Finding Commonalities in Sufferers

[David J]

What with all of the research and reading I've done on Tinnitus, I've seen few comprehensive study results in which researchers simply tried to find commonalities in suffers. Commonalities that may have either initiated the onset or maintain the symptoms. I have to believe that a carefully crafted survey might reveal some really beneficial link?

While recently researching artificial sweeteners I discovered that the one most widely used was found when it first hit the market to coincide with a spike in brain cancer. Although a direct link could not be found, and thus could not preclude the future sale of this artificial sweetener. It made me think, because I happen to drink a diet soda almost exclusively (I drink little else).

I wouldn't think that something as simple as an artificial sweetener would cause "T", but there are so many different possibilities that we may just consider extraneous stuff with no possible link. I am going on a low carb diet so I can't give up artificial sweeteners now, but I will try in the future.

The real point here is that we may all benefit from more comprehensive simple studies and we should all be lobbying for them. Others thoughts or any info relative to this will be appreciated.

 

[LeQuack]

When you have T, everything causes or worsens T, at least in the mind.

 

[Smoogle]

There was a poster on the Yuku board that had intrusive T for years, and it stopped entirely when they stopped using artificial sweeteners and eating foods with MSG.

Tinnitus gone after 15 years!
For 15 years I suffered from this awful ringing sound in my left ear. This was all an enigma to me since I have never been exposed to loud noises. I have suffered from sinus problems all my life (I'm now 58), so I figured there was some connection. I visited 5 ENT specialists, MRI's, the works and no solution was found. I also began experiencing deteriorating loss in the ear which was no problem since I could not hear much from it since it was constantly ringing. Then I read somewhere of artificial sweetners as a possible contributory factor that causes tinnitus, hearing loss and dizziness all of which had been affecting me. This made sense to me since I was addicted to the stuff and literally "won't leave home without it". I immediately stopped using all artificial sweeteners and after about a month the dizziness started abating and completely disappeared completely a few months later. The ringing however continued but was diminished somewhat. This was a few years ago and I was thankful that I had solved one piece of the puzzle. A few months ago, I read also of a possible connection with MSG. Wow, I thought, I eat Chinese food almost every day and wondered if the tinnitus was as a result of literally been hit by a double whammy, AS's and MSG. Two months ago I eased up considerably on the Chinese food and when I had it, I ordered it without MSG. Within one month, my tinnitus disappeared completely. For the past month I have been tinnitus-free and the improvement in my quality of life has skyrocketed. A few days ago, I visited an ENT concerning my hearing loss, related the story to him and asked him what he thought. He replied simply, "You are blessed. Don't they to figure it out. Just give praise and enjoy the silence". I agree with him. Each day, I thank God for this miracle and even if the ringing was to return, I'd at least have the memories. I could live with that. One thing for sure, I will never ever use artificial sweeteners and MSG again.

I don't think most of us would get that lucky with it, but I think MSG and salt temporarily spikes mine...

 

[David J]

There was a poster on the Yuku board that had intrusive T for years, and it stopped entirely when they stopped using artificial sweeteners and eating foods with MSG.

That is Great stuff!! I mean the poster that quit artificial sweeteners and MSG and his "T" went away! Maybe there is something more universal to that? In any case, those are the kind of stories that could eventually lead us to a cure or at least provide relief to some with their "T" symptoms. Stranger things have happened. Really, there should be no stone left unturned in the search for relief!

 

[Emily]

I switched from diet mountain dew to regular mountain dew this summer. Ideally I should drink 0 soda I'm sure. But, anyway, the switch didn't help me. I do know though that MSG definitely spikes mine. I am trying to cut out all MSG and anything that says "natural flavors".
I also pray more studies are done! It's seems ridiculous to me that in this day and age we can perform lung transplants but can't fix tinnitus!!

 

[GMac14]

I switched from diet mountain dew to regular mountain dew this summer. Ideally I should drink 0 soda I'm sure. But, anyway, the switch didn't help me. I do know though that MSG definitely spikes mine. I am trying to cut out all MSG and anything that says "natural flavors".
I also pray more studies are done! It's seems ridiculous to me that in this day and age we can perform lung transplants but can't fix tinnitus!!

Its so sad that more people don't care about tinnitus and frankly its because its not enough people have it. There are continuous amounts of research being poured into things like diabetes but not tinnitus. The most frustrating thing is being told that tinnitus isn't life threatening which is a HUGE misconception. While yes it doesn't kill you, it drastically effects your quality of life and leads to suicide for extreme cases. How is that not considered life threatening and will make people pay more attention to us?

 

[Emily]

^^^^^
Exactly. What will it take for people to care about all of us T sufferers?