I'm New Here and Trying Not to Panic

[HCR123]

You are actually in a much better shape than the vast majority of people on this forum. As people recover, their T often changes from a high pitch tone to a hiss that is easier to ignore. Sometimes they have to wait for months before this happens. Yours changed to a hiss less than 48 hours after the onset. I think it means that you haven't injured your ears as much as many of us here. There is a good chance that you will hear silence again within a month or two.

Just make sure to protect your ears from now on. Many people recover, relax, get exposed to noise, and then end up with T again.

I can still hear the pitch a bit though. Seems to come and go from the left and right side. But it's mixed with hiss. Didn't hear it all day till tonight.
Yea I don't think I'll be going to The Killers concert in January or any loud parties any time soon. Ears feel a bit sensitive to some sounds.

 

[HCR123]

@Bill Bauer I set up a follow up with an Orto in NY. He's supposed to be really good. I'm just concerned with a little sensitivity to sound I feel end the "fullness" in both ears. Some pain like from an infection. Wonder if it's cuz allergy season is around corner and I should start taking Allegra D. Do you think this is onset if H? Any recommendations on whether I should take any supplements like NAC. Or plugs or noise canceling headsets to wear at times?

 

[Bill Bauer]

I don't think NAC has any serious side effects (don't take it if you are at risk of developing kidney stones), so why not try taking it.

If after you walk on a busy street your ears feel full, then it would make sense to wear earplugs in that environment. Try to listen to your body. Also try to anticipate where you might be exposed to noise. Do your co-workers sometimes slam the doors of their offices, etc.

I can still hear the pitch a bit though.

It might take a long time for it to fade. The journey involves frequent backslides...

 

[HCR123]

Good point. Thanks for your input.
Yes at work there's a hissing sound from the vent for heat. I'm right next to it. I think I'd prefer moving away from that or wearing plugs or noise canceling headsets. Any recommendations on plugs?
I like that "listen to your body". Been turning down volume in things often. No need to offer expose my ears to needless sound.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Any recommendations on plugs?

My plugs of choice are
https://www.amazon.com/3M-1100-Foam-Plugs-Pair/dp/B0067NKCO8/

They seem to be much better than all of the other plugs I tried over the years.

Some people swear by custom ear plugs. Perhaps they are right, but you need to be aware of the fact that some people get T after having an audiologist fit those custom plugs. The risk is likely very low, but this is what has kept me from trying custom plugs.

 

[HCR123]

Thanks @Bill Bauer. I'll pick these up. For me the damage was already done when I picked up T after the pressure test with the plugs. Maybe it was inevitable I was bound to get T anyway, who knows.
Btw I took a nap today and my T turned into a bit of a pitch. I can luckily still mask it. The only thing I did was listen to something with headphones at a very low level. Guess I'll rule those out for awhile. But it sounds like I'm still early in this and my body is still adjusting to this. I just hope it can remain at this level for awhile.
Unfortunately I think this is all stress and anxiety related. It wasn't linked to anything acoustic.

 

[HCR123]

Hey @fishbone just wanted to say thanks for your words of encouragement. My chronic pain has kind of gone to the wayside since I developed T. My brain is ignoring those areas of my body and concentrating elsewhere. It goes to show how much the brain has to do with pain and perception. My understanding with CPPS is that the pain is very real, but the brain makes it worse as it considers the nerve and inflammation in those areas as a threat. Honestly I think I'd rather have this slight T than a lifetime of pain in my nether regions.

I'm starting to see that my nerves and anxiety have all had something to do with both developments. Two years of constant worry about my brother's legal situation. Why did I let myself get like that? I'm empathetic and I worry. The fight or fight mechanism was triggered.

I've always had anxiety and depression issues over the past 20 years but I never knew not doing something about it more regularly could afflict you in this manner. Now I'm forced to look at life more positively and try to reframe my thoughts to avoid catastrophizing. Easier said than done but I have no choice.

