In Need of Support/Wisdom. New Tinnitus Sufferer.

[Word_is_Bond]

Hi all,

7 days ago I woke up with perfect hearing. I never had any hearing (or eyesight) issues my entire life. Unfortunately, later that day I exposed myself to severe acoustic trauma. Until I myself can accept what happened and move on, it's hard for me to tell the world how I acquired my tinnitus. But it was indeed from acoustic trauma. It's hard for me to accept because the way I acquired it was so so so stupid and preventable.

I never knew that such brief exposures could cause such significant damage. Never even heard of the word "tinnitus." All of us can look back on something that we did in the past that was really stupid, or we just weren't informed, and tell ourselves, "wow, that could have been really bad. I am very fortunate nothing bad happened." Unfortunately, from this particular incident, I wasn't so lucky. I may suffer for the rest of my life.

After the acoustic trauma I was exposed to, I immediately felt fullness in my left ear (FYI only dealing with one ear, not both). I didn't freak out at the time, but I told myself, "whoa, that was freaking loud." It didn't "hurt" that bad. But I can tell you I certainly was very concerned after a couple of minutes. When the incident occurred, I didn't go deaf in the ear, but hearing was down slightly. I knew that my equilibrium was out of balance. Something was off.

Here is a timeline of what has occurred since:

Saturday: The incident. Symptoms: hearing volume seemed down by about 5-10% (still is in my opinion). Fullness, didn't notice too much ringing.
Sunday: I don't think the ringing actually increased, but I became more cognizant of it.
Monday: Vomited all day. Now I initially thought after getting sick the first time that it could have been related to the tinnitus. However, after continuing to get sick, I realize that I most likely came down with a stomach bug or got food poisoning. I told 2 doctors and they were also convinced I caught something.
Wednesday: returned to work. I work in finance, and my gosh it has been so difficult to concentrate. Not only the ringing but the anxiety that's going on associated with the ringing. It makes you realize work is not important when dealing with such life events. It sucks because I am swamped at work and this has been such a brutal and scary week.
Thursday: I became more concerned about my hearing and tinnitus and called an ENT to schedule an appointment. They would not accept me until I got a hearing test, so I went to an audiologist at that same clinic. I had a 30 or so minute hearing exam that tested the range of sounds that humans can normally hear (up to 8000 hz). The audiologist told me that my hearing was "perfect" and "symmetrical." The lowest db I could detect across all frequencies was 5db in both ears, and I guess 20db is deemed normal. She was great. She told me she was a tinnitus sufferer since she was 15 and that she didn't even notice hers anymore. I got emotional but she told me there are ways to overcome this if it doesn't go away.

Personally, I felt at the time and still feel that my hearing is superior out of my right ear (unaffected ear). But I guess the hearing exam was assuring to an extent. Based on my results, I have no scientific hearing loss. I inquired about Prednisone. The audiologist spoke to an ENT on my behalf who is involved with hearing loss/blast trauma research and felt that 1) because I have no hearing loss based on the exam, prednisone is not going to help me 2) to give it a few weeks and I should be symptom free.

Friday: I wanted a second opinion and visited a private practice ENT. I told him about the incident and my symptoms. I showed him my hearing test results, and he deemed my hearing to be normal.

He asked me, "does your hearing feel less "crisp" in your left ear?" and I thought that adjective was the perfect way to describe the hearing in my left ear. It currently is less crisp and sharp than my right. Volume probably down too. He told me this can be common related to the onset after blast trauma and to give it a month and my symptoms should go away. If not, he wants me to come back in 1 month and examine my ear with a camera.

He pretty much implied a) your symptoms are because of hair cell damage or b) your symptoms could be/also be because you are dealing with inflammation in the eustacian tube from the blast trauma. I personally think it's more likely a) based on what I've read online.

He prescribed me with a 6 day cycle Prednisolone (interchangeable with Prednisone I guess). So I started taking this 6 days after the incident. I've read that the window is usually 48 hours, but I'm hoping it still has an impact, but nothing yet (day 2).

