Another New One Joins the Ranks

[John CC]

Hello everyone, yes I am writing a note that 3 weeks ago I never could have imagined writing. Yes, I like so many others was blissfully unaware of something called Tinnitus. Then on my phone I hit the button for voice mail, and the voice mailscreen came up and I placed it to my ear to listen. Unfortunately, at that same time for some reason a phone call came through and it rang directly into my ear. One second that changed everything. The ring did what it needed to, and now I have a tone ringing in both ears, in the left, a lower tone (around a B flat on the guitar) and a high E on the right. At the start they were intermittent but now the dial tone is fairly consistent (for the past couple of days). Fortunately, at times the sound fluctuates from very quiet (not there?) to louder.

I have seen my doctor, had my ears tested and I am in the pipeline to see an ear specialist. My doctor gave me a prescription for nortriptyline and said we can try it to see how it works. I am trying out different ear plugs to help prevent loud noises, I already listen to classical and jazz music, I have been meditating for years, go to the gym about 3x's a week (not to build just to stay what I call maintenance - something someone does when 57 years old).

While this seems to be what is suggested on web sites, the audiologist, I would appreciate any suggestions or thoughts about navigating through this time. Without a doubt, this has been stressful, depressing and is not anything I would wish on anyone. At times that noise is loud (though I freely admit I do not know if I am at the high, middle or low end of the spectrum, but either way it is disturbing to say least), at others not so much.

So like so many other people I am having to adjust to a new reality. So if anyone has some suggestions or thoughts that might help during this time, I would greatly appreciate it. In return I promise to pass on your suggestions to those who may unfortunately follow.

With thanks, John CC

 

[dpdx]

And you are 57! Imagine getting this at 28 and being severe. Welcome to the forum I don't think the phone call gave you a trauma but it might have been noise exposures throughout your life, the phone call was just something that kind of set it off. Please don't go to clubs, concerts, cinema, etc as this can make it worse, also refrain from using earbuds/earphones as this can worsen your T beyond belief. In addition refrain from doing any ear tests that the ENT/Audiologist wants you to, go ahead an do an audiogram but stay away from ear tests like acoustic reflex. You will be OK I feel it, just leave it alone for 5-7 months and it should reduce to Mild T, or if you are really lucky it might go away.

 

[John CC]

Hi dpdx Thanks for the thoughts and the words of encouragement.

 

[Contrast]

There are many cases where people were cruel to there hearing all their life, and one acoustic trauma sets off the tinnitus. Damage builds up over time.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Fortunately, at times the sound fluctuates from very quiet (not there?) to louder.

It is a good sign that less than one month after onset you are already feeling a little better. It ought to continue to fade.

One second that changed everything.

Hopefully it will just end up being "one second that ruined a year of my life"

I am trying out different ear plugs to help prevent loud noises

My plugs of choice are
https://www.amazon.ca/3M-1100-Foam-Plugs-200-Pair/dp/B008MVYL7C

You might also consider buying Peltor X5A earmuffs.

I already listen to classical and jazz music

I hope you don't use headphones to do that.

I would appreciate any suggestions or thoughts about navigating through this time

In that case, please see
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...eone-else-who-has-tinnitus.26850/#post-307822

and the first post on
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/learn-from-others-mistakes.29437/

though I freely admit I do not know if I am at the high, middle or low end of the spectrum

You can use the scale on
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-loudness-scale.6873/
to find out...

 

[Bill Bauer]

I don't think the phone call gave you a trauma

I am pretty sure that it was the phone. It sounds similar to how I got T (only in my case a Sonic toothbrush was involved - don't ask...) 18 months ago, and apart from that lapse of judgement, I have been protecting my ears all of my life.

 

[dpdx]

I am pretty sure that it was the phone. It sounds similar to how I got T (only in my case a Sonic toothbrush was involved - don't ask...) 18 months ago, and apart from that judgement lapse, I have been protecting my ears all of my life.

How is your T now? Is it same?

 

[Bill Bauer]

How is your T now? Is it same?

I don't want to go into any details, for fear of jinxing it. I am Not a superstitious person, but T is so horrible that I am not going to take any chances.

 

[dpdx]

I don't want to go into any details, for fear of jinxing it. I am Not a superstitious person, but T is so horrible that I am not going to take any chances.

Mine will NEVER get better.

 

[John CC]

Please excuse the rant. I was doing great. My tinnitus is in both ears with a high pitch in the right ear, and a generally lower tone in the left. In just over 2 years my tinnitus was really subsiding and was noticeable only several times a day, still loud at times (could hear it while driving on the highway in a 2013 Camaro but even then at times it would disappear). Life was looking up. And then I was at a friend's and he asked me to lend a hand, and without thinking I grabbed the air hammer and I used it 2 times without ear plugs and thought wait, I need my ear plugs, and then I went and got my ear plugs. I should have just stopped but I thought I have my ear plugs I will be fine. I only used for maybe 14 times or so, over a span of a couple of minutes. At the time I heard a little noise from them and then I went home and it wasn't until the morning I realized my life had gone backwards big time.

I am now back to where I started two years ago. It is my third morning where I woke up from the sound. It actually sounds louder in my right ear than I ever remember (I can hear it over well just about everything). One dumb moment to help a really good guy and I am paying for it. No one is to blame except me as I should have known better, but in these thoughtless moments - or loss of perspective - things do happen. At the very least yesterday my left fluctuated a little and was a little quieter, so I am hoping it will get better. My right ear fluctuates very little, which I take for me to be a good sign as it has fluctuated in the past, but I find it fluctuates only rarely and that is from always loud to louder. It has never been this loud and this constant.

