G
GoatSheep
Guest
It was over a year before I saw any improvement in reactivity. It got to the point of being practically gone by the two year mark. Since my setback in November it rears its ugly head periodically.
Almost Every Noise Spikes My Tinnitus
- Thread starter AnthonyMcDonald
- Start date
Member- Apr 28, 2021
- 1,881
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Trauma
G
GoatSheep
Guest
As in most cases I'd say it was mostly just time and my body healing naturally. I genuinely feel like 2 supplements may have made a real difference in my case. NAD and Astaxanthin.
The NAD definitely made my tinnitus volume quieter. Not like night and day but like .5-1 point lower. This didn't happen the first round of trying it.
When my tinnitus was much louder. After my tinnitus had already lowered in volume I could take it and tell a difference in general volume on a day to day basis. I still take it daily.
Astaxanthin would give me a warm ear feeling and I felt like whatever it was doing may have improved my ETD symptoms. However, I couldn't take it everyday. After a few days it would spike me noticeably. So I'd take it 1-2 days a week. I also started with a much higher dose of 12 mg and cut that back to 4 mg because the level of the volume increases seemed pretty dose dependent.
I also took Curcumin and fish oil a lot. I didn't get any physical sensations from them or volume changes, but they have anti-inflammatory properties so they could have played a part. I feel like my issues are heavily inflammation related.
I exercised a lot after the first year. Before that I was extremely depressed and suicidal. Mostly just lots of walking trails in quiet parks away from the city and if I had to do it at home I'd just walk in my garage in laps. Couldn't really walk my neighborhood. I live in a nice quiet cul de sac, but several neighbors are into DIY work in their garages with saws and things and yard work projects regularly.
I did physical therapy for my balance issues, but I was able to get them to do neck massage. This was at like almost 2 years in. I feel like I had healed a lot, but my middle ear reaction to sound was so entrenched it wasn't letting up and the regular massage helped that. I noticed an improvement in my ability to tolerate music that grew over several months. I felt like my startle reflex over general noises like silverware clanging and stuff improved too.
I tried starting it back recently when I had what I thought was cervicogenic vertigo going on, but I think currently my setback is not at a stage where it is having a positive effect with the massage. Too much inflammation is my guess. My vertigo actually ended up being BPPV this time around and after a few sessions with the Epley Maneuver it resolved. So I've stopped physical therapy for the time being as right now it was just another noise exposure area to my presently sensitive ears.
Sorry to kind of go off on a tangent, but wanted to explain the situational aspect of how I thought it was beneficial.
I will say as far as the reactivity specifically there was one very odd flukish like event, but it seemed to come out in my favor. My right ear was mostly my only reactive ear. It would spike to sounds like air purifiers, AC vent noise in the car, the smoke fan on my stove etc. So I slept in quiet and couldn't use sound enrichment pretty much.
One night I was laying in my Children's room when they were being difficult about going to sleep. My ear was screaming as their air purifier was running. After they fell asleep I ended up passing out in there even though my ear was screaming. When I woke up the next morning my ear was not having a reaction to that noise. Pretty much from that point forward those type of noises stopped giving the "struggle to match or overtake in volume whatever is triggering it" effect.
Now again this may have been situational. Not really sure how, but obviously like with noxacusis overexposure it could backfire and make things worse, so I'm not saying give it a shot. Could very well have made it worse for me. I was frankly shocked by the result and as I say it wasn't an intentional experiment, but that certainly specifically affected the reactivity.
- Apr 28, 2021
- 1,881
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Trauma
Thanks for the explanation, that helps a lot.
White noise is spiking me and several others here. It's annoying lol. Ceiling fan makes it squeal. The kicker is it doesn't happen ALL the time.
Is your setback noise induced?
G
GoatSheep
Guest
Yes, not tinnitus setback. Just hyperacusis/noxacusis. The record store incident. If you recall the thread in the hyperacusis section.
Your tinnitus and hyperacusis needs to be treated, that is the reason you are experiencing spikes.
On the brink of suicide every day. The torture is too much to take, and the tinnitus just keeps getting louder every day and nothing is helping me. It has no limit, it juts keeps getting louder and louder.
Ah shit. I'm so sorry. I have no words of advice, just know that there are people around the world thinking of you (not that that helps you at all right now). Do you manage to get any sleep at all? I truly hope you get some relief soon.
Sleep is very tough. But I do sleep. I have to stay up until I pass out from exhaustion. Soon won't be able to fall asleep at all probably.
- Apr 28, 2021
- 1,881
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Trauma
I know but still looking for a frequency that doesn't irritate my tinnitus, lol.
Are you taking any medication at the moment to help you sleep? Have you been prescribed anything at all to help you cope?
You need treatment, not procrastination. I'm intrigued you find this so amusing.
Nothing can help me "cope" with this. I do not take sleeping medication as it does not help anyways.