Here is what I am taking as shot in the dark treatment:
- 6 days on Prednisolone (prednisone)
- 240mg Ginkgold (egb 761)
- 800mg magnesium

I am so terrified. I have had some incredibly dark thoughts this whole week. I'm only 25 years old, and it's so scary that I potentially may have to deal with tinnitus and (subjective) hearing loss the rest of my days. This is as depressed as I've ever been, and I've battled with depression and anxiety for about 6 years. I have sobbed this week and have said to myself "I don't know how I'm going to overcome this." I am an avid weightlifter and haven't been to the gym in one week and have no real drive to. I'm down 10 pounds (related to the illness as well). I have no appetite. I'm effing scared. Music hasn't invoked pleasant emotion like before last week because something is obviously off. Reading these horror stories is frightening. I've always said to myself that life is harder for me than others (which is probably a selfish thing to say, but I'm a very neurotic person), but adding this debilitating condition to my list of struggles is so daunting.

What's killing me even more is that this never should have happened. I was being an idiot. It might be easier to accept it if this onset was from dumb luck, but that is not the case here. I know a few ENTs have told me they think this will dissipate. However, based on anecdotal stories online of similar incidents (if anything less intense incidents at that), I am not optimistic.

A couple of things worth pointing out 1) I will be getting custom ear plugs from the audiologist as soon as I can 2) I have been falling asleep with the help of a white noise generator.

I know that was a lot, but I want to be as detailed as possible. If anyone has any words of wisdom, advice, pointers, things that I can do at this point, any input is appreciated.

 

[Cameron C]

Don't worry man, so many people on this forum have been in the same place you are. Personally, it only took 2 hours for me to give myself T and flip my whole life upside down (earbuds). Best thing to do is give it time to heal and keep checking up on your hearing. It takes months for things like this to heal (if they do), I would just pray and give it time.

 

[Word_is_Bond]

Don't worry man, so many people on this forum have been in the same place you are. Personally, it only took 2 hours for me to give myself T and flip my whole life upside down (earbuds). Best thing to do is give it time to heal and keep checking up on your hearing. It takes months for things like this to heal (if they do), I would just pray and give it time.

Thanks Cameron. I would say my whole life has been turned upside down for now. I have been praying that this subsides. One thing that has definitely helped me has been the support from my parents. I've been spending a lot of time with them. I almost feel guilty that I have also put this burden on them because nobody wants to see their kid in such distress.

If your T is still there I hope it goes away for you. Thanks for the response.

 

[Word_is_Bond]

I am sorry if my post sends bad vibes. I am not trying to spread that. Just been a tough time for me personally.

 

[Starthrower]

"I am so terrified. I have had some incredibly dark thoughts this whole week. I'm only 25 years old, and it's so scary that I potentially may have to deal with tinnitus and (subjective) hearing loss the rest of my days. This is as depressed as I've ever been, and I've battled with depression and anxiety for about 6 years. I have sobbed this week and have said to myself "I don't know how I'm going to overcome this." I am an avid weightlifter and haven't been to the gym in one week and have no real drive to. I'm down 10 pounds (related to the illness as well). I have no appetite. I'm effing scared. Music hasn't invoked pleasant emotion like before last week because something is obviously off. Reading these horror stories is frightening. I've always said to myself that life is harder for me than others (which is probably a selfish thing to say, but I'm a very neurotic person), but adding this debilitating condition to my list of struggles is so daunting."

You are actually feeling what most of us feel Word. And many of us have overcome these initial emotions.

Sounds like you have done the right things so far. Give the predizone a chance to work. It may increase anxiety a bit so try to relax if this happens. Breathe and do not hold your breath this will help a lot. Because it seems to be the first reaction - holding one's breath - which tenses up the body.

When you are ready get back to the gym.

 

[Word_is_Bond]

"I am so terrified. I have had some incredibly dark thoughts this whole week. I'm only 25 years old, and it's so scary that I potentially may have to deal with tinnitus and (subjective) hearing loss the rest of my days. This is as depressed as I've ever been, and I've battled with depression and anxiety for about 6 years. I have sobbed this week and have said to myself "I don't know how I'm going to overcome this." I am an avid weightlifter and haven't been to the gym in one week and have no real drive to. I'm down 10 pounds (related to the illness as well). I have no appetite. I'm effing scared. Music hasn't invoked pleasant emotion like before last week because something is obviously off. Reading these horror stories is frightening. I've always said to myself that life is harder for me than others (which is probably a selfish thing to say, but I'm a very neurotic person), but adding this debilitating condition to my list of struggles is so daunting."

