HELP ME! I'm Lost...

[untamed wolf]

Hello everybody!

I'm new here and to the whole T world. I hope you will listen to me and be my friend in need.

My story started one evening while on my computer. I suddenly heard a ringing noise and felt a bit worried, I went to bed hoping it would disappear the next morning. It did not. I went to my own doctor a few days later and she refereed me to an ENT. That ENT doctor was so quick, I don't think she even cared that i was afraid. She told me that it would go away and that I should just wait it out, she didn't see a problem with my ears. I waited 3 months and my anxiety started. Two months in I had my first panic attack (it was horrible, I haven't told anyone).
After that I got a new ENT and she was not better. Even before I sat down she had decided that it was T. She told me I was never going to be "cured", that broke me completely. I feel like none of my doctors take me seriously and all think I'm a dramatic teenager with too loud music. I have tried to talk to them about how I was feeling and how the sound is, but they just send me out the door. I'm tired of the sound and I want to get better. I can't help feeling more and more depressed when no one will listen to me. That's why i seek your help. I have questions that no doctor apparently have time to answer.

I have had i for 3 months will it go away or quiet down?
My jaw feels misaligned but only from friday to monday the latest, can they be connected?
I have a clogged ear on my T ear, are they connected?
When is it considered permanent? Months? Weeks?
I never hear loud music and rarely party, is there even a hope that it is not T?

I have been so stressed out by it that I have isolated myself. I really want to be better, but I have no friends who understand me. I feel very alone all the time. Does anyone have a treatment or tip to feel better while going through the ruff parts of T.

Also it might be worth mentioning I was not exactly happy when my T started. I have a friend who always keep me put of our group and cut me off so i can't participate in group work. When I got my T she was being really nasty to me and I felt abandoned by my two other best friends.

Thank you for reading

 

[Michael Leigh]

@untamed wolf
Hi. Your experience at ENT is not unusual and often happens in the early stages of tinnitus. Unless a person has additional symptoms: deafness, dizziness or balance problems, some doctors recommend waiting to see what happens. Tinnitus can go away within the first few months and many people habituate to it in time. You might find the post below helpful.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Michael

New to tinnitus, what to do?

The onset of loud intrusive tinnitus can be very traumatic for most people. I use the words loud and intrusive, because tinnitus comes in many forms and intensities. When it is mild, moderate or occasionally heard in quiet surroundings it is usually not too bothersome and a person can go about their daily affairs quite happily and unperturbed by this anomaly. This type of tinnitus usually comes on gradually and in some cases it's associated with hearing loss, as we get older and the usual treatment is the wearing of hearing aid/s.

Tinnitus can be caused by other things: an underlining medical problem, build up of ear wax (cerumen). Jaw problems. Some medications and even irregular blood flow through the body causing Pulsatile tinnitus. There are a plethora of other conditions that can be responsible. However, the most common cause is exposure to loud noise or music that has been played at high levels causing some damage to the cochlear in the inner ear.

This type of tinnitus can be loud, intrusive and very debilitating. Often leaving a person at a loss and not knowing which way to turn to escape the nightmare that has suddenly come upon them. Your Dr has probably told you, it's tinnitus and nothing can be done, you'll just have to learn to live with it. I remember those words as if it were yesterday resonating through my mind and thinking, live with this for the rest of my life, impossible. So I fully understand how difficult it can be for someone new to this condition to take this in and believe it to be factual.

If you are having difficulty sleeping you might have been advised to try a night time sedation or an ant-depressant to help cope with the stress and anxiety that often accompanies tinnitus. These medications can be helpful especially in the early stages and they don't have to be taken long term, so it's something to consider. They can act as a safety net so you don't become too down.

A referral to ENT will usually be recommended. In the mean time try to keep occupied with something you like doing, as it helps to distract the brain from focusing on the tinnitus. Avoiding quiet rooms during the day by playing low level non intrusive music such as classical in the background can be helpful.

At night a sound machine placed by the bedside playing nature sounds or listening to favourite mp3 tracks or Cds are good. Keeping the volume just below the tinnitus is ideal and set to play throughout the night until morning. It takes time to get used to sound therapy so please stay with it. Whilst in a deep sleep it supplies the brain and auditory system with sound enrichment. Over time the tinnitus is pushed further into the background helping to make its perception less noticeable during waking hours.

In the early stages of tinnitus, if one chooses not to use sound enrichment sleeping can sometimes be difficult and there's also the chance of the tinnitus becoming more intrusive as sleeping in a quiet room can allow the brain to increase it's own background activity. In doing so it will also increase the tinnitus making it more intrusive during waking hours.

There is a tendency for newbies to try and cure their tinnitus which is quite understandable. There are many remedies, treatments and concoctions out there. Some affordable others quite expensive. I am not adverse to trying to help myself but want to say, there are charlatans and con artists eager to relieve someone in distress of their money so please be careful. Even tried and tested treatments I wouldn't recommend a person try until they have been seen at ENT. Often a person after been seen at ENT is advised to wait a while.

The reason being. Many people habituate to tinnitus within six months sometimes a little longer and it has been known to go away. The ear is a very delicate organ and many Drs prefer to wait before investigating further and then suggesting a treatment. If other problems are experienced such as: pain in the ears, deafness, dizziness or balance problems this is of more concern and a person will usually been seen quicker.

