I'm Terrified, Worse Again

[JodieStephens]

A week and a half ago I had an eardrum spasm, and I was hollering around the same time - I don't know which worsened my tinnitus but a day and a half after that my tinnitus worsened for the first time ever, it stayed like that for two days then suddenly I was ok for 2 and a half days after that. But then today it got worse again! I'm exhausted.

Are there any effected treatments out there? Any successful studies?

I'm gonna take a clonazepam, is it okay to?

 

[Kolisar]

Hi @JodieStephens. I cannot comment on the medication, but today appears to be the day for my referring to the following post ( https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/spontaneous-recovery-stats-over-70-recover-3-studies.21441/ ) from @Bill Bauer discussing studies that show a fairly high recovery rate from tinnitus.

I also think (I am not a doctor, so this is jut my opinion) the fact that your tinnitus was ok for a couple days may be a good sign. If it lessens at times, you can probably learn to habituate if it does not just clear up on its own.

I understand the exhaustion, I have been woken up by mine at times. The just trying to cope with it can eb very draining. I am guessing you have read through the treatments section on this forum. Hopefully there is something that will help you there. Also, if you have not, read through the success stories section, you may find some answers there as people describe what has worked for them.

 

[fishbone]

A week and a half ago I had an eardrum spasm, and I was hollering around the same time - I don't know which worsened my tinnitus but a day and a half after that my tinnitus worsened for the first time ever, it stayed like that for two days then suddenly I was ok for 2 and a half days after that. But then today it got worse again! I'm exhausted.

Are there any effected treatments out there? Any successful studies?

I'm gonna take a clonazepam, is it okay to?

Tinnitus is a horrible thing and you cannot predict how it's going to behave. I am sorry that you feel so bad, this has happened to all of us. If you plan on getting on meds, do know that they can possibly cause addiction and possible side effects. Don't lose hope, all of us face a challenge each day and do our best to live our lives.

 

[Bill Bauer]

It sounds like you are experiencing a spike.

Polls like
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-longest-tinnitus-spike-you-have-had-poll.5903/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/poll-how-long-was-your-longest-spike.22099/
and
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/poll-how-long-do-your-tinnitus-spikes-usually-last.23110/

show that temporary spikes can last for days, weeks, or even months. There is still a relatively high chance that what you are experiencing is temporary. I would only conclude that it is permanent in case it doesn't improve for over 2 months, and even in some of those cases, I would be wrong, because the spike would actually end up being temporary (as evidenced by those polls).

 

[Sonic17]

I'm gonna take a clonazepam, is it okay to?

It was hard for me to take meds at first, but they have helped me so much. I know a lot of people on the forum say negative things about meds, and maybe I am naive in just going ahead and just following my Dr's recommendations, but I know I could not have coped with having Tinnitus without going on meds.

 

[Scared111]

It was hard for me to take meds at first, but they have helped me so much. I know a lot of people on the forum say negative things about meds, and maybe I am naive in just going ahead and just following my Dr's recommendations, but I know I could not have coped with having Tinnitus without going on meds.

what meds did ur doc recommend?

 

[Michael Leigh]

I'm gonna take a clonazepam, is it okay to?

HI @JodieStephens,

Please follow the advice of your doctor, as I advised you last week and do not listen to anyone that tells you not to take clonazepam or an antidepressant if your doctor/s advises it. Tinnitus can be a very debilitating condition when it is severe. You are enduring the suffering alone. Clonazepam can help some people and if it works for you that's a good thing. Properly managed by your doctor then you will I feel you will be okay. I was prescribed clonazepam and it helped me immensely when nothing else did. I only take it once or twice a month now.

Follow the advice of your healthcare professionals, as tinnitus can affect a person's mental wellbeing severely if not kept in check.

All the best
Michael

 

[JodieStephens]

what meds did ur doc recommend?

Zopiclone, clonazipam, trazodone

 

[Elliott.S]

I have severe T, can hear it all the time, and frankly, Clonazepam must be the best molecule that I've tried in years. Obviously, this is addictive on the long-run, but eh, when it's ringing so loud that you can't bear anything anymore, Clonazepam DOES help.
I can't say whether it reduces your T or helps you cope with it better though. But it's working okay.
Here in France, it's become really hard to be prescribed Clonazepam, as it is regulated and you have to go to a neurologist to get some. When I spoke to the neurologist, he told me : "Honestly, if Clonazepam helps you with your T, just take it for as long as you want, even if that means for the rest of your life".

