't killed me yet and I'm fairly sure it won't!
Like most it gets worse with illness or anything that raises my blood pressure. I've just read several threads from people of varying ages that are new to this and are really freaking out. That is understandable. To those suffering panic attacks, I know how much those suck as I used to get them for a different reason (undiagnosed sleep apnea). Panic attacks suck. So does tinnitus. But neither will kill you by itself. Try to remain calm and concentrate on the rest of your body. For panic attacks when I get them (rare nowadays) I just look at the clock and mark the time then tell myself to deliberately ignore it for 10 minutes and then check back to see what's what. I never make it the full 10. Usually by 5 minutes it's gone. But the more you give in to the panic attack, the worse it is.
As for the big T, I guess all I can say is that you can live with it. You have to compensate. I have severe nerve deafness so if there is background noise of any kind I cannot hear conversations of people 3 feet away from me. I refuse to let it ruin my life so while I do steer clear of bars and that type of thing, when I do find myself in that type of venue I try to get close, or ask people to speak up, or I'll just smile, point to my ears and shake my head. Most people who know me understand. I'm considered a disabled veteran because of it so people are even more understanding.
Hopefully those of for whom this is something new it will go away or is not too bad like mine. But since mine is so loud and I've had it for so long I wanted to try to help others realize it's not the end of the world if you get it and it doesn't go away. I'd much rather have this than cancer or heart disease or any of the other REALLY bad things you can have go wrong with the human body. That's ultimately how I get by, I guess. I just consider myself very lucky in the grand scheme of things. I have a great family, a job I like, hobbies and friends I enjoy. I raised three kids and put them through college and I didn't miss out on anything. I play acoustic guitar and have a little acoustic duo with my wife on vocals. I take care of what little I can with my hearing but I don't let it run, rule or ruin my life. I'm in control, not the tinnitus. I consider it a chronic condition that after 28 years is just part of who I am.
Another reason I wanted to post is to let people know they can ask me anything as a person who has lived with a very bad case for a very long time.
M.
Like most it gets worse with illness or anything that raises my blood pressure. I've just read several threads from people of varying ages that are new to this and are really freaking out. That is understandable. To those suffering panic attacks, I know how much those suck as I used to get them for a different reason (undiagnosed sleep apnea). Panic attacks suck. So does tinnitus. But neither will kill you by itself. Try to remain calm and concentrate on the rest of your body. For panic attacks when I get them (rare nowadays) I just look at the clock and mark the time then tell myself to deliberately ignore it for 10 minutes and then check back to see what's what. I never make it the full 10. Usually by 5 minutes it's gone. But the more you give in to the panic attack, the worse it is.
As for the big T, I guess all I can say is that you can live with it. You have to compensate. I have severe nerve deafness so if there is background noise of any kind I cannot hear conversations of people 3 feet away from me. I refuse to let it ruin my life so while I do steer clear of bars and that type of thing, when I do find myself in that type of venue I try to get close, or ask people to speak up, or I'll just smile, point to my ears and shake my head. Most people who know me understand. I'm considered a disabled veteran because of it so people are even more understanding.
Hopefully those of for whom this is something new it will go away or is not too bad like mine. But since mine is so loud and I've had it for so long I wanted to try to help others realize it's not the end of the world if you get it and it doesn't go away. I'd much rather have this than cancer or heart disease or any of the other REALLY bad things you can have go wrong with the human body. That's ultimately how I get by, I guess. I just consider myself very lucky in the grand scheme of things. I have a great family, a job I like, hobbies and friends I enjoy. I raised three kids and put them through college and I didn't miss out on anything. I play acoustic guitar and have a little acoustic duo with my wife on vocals. I take care of what little I can with my hearing but I don't let it run, rule or ruin my life. I'm in control, not the tinnitus. I consider it a chronic condition that after 28 years is just part of who I am.
Another reason I wanted to post is to let people know they can ask me anything as a person who has lived with a very bad case for a very long time.
M.
Member
