How to Cope When Even the Refrigerator and Shower Causes Discomfort?

3ri0w

Member
Author
Nov 25, 2015
398
Tinnitus Since
2012, H 2016, 12/2018(?)
Cause of Tinnitus
loud noises, ringing came back 12/2018 after 1year of silent
Is there some kind of medicine for this to increase the pain threshold? So tired :( Commuting by bus is too loud even when wearing earplugs. Can't attend lectures. Even showering causes pain. Can't stay on the computer either. Outside walking in the forest the wind causes discomfort because the sound has extra sound with it (ringing whine sound)
 
I've found that benzodiazepines reduce the pain, increase my sound tolerance, and even reduce my tinnitus a little. I'm not sure that they are a good long term solution, however. I stayed on them for a long time and the withdrawal is making everything worse.
 
maybe Cymbalta can reduce some pain.
Do you use it?

I've found that benzodiazepines reduce the pain, increase my sound tolerance, and even reduce my tinnitus a little. I'm not sure that they are a good long term solution, however. I stayed on them for a long time and the withdrawal is making everything worse.
Yea :( doctor prescribed me some zopiclone and I feel it makes the tinnitus worse the next day..........rebound anxiety or sumtin. and the pain threshold goes so bad the next day... benzos I used to eat occasionally but not anymore. I hope withdrawal goes better for you!
 
Yeah, I used Cymbalta (Duloxetine) and buspar and some Seroquel. I feel the Cymbalta started working after they increased me to 60MG after a few weeks.
 
You may want to try TRT. The sound may be irritating at first but I could help overtime.
 
you will give informations to the researchers to find a cure, you'll discover quickly one of your best hope is hyperacusis research (type on google), they organize the survey.
 
Is there some kind of medicine for this to increase the pain threshold?

@3ri0w

Some people have reported good results with Neurontin (gabapentin), Lyrica, and Keppra. But your mileage may vary and there can be side effects, so research on TTalk and ask your doctor.

I agree with @Mithrandir - please take the time to do the Hyperacusis survey. It is open to people in all countries. It will give the medical researchers patient information that will speed the pace of finding a cure.

This link includes some background information on the survey:

http://hyperacusisresearch.org/hyperacusis-research-survey/
 
@3ri0w ,
Do you have hearing loss? How long have you had hyperacusis? I suddenly lost all of the hearing in one ear three years ago and I immediately began experiencing the extreme sensitivity to sound that you describe. It's horrible when something like a chirping bird causes pain! I had a physical reaction to all sound and I still do but it doesn't bother me now as much as it did in the first year. I have just become more accustomed to this reaction over time.
 
No hearing loss up to 8kHz..you have become accustomed to the pain?
 
How to stop this? I can't take this ringing, it started 4 years ago but got worse last week :( I can't hide from it anymore!!!! Medications only help for a few hours at a time.Damnpanic
 
@3ri0w ,
I don't have as much trouble with the pain now and honestly, I don't know if there just isn't as much pain or if I have just gotten used to it. I have a reaction in my deaf ear to all sounds in my good ear, so I hear and feel noise with every voice, every song, every bird chirp, etc. I don't like it and it's uncomfortable but it doesn't make my whole body tense up like it used to. I think that the fear of sound and pain actually makes the pain worse.....at least it does for me. I still have bad days but for the most part, time passing has been a good healer. How long have you had hyperacusis?
 
@3ri0w ,
I don't have as much trouble with the pain now and honestly, I don't know if there just isn't as much pain or if I have just gotten used to it. I have a reaction in my deaf ear to all sounds in my good ear, so I hear and feel noise with every voice, every song, every bird chirp, etc. I don't like it and it's uncomfortable but it doesn't make my whole body tense up like it used to. I think that the fear of sound and pain actually makes the pain worse.....at least it does for me. I still have bad days but for the most part, time passing has been a good healer. How long have you had hyperacusis?
wow! didn't know deaf ear can act that way too!
I'm having bad days, I don't know how to cope!!! I hope good days will follow soon:( started last year but got worse and worse as days passed by
 
Well, I certainly hope things will start to get better for you because I get it. I completely understand how hard it is when every little sound causes pain and panic! It took quite a while for me to really start coping, longer than a year. It is really tough and the normal, healthy people you encounter day to day just cannot comprehend what you live with. I did get some help from a therapist. Have you tried that?
 
