I've Tried Being Patient, But...

[LozUK]

Morning all, I awoke one morning in 2007 in the house I had just bought thinking there was a flock of screeching starlings outside in the garden. Got up, looked about, nada. Sat on the bed thinking 'crickets, is it crickets?' Since then the noise has got progressively worse. I can't pin it down to one particular thing but wonder if it's a combination of stress (I'd gone through a divorce and just bought a house on my own), years of scuba diving and even the side effects of a horrible Nokia mobile I had for work which burned my ear if I used it for too long!

I was referred to ENT and told it was one of those things I'd have to learn to live with.

Most of the time I can zone it out though the noise is loud, high pitched and incessant in both ears. However, I'm just getting over a bad cold and, for the first time, I've started to feel it is just too intrusive for any distraction.

I've read about lots of therapies and treatments and am tempted to go for an assessment but wouldn't part with my hard earned cash unless I was totally convinced that there was some real evidence that they have a dramatic impact.

Looking forward to connecting with people who understand just how debilitating T can be if you pay it too much attention. I've found I cope much better by accepting it as part of me (for now) and focusing on anything but the sound swirling around me.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@LozUK

Good morning.
Since you have already been examined at ENT, I don't recommend that you go elsewhere for private assessment. I can assure you that it won't be better than the NHS treatment that you've already received and therefore, will only deplete your bank balance. Stress can be a contributing factor in causing tinnitus, and the events that you describe could be responsible. My advice is to ask your GP or ENT consultant whether it's possible to be referred to a Hearing Therapist for counselling. It can help you a lot to cope and manage the tinnitus better.

Since you have read up a on tinnitus therapies, one of the best is TRT and CBT is also good. They are available on the NHS although not in every hospital. However, I don't think you need to go down this route yet, since you say you are able to zone it out. I feel a combination of tinnitus counselling and using sound enrichment during the day and night will suffice.

By the way, do you listen to music through headphones? Below is a link giving information on managing tinntius and using sound enrichment, which I strongly advise you to try. Sound enrichment does take time to get used to especially at night, but if you persist with it you'll soon realise the benefits.

Michael
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/an-introduction-to-tinnitus.12100/

 

[Andrea White]

@LozUK I completely understand how you feel. I am grappling with trying to accept it, its hard work. I have found that I can forget about it for periods of time - all I do is to get my mind involved with activities - for me they are Painting (I'm an artist), playing Bridge, singing in the choir. But the best way I find of forgetting it is to be amongst people, friends etc. where I focus on them and forget myself. It really does work for me. I also use an MP3 to listen to Radio 4 or Radio 2 at times when I am on my own

The mornings are always the worst - it is hammering away as I write, but generally I end up going through my day with much less sound.

Currently I am working with my GP and we are having "clinical trials" of various drugs which might alleviate the symptons. I did a lot of research to find out what people had found helpful, and now have a list to go through
to see what happens. I am currently on Amitriptyline but I think it is gradually making T worse, but of course you
can never really tell, its all subjective. If you have any hearing loss, and I have lost some high level sounds, then a hearing aid might help - mine are wonderful and it does make a huge difference (all from the NHS).

hope this helps

 

[LozUK]

Hi @Michael Leigh and @Andrea White.

Thanks so much for your advice. It's actually very comforting just hearing from others going through the same thing. I will certainly give CBT a go, Mike. I do listen to music through headphones and have tried things like white noise, flowing water etc which provides some minor relief. I can't live without music but listening to Indie rock is probably not achieving the desired effect!

I find it gets much worse at the end of the day when I'm tired and, I do a lot of rail travel and I'm sure the loud train noises exacerbate an already impossible level of screeching.

Still, I also figure that there a people out there suffering far worse things than me so I often think if this is the worse thing I'm going to get health wise then I'll take it

 

[LozUK]

@Andrea White I love your attitude. I'd be interested to hear about the medication and whether it does have any positive effect, very best of luck to you.

I was told that I don't have hearing loss but I'm tempted to have that reassessed as I'm convinced it's deteriorated a bit.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi @LozUK
If you are able to get CBT then that is good. Please read my article that I sent you in the link as I believe it will help you. I don't advise you to listen to music through headphones even at low volume. Some people dispute this advice but I have had this condition a long time and helped many people with it. Many have habituated to tinnitus returned to using headphones (even at low volume) and the tinnitus becomes more intrusive and permanent.

My advice, is not to use headphones. In my link there is an article on headphones and tinnitus. There are many stories at tinnitus talk, from people regretting using headphones after they have habituated only to find it getting worse. It is true, not everyone will be adversely affected by headphone use but I would rather not take the risk.

Sound enrichment and counselling I feel is the best way forward for you and I explain about this at length in my Link.

It is good that you have an optimistic outlook as this will help immensely with coping and managing the tinnitus. However, please do not underestimate this condition. When it severe and intrusive it can be seriously debilitating, it is for this reason, I vehemently oppose the use of headphones with tinnitus.

All the best
Michael

 

[LozUK]

Thanks @Michael Leigh I'm just reading your article now. I do use headphones quite a lot when I'm doing the daily commute but you've helped me make a choice not to continue with that and I may well investigate WNGs as an alternative. Thanks so much! Glad I found this forum.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@LozUK
Hi Lorraine. You have made a sensible choice not to use headphones. I don't want to predict anything, but you'll probably find your tinnitus will improve as a result of this and gradually be pushed into the background providing you use sound enrichment as I've mentioned in my article, on sound machines.

Please do not buy white noise generators privately. They are specialist devices and to be used as part of TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy) which involves counselling. Unless you have the counselling, you will not benefit from wearing the WNG alone. It is the counselling that is the most important part of the therapy. It helps to remove and demystify the negative thinking that many people new to tinnitus have. I don't think you need it at this moment.

You will habituate with time following the advice I have given. Please remember the tinnitus must not be masked (covered up ) so that it can't be heard. If you do this your brain will be unable to habituate to the tinnitus. Always set the sound enrichment slightly below the level of the tinnitus.
I wish you well
Michael

 

[Hope and Love]

Morning all, I awoke one morning in 2007 in the house I had just bought thinking there was a flock of screeching starlings outside in the garden. Got up, looked about, nada. Sat on the bed thinking 'crickets, is it crickets?' Since then the noise has got progressively worse. I can't pin it down to one particular thing but wonder if it's a combination of stress (I'd gone through a divorce and just bought a house on my own), years of scuba diving and even the side effects of a horrible Nokia mobile I had for work which burned my ear if I used it for too long!

I was referred to ENT and told it was one of those things I'd have to learn to live with.

Most of the time I can zone it out though the noise is loud, high pitched and incessant in both ears. However, I'm just getting over a bad cold and, for the first time, I've started to feel it is just too intrusive for any distraction.

I've read about lots of therapies and treatments and am tempted to go for an assessment but wouldn't part with my hard earned cash unless I was totally convinced that there was some real evidence that they have a dramatic impact.

Looking forward to connecting with people who understand just how debilitating T can be if you pay it too much attention. I've found I cope much better by accepting it as part of me (for now) and focusing on anything but the sound swirling around me.