How Long Before I Know This Isn't Going Away?

[st0rch]

I know this is a loaded question... It has been about 10 days since the onset of my Tinnitus due to noise exposure. I'm pretty sure that means it's permanent, right? Bummer... I guess logically, if it's a loud noise exposure then my chances are really bad, as the inner ear does not recover, so why was I even hoping it would go away in the first place...

Also, I've noticed I've also been struggling with Hyperacusis (sound sensitivity). I didn't think too much about it as I didn't know there was an actual disorder attached to it... But I've noticed how increasingly frustrating and loud things sound. Does this get better? And if so, can my Tinnitus decrease with it?

 

[seal]

StOrch, unfortunately if it hasn't gone down in volume until now, it might be permanent. BUT the thing is, nobody knows that for sure. It might also be, that it starts getting better in big steps ( read many cases where this happened especially with noise induced T) and your Tinnitus will be barely there in a few months especially when you also habituate. How loud is your Tinnitus anyways? Do you hear it when you watch TV? when you go to the supermarket?
For the Hyperacusis, it almost always gets better with time, so don't worry about it. For me it is like that, that I have less of it when my T is quieter and the other way around.

 

[Markku]

It's logical to expect for loud noise induced tinnitus to go away. After all, disco tinnitus that lasts less than 24-48 hours is very common.

Tinnitus can go away even after years, but yes, the longer it has been, the lesser the chances for it going away seems to be.

Acceptance of the condition is key to recovery, and after a while (as soon as possible) you might want to consider it permanent, and try to find ways to cope with it -- instead of hopelessly wishing for it to go away (which we all are prone to do every now and then).

Instead of waiting, you shall act on it, employ strategies (masking, hobbies, distractions, trying to live as usual) and you are on your way to better times.

There's a chance it'll go away - but if it stays until better treatments are available, in the meanwhile your life is going to be just fine regardless.

Best,
Markku

 

[Sean]

When i had a spike 1 1 1/2 year ago..took me 3-4 months to go away. It was a living hell!!. It had spiked because i had gone to the concert.
I had given up and i had told my family that i am going to have this for life time..white noise was a Boon..I took a 4hour flight and all the sudden i was back to normal T..so just hang in there

 

[mick1987]

Sean, your case is the only thing that is giving me hope, coming up to a 2 month spike, but knowing you had a 4 month spike is comforting that it doesn't matter how long the spike lasts it will go back down eventually, hopefully!

 

[Sean]

Mick1987: yes bro it was crazy 4 months!, it was as loud as you can get. I didnt know about this website and i didnt know spike was because of the concert..I thought it was a permanant spike. Thank god it went down! it was a living hell but i was mostly able to mask it .I had figured i have to use whitenoise for rest of life and just make this crazy adjustment..believe me i was so afraid of the noise i had told my family if something happens to me and i am in coma please make sure there is white noise! ( not kidding).
i have a a feeling if your spike was because of noise it has to go down..it will go down!. dont forget to let us know when it does.

 

[awbw8]

@st0rch there is no time frame to know if it's permanent. It can go away after months, years, after a decade, even, or it might not. However, your life will go back to a kind of normal either way. I think thoughts and words have power, so I would not necessarily "consider it permanent" at any point. Just accept that it is there for now and work on not letting your happiness hinge on its going away or not on a daily basis. Just look at healing as a marathon, not a sprint.

Tinnitus isn't really a static condition, even when it stays. Mine is quieter than it was in the beginning and can get get even more so with some medications. Some days I have crazy spikes, but the fact that it changes over the long and short term gives me hope that it can fade away one day.

I am not a medical professional at all, but if you can, I really would say give HBOT a shot. It can help with the noise induced tinnitus, even make it go away in some cases, but the longer you wait the less of a shot you have at it helping. I don't say that to freak you out, but I've read SO many posts here and elsewhere of people who wish that they had given HBOT a shot when they were in the early days and I feel like I have to mention it just so you know - right now is the time to do it if you're going to.

Good luck and just know you can be okay one way or the other - we are here for you I'll keep you in my prayers, Storch - be well!

 

[carol kane]

@st0rch there is no time frame to know if it's permanent. It can go away after months, years, after a decade, even, or it might not. However, your life will go back to a kind of normal either way. I think thoughts and words have power, so I would not necessarily "consider it permanent" at any point. Just accept that it is there for now and work on not letting your happiness hinge on its going away or not on a daily basis. Just look at healing as a marathon, not a sprint.

Tinnitus isn't really a static condition, even when it stays. Mine is quieter than it was in the beginning and can get get even more so with some medications. Some days I have crazy spikes, but the fact that it changes over the long and short term gives me hope that it can fade away one day.

I am not a medical professional at all, but if you can, I really would say give HBOT a shot. It can help with the noise induced tinnitus, even make it go away in some cases, but the longer you wait the less of a shot you have at it helping. I don't say that to freak you out, but I've read SO many posts here and elsewhere of people who wish that they had given HBOT a shot when they were in the early days and I feel like I have to mention it just so you know - right now is the time to do it if you're going to.

Good luck and just know you can be okay one way or the other - we are here for you I'll keep you in my prayers, Storch - be well!

I hope you don´t mind me asking, but what is HBOT?

