A Message to Frightened 'Anxious Newbies'.

[ASD]

hey vipul check ur inbox

 

[uae96]

all of a sudden

Did you do anything that has a loud sound , or any stress in the past week before it started ?

 

[Vipul B]

Did you do anything that has a loud sound , or any stress in the past week before it started ?

No. I had T which was so low that it hardly could be heard as if I didn't have any. Suddenly it became extremely loud. A week before it started, screaming, there was something wrong with my right ear. I used to feel pain when I woke up in the morning. After getting up, pain would go away. Also, the muscles below the ear near the jaw used to pain a lot. An ENT gave me some nasal decongestants, herbal liquid for inhalation with steam, B12 tabs and an antibiotic. The day which T started, I was only on B12 tabs and was completely normal. Also, when I push my lower jaw forward, my T increases. Dentist said my TMJ was normal.

 

[linearb]

No. I had T which was so low that it hardly could be heard as if I didn't have any. Suddenly it became extremely loud. A week before it started, screaming, there was something wrong with my right ear. I used to feel pain when I woke up in the morning. After getting up, pain would go away. Also, the muscles below the ear near the jaw used to pain a lot. An ENT gave me some nasal decongestants, herbal liquid for inhalation with steam, B12 tabs and an antibiotic. The day which T started, I was only on B12 tabs and was completely normal. Also, when I push my lower jaw forward, my T increases. Dentist said my TMJ was normal.

Is it possible that you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep? I'm convinced that's what's caused me a lot of these problems, and I have some thought that chronic clenching, especially for longer periods, might cause nerve compression or other issues that can lead to tinnitus (vascular insufficiency, perhaps, or just compression and damage?)

 

[MonkLN]

No. I had T which was so low that it hardly could be heard as if I didn't have any. Suddenly it became extremely loud. A week before it started, screaming, there was something wrong with my right ear. I used to feel pain when I woke up in the morning. After getting up, pain would go away. Also, the muscles below the ear near the jaw used to pain a lot. An ENT gave me some nasal decongestants, herbal liquid for inhalation with steam, B12 tabs and an antibiotic. The day which T started, I was only on B12 tabs and was completely normal. Also, when I push my lower jaw forward, my T increases. Dentist said my TMJ was normal.

I have exactly the same thing when i push my lower jaw forward. Also, if i tilt my head 1 mm to the right the high pitch tone disappears.. if i tilt my head to the left the volume increases.. Very strange..

 

[Robert44]

Treatments are on the way and us British are leading the way to save you!

Yeah!!! A big thank you to all the Brits!!!!

 

[Vipul B]

Is it possible that you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep? I'm convinced that's what's caused me a lot of these problems, and I have some thought that chronic clenching, especially for longer periods, might cause nerve compression or other issues that can lead to tinnitus (vascular insufficiency, perhaps, or just compression and damage?)

No. I do not have the problem of teeth clenching or grinding while sleeping.

 

[Rob137]

Thanks for this Gill, really needed a positive boost after developing this. I've barely been able to sleep this last week, and when I do sleep, it's in one hour segments. I thought this would drive me insane, but reading this has lifted my spirits a lot!

 

[Andy70]

Hi Gill
I read with enthusiasm your "Success stories" post.
You mentioned the above quoted Dr. Nagler's article, but I can't find it in Doctor's Corner, all I found are Dr. Nagler's archived answers.
Could you please help me to find it, I would really like to read it.
Thank you,
Andrea

 

[Gill Hayes]

Hi Andrea, to be honest I don't know where you'd find it. Since Dr Nagler has left the site and his 'obstacles to habituation' was archived I can't find it either ! Let me try again and get back to you. x

 

[Andy70]

Allright then, thank you for your interest

 

[Gill Hayes]

Hi Andrea, if you type in "obstacles to habituation" in the search bar at the top of this page it takes you straight to it. If you have any problems get back to me. x

 

[Gill Hayes]

Apologies Andrea, I've just tried it again and now it's not there !!! Very strange. Perhaps inbox Markku and ask if he can help. Good luck.

