A Month Old Tinnitus with Lots of Trial and Error

[joseph simmons]

I've been suffering with tinnitus, mostly in my right ear for a month. For as long as I can remember, I've had a very low level case that was barely noticeable and then I believe a stressful life event about 5 weeks ago, seemed to set off a raging case of it, mostly in my right ear now, initially in both.

I have an ear doctor appointment Feb 28 and trying everything we all are finding on the internet, including acupuncture, mediation, sound therapy and supplements. I noticed that Advil PM taken one night seemed to dull the sound the next morning but then found that regular use was not helping. Same thing once with Benadryl. I am going for Acupuncture and the jury is still out on that, but I'm thinking it may be helping (not the same day but the next).

Taking a shower while visiting my son in California shut it down for hours a few times but not consistently. My shower does not work as well but what does seem to work for a very quick fix is running the bathroom sink facet and putting my ear right next to the water for about 3 minutes each side. I'll be reducing and extending that time to see if this technique can be optimized. I also have to admit, I took Xanax last night because yesterday it was out of control all day long. It's helping so far this morning but I don't want that to be the long term fix as it can over time make tinnitus worse based on what I'm reading.

I'm hoping, as I'm sure we all do or did, that this is not chronic. My life is becoming centered around it.

Seeking Peace!

Joe

 

[ker33]

Hi, Joe,
I'm new here but not really new to tinnitus. However, mine spiked big time at the end of December, and other than the ENT getting an MRI of my head (which was clear except for noticeable swelling of my sinuses, which he didn't seem to think was the problem), no one seems to be taking this as seriously as I wish they would. I have a lot of stress right now, too. I didn't need to have another stressor added to the mix. I, too, am worried that this new decibel level of noise inside my head will become more permanent, and it scares me.

Please keep updating about the acupuncture and other methods of relief you try. I'm interested to hear if that will give you any long-lasting relief. My insurance covers acupuncture. I wish I had the option of taking a tranquilizer, but since I'm in pain management, my doctors took it upon themselves to fear the low dosages I take/took were a potential interaction danger and they took my klonopin away over a year ago.

I hope you find the peace & quiet you are seeking.

Best of luck!
KER

 

[OnceUponaTime]

Taking a shower while visiting my son in California shut it down for hours a few times but not consistently. My shower does not work as well but what does seem to work for a very quick fix is running the bathroom sink facet and putting my ear right next to the water for about 3 minutes each side. I'll be reducing and extending that time to see if this technique can be optimized.

The temporary suppression of tinnitus following the termination of an external masking noise is known as the phenomenon of "residual inhibition." I believe this is what you are experiencing.

Once

 

[Contrast]

supplement

beware most supplements are scams, any particular supplements you bought?

 

[Phendran]

Hello.

Making your life centered around your tinnitus might be a key to getting by, in the sense that it's good to not risk it getting worse...
If it doesn't go, remember to be vocal.
Do not keep it secret, lest others might think us here lying and weak-minded.

 

[PortalNaut]

Joe, the shower is a good masker for many forms of T. There are times where I spend 2-3 minutes pounding a hard spray on the back of my head, and also up to the backs of the ears.

I think it is very important to follow the instinctual healings you come up with, but like you are becoming aware of, not to make life about the T. There needs, imo, to be a certain amount of acceptance and distance from the T, even while you work on it.