It is best to have a word with your GP if you're feeling stressed or depressed in any way, as previously mentioned there are treatments available. Leaving things alone until ENT advise you of the next step is the best thing to do in my opinion. Don't try to fix anything or throw large sums of money at treatments that you have no way of knowing whether you'll get any relief.

It is not advisable to listen to audio through headphones even at low volume and keep away from loud sounds. By all means go out but anywhere that plays loud music then wear noise reducing earplugs.
Take things slowly and one day at a time. Read some of the positivity threads and ask other members for advice. Many people eventually habituate to their tinnitus and go on to lead a happy and fulfilling life even though it may take a little time.

Michael

 

[daniel1111]

Hello,

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling with this, it really is a difficult thing to go through.

I have had i for 3 months will it go away or quiet down?

It's still possible for your T to clear up completely, but there's really no way for us to know what will happen in your specific case. The good news is that even if it doesn't go, you will habituate to it over time. The habituation period is different for everyone but I read somewhere 98% of people do so within 6 months. When this happens, you will notice the sound less and less, or when you do hear it, you won't feel sad/depressed about it or react emotionally.

My jaw feels misaligned but only from friday to monday the latest, can they be connected?
I have a clogged ear on my T ear, are they connected?

I've seen that both of these things can be connected to T, speak to your doctor/ENT about it or find new ones as yours don't seem to be particularly helpful.


T is always worse when you feel anxious or depressed, part of the problem is that T also causes these things. It is often very closely linked to depression, and you should find that the better you feel, the less T will bother you and be noticed.

To cope with it, you need to keep yourself busy and distracted and take it one day at a time. Try not to think about the future with T too much. Try not to sit around in quiet rooms alone for example. Do things that make you happy and don't isolate yourself.

If you are having particularly bad times or trouble sleeping, download white noise apps and try to find a sound that masks it well to give you some relief.

It's also important that you don't try to listen to or analyse your T sound. If you do that it is always more noticable and louder. If that happens try to redirect your thoughts away from it.


I hope you'll start feeling better about it soon, if you go through some rough times try posting over at the support forum, sometimes it just helps to be able to talk about it. It did for me, everyone here will understand how you are feeling.


Regards,
Daniel

 

[ceauses97]

It's considered permanent after 1 year, so there is a strong possibily that you're tinnitus will subside on its own. Since your having unpleasant jaw problems I would suggest you to see a dentist, as that can be related to the tinnitus.

Here is my practical way of dealing with tinnitus:

Do nothing. Just try not to care. My tinnitus is not that loud, so I'm not trying to offend anyone reading this. Even tho I can still hear it somethimes over the TV. My trick is to wait for it to get better, because it will. And in most cases, tinnitus resolves on its own, and its rather unsual that it goes into a chronic state. And even if it doesnt goes away, your tinnitus will with time be barely noticable, and it will fade into the background. yeah, ofcourse if f you listen out for it, you will be able to hear it. But it won't continue in the forefront of your attention. It would be like an air conditioner sound that you hear when you first enter a room, it will be noticeable for a while, but then disappears into the background, especially if something else occupies your attention. And who knows, you may wake up one day and realize that your tinnitus is completely gone. Be patience, and hope for the best. Good luck!

 

[untamed wolf]

Thanks for the quick replies! Nice to get some straight answers. I will check my jaw out as soon as possible and possibly seek out new ENT doctors. I will try to follow your great tips.

 

[Sailboardman]

@untamed wolf . You're never alone here. Reach out to us anytime! Hang in there! };-)

 

[Charron]

@untamed wolf , please try not to panic, I was the same as you a month ago but found this forum quick, my Dr and ENT were useless too, luckily a few people on this site gave me good advice as the same as you have had above, follow it! I'm not cured but my mental health and depression, panic attacks have gone, I now know that the noise will fade with time, it's already gone down a notch because I'm no longer in panic mode, stress with your group of friends will make it all seem worse so stick with good friends and don't worry about the ones who leave you out, they are not worthy of your friendship and sound like dick heads anyway! Just have patience and you will be fine xxxxx hugs xxxxxx

 

[untamed wolf]

@Charron thanks for the reply. Glad to hear you are doing fine. I will find a doctor who cares and start relaxing, it has been some months since i last did that. I will stay on the site to get advice and support and probaly lose some friends for my own sake. Thanks for caring!

 

[Mark McClelland]

Really sorry to hear that. The truth is that it really can't be cured medically so doctors won't be much use but some could have a better bedside manner as in your case. But the good news is that not only is it manageable but it can even subside and even better, though admittedly hard to believe, it can be gotten used to but let's concentrate on the it can subside angle. Don't expose yourself to loud noises and, though it can take time, like any kind of injury, it can get better. Anxiety can bring it on and can make it worse so if possible, that could be something to address. What can also help, especially at night, is to keep a little noise around you as much as possible. That's because it can really come out in silence. So at night, a little music, or a talk show or even calming ambient noise such as running water, simulated or not, could give your ears something to listen to and make them 'forget' the ringing.