 

[fishbone]

Hey @fishbone just wanted to say thanks for your words of encouragement. My chronic pain has kind of gone to the wayside since I developed T. My brain is ignoring those areas of my body and concentrating elsewhere. It goes to show how much the brain has to do with pain and perception. My understanding with CPPS is that the pain is very real, but the brain makes it worse as it considers the nerve and inflammation in those areas as a threat. Honestly I think I'd rather have this slight T than a lifetime of pain in my nether regions.

I'm starting to see that my nerves and anxiety have all had something to do with both developments. Two years of constant worry about my brother's legal situation. Why did I let myself get like that? I'm empathetic and I worry. The fight or fight mechanism was triggered.

I've always had anxiety and depression issues over the past 20 years but I never knew not doing something about it more regularly could afflict you in this manner. Now I'm forced to look at life more positively and try to reframe my thoughts to avoid catastrophizing. Easier said than done but I have no choice.

Life can be pretty savage, and it can be a long ride. I been there myself and still ride it. Chronic pain is horrible, I know this first hand. I have Fibromyalgia myself and it is brutal, very hard to live with. I get acid reflux and in builds up my fibro to HELL levels and the tinnitus goes to HELL levels with it.

Even with this and nasty ringing, i do full contact MMA martial arts and I have a belt testing and it will be a 2-4 hour exam. This exam could possibly unleash pain that I never seen before and it could flat out make me even pass out.

I take pride in myself and i work hard in all aspects of my life and I am one of the most dedicated students at my martial arts school. Many tell me to not take the test, because it is very demanding and will drain even normal people with normal bodies (which i don't have).

I am going to test and i have a bit a fear inside, it can send my tinnitus to new levels of hell and body pain to new levels. I have to do this and I refuse to let tinnitus and fibro robbing me of what I love to do in my life

Having a warrior mentality is key in life and that's how I live and refuse to backdown from any challenges in my life.

**** I don't recommend for people to be like me and do as I do, I just share how my life is and maybe i can inspire someone to push forward in their lives, even when pain and fear wants to dominate us****

 

[HCR123]

I think I need to find a passion and something I love to do. The CPPS has kept me from some things and now with tinnitus I can't continue in this direction. Have to just live my life as I always have, with minor accommodations for noise sensitivities.
Thanks for sharing. I think I'll be going back to the gym soon. Need to lift up my spirits.

 

[fishbone]

I think I need to find a passion and something I love to do. The CPPS has kept me from some things and now with tinnitus I can't continue in this direction. Have to just live my life as I always have, with minor accommodations for noise sensitivities.
Thanks for sharing. I think I'll be going back to the gym soon. Need to lift up my spirits.

When I got fibro I stopped going to the gym for almost 8 years. My body pain had reached brutal status, I could barely walk and function. I lost all the muscle and my depression had hit an all time high. I'd look in the mirror and was like"Who are you". It was pretty bad, but i was in so much pain. I forced my self to go back to the gym after 8 years and i had lost all the muscle and mass I use to have. I use to be a powerlifter/bodybuilder and I was so proud of the body i worked over 25+ years in lifting to create.

I lost it all and had to start all over and I did and now i'm in better shape and I feel more alive than ever. Yes, the ringing is WAY WAY loud and punishing and the fibro is horrible. That's ok we still have to live our lives and try to find something that we love to do.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Unfortunately I think this is all stress and anxiety related. It wasn't linked to anything acoustic.

It seems to me that if yours is caused by stress, then you ought to be able to overcome it.

Btw I took a nap today and my T turned into a bit of a pitch. ...But it sounds like I'm still early in this and my body is still adjusting to this.

Today is my 10-month anniversary. I had two more minor acoustic traumas during this time. One happened at the end of May when I pressed a loud phone to my bad ear. T changed from a hiss to a high pitch tone for at least three months after that, and even now it is a high pitch tone a lot of the time - all as a result of that me pressing a loud phone to my bad ear. About two weeks ago, I had my second (third if you count the one that started it all) acoustic trauma, when a glass plate fell 3 inches onto another glass plate. Now I have a second tone in what used to be my good ear, and the sound in my bad ear is a tone for a larger fraction of the time compared to what it used to be. I am convinced that if not for those two new traumas, I would be T-free by now. I wish I had replaced all of my glass plates with paper plates...