I'm new and have terrible tinnitus.

[c33fax]

Hi,

I'm Paul, I'm new here.

I've had tinnitus since about 2006, started off really quiet (same pitch) but now is crippling me - it's so loud !

Back in 2006 I had a hearing test done on the NHS and they registered silght hearing loss in one of the frequency ranges, but now its crazy loud, Infact I'm pretty scared to how loud its gonna to get !!!

Back in 2006 I started to get heart palpitations too, which I continue to have, I wonder if the two are connected.

Anyway, I decided to join a tinnitus forum - and not suffer in silience (ironic) !

This is hell.

 

[Markku]

Hey, you found a good place by coming here!

How did you acquire tinnitus back in 2006?

Have you tried any treatments? There is the Acoustic CR trial going on in the UK, if you have tonal tinnitus (i.e. a pitch that is constant). You might want to read about that here: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acoustic-cr®-neuromodulation-a-new-treatment-for-tinnitus.219/

Is getting enough sleep a problem for you? Do you use sound enrichment/masking?

Can you attribute the increase in loudness to anything, or has it just gradually got worse with no explanation?

Here were some questions that came to my mind!

Markku

 

[calin]

Hi Paul! Welcome!!

Handsome gent! Pictures are a plus around here!

I would be interested in hearing you responses that Markku asked as well.

That is a lot of years to be in misery. So sorry.

 

[Karen]

Welcome, Paul!
I was just wondering if you have been to a doctor about the heart palpitations. It could be that the two conditions are somehow connected. I think I may have read about a possible connection between AFIB and tinnitus. If I can find it, I'll post a link here.

 

[c33fax]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick replies... very interesting web page, thanks.. My tinnitus has always been the same pitch, in 2006 it was barely noticeable, I could fall asleep no problem. But it' always worsening (in volume) - slowly and all the time. Now it's to the point of being unbearable, these last few months I've noticed it creep up a little more.

My sleep pattern and is none existent these last few weeks I've been passing out mostly (around 6am.)
I'm worried if it continues to increase - what will do...? - I can't take much more!

I've just doing an online hearing at www.tinnitool.com/en/tinnitus_analyse/hoertest.php my tinnitus is 9000 Hz or there a bouts.

I'm just researching the Acoustic CR now on youtube, thanks

Paul

 

[c33fax]

Hi Karen,

Yes I've been to the doctors many times with the heart palpitations, had ECG's, radio scan of the heart, fittness tests, and a 24 hour tape recording of the heart... the ECG's and 24 hour tape picked up the heart palitations. but no defects of the heart were detected, I got an explaination..... that the thing that sits on top of the heart the fires the small electrical current is to blame, the small electrical current is being discharged through the lining of the heart or something like that. they packed me off with some Beta blockers, which don't do anything but slow my beat intensity down - but still I get the same amount of palpitations. These last 3 -4 months the palpitations haven't been that bad, probably about 20 -40 a day.... about six month ago I used get the palpitations that could last 3 hours or so.

 

[Lord of the Ring]

That's a combination I have too: palpitations and tinnitus. It's stress, says both my doctor and ENT.

 

[c33fax]

Oh, I've had that old talk 'It's just stress' the only thing stressful is doctors saying its stress, but that doesn't help me with the constant screaming in my ears from the moment I wake up, to the point I pass out.

 

[Karen]

Hi, again, Paul,
I used to have heart palpitations, too, but not very bad. For me, they were most likely caused by a combination of too much caffeine and stress. I got myself off the caffeine, and that really helped.

I was on beta blockers, too, for a short while (about 3 months). During that time, my very mild tinnitus increased, and became quite severe. I also ended up with pulsatile tinnitus. It's possible that your increased tinnitus could be related to the beta blocker drug you're taking.

In my case, I didn't really need the beta blocker, so I very gradually weaned myself off it, with my doctor's help. Do I still have the increased tinnitus? Well, yes, but it is not as severe as it was when I first got off the beta blocker. It has very slowly improved.

I'm not saying you should get off the beta blocker, if it is really helping you, but it could be the cause of your increased tinnitus. This is something you could discuss with your doctor, to see if there is anything else you could take instead.

 

[c33fax]

Hi Karen,

I was on the beta blockers for only a few months a couple of years back, but stop taking them as they made no difference to the palpitations - they would only soften the palpitations. My palpitations are alot better nowadays and I can cope with 20 or 40 a day, but it's the 9000hz ringing that never lets up.

Markku who posted me the link regarding acoustic-cr®-neuromodulation seems very interesting, and after watching this youtube vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIAjJogJ0cs makes sense to me. (seems logical)

It's worth mentioning that I had a brain MRI scan in 2006 (when this ringing first started) but this revealed nothing.

Also I saw a endocrinologist too, who did a number of blood tests, I remember him saying that I have a next to nothing growth hormone level detected in my blood. And I started with growth hormone injections for about 3 - 4 months, (this was being paid for by my free insurance provided by work.) but had to switch jobs shortly after - so I couldn't contiune the therapy. It didn't seem to change or have an effect on the tinnitus, however my body mass increased a bit.

I've got another appointment with my useless surgery on the 30th April, if they can't suggest anything this time... I may have to put my head in a vice.

Ultimately, I think there's something wrong with my brain chemistry. but what do i know eh. I don't think the doctors really care or have any idea what the cause is.