 

[Gill Hayes]

Aha ! Not one to be beaten I've found it ! Go to "forums" and type in Obstacles to
Habituation in the search bar - on page 1 open the first post and it's there. x

 

[Andy70]

OK found it, thx very much

 

[Gill Hayes]

You're welcome. x

 

[Marc]

Hi all. I've just joined this forum as I found the posts and people on here very helpful. I've just started to experience t. I don't no what brought it on. Only things I can think of is. I went in the pool on a recent holiday. And went under water. Only to have to come straight back up with water up my noise I think. The pain in my sinus for about 10 secs was horrid. Then I flew home about 4 days after that. And since I've been back I've have a high pitch wine in my head or ears. Also a lower one. Sounds like morse code. I went to my gp. And he checked my ears and nose and gave me a nasal spray called AVAMYS and he has also refured me to an ent. I'm hopeful that this sound will go. This forum is a real help. I'm really struggling with it. I find my self panicking sometimes. I'm trying so hard to stay positive.

 

[Gill Hayes]

Marc, there is a very good chance your T will go on it's own. Give it time, try to stay calm and give your ears/brain chance to settle down. x

 

[Marc]

I really hope so. I'm really trying to keep calm. I let my self down a few times. And have little panics. I've noticed a few people talking about how there t gets louder when they move there lower jaw forward. Mine does this to. Also my jaw has clicked for a few years now when I yawn etc..... I no I'm prob just pulling straws. But I have to pray this can be sorted. I'm waiting for my ENT appointment. Until then I'm trying to deal with it. I'd say one day at a time. But it's more like one min at a time ... This forum is a massive help though. Some fantastic people on here. Restores your faith in humanity.

 

[Steve V]

After browsing a few forums I signed up to this one just so I could say thanks. After reading your post, I feel as though all is not lost.

 

[John Meyers]

Hi all,

So here I am 6 months in.

When I first developed tinnitus I was so frightened and anxious I thought my life as I knew it was over. HOW WRONG I WAS.
And I did the worst thing I could have done, I Googled tinnitus = BIG mistake ! Before I could say 'OMFG' I was having very dark thoughts indeed. I bought into all the doom and gloom shite that is out there about this condition and completely freaked out !

So there I was - my world had ended.
I then discovered this website and a couple of others - The British Tinnitus Association and ENT UK, and I got some proper, intelligent, supportive, experienced and knowledgable information and advice.
And so began a turning point. But :

In the early days was I a mess = yes
Did I end up on medication = yes
Did I think my life was over = yes
Has that all changed = yes

So here's how it went. I was so stressed and frightened when I first got T it was unbearable, I wanted to die - I needed to calm down, pronto. Why, because the more anxious and stressed I was the worse my T was. That is the same for you. So if you're not coping - you need the help of meds - go see your doctor and get some.

After 6 weeks on diazepam (valium) and beta blockers I felt calm and in control. I decided to wean myself off the meds. Was it all 'sunshine and roses' - no. But I knew I had to cope with this thing unaided at some point.
Did things start to improve - yes. The calmer you are, the better your T is, the better your T is the calmer you feel, the calmer you feel the better your T is and so on and so on . . . . . you get the picture. This takes weeks/ months but it gets easier/ better - much better I promise.

Now I know you're probably reading this and thinking 'this will never get better for me, it's so bad'. Well so did I when I first got T and read the success stories. I thought, no way does this apply to me, it won't get better, how can it, it's so noisy, so intrusive. But mark my words, in 6 months time you'll be posting a story just like mine !!!

What has helped me :

1. After reading reputable information and advice I truly believed things would get better. You have to truly believe this . . . because it's true.
2. I haven't stopped doing anything I did before, I socialize (bars and restaurants), I work, I go swimming, I drink red wine, I eat chocolate, I drink tea and coffee, I LIVE MY LIFE. The only 2 things that have changed since developing T are that I wear ear plugs in noisy places (which everyone should do regardless of having T or not) and I sleep with nature sounds in the background at night.

