I Need Support, Now More Than Ever

[demi]

AND IT CONTINUES...

So for the past 2 weeks I went through hell and back, and finally the past couple days I was feeling a bit better - ears still stuffed up, but felt less stuffed up. The ringing was still loud but I was seeing past it for most of the day. Then yesterday I went shopping and the music in one of the stores was so loud. I plugged my ears and paid for what I was getting and left. I later went to a screening of a documentary. I put my ear plugs in, sat the furthest back as I could from speakers, and left after 10 minutes. It was loud and I was too scared to risk it.

Now last night was bad. Both of my ears were so so so loud, and this morning they are so bad and now both ears feel very full.

I am scared for my future. I am 23 years old, I just feel so young and don't want to give up on my life.

 

[Karen]

Hi, Demi,

I understand where you're coming from! Please give it a couple days, and then see if your ears are beginning to feel better. Usually, for me, at least, my tinnitus goes back to baseline after a small amount of noise exposure.

Part of the problem is our culture. It's too bad that even stores and restaurants these days feel like they have to have loud-volume music to attract customers!! And don't get me started on movies and concerts; they are just too loud!
Last night, I went to a special Christmas show at church (this church is in the U.S., and has a state of the art sound system). I didn't bring ear plugs (it was at church, right?), but the sound was so loud, I ended up holding my hands over my ears till the end of the show!

For your current situation, I'd suggest spending a couple of days in quiet environments, if that's possible. You can play soft sounds, such as pink noise or nature sounds, in the background. And try a soothing supplement or tea like chamomile before bed. Hopefully, your tinnitus will go back to its original level soon.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[dan]

If your tinnitus is barely present when you plug your ear, then just wear earplugs all day.

 

[demi]

@Karen It did seem to get a bit better, but still not better to the baseline I had prior to the exposure that changed it/spiked it on Black Friday. My ears still continue to feel full, and I'm not quite used to it yet, or the clicking I hear when I swallow.

:/

 

[I who love music]

I experienced this for almost a year once. I had faith it would get better and it did. And in time maybe your other symptoms will subside. But you probably learned something about concerts, ears, and friends. In the months and years to come, remember, another blast will bring it right back where it left off. It's cumulative.

 

[carol kane]

If your tinnitus is barely present when you plug your ear, then just wear earplugs all day.

My t gets louder when i plug, but i still plug all day if i´m going out, would never go out unplugged, too many danger situations out there!!!

 

[dan]

When I plug my ears, my footsteps make loud thumping noise which is very loud to me. I think if you walk on heel shoes, you get much less thumping noise...but I am a man.
I`m thinking of getting Bose noise cancelling earphones and just wearing them all the time, like Object16 does.

 

[Hunszi]

So here is my story, I know many of you may have had similar ones...

One year ago I went to 2 loud concerts two nights in a row. No hearing protection, next to speakers. I have had tinnitus ever since. Now it was very hard at first, discouraging when I saw a ENT and he said "There is no cure, you will just have to live with it." But then after some time (I don't quite remember how long) I got used to it, I no longer really heard it unless I plugged my ears and listened for it. Sometimes when I drank too much coffee it would be more present, but besides that I was fine.

5 months later (May 2013) I made a really dumb choice to go to another concert. I wore earplugs, but only 12NRR, didn't realize at the time that it was not a high protection. I was nowhere near speakers, but still after that concert my tinnitus spiked all over again - this time it seemed worse than I had ever had it. I stayed home sick for a few days and cried, but somehow got over it. I don't remember how long it took, but again it had diminished and I was carrying on my life normally. I started to wear earplugs if I was ever in a tad-bit loud environment - like when my professors would screen a documentary in class, or even the few movie theatre trips I had.

Now, almost one week ago (November 29, 2013) I went to a concert. I knew I shouldn't have gone. I had a really bad feeling about it. But somehow let my friends (who do not have T) convince me that I'd be fine, I wore protection of NRR 33 (which I think I shoved in too far, because they had hurt) stayed away from speakers, and left early. I left with my right ear feeling full, and the ringing was extremely unbearable. Now almost a week has gone by and the ringing has not decreased, and my anxiety and emotions have been a wreck. My ear still has fullness - but I'm not sure if its a cause from my earplugs or what. I am also scared the T wont diminish again, because I don't remember how long it took last time.

I keep blaming myself, and my family keeps reminding me that they told me not to go. That I knew this would happen. Along with the increase this time I have had a loss of appetite, and depression.

Where do I go from here?

Same here @demi ...my T got worse after a party, I took a few weeks to get used to it, not fully, but I was pretty okay, I skiped parties for more than a month, and went to one because my ex. are hanged to my neck to go...I worn 33db earplugs, but the next morning I felt the same as you...stuffy ear and loud ringing again. That was the moment when I decided I will never ever go to a party again. It`s just doesn`t worth it...So currently I guess my mind is playing with me. I don`t believe my T got worse, those were industrial earplugs.