 

[Markku]

Paul,

you could contact the Tinnitus Clinic that is arranging the trial on Acoustic CR in the UK.

I don't know how far away you are from that nor the specifics of this trial, but Louise knows more about this. If you are interested, I think she could help you in the right direction.

Just a tip!

Markku

 

[c33fax]

Thanks Mark

I'll give them a call or drop them an email. I'm always travelling up and down the UK. I'm not sure who Louise is. Are these clinic trails free? I read somewhere the acoustic-neuromodulation tech is an expensive peace of kit. Would the NHS fund this for me? Sorry lots of questions..

 

[Markku]

The trial is free as far as I know.

That's why Louise was so gutted that they didn't let her in the trial. Her anxiety score was too high.

If you pay for the treatment out of your own pocket, it costs several thousands of £.

Just click here to go to her profile and then click the tab "Information" and then click "Start a Conversation" -> you can write a private message to Louise that way and it grabs her attention.

I'm sure she would like to help you out and give the details how to contact the center and ask about the trial.

It's a worthwhile option; nothing to lose

 

[c33fax]

Ok thanks again,

I'll keep you updated...

 

[calin]

Hi Paul.
Would you say that you have Tachycardia?
Have you had your neurotransmitters checked? I did - it is a simple 24 hour urine test.

The reason I ask is the tinnitus and Tachycardia can be a condition of neurotransmitter deficiency. GABA for example.

I take about 12 grams of inositol a day which is helpful. Especially with anxiety.

Have a look here is you wish regarding neurotransmitter deficiency and you issues. http://beatricelevinsonnaturopath.com/?p=246

2. GABA Deficiency
GABA deficiency is probably as a common as is Serotonin deficiency. A GABA deficient person is very stressed. The major symptoms are: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Insomnia, Depression, Feeling Overwhelmed, Manic Depression, Mood Swings, Rages, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD), Phobia, Fears, Rage, Restlessness, Short Temper, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Disorganized Pattern, Impulsivity, Tremors, Sugar Cravings, Chronic Pain, IBS, Flushing, Headaches, Hyperventilation, Lump in the Throat, Night Sweats, PMS, Seizures, Tachycardia, Tinnitus, Twitching, and Frequent Urination.
GABA producing foods are mostly Complex Carbohydrates, such as Fruits and Vegetables, but also Whole Wheat, Oats, Rice Bran, Potato, Rice Bran, Walnuts, Almonds, Lentils, Broccoli, Beef Liver, Banana, Brown Rice, Halibut, Oranges and Spinach.
As far as supplements that help GABA production, we can choose a combination of: Inositol, Glutamic Acid, GABA itself, Melatonin, Thiamine (B1), Niacinamide, Pyridoxine (B6), Valerian Root or Passion flower. Sometimes and for specific issues I can also use Kava Kava, Taurine, B vitamins, Glycine, or Amino-acids.

Here is another good link for this... http://www.needs.com/product/NDNL-0507-01/a_Fish_Oil

 

[mick]

My palpitations are alot better ...

I had palpitations for a while and my doctor gave me a beta blocker prescriptions. I was not too thrilled about taking something like that, and I think he recogized my displeasure. He suggested I just try taking 250 mg of magnesium a day. I did, and that did the trick wonderfully. I have not experienced palpitations since.

 

[mick]

Have you had your neurotransmitters checked? I did - it is a simple 24 hour urine test.

Note that a 24 hour urine test or even a saliva test does not really measure your level of neurotransmitters. It gives some measure of the amount of neurotransmitters that your body is excreting. If you're on an SSRI both those test will show low levels of a variety of neurotransmitters simply because an SSRI will cause your body to excrete less so that more is retained in the brain.

 

[c33fax]

Hi Calin, Mick

I'm not sure if I have Tachycardia – maybe so, I've had heart palpitations that started around the same time of the tinnitus.

I'll tell you a little more about my history - as it may shine some light on my condition.

I'm 37 years old now, but in my teenage years I was taking Ecstasy every weekend, Friday and Saturday nights and would dance like a moron until the early hours 7am – I stopped all that by the age of 25... And it was in my early 30's that the tinnitus started with heart palpitations. I've always been a little anxious and a worrier. And have been on a prescribed drugged called paroxetine for about 12 years. It helps with my OCD and social phobia... I'm not even sure I need to take it anymore... I've been weaned off it once or twice within the 12 years, but it does seem to pick me up a bit.

I often wonder if my drug abuse in my younger days is to blame... I often wonder what would happen if I took ecstasy now – and how it would impact/effect the tinnitus. I'm not about to test this theory -those days are long gone.

I'll print off a lot of content from this thread, and I'll take it with me to the GP's on the 30th April. Hopefully get things moving – before my head explodes into a mass of mush.

 

[stickywicket]

Hi Paul.


The reason I ask is the tinnitus and Tachycardia can be a condition of neurotransmitter deficiency. GABA for example.

I take about 12 grams of inositol a day which is helpful. Especially with anxiety.


As far as supplements that help GABA production, we can choose a combination of: Inositol, Glutamic Acid, GABA itself, Melatonin, Thiamine (B1), Niacinamide, Pyridoxine (B6), Valerian Root or Passion flower. Sometimes and for specific issues I can also use Kava Kava, Taurine, B vitamins, Glycine, or Amino-acids.

Thank you Calin for the supplement suggestions

 

[dan]

c33fax, are you still able to work? (I can relate to ur situation)