Do You Ever Evaluate Your Tinnitus and Potential Reasons for Its Changes?

[calin]

Often I find myself reviewing my day or evening when a change in the T volume occurs.

Does anybody else do that?

If it is softer or gone for the short time, I think... hmmm.. what is different about what I ate, drank, my stress level, my new or regular supplements, sleep with two pillows, etc.??

I also do the same when it is louder than normal.

And sometimes I will use that thing I identified as different and I decide that I won't eat it anymore or it only aggravates my T... whether I have scientifically proved it is a detriment or beneficial.

And sometimes I will stop doing or taking something for a period and see if there is a change.

So, am I the only one that does that?

 

[Karen]

Nope! I do that, too. And I have a feeling we're not alone. I'm always evaluating my T at different times of the day, and noting when I'm having a particularly good day, or even a particularly good hour. I'm a little bit over the top when it comes to logs: I keep a blood pressure log every day, plus a supplement log, plus a sleep log (that includes comments about new supplements or how I feel). Maybe it's crazy, but it helps me cope.

Also, I try to note, when taking a new supplement, how it is affecting me and my T. For example, I'm now taking a transdermal cream, called AdrenaCalm, that my chiro recommended for adrenal support. I'm experimenting with it to see how it affects me, and adjusting the dose accordingly.

I'll bet there are others out there who do the same thing. Anyone?

 

[calin]

Nope! I do that, too. And I have a feeling we're not alone. I'm always evaluating my T at different times of the day, and noting when I'm having a particularly good day, or even a particularly good hour. I'm a little bit over the top when it comes to logs: I keep a blood pressure log every day, plus a supplement log, plus a sleep log (that includes comments about new supplements or how I feel). Maybe it's crazy, but it helps me cope.

Also, I try to note, when taking a new supplement, how it is affecting me and my T. For example, I'm now taking a transdermal cream, called AdrenaCalm, that my chiro recommended for adrenal support. I'm experimenting with it to see how it affects me, and adjusting the dose accordingly.

I'll bet there are others out there who do the same thing. Anyone?

haha... I only do some of that.

AdrenaCalm... I will look into that. Thanks!

 

[calin]

I am doing that analysis again!!!!

My T was almost non- existent or very very low level for most of yesterday and then quieter than ever when I woke in the middle of the night. It usually is the strongest when my head is prone. That's what the rain/thunder CD is for!

So, I ate organic dried cranberries and fresh organic blackberries as the only difference in my diet yesterday. I noticed a change in volume (less) after that. And I ate no candy with sugar or corn syrup. I only ate my Dr. John's xylitol caramels before bed for my mouth and teeth health regimen.

Right now... My T is noticeably quieter than normal for the AM before shower time. hmmm... will obviously monitor it today. Maybe eat more blackberries and dried cranberries!

Oh ... one more thing. I sense my T more when I am on here. I feel it gets a wee bit stronger. Could be just my imagination of course! Well.... it is still very very low right now and I have been here for about 20 minutes. Talking about T brings my focus back to it and it usually seems more irritating.

 

[calin]

haha... I only do some of that.

AdrenaCalm... I will look into that. Thanks!

Opps - I see that again about the Adrenacalm - forgot to look that up. Been engrossed with salvestrols!

 

[stantheman]

I kept a log for my blood pressure and matched the BP readings with T volume. Did this almost every hour. Then, I thought, this is nuts. So I put away my BP monitor, pen and paper. Figured, the heck with it. Did the same with weighing myself everyday. I thought que sera sera.

 

[Karen]

Stan,
You're absolutely right! I was totally obsessing over my blood pressure after I got off the blood pressure drugs. My blood pressure went wacko for awhile after that, so I began taking it many times per day. Now that my body has finally calmed down (it took me over 2 years for this to happen!) I am down to taking my BP about twice a day.

If you monitor blood pressure, etc., constantly, it can drive you crazy. Good for you!!

 

[calin]

I will take mine every morning, and sometimes in the evening.

It is 5pm. Still very very very low T.

Ate more organic cranberries and organic Paul Neuman oreo cookies.

 

[Paul D]

If it is softer or gone for the short time, I think... hmmm.. what is different about what I ate, drank, my stress level, my new or regular supplements, sleep with two pillows, etc.??
I also do the same when it is louder than normal.

And sometimes I will use that thing I identified as different and I decide that I won't eat it anymore or it only aggravates my T... whether I have scientifically proved it is a detriment or beneficial.

That's me all right. Even when I've narrowed down a certain food, group of foods, or specific ingredient to those most likely causing spikes, then later finding that limiting or increasing their intake really has no effect. So I decide this is rubbish...I'm not going to perseverate on that anymore. But sure enough, the next high or low T level has me reviewing all possible contributing factors, mostly food intake.

I'm pretty sure that some foods contribute to the severity of my T spikes, but only under certain circumstances. It's those circumstances I cannot predict. On bad days, though, one has to do something, hence the rationale behind a new investigation.

 

[Lord of the Ring]

Tinnitus is a 'sound' created it the brain. I guess it's safe to say that who loud or quiet it is (or how you perceive it) is created in the brain as well, fed by your mindset, your stress level, how tired you are and so on.
Now, how to you trick your brain…

 

[Karen]

So far, the only way I've come up with to "trick" the brain is through distraction. If I can distract myself from the T when it is at its worst, I can get through it. That's why it is so hard for tinnitus sufferers to sleep; how do you trick your brain (except through white noise, etc.) when you are tired and at your most vulnerable?

 

[Paul D]

I agree, Lord & Karen. Distraction is probably the best, sometimes the only, tool to change course on a bad day. Even if it only helps a little. I also work on compassion and keeping a sense of gratitude in my heart; things could be oh so much worse.

 

[calin]

Yep... distraction. When you are thinking of something other than your T, you don't notice the T. Well, I don't anyway. I shouldn't speak for anybody else.

Perhaps one can be prepared for a quick distraction plan by preparing something to be a regular "distraction" when the focus is non the T. Such as thinking about a favorite sport, or sing a song, or do deep breathing and count the breath in (4-6) and slow breath out (4-6). Calming too!

Paul has a good distraction method... thinking about things to be grateful for! I sometimes do that to go to sleep.

 

[Lord of the Ring]

Yeah, but to contradict myself: sometimes my tinnitus is louder and sometimes it isn't. So how do you explain that, when it is only perception? And I do listen to my tinnitus in the same room with the same level of background noise.