You are actually feeling what most of us feel Word. And many of us have overcome these initial emotions.

Sounds like you have done the right things so far. Give the predizone a chance to work. It may increase anxiety a bit so try to relax if this happens. Breathe and do not hold your breath this will help a lot. Because it seems to be the first reaction - holding one's breath - which tenses up the body.

When you are ready get back to the gym.

Yesterday was a pretty good day for me in the road to recovery. I went to the gym, the T was still there, but I felt like the Prednisone was doing it's job and felt some hope. I didn't have an issue falling asleep without a white noise generator.

The weirdest thing happened to me this morning, it was a bit troubling. I noticed the T more so than last night, but it was fairly "stable."

Then all of the sudden, it increased 3-4x in volume, it was a loud echoing euphoric ring., almost disorienting.. and it's sort of has been fairly louder since I really do not know what on Earth this was. Anyone have any speculation?

My hope was this was the ring's last breath of life before it would be terminated for good, unfortunately that was not the case.

Will continue to post updates. Thanks for the support. I will do my best to change my attitude.

 

[Starthrower]

Then all of the sudden, it increased 3-4x in volume, it was a loud echoing euphoric ring., almost disorienting.. and it's sort of has been fairly louder since I really do not know what on Earth this was. Anyone have any speculation?

This is normal Word. And at this early stage one notices these symptoms and for me it was like OCD. It could be exercise but don't let that stop you from doing this. And it may be the medication doing it's job. Good though that you slept okay.

Another thought is in the morning some experience louder tinnitus for different reasons. Adrinaline can rush the brain sometimes in the early morning waking the brain. I have this many mornings. I just get up and move around have my morning coffee and it calms down.

Thanks for the updates....

 

[Word_is_Bond]

This is normal Word. And at this early stage one notices these symptoms and for me it was like OCD. It could be exercise but don't let that stop you from doing this. And it may be the medication doing it's job. Good though that you slept okay.

Another thought is in the morning some experience louder tinnitus for different reasons. Adrinaline can rush the brain sometimes in the early morning waking the brain. I have this many mornings. I just get up and move around have my morning coffee and it calms down.

Thanks for the updates....

Interesting. Guess I'm not not as much of a freakshow as I thought

Really hope by the grace of God this was just a natural part of some scientifically inexplainable recovery process...

 

[Starthrower]

Interesting. Guess I'm not not as much of a freakshow as I thought

Yep. We have our own club!

 

[InfiniteLoop]

@Word_is_Bond

The typical audiology tests check less than half of the human hearing. In-depth tests go up to 16KHz, and there are a lot of people that have damage in the non-tested high frequency areas. Also, note that they only check 8 points or so and one could have damage in the gap areas. There is an additional test called DPOAS that can further help to determine the health of the outer hair cells. A good clue of the damage is determining the approximated frequency of your T. My guess is that your T has very high frequency. Mine is about 11KHz, even if it is not really tonal, but I can tell that is up there.
Many people get T in completely preventable or avoidable situations, and it takes a while to overcome the sense of guilt. You are not alone. You are still very early in the T process, and it might get much better by itself. Time will tell.

 

[Word_is_Bond]

@Word_is_Bond

The typical audiology tests check less than half of the human hearing. In-depth tests go up to 16KHz, and there are a lot of people that have damage in the non-tested high frequency areas. Also, note that they only check 8 points or so and one could have damage in the gap areas. There is an additional test called DPOAS that can further help to determine the health of the outer hair cells. A good clue of the damage is determining the approximated frequency of your T. My guess is that your T has very high frequency. Mine is about 11KHz, even if it is not really tonal, but I can tell that is up there.
Many people get T in completely preventable or avoidable situations, and it takes a while to overcome the sense of guilt. You are not alone. You are still very early in the T process, and it might get much better by itself. Time will tell.

