First time poster here, 28-year-old male, but long time reader probably since the very start of my tinnitus journey.
So pretty much a year to the day since this absolute awful thing started, lying in bed watching tv and an aeroplane like noise started in my left ear, a low rumbling, like a jet liner. Just out of nowhere and it was incredibly loud. Panic almost instantly set in, this was not normal. I had ear problems in the past with ETD and was deaf in said ear for 4 months a few years earlier. Anyway this went on for a few days, eventually got seen by a doctor who said my ears were full of wax and that was the issue. Gave me antibiotic drops which worked for the rumbling, then the ringing started in the right ear. And boy did it start. This was like nothing I had experienced before, it was god awful. Couldn't sleep, was constantly anxious, crying, was a complete mess to be honest.
So about a week later I got the wax taken out of both ears, with the suction tool they use. I just prayed this would work, it was pretty disgusting what came out in fairness. When we were done there was no difference, ringing still going mad. I remember just driving home in tears. I had two other appointments with the doctor to see what was going on, ended up on meds for anxiety and depression. This thing had me. Doctor told me it's neurological and they can't do anything. Hearing tests were perfect which actually didn't help, I wanted answers to what was wrong! From September-January I was in a very very dark place. After nearly every shift at work I'd just get in the car and break down. There is not a minute of the day that went by I wouldn't forget about it, it was taking over my life. If it wasn't for my amazing partner and 7-year-old son I would definitely not have made it through.
Then slowly but surely towards the end of January, start of February I started to find myself forgetting about it for a couple minutes here and there. Not a long time but to me this was progress! Then another few weeks later I'd find myself in work going hours without even thinking about it!
Fast forward to today and I would put myself in the fully habituated category. It's there, it's loud, but it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I can go days without thinking about it, I hear it now but only because I'm talking about it!
I know we are all different, and habituation comes at different rates. I'd say mine took 9 months to get to the stage where I am at now. But it does happen. If you had told me last Christmas I'd be in the place I am now I would not have believed you for a second. I have spikes quite frequently, actually experiencing one now as have had a bit of a head cold last few days, however I'm well equipped to deal with it and I do know it'll calm to a baseline level again.
I found the doctors pretty much useless in this, their go to answer is it's incurable.
Please don't despair. If habituation was possible for me, it's possible for anyone.
So pretty much a year to the day since this absolute awful thing started, lying in bed watching tv and an aeroplane like noise started in my left ear, a low rumbling, like a jet liner. Just out of nowhere and it was incredibly loud. Panic almost instantly set in, this was not normal. I had ear problems in the past with ETD and was deaf in said ear for 4 months a few years earlier. Anyway this went on for a few days, eventually got seen by a doctor who said my ears were full of wax and that was the issue. Gave me antibiotic drops which worked for the rumbling, then the ringing started in the right ear. And boy did it start. This was like nothing I had experienced before, it was god awful. Couldn't sleep, was constantly anxious, crying, was a complete mess to be honest.
So about a week later I got the wax taken out of both ears, with the suction tool they use. I just prayed this would work, it was pretty disgusting what came out in fairness. When we were done there was no difference, ringing still going mad. I remember just driving home in tears. I had two other appointments with the doctor to see what was going on, ended up on meds for anxiety and depression. This thing had me. Doctor told me it's neurological and they can't do anything. Hearing tests were perfect which actually didn't help, I wanted answers to what was wrong! From September-January I was in a very very dark place. After nearly every shift at work I'd just get in the car and break down. There is not a minute of the day that went by I wouldn't forget about it, it was taking over my life. If it wasn't for my amazing partner and 7-year-old son I would definitely not have made it through.
Then slowly but surely towards the end of January, start of February I started to find myself forgetting about it for a couple minutes here and there. Not a long time but to me this was progress! Then another few weeks later I'd find myself in work going hours without even thinking about it!
Fast forward to today and I would put myself in the fully habituated category. It's there, it's loud, but it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I can go days without thinking about it, I hear it now but only because I'm talking about it!
I know we are all different, and habituation comes at different rates. I'd say mine took 9 months to get to the stage where I am at now. But it does happen. If you had told me last Christmas I'd be in the place I am now I would not have believed you for a second. I have spikes quite frequently, actually experiencing one now as have had a bit of a head cold last few days, however I'm well equipped to deal with it and I do know it'll calm to a baseline level again.
I found the doctors pretty much useless in this, their go to answer is it's incurable.
Please don't despair. If habituation was possible for me, it's possible for anyone.
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