The facts I have learned about tinnitus since developing it are this :

1. For the majority of people who develop T, it reduces significantly or disappears completely, usually within a year (I understand the stats for this are 75-80%). I know a year sounds a long time but it's better than believing tinnitus never goes away, right ?
2. However, if it doesn't go away, your brain habitituates to it eventually. Yes this can take a while (usually 12-18 months) but it ALWAYS happens unless there are things that interfere with the process - read Dr Nagler's 'Obstacles To Habituation' in Doctors Corner on this site which is very interesting and informative. So, your brain just tunes out the noise in the same way it relates to your nose - did you know your eyes are always looking at your nose ? Well it is ! But your brain recognises that your nose isn't a threat and just tunes it out. You're not constantly seeing your nose, right ?!! That's how your brain will eventually react to your T.

I still have T but rarely notice it these days and when I do it doesn't bother me at all - this is key . . . and you will get there too - yes you will, just give it time ! I still have days were it's more noticeable than others but after a good night's sleep it usually settles right back down again. It used to take quite a lot to distract me from my T - it consumed my thoughts all day long, now almost anything distracts me from it ! My usual (before T) everyday thought processes now distract me from my T and I'm not aware of it at all 85-90% of the time. I'm convinced this is because I was always determined to just live my life as always - yes it wasn't easy at first but it gets easier and easier week on week and becomes kind of natural.

I know everyone's T is different but I truly believe the principles are the same for us all - protect your ears when necessary, don't stop doing anything you did before, take meds if you need to until you are calm and in control and truly believe it will get better, because it will - there was no-one more sceptical about this than me I can assure you.

There is no cure for tinnitus yet but there is more going on to find an effective treatment/cure than there has ever been before so who knows what's round the corner ! There's no cure for the common cold either but we don't get a cold and worry it'll never go away do we ?!! Remember most tinnitus disappers within a year and if it doesn't your brain will tune it out eventually, it just takes time. The brain is a wonderful, complex thing and has the ability to adapt/heal to almost anything.

Hang on in there guys, give it time, live your lives as always and trust it will get better because it will - you can't speed it up but you can't slow it down either, it will just happen.
Right I'm off for a glass of red wine and some ginger infused dark chocolate - always been my favourite ! Xx

Thank you for the encouraging post, Gill !

I'm 6 weeks in and pretty much tried everything you did. Ha ha..

I researched a lot in Week 2 and also found encouraging stats that T goes away for 80% to 90% of sufferers in the first 12 months (as long as they stay away from extreme noises (like concerts) and allow their inner ears to heal).

I do break down once a week and have a few beers which makes it worse, however, I have cut back a lot on sugar which seems to be my trigger food (not really food but you know where I'm coming from..)

Nice to see a positive post on here for a change. Cheers to a healthier lifestyle and T going away in one fashion or another in 12 months!

 

[Rodrigo Rivas]

I keep coming back to your story everytime I feel down or anxious, like right now, and somehow, it gives me peace and hope! For a long time (2 months hehe) I was afraid of accepting the fact that I have Tinnitus, and opening an account in here for me it seemed like giving up to Tinnitus. But now, my mindset has changed, I didn't give up, I'm just starting to fight it! And I feel proud of myself! And I wanna thank you, because me taking the strenght to start my account was in a huge part because of reading your story. I still get afraid, I still get anxious, but I know I will beat it and leave all of this behind me, and I'll have a fulfilling life. Thank you for being an inspiration to keep moving forward!

 

[Zug]

@Gill Hayes , I'm 4 months in, trying to regulate my emotions after T got the best of me. Thanks a lot for this post.

 

[John Meyers]

I for one had T related to noise trauma. 6 months to the day I had a significant drop in T volume. Then, Habituation seemed to begin coming on. I like to point out that I did not have a gradual T volume reduction. For 6 months was quite steady and loud. I learned to cope pretty well. Then, the volume drop. I felt I got my life back. So, keep the faith that yours will drop at some point before too long as well

Hello Gill,

There are many positive posts on this site, however, yours gave me the most hope and is going to allow me to stop concentrating on it.

I'm at 7 weeks after a loud concert and have been told 6 to 12 months before it subsides. -- The fact that you had a volume drop at 6 months (not gradual) is awesome.

Thanks! -- I'm printing out your post and am going to refer to it every time I get frustrated with Mr T..

 

[Natalie Roberts]

This post helped me have hope and I literally joined the sight a few hours afo after having an obnoxious ringing in my ear going on 2 weeks. I'm almost 7 months pregnant so the anxiety is really getting to me. Knowing there is hope like this really helps. Thank you.