 

[st0rch]

When i had a spike 1 1 1/2 year ago..took me 3-4 months to go away. It was a living hell!!. It had spiked because i had gone to the concert.
I had given up and i had told my family that i am going to have this for life time..white noise was a Boon..I took a 4hour flight and all the sudden i was back to normal T..so just hang in there

I find it interesting that it cleared up after a flight... Wondering if it may have had something to do with the air pressure? HBOT therapy, while mainly for the pure oxygen, applies a similar pressure... maybe thats a good reason it helps Tinnitus sufferers? Who knows...

 

[Sean]

Yes it was weird ..it just disappeared all the sudden after the flight ..went to bed and got up and it was gone !

 

[RamblingMan86]

Its been 6 years here and I'm still waiting. :/

How did you get it if you don't mind me asking? In my personal experience the first 3 or so months were the worst. Trying to come to terms with the whole thing. After a while it just seemed to become a part of my life and I have been able to zone it out roughly 80% of the time.

It has had a recent spike though which has been scaring me again lately.

 

[awbw8]

I hope you don´t mind me asking, but what is HBOT?

Hey @carol kane, of course I don't mind you asking! HBOT is short for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. It's normally used for diabetic wound healing/treating cancer therapy radiation burns etc., but it is used for a lot purposes not covered by (US) insurance where its shown promise for a lot of people. Here is just one page that talks about HBOT and tinnitus: Arches Tinnitus Formula | Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Tinnitus

@st0rch, HBOT and flying aren't very similar in terms of the amount of pressure or oxygen applied/taken in by the body. The pressure of HBOT is just as important as the pure oxygen, the pressure is what pushes the oxygen into the bloodstream and promotes healing throughout the body (including the inner ear when the trauma is new).

 

[carol kane]

Hey @carol kane, of course I don't mind you asking! HBOT is short for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. It's normally used for diabetic wound healing/treating cancer therapy radiation burns etc., but it is used for a lot purposes not covered by (US) insurance where its shown promise for a lot of people. Here is just one page that talks about HBOT and tinnitus: Arches Tinnitus Formula | Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Tinnitus

@st0rch, HBOT and flying aren't very similar in terms of the amount of pressure or oxygen applied/taken in by the body. The pressure of HBOT is just as important as the pure oxygen, the pressure is what pushes the oxygen into the bloodstream and promotes healing throughout the body (including the inner ear when the trauma is new).

Thanks for the reply,sounds interesting but finding one of these chambers would i imagine be very difficult, not to mention expensive, wishing you a peaceful day.

 

[Sean]

Its been 6 years here and I'm still waiting. :/

How did you get it if you don't mind me asking? In my personal experience the first 3 or so months were the worst. Trying to come to terms with the whole thing. After a while it just seemed to become a part of my life and I have been able to zone it out roughly 80% of the time.

It has had a recent spike though which has been scaring me again lately.

Rambling an- I got it by listening to stupid IPod with Apple ear buds. Sad thing is my dad kept telling lower the music you other will you will fry your ears ! Didn't listen !
It went almost away but than one day I was some kids and big fire crackers went off and I think since then frequency of spike has increasesd.
I had couple of spikes wishin last 3-4 months because I was exposed to loud noise ( cinema and bar )..it's settling down again to a point where I don't hear it at all at work and just needs white noise In a very quite room ..
Honestly if it reamains like this for rest of my life it's ok...but i am constant afraid of spike !!constantly afraid of loud noise .
We have some guest over and if they wan to go see a movie I have to say no ..can't to go wedding receptions where Dj is playing music ..I won't take any chances with ear plugs .All these changes I have to make - it sucks !
I am 39 and I have had good life so far ..so I feel it's ok to sacrifice lil since I have done there been there -no choice !
How did you get recent spike ??if it was because of noise exposure I am sure it will settle down .

Its been 6 years here and I'm still waiting. :/

How did you get it if you don't mind me asking? In my personal experience the first 3 or so months were the worst. Trying to come to terms with the whole thing. After a while it just seemed to become a part of my life and I have been able to zone it out roughly 80% of the time.

It has had a recent spike though which has been scaring me again lately.

 

[awbw8]

Thanks for the reply,sounds interesting but finding one of these chambers would i imagine be very difficult, not to mention expensive, wishing you a peaceful day.

Hi Carol, I think it depends where you are. I think it might be easier to find places to go in Europe (seems to be a more accepted therapy there). In the US there are a few non profits that do it for about $120/dive, which is "cheap" compared to the $2500/dive it would be at a hospital/wound center w/o insurance. But there's an hbot thread on the forum with a lot of this info, so I'll stop hijacking this thread

A peaceful day to you, too!

 

[carol kane]

Hi Carol, I think it depends where you are. I think it might be easier to find places to go in Europe (seems to be a more accepted therapy there). In the US there are a few non profits that do it for about $120/dive, which is "cheap" compared to the $2500/dive it would be at a hospital/wound center w/o insurance. But there's an hbot thread on the forum with a lot of this info, so I'll stop hijacking this thread

A peaceful day to you, too!

Thanks for the info, where do you live in USA, i have a place in Florida.

 

[awbw8]

Thanks for the info, where do you live in USA, i have a place in Florida.

I like in NYC - nice quiet place haha : )

 

[carol kane]

I like in NYC - nice quiet place haha : )

Wow!! i´ve been to NYC i loved it there it was an amazing place, very busy and yes loud!!! didn´t have T then so it wasn´t a problem.

 

[RamblingMan86]

Pretty sure this spike has been stressed related. Don't necessarily think it's gotten much louder or if I've just been focusing on it more as a result of other stress.