I am sorry that you are having such a rough time. May I ask what you have already tried to cope with this so that I might give you some suggestions.
George
I can't cope with it. There is nothing I can do. I can't use any type of sound enrichment or masking because my hyperacusis is catastrophic. I cannot even open or close a door without a permanent increase in tinnitus. I have to wear double hearing protection at all times that just increases the noise of my own body. I have to lie in bed all day to delay the constant worsening.
Anthony this is still very early for you.
You are still in panic mode.
This period will pass and you will realise that these noises can go on and you can have a normal life. Eventually they may even disappear. I was free for over 3 years after torment of over 2 years.
Hang in there. Take one day at a time. Eat well, rest when you can.
It WILL pass.
OK, I understand. Your situation sounds quite serious and you sound like you are really suffering. I have suffered through much physical pain and devastating loss. I lost my wife and two best friends to cancer and myself have two different cancers and tinnitus. The hyperacusis was so bad in the beginning that I had pain radiating up and down the entire side of my head and my brain felt like it was burning. At times it can feel quite dark and lonely but there is always the possibility of healing, of finding hope in a hopeless situation. I am better now, not pain free but better and I can see more hope for the future lately. If I can help you let me know, the early part of this condition can be very difficult but it can get better. You deserve to be happy and healthy.
All the best brother, I am in this with you,
George
- Oct 30, 2020
- 598
- Tinnitus Since
- 10/2020
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Noise (likely headphones & cars), Acoustic trauma did me in
I find your response a little amusing.
Like @Wrfortiscue, I've too been trying, for many months, to find a type of sound enrichment that doesn't irritate my auditory system. This ongoing search isn't 'procrastination'.
If proper "treatment", which I presume is TRT, isn't available in one's local area, how should one deal with this problem otherwise? Do you have any practical constructive advice for such a circumstance?
Wish you well,
Stacken
- Apr 28, 2021
- 1,881
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Trauma
I actually have an appointment with an audiologist tomorrow. Everyone tells me it's a waste of time though.
- Aug 7, 2021
- 1,478
- Tinnitus Since
- 2012 (mild) & 04/2021 (severe)
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Ototoxicity (2012) Unknown-likely noise induce (2021)
That's just @Wrfortiscue's posting style "lol". I find it kind of badass if anything. There is a great sense of lightheartedness in his post despite how serious his current situation is and I find that quite noble if you ask me. And at the same time, he will go out of his way to comfort others when they are in a state of distress. You don't really see that often here.
@AnthonyMcDonald, I agree with what @volsung37 has to say. I think for most people, time is a powerful thing. You are currently in a storm, just try to weather it out as best as you can. It's okay if you can't sometimes, there is always next time. You will overcome this. Just give yourself time.
Positive advice from people is good but negative advice can be detrimental to your recovery. If your audiologist specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment it will not be a waste of time. This is what you need to improve the quality of your life. If and when you start treatment my advice is not to discuss it with anyone.
Best of luck,
Michael
- Oct 30, 2020
- 598
- Tinnitus Since
- 10/2020
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Noise (likely headphones & cars), Acoustic trauma did me in
People have to confront their struggles on their schedule, when they are ready, not when we are ready for them. All we can do if we have something to offer is to make ourselves available and then help if asked and not judge people who are not approaching the problem the way we would approach it. In the 90s I suffered with severe panic attacks for years before I dealt with it and eventually became panic attack free. They were so bad I wound up in the hospital and I still didn't fix the problem right away. I was an alcoholic for over two decades and one was not ready to deal with it until 1998. I haven't had a single drink since and you couldn't make me drink alcohol if you held a gun to my head. that's how strong my resolve is now but 30 years ago I wasn't ready and believe me tons of people around me tried. Now that I'm older and I've been through a lot of life, I got on tinnitus and hyperacusis pretty much as soon as it started because I understand healing and what that means for me much better now than I did when I was younger.
If we can't figure out a way to make an impression on someone who is suffering, to learn the key to their lock to help them, then our knowledge and advice is useless that we need to do better, to try to understand what they need so we can help them
George
If we can't figure out a way to make an impression on someone who is suffering, to learn the key to their lock to help them, then our knowledge and advice is useless that we need to do better, to try to understand what they need so we can help them
George
I don't mind occasional banter, but hope you are not going to become a nuisance like your sidekick whom I had to dispense with.
Michael
I have a lot of sidekicks @Michael Leigh, so I'm not sure who specifically you're referring to here. Also I can't say I've noticed any of them missing lately.
But okay, I got you.
I believe you know exactly whom I'm referring to but the following will leave you in no doubt. The person that tries to impress by using overly complicated vocabulary, thinking it's good writing style which it is not.I have a lot of sidekicks @Michael Leigh, so I'm not sure who specifically you're referring to here. Also I can't say I've noticed any of them missing lately.
But okay, I got you.
Goodbye and I wish you well,
Michael
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