Insomnia — Hissing Sounds in My Ear

[Fung Chow]

Hiya, I have had Tinnitus ringing in ear for almost 2 years, I recently started hear hissing sounds in my ears about 3 weeks ago. I didn't get sleep due to noise waking me up. On new year eve, I went to my local pub with my friends to celebrate new year eve, it was loud music and we stayed for 2 hours. I didn't hear sounds till one week later. I am having trouble to get some sleep so I went to see my doctor who prescribed me sleeping tables to help me sleep at night.
I would like to ask has anyone experience sleeping problems, can anyone please advise me how to get some sleep? I feel very low and depressed, this symptoms caused me lack of concentration. I am losing joy and interest in doing things. Will I get used to this noise?

I would like to hear someone who has experience of this.
Thank you.

 

[Sgguy46]

i have very loud T.. eventually i just managed to sleep. i take melatonin at 9pm. it helps.

 

[Zorro!]

Hi Fung,

Actually, many people on this site have had sleeping problems due to tinnitus at some point. Medication might help or possibly a "white noise" machine for background sounds to help distract your mind from the tinnitus. You could also look into meditation to help calm down. A lot of the problem with sleep is the anxiety that tinnitus creates, especially at first. Learning ways to combat that anxiety will help with sleep and also your daily mood.

Also, many people "habituate" to the noise, which means they get used to it. Their anxiety goes down and they can sleep and basically resume a normal life. It can take awhile to reach this point though so don't get discouraged if it takes a few months to see progress.

Hang in there!

 

[Bobby B]

Hey Fung..what did cause the T at first in 2014 ?

 

[Fung Chow]

Hi Bobby, my tinnitus was caused by anti-depressant medication then I started to hear ring in ear in both ears, I was depressed but I got used to this symptoms after one year. I reckoned my tinnitus caused by noise induced. I was referred to ENT specialist in Feb for check up. I feel depressed and low and I am trying to resume my normal life. I am having difficult to get some sleep and my doctor who prescribed me medication to help me sleep at night.
How did cause your tinnitus? speak soon.

 

[Fung Chow]

Hi Bobby, I think hissing sounds caused by noise induced.

 

[sara]

Hello Fung,

Yes you will get used it . I know you probably don't want to believe it but eventually habituation happens. For sleeping Try masking the "T", Maybe leave a fan on or the TV. but make sure you are sleepy. Try drinking relaxing tea before bed ,melatonin works as well. Try not to get so used to doing that all the time. honestly when I first got it I didn't get much sleep for a couple of weeks. But then I got used to it I would sleep through my worst tinnitus. you have to separate the feeling of anxiety from Tinnitus. When you're calm tinnitus doesn't bother you as much. You have to remember that nothing will happen. It is only a noise in your head. It cant hurt you. Then again Time is your best friend . Our bodies are amazing we are bound to adapt to our environment and in this case to our body's noise!

Good luck!

 

[Andersson]

Do you remember what antidepressant and what dosage that made the tinnitus start when you got it?
Or was it a withdrawl from one?

Anxiety is a big part of insomnia, not just for T but for other cases of insomnia.

Tricks like drinking something warm like milk, camomil tea, taking a hot shower, winding down before bed and not doing something intense. Taking a walk in the evening (not right before bedtime though).
Some soothing sounds like rain, nature etc playing at your bedside.

 

[Dutchy]

Do you remember what antidepressant and what dosage that made the tinnitus start when you got it?
Or was it a withdrawl from one?

Anxiety is a big part of insomnia, not just for T but for other cases of insomnia.

Tricks like drinking something warm like milk, camomil tea, taking a hot shower, winding down before bed and not doing something intense. Taking a walk in the evening (not right before bedtime though).
Some soothing sounds like rain, nature etc playing at your bedside.

I really like the sound of rain,where I used to live I could hear it while sleeping,now it's routine masking.

 

[Andersson]

I really like the sound of rain,where I used to live I could hear it while sleeping,now it's routine masking.

Yeah rain have always been soothing for me.
When I was a kid me and my mother often camped out in the forests etc, did that for like 15 years very often.
Even on school days we drove out and camped.

The best moments I remember are when the rain poured on the tent.

 

[Bobby B]

Fung
You have internal ear damage due to loud noise.
Thats's why you hear the hissing sound, and any additional noise exposure is going to make it worse a lot faster than you friends who have strong, undamaged ears.
I suggest you keep your ears under 65db for the next 3 months at the least until they can heal a bit and then you have a good chance of your T fading.
Avoid loud pubs and restaurants with loud music, wear earplugs and earmuffs as much as possible (street, public transport, cars) and be patient, this may take a few months but it will improve.

 

[Fung Chow]

Hi Bobby,

Thank you very much for your reply. From now on I will avoid loud pubs and restaurant with loud music, in the meantime I wear earplugs as much as possible when I'm out.
Have you tried to wear earplugs after you diagnosed with T? I am going to do for a few months to see any improvement that my T fading. Speak soon.

Thank you

 

[daniel1111]

Hi Fung,

You can download a sound masking / white noise app and try out different sounds until you find something that masks your tinnitus nicely. Try to play it as quiet as you can while still getting relief.

Some people like to use a speaker pillow for this, but if your tinnitus is in both ears like mine, I needed to order some sleepphones from Amazon:
http://www.bwone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/sleepphones_review3.jpg

These things are very comfortable and double up as a night mask if you want.

Also, sleeping pills as you've already been prescribed. Melatonin helped me.

Regards,
Daniel