Hello guys! I have been quietly reading Tinnitus Talk for many months and just decided to sign up to share my story.
My horror story started in June 2023 after attending rock concert (I never was a concert lover, just attended 3-4 in my life). At one point, I noticed that high frequency tones became muffled but I though there was something wrong with speakers as the volume was really high. The next norming I started worrying when I realized that after a good nigh sleep the ringing was still there.
Long story short - the first 2-3 months were pure hell for me. I was panically visiting different private ENTs hoping they could help me somehow (I visited 7 or 8 different ENTs and spent a lot of money). By the way, I did have a small drop at 6 kHz, but that turned back to normal after Prednisone course, tinnitus stayed the same. My sleep was broken to the point where I could sleep only 2-3 hours per day. Tinnitus appeared to be not the only problem. At the 1 month I decided to try HBOT and did just a single short session. I didn't feel anything uncomfortable during the session but I was really scary at that moment. Anyway, right the next day after the session, I noticed loud metallic crackling in the ears when I lay down and swallow, especially at night. Sometimes it could happen randomly at any point of the day. Moreover, I acquired jerking of the soft palate at the end of the words/sentences and it could be also triggered by some specific neck movements. Whether these things were triggered by HBOT or it was just a coincidence - I don't know.
I was going crazy and scared to death, couldn't concentrate on anything (I still can't believe I wasn't fired from my job) which was only worsening all my problems. I was referenced to psycho several times, and my wide also insisted on it as well. The turning point was at the 3-month mark where I and my wife spontaneously decided to go on vacation to Croatia and spend there 1 month near the sea. It was time where I managed to calm down and understood how much I want to live.
So, not to tell you all the boring details, I'll just try to sum everything up.
Where I was and what I had at the 3-month mark:
What helped me? Only time and acceptance, and maybe yoga I did take some pills including Magnesium, Ginkgo, and something else, but I believe they did little to nothing. I just started living my life, day by day, then started building plans, and somehow all my ear-related problems started blending into the background.
I don't know whether this was useful for anybody, but I just wanted to share my story to let you know that habituation is real.
My horror story started in June 2023 after attending rock concert (I never was a concert lover, just attended 3-4 in my life). At one point, I noticed that high frequency tones became muffled but I though there was something wrong with speakers as the volume was really high. The next norming I started worrying when I realized that after a good nigh sleep the ringing was still there.
Long story short - the first 2-3 months were pure hell for me. I was panically visiting different private ENTs hoping they could help me somehow (I visited 7 or 8 different ENTs and spent a lot of money). By the way, I did have a small drop at 6 kHz, but that turned back to normal after Prednisone course, tinnitus stayed the same. My sleep was broken to the point where I could sleep only 2-3 hours per day. Tinnitus appeared to be not the only problem. At the 1 month I decided to try HBOT and did just a single short session. I didn't feel anything uncomfortable during the session but I was really scary at that moment. Anyway, right the next day after the session, I noticed loud metallic crackling in the ears when I lay down and swallow, especially at night. Sometimes it could happen randomly at any point of the day. Moreover, I acquired jerking of the soft palate at the end of the words/sentences and it could be also triggered by some specific neck movements. Whether these things were triggered by HBOT or it was just a coincidence - I don't know.
I was going crazy and scared to death, couldn't concentrate on anything (I still can't believe I wasn't fired from my job) which was only worsening all my problems. I was referenced to psycho several times, and my wide also insisted on it as well. The turning point was at the 3-month mark where I and my wife spontaneously decided to go on vacation to Croatia and spend there 1 month near the sea. It was time where I managed to calm down and understood how much I want to live.
So, not to tell you all the boring details, I'll just try to sum everything up.
Where I was and what I had at the 3-month mark:
- Horrible tinnitus in right ear (8-9/10) and mild/moderate tinnitus in left one (5-6/10). I was thinking about it 95-99% of the time.
- Metallic ear crackling on swallowing. At its worst, I heard clicking on 3 out of 5 swallows.
- Jerking of the soft palate which was happening 90% of when I was talking and almost on any neck movement.
- TTTS which was triggered by my wife's speech in a silent room, my own voice, dish clenching, keys, water running etc.
- Middle ear myoclonus in my left ear (the first episode started during my summer vacation by the way).
- Fleeting tinnitus happening several times a week.
- Sleep problems and I was taking some sleep aids.
- Fear of any loud sound.
- Still tinnitus. I really can't judge whether it got ACTUALLY better or not. It still screams, but I don't really care much. Now, I notice and think about it roughly 2-5% of my day (this is mostly at bedtime and when in fully quiet rooms). When I wake up, my tinnitus ALWAYS drops to 1-2/10 and then gradually increases.
- Ear crackling which now happens waaay less, I would say several times at daytime and a bit more at night, BUT I don't care.
- Jerking of the soft palate which now happens rarely when I talk and often on some specific neck movements. I got used to it, so it's not a problem anymore.
- TTTS is almost gone. I notice it on very rare occasions.
- MEM - it's happening on a regular basis. I have 2-3 MEM episodes per week which can last anywhere from 2 to 18 hours. It's by the way happening right now when I'm writing. However, the intensity of the thumping is so low that it does not bother me at all.
- Fleeting tinnitus still happens regularly.
- No sleep problems at all. Every evening during the last 6 month I'm turning on one and the same rainforest sound and it help me fall asleep. I can fall asleep with my tinnitus and active MEM within 2-3 minutes and sleep without waking till the very morning.
- No fear of loud sounds. I can easily handle bars, gyms, big crowds at the city, weddings, and my favorite - moderately loud music in my car.
What helped me? Only time and acceptance, and maybe yoga I did take some pills including Magnesium, Ginkgo, and something else, but I believe they did little to nothing. I just started living my life, day by day, then started building plans, and somehow all my ear-related problems started blending into the background.
I don't know whether this was useful for anybody, but I just wanted to share my story to let you know that habituation is real.