Do you think it's worth it for me to find a clinic that offers this DPOAS test? I am not sure if it would provide some closure or just worsen my mind state if the results aren't so good. That said, could the findings lead to some sort of way to "tackle" my situation?

Yep, I got my T in the dumbest way possible. That's what makes this harder to let go of. But if it doesn't go away I'll have to live with it. I am praying that it improves.

 

[Word_is_Bond]

Hey all,

Wanted to post an update

I'm 2 weeks since the onset of my T. I started a low dose of prednisone day 6 of onset and got bumped up to a high taper starting day 11. I also started hyperbaric treatment day 10. I've done 5 sessions already, can't say if it's helping at all.

I would say the only improvement is that some of the pressure in my left ear has released. However, the T hasn't really improved.

If the oral prednisone doesn't do it's job, the ENT said he'd give me a steroid injection. This would be just past 3 weeks. I am unsure if it would be too late, but he claimed that it can be done within three months.

In total, I've had 2 audiology exams testing in the normal range (up to 8hz). "Normal" hearing. Based on the acoustic trauma I was exposed to, the audiologist said I'm lucky. I also had a DPOE test and the results were "beautiful."

Trying to look at the bright side of things that my hearing is still intact, I just am so angry this happened because it was so preventable. Lots of sequences of events that could have gone differently to change my fate. I may need a therapist to learn to move on and accept what happened.

I'd bet there are people who had their onset of T twice my age who were devastated. It's a scary thought to only be 25 and dealing with T (and arguably less "crisp" hearing). I am worried this could affect my personality, my mood, happiness, etc. I hear my T pretty much all the time.

The one good thing that has come out of this is that it has brought me even closer to my parents than before. They've been really supportive and have shown an outpouring of empathy. That and maybe a little bit of perspective.

I guess I just need to roll with the punches. Let's hope for the best.

 

[AdamR]

This might sound banal but when you really get down in the dumps I would suggest going for some exercise. When im really down I find it really picks me right back up, and even though I can still here the ringing in my ear it seems to downgrade the T to a minor nuisance rather than some life changing condition. All that serotonin flowing around I guess. I guess this emphasises the importance to resume normal living/social activities asap rather than being isolated and inert, which only fuels the anxiety and depression. Now after a nice workout im going to see a movie, which wouldve seemed impossible hours ago.

 

[Word_is_Bond]

This might sound banal but when you really get down in the dumps I would suggest going for some exercise. When im really down I find it really picks me right back up, and even though I can still here the ringing in my ear it seems to downgrade the T to a minor nuisance rather than some life changing condition. All that serotonin flowing around I guess. I guess this emphasises the importance to resume normal living/social activities asap rather than being isolated and inert, which only fuels the anxiety and depression. Now after a nice workout im going to see a movie, which wouldve seemed impossible hours ago.

Thanks, that's the plan. I felt pretty good after a lifting session yesterday and will be returning to the gym today.

 

[Word_is_Bond]

Update - I did 5 sessions of HBOT but stopped because I got a horrible cold. Sinuses stuffed all week. That is bad news for HBOT treatment. I'm not sure if I will continue.

I can't say that my tinnitus has improved all that much. The good news is the "cricket whistling" has lessened slightly, but the volume of the T is still there.

I've found that falling asleep hasn't been much of an issue for me with the use of a fan/white noise generator. The real issue is if I wake up around 5 or 6am, I can't fall back asleep.

I am going to start seeing an audiologist regularly. I'm really lucky I went to a specific clinic one day to see an ENT. After I met with the ENT, I had a hearing test administered by the audiologist who was on staff that day. She was really supportive and mentioned to me she specializes in T. Looked her up online, turns out she was 1 of 5 audiologists in the U.S. who was selected to participate in an international tinnitus conference.

I may seek counseling too. I can't get over how I got the tinnitus. (it was from a severe acoustic trauma/event, and it was 110% preventable). It was so stupid, and I need to learn how to forgive myself, my friends, and just move on.

I'm 3 weeks out. Unfortunately, not much habituation yet. Just need to keep moving forward.

 

[Jacob83]

@Word_is_Bond , I think you're fortunate to still have normal hearing. You should be thankful for that; a lot of people don't get that lucky.

Habituation will come with time. Keep your head up