Well, I certainly hope things will start to get better for you because I get it. I completely understand how hard it is when every little sound causes pain and panic! It took quite a while for me to really start coping, longer than a year. It is really tough and the normal, healthy people you encounter day to day just cannot comprehend what you live with. I did get some help from a therapist. Have you tried that?

No I haven't yet. What kinda therapy do you mean? How did it help? Do you still get pain/panic?
 
No I haven't yet. What kinda therapy do you mean? How did it help? Do you still get pain/panic?

I saw a therapist who practices positive behavioral therapy but most people with T use cognitive behavioral therapy. The psychologist understood my desperate situation more than my medical doctors did and it was just nice to be taken seriously for a change. I did not use TRT (sound therapy) but it seems that many people benefit from that. I did an initial consultation for TRT but it was costly and the sound just seemed to make my deaf ear react more so I decided against it. We have to find our own paths to surviving with this because all of our situations are unique. I just hate that you are suffering so much.
 
I saw a therapist who practices positive behavioral therapy but most people with T use cognitive behavioral therapy. The psychologist understood my desperate situation more than my medical doctors did and it was just nice to be taken seriously for a change. I did not use TRT (sound therapy) but it seems that many people benefit from that. I did an initial consultation for TRT but it was costly and the sound just seemed to make my deaf ear react more so I decided against it. We have to find our own paths to surviving with this because all of our situations are unique. I just hate that you are suffering so much.
What was the CBT like? or with the psychologist? What did you do there exactly...if you don't mind me asking?
 
Hello @3ri0w ,
I don't mind you asking. I did not have CBT but that is the therapy that is most recommended for tinnitus. My therapist used positive behavioral therapy. The only reason I chose that doctor is because she also had a background in general medicine so I thought she might better understand the physical mechanisms at work here. I didn't get help right away so by the time I met her, I had already processed through much of the anxiety on my own (that was rough!). She helped me more with the grief (profound loss of hearing) and acceptance of a new normal. I think CBT would be similar in that it helps people deal with the negativity. I was her first and only tinnitus patient but I'm guessing she will have more. I think she learned a lot about T and H during her time with me and I hope that serves her well in helping others. If you live in or near a bigger city, you may be able to find a therapist who specializes in the treatment of tinnitus.
 
Hello @3ri0w ,
I don't mind you asking. I did not have CBT but that is the therapy that is most recommended for tinnitus. My therapist used positive behavioral therapy. The only reason I chose that doctor is because she also had a background in general medicine so I thought she might better understand the physical mechanisms at work here. I didn't get help right away so by the time I met her, I had already processed through much of the anxiety on my own (that was rough!). She helped me more with the grief (profound loss of hearing) and acceptance of a new normal. I think CBT would be similar in that it helps people deal with the negativity. I was her first and only tinnitus patient but I'm guessing she will have more. I think she learned a lot about T and H during her time with me and I hope that serves her well in helping others. If you live in or near a bigger city, you may be able to find a therapist who specializes in the treatment of tinnitus.
Ah I see :) Thank you for answering! Have a good day
 
How to Cope When Even the Refrigerator and Shower Causes Discomfort?
Is there some kind of medicine for this to increase the pain threshold? So tired :( Commuting by bus is too loud even when wearing earplugs. Can't attend lectures. Even showering causes pain. Can't stay on the computer either. Outside walking in the forest the wind causes discomfort because the sound has extra sound with it (ringing whine sound)

Let's get practical.

Shower: Use a bath.
Computer: Buy a silent computer with no moving parts. Mac and PC variants are available. I have one. It's fricking awesome.
Refrigerator: Run it in the hours when you are away from home. Or don't even use one. My fridge isn't switched on. I bring home takeaway food.
Wind: Move to an area that's less windy. Get radical with your life.
 
Let's get practical.

Shower: Use a bath.
Computer: Buy a silent computer with no moving parts. Mac and PC variants are available. I have one. It's fricking awesome.
Refrigerator: Run it in the hours when you are away from home. Or don't even use one. My fridge isn't switched on. I bring home takeaway food.
Wind: Move to an area that's less windy. Get radical with your life.
Wow, you get it :p Thank you! Good suggestions..good excuse to eat takeaway food ;)

If you can afford it, you can live almost entirely on Soylent (www.soylent.com) or its various alternatives without ever having to use the fridge OR cook.
True!
 

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