Eremite Life

[MountainCreek]

Having lived a quiet eremite life for a bit over a year, I now have almost no tinnitus. Hence I proved the hypothesis that tinnitus is permanent after three months is completely wrong.

What happens now is that I have gone back to washing the dishes without using hearing protectors and this does no longer cause tinnitus. I still have the fear for loud noise. So I never go out in the traffic or take public transportation. But at home I now live a pretty much normal life.

Based on my experience, it seems to me that people who are advided to *ignore* tinnitus and carry on with noisy life style are given the wrong advice. The correct advice would be to live a hermite life and stop all noisy activities until tinnitus become no longer noticable. For me I have no tinnitus to speak about.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Having lived a quiet eremite life for a bit over a year, I now have almost no tinnitus.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I took a similar approach and got better (until a secondary acoustic trauma had erased a lot of this progress). I am also convinced that protecting one's ears from even moderately loud noises promotes healing as far as T is concerned.

Was the fading of your T gradual? How long before you noticed that it was helping? How loud was it when you began staying away from noises? Did you listen to TV/computer at low volume?

 

[Tinker Bell]

Having lived a quiet eremite life for a bit over a year, I now have almost no tinnitus. Hence I proved the hypothesis that tinnitus is permanent after three months is completely wrong.

What happens now is that I have gone back to washing the dishes without using hearing protectors and this does no longer cause tinnitus. I still have the fear for loud noise. So I never go out in the traffic or take public transportation. But at home I now live a pretty much normal life.

Based on my experience, it seems to me that people who are advided to *ignore* tinnitus and carry on with noisy life style are given the wrong advice. The correct advice would be to live a hermite life and stop all noisy activities until tinnitus become no longer noticable. For me I have no tinnitus to speak about.

I have a million questions.

How long did you have tinnitus before you began to live as an eremite? What was the diagnosed cause of your tinnitus? Do you have hearing loss? Do you live in a rural or urban area? Do you have family living with you? If so, how did they help your process? How did you work?

I don't think the hermit life is feasible for everyone, so I am curious.

Also, you initially said you have "almost no tinnitus" . . . so it's still there. You technically did not prove that it's not permanent, since you still have it. Your tinnitus improved, and that seems to be what most people say happens. But in the last sentence you said you do not have tinnitus? Slightly confused.

 

[Bill Bauer]

you said you have "almost no tinnitus"

Yes, may we ask you to tell us how quiet it is? Do you hear it only in quiet rooms? Or are there days when you can't hear it?

 

[Sam Bridge]

This is a good idea unfortunately its not financially feasible unless you win the lottery/ are at retirement age.

 

[vermillion]

I have a million questions.

How long did you have tinnitus before you began to live as an eremite? What was the diagnosed cause of your tinnitus? Do you have hearing loss? Do you live in a rural or urban area? Do you have family living with you? If so, how did they help your process? How did you work?

I don't think the hermit life is feasible for everyone, so I am curious.

Also, you initially said you have "almost no tinnitus" . . . so it's still there. You technically did not prove that it's not permanent, since you still have it. Your tinnitus improved, and that seems to be what most people say happens. But in the last sentence you said you do not have tinnitus? Slightly confused.

@MountainCreek could you please answer @Tinker Bell 's questions. Especially the first one.

 

[Bill Bauer]

This is a good idea unfortunately its not financially feasible unless you win the lottery/ are at retirement age.

You could also quit your job.

 

[Sam Bridge]

You could also quit your job.

As i mentioned that is not financially feasible.

 

[Bill Bauer]

And survive how?

Relatives, savings...

 

[Sam Bridge]

Relatives, savings...

Lol keep dreaming.

 

[Tinker Bell]

@MountainCreek could you please answer @Tinker Bell 's questions. Especially the first one.

Thanks for bumping my question.

I think how long Mountain had tinnitus before changing lifestyles is very relevant. If it was less than a year, then whose to say it wouldn't have improved anyway? There are multiple studies indicating it can improve. We even have TT members who improved after 18 months. According to the profile, it began in May 2016. With a year spent as a hermit away from society, that's not very long dealing with it beforehand.

If it was a longer amount -- a year and a half, two years, three years, etc. -- then I would give a little more credence to the claim.

But there are a lot of factors to consider, too, such as whether there was hearing loss, how severe the ringing was, if there was hyperacusis, or if other methods such as white noise, medication, and/or therapy were used inconjunction with avoiding noise.

 

[Foncky]

Lol keep dreaming.

Remote jobs.

 

[Sam Bridge]

Remote jobs.

Easier said than done though.. unless you want me to open a branch of your business in London

 

[Foncky]

No, thanks, I'm still in the "easier said than done" stage

 

[Candy]

This is great news, I noticed from you initial posts that your tinnitus was mild.
It would be interesting replicating the same experiment with someone with loud intrusive tinnitus. Anyone up for it

 

[vermillion]

Thanks for bumping my question.

I think how long Mountain had tinnitus before changing lifestyles is very relevant. If it was less than a year, then whose to say it wouldn't have improved anyway? There are multiple studies indicating it can improve. We even have TT members who improved after 18 months. According to the profile, it began in May 2016. With a year spent as a hermit away from society, that's not very long dealing with it beforehand.

If it was a longer amount -- a year and a half, two years, three years, etc. -- then I would give a little more credence to the claim.

But there are a lot of factors to consider, too, such as whether there was hearing loss, how severe the ringing was, if there was hyperacusis, or if other methods such as white noise, medication, and/or therapy were used inconjunction with avoiding noise.

I am interested because I'm considering retreating somewhere for a year. Quiet. But it's been already 8 months post T, I kept working as a dancing teacher so I was exposed in music and I don't know if it's worth the try, since it's been a long time and my T is now chronic and probably centralized.

 

[TuneOut]

Relatives, savings...

Meditation in a cave in the Himalayas...

 

[TuneOut]

Remote jobs.

Is it quiet on Mars??

 

[Marlino]

This is great news, I noticed from you initial posts that your tinnitus was mild.
It would be interesting replicating the same experiment with someone with loud intrusive tinnitus. Anyone up for it

Thats the very point. Mild tinnitus almost always heals with time at least to a degree where you get used to it.
About severe T the opinions are quite heterogenous.

 

[Marlino]

I am interested because I'm considering retreating somewhere for a year. Quiet. But it's been already 8 months post T, I kept working as a dancing teacher so I was exposed in music and I don't know if it's worth the try, since it's been a long time and my T is now chronic and probably centralized.

I'm more than sceptical about the burn in theory aka centralization aka chronification:

1. if it was like that it would be highly unlikely that one can have good and bad days which are totally different in intensity.
2. I can assure you that mild T can completely vanish even after about 12 month without much progress. I experienced it once maybe 10 years ago. First it became intermittend, then it vanished completely.

 

[Rubenslash]

How on earth is this thread evidence that living like a hermit can help?

Please buy a book about basic statistics.

 

[Christophe_85]

If I could live in a place where there would be no cars at all it would be great !

Because living in the city is too noisy !