I have read this forum for several years, and please forgive me for ranting because I know there are others who have it tougher. I live alone and find the walls can close pretty fast. Everything was going great in my life, and then 1 stupid moment, I know it can happen, it is just sooooo frustrating. I am hoping they will heal and that I have not done any permanent damage. I guess time will tell.

Is this just a bad spike, or is it possible I have made my tinnitus worse and the right ear is permanent?

I figure time will tell. It is just I am getting tired, not sleeping well and trying to tell myself it is just a spike live through it is getting harder and harder, and that all important quantity called hope is sinking fast.

Sorry for the rant, but I had to get this out, as we all know ranting does help, and everyone here is great at listening and understanding.

Thanks for the space.

 

[ajc]

Is this just a bad spike, or is it possible I have made my tinnitus worse and the right ear is permanent?

Nobody can give you the answer to that. You know it.

Give it time. What other solution do you have? Suicide? That's a permanent solution to what might be a temporary increase in your tinnitus.

 

[John CC]

You can read this. You don't know how much that means. I have posted and nothing was coming back. It made me feel very cut off. Thanks for the reply. I agree, but I could use some outside help right now.

 

[ajc]

I agree, but I could use some outside help right now.

Have you considered booking a Skype session with the CBT psychologist Bruce Hubbard? @Luman says he's excellent for getting you through tinnitus problems.

 

[John CC]

Thanks AJC for the thought. It may be worthwhile. I have had this before, it is just for some reason this time it is hitting me harder, I don't know why? I think I will pursue it if I don't get a handle on it.

 

[Midas]

Hi John, give it time. The sounds of tinnitus are harmless, no matter how loud they seem or how intrusive they are.

You will habituate to it.

If you must work or be present in very loud environments it is important to have GOOD ear protection. Custom ear plugs are f.e. tested for leakage. Universal plugs might give you a false sense of security. If you have to work with tools like air hammers etc. it is best to use Peltor muffs like f.e. the X5A.

Please protect you ears and avoid this from escalating into tinnitus + hyperacusis with pain.

I've come to the stage my own voice can cause a spike for days with increased tinnitus and hyperacusis.

No restaurants, no friend visits...

 

[John CC]

Thanks Midas for the input. I actually have custom made earplugs that I have been using for about 2 years. I was wearing my 25 dB plugs, but obviously they were not enough. I am a teacher and I will be off until Sept. 8th which is good as it will allow me time to protect my ears. In school I almost always wear my plugs. My innitus. was improving and I think that is what upsets me the most, where I only noticed it occasionally when it fluctuated upwards. I have even survived the occasional fire alarm at school and other loud noises that I thought well this is it, I'm done. My tinnitus went up for a bit then back down. I am hoping that this is temporary and I will go back to where I was. I have basically stayed in with background sounds playing in the background and I plan to stay in to protect for a while (until I need food). Time is both a friend, and sometimes not so much.

Thanks for the help.

John C

 

[Kirstystired]

I dont have any advice but wanted to know youre not alone.
Im sure this will be just a temporary spike and it will settle. Try not to panic , so much easier said than done I know !. Xx

 

[John CC]

Thanks for the support Kirstystired. Time is a thing that can be viewed so differently, I agree to give it time, it is just living through the time. Thanks.

John

 

[Kirstystired]

Thanks for the support Kirstystired. Time is a thing that can be viewed so differently, I agree to give it time, it is just living through the time. Thanks.

John

Oh yes I totally understand. All the doctors I've seen about my T have said 'give it time '
However like you say its living through it that's the worst part x

 

[John CC]

Hi Kirstystired,

I noticed you are a new member to the club no one wants to join. I hope you don't mind if I offer one or two 'thoughts' about surviving at the start. Read and trust this site, it saved me and a lot of other people. It provides you with information, and the 'I am not alone with this' feeling. I also suggest you look at and read the Success Stories section, as well as the Research section. Reading the Research section I have come to the thought that perhaps in 4 to 6 years there may actually be a credible treatment for tinnitus. I I have checked with others and they feel the same). Be wary of treatments, nothing is credible yet and before you partake in one, I strongly suggest you post a thread asking about it before you fork over any money.

I do not know your type of tinnitus and how loud it is. If you feel you need ear protection, I would go to a hearing chain and talk to an audiologist and have some custom made ear plugs. I would get the type with changeable ear filters (25, 15, and 10 dB most often). I also use foam plugs (you can get them at hardware stores for construction sites) and they are rated at 25 dB. You will also have to learn to balance out when to use them. I put mine in when I know there will be noises, and take them out when I feel safer. There will always be noises to catch you by surprise. This is where the learning curve comes in. I was reminded about mine last week. My tinnitus is better so I am hopeful that what happened is not a permanent setback, just temporary.

If you have trouble sleeping either get a sound masking machine, or you can also access this site (home page right side I believe), or go on-line and type in Tinnitus Sound and you will be witness to a number of different types of sound that will help match your tinnitus at night so you can sleep, and your mind does not focus on your tinnitus while you are sleeping. You will also find that there are a number of versions of tinnitus out there.

Anyway, I do not know if you already know this, or not, I just thought I would reach out as you were kind enough to do.

Take care, it will get better.
John C.