Plus, it is not ototoxic, as opposed to any antidepressant or other benzo.

Zopiclone is a sleeping pill, people react differently to it. As far as I'm concerned, I stay away from sleeping pills as it makes me feel worse the day after.

I do not know trazodone though.

 

[flobo]

...

Would you mind telling me which neurologist you went to ? (In MP if you want)

I assume he is in Paris.

 

[Bill Bauer]

As far as I'm concerned, I stay away from sleeping pills as it makes me feel worse the day after.

You can use 75%-100% of a 10 mg Amitriptyline tablet to help you sleep - and you won't feel drowsy the next day. They are also non-addictive.

 

[Carlyi]

You can use 75%-100% of a 10 mg Amitriptyline tablet to help you sleep - and you won't feel drowsy the next day. They are also non-addictive.

I have been thinking about taking an anti-depressent but i have decided not to, because studies have proved that AD's can make T. worse or can be the cause of T. And it seems like it's true because few people have come here and said that Amitripyline is the reason they got very loud T.

So is it really good advice?

 

[JodieStephens]

I have been thinking about taking an anti-depressent but i have decided not to, because studies have proved that AD's can make T. worse or can be the cause of T. And it seems like it's true because few people have come here and said that Amitripyline is the reason they got very loud T.

So is it really good advice?

I posted the news article about how anti depressants may make tinnitus worse, I'm considering lowering my anti depressant dose

 

[Bill Bauer]

I have been thinking about taking an anti-depressent but i have decided not to, because studies have proved that AD's can make T. worse or can be the cause of T. And it seems like it's true because few people have come here and said that Amitripyline is the reason they got very loud T.

So is it really good advice?

There is evidence that amitriptyline can be used to Treat tinnitus.
"The subjective complaints of the patients in the amitriptyline group decreased, and the "present" symptoms
resulted in fewer complaints. The severity of tinnitus decreased in the amitriptyline group by means of subjective and audio-
metric methods. In the placebo group, no significant change was observed. The success of treatment was 95% in the
amitriptyline group and 12% in the placebo group. Amitriptyline therapy was concluded to be effective."

As is true for most T treatments (e.g., rTMS, HBOT, etc.) some people end up with louder tinnitus...

My guess is that the benefits (ability to sleep with a high probability, and possibly even fading T [although 10mg is lower than the dosage used to treat T]) outweigh the cost (very small probability of T getting worse). But you are right, there are reports like
http://journals.sagepub.com.sci-hub.io/doi/abs/10.1177/0269881107082126
(note that the authors make it clear that the case they are describing is unusual)

 

[JodieStephens]

I'm so scared I feel nauseous. It's loud. Or am I focusing on it too much? I hope so. I don't want to cry because my T will go through the roof in loudness. I have had T for 10 years but it got worse in the past two weeks, I've had some good days, but for the past two days I've been living in a nightmare, and no one can wake me up.

 

[Luman]

I'm very sorry to hear that you're going through such a rough period. I'm very new to T, less than 2 months with it, and I feel nauseous today. All I can offer in terms of advice is to keep in mind that this will probably subside, from what little I know about the subject. I don't have it nearly as bad, or as long, but I have tremendous respect and admiration for you because you've kept it together for so long, under very rough circumstances. If I were in your shoes, right now, I'd take a benzo to relax, unless that makes it worse for you, or there is some other reason that you have to avoid this option. Please hang in there, you're in our thoughts and you'll get through this. I'm sure that you'll soon hear from other, more experienced members on this wonderful site.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I am sorry you had to experience this. I've had my share of spikes...

Polls like
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-longest-tinnitus-spike-you-have-had-poll.5903/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/poll-how-long-was-your-longest-spike.22099/
and
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/poll-how-long-do-your-tinnitus-spikes-usually-last.23110/

show that temporary spikes can last for days, weeks, or even months. There is still a relatively high chance that what you are experiencing is temporary. I would only conclude that it is permanent in case it doesn't improve for over 2 months, and even in some of those cases, I would be wrong, because the spike would actually end up being temporary (as evidenced by those polls).

 

[glynis]

Hi @JodieStephens ,
I would have your ears re checked as could be a wax build up or like myself at the moment a ear infection on top..
Love glynis

 

[JodieStephens]

Hi @JodieStephens ,
I would have your ears re checked as could be a wax build up or like myself at the moment a ear infection on top..
Love glynis

they are okay... I just hollered too loud a few dud ago and experienced a flutter in my eardrum