Hello all, I have another thread going regarding my experience with the onset of tinnitus, but it seems to be getting very low traffic (I understand Im not a celebrity) so I thought I'd post something positive in a new thread in the hopes that more people would see it.
In short, my tinnitus (approx an 11kHz tone) appeared out of the blue while at lunch on work about 2 months ago. At the time I had a nasty cold/flu with a lot of sinus issues. I had major anxiety and depression like so many of us due when we first experience T. I went to an ENT, said the ear was infected and he could see fluid behind the ear drum. Also had impacted wax. He removed the wax, gave me Allegra-D and amoxicilin and told me to go on my way. One month later, ringing still remained. He was very dismissive, as it unfortunately too often the case. I was prepared to live with my T if that's what the reality was, but he offered NOTHING in the way of any prognosis or possible treatments. I decided to get a second opinion. I searched for an ENT who had good reviews, not necessarily for T, but for bedside manner and overall performance. I found one who was not covered by my insurance and made an appointment, paying out of pocket. I was not disappointed.
This new doctor took his time with me and patiently listened to everything I had to say. He then went over the possible causes of my T and told me in his experience with the sort of T that I have, what he usually see's as the course of development (which was, in his estimation, roughly 75% of patients who developed T it cleared up within 6 months time, with the remaining 25% left with chronic T). I left the appointment with my T level exactly the same as the day it started, but I felt a lot more positive just to have a glimmer of hope. Fast foward to a week ago, and one day I woke up with my T noticeably lower. It had not varied in pitch/level one iota since it's onset, but still I was cautiously optimistic. Of course I thought about all the negative 'worst-case-sceanrios' (What if this is the calm before the storm, what if this is just a dip before spike, etc.). But here I am six days later and my T is SO much lower. It is so much lower than I can honestly say if it remained this way for the rest of my life, I would be absolutely fine with it. Is it gone? No. But it sure feels like it's on it's way to leaving. My body gave me absolutely no hint that my T was about to diminish in intensity. I changed nothing in my routine and was not on any new medications.
If just one person out there who is struggling with the onset of T can read this and find a glimmer of hope, it will be worth all the typing I just did.
One last piece of advice, which may seem sort of strange to post on a forum: STAY OFF THE FORUMS. If you are addicted to them, ONLY READ SUCCESS STORIES. Negative/catastrophic thinking is so cyclical in nature, it feeds of negativity. Reading peoples horror stories will only send you into a spiral of depression and anxiety, neither of which are good for your T. Do something positive for your mental health and avoid them completely.
In short, my tinnitus (approx an 11kHz tone) appeared out of the blue while at lunch on work about 2 months ago. At the time I had a nasty cold/flu with a lot of sinus issues. I had major anxiety and depression like so many of us due when we first experience T. I went to an ENT, said the ear was infected and he could see fluid behind the ear drum. Also had impacted wax. He removed the wax, gave me Allegra-D and amoxicilin and told me to go on my way. One month later, ringing still remained. He was very dismissive, as it unfortunately too often the case. I was prepared to live with my T if that's what the reality was, but he offered NOTHING in the way of any prognosis or possible treatments. I decided to get a second opinion. I searched for an ENT who had good reviews, not necessarily for T, but for bedside manner and overall performance. I found one who was not covered by my insurance and made an appointment, paying out of pocket. I was not disappointed.
This new doctor took his time with me and patiently listened to everything I had to say. He then went over the possible causes of my T and told me in his experience with the sort of T that I have, what he usually see's as the course of development (which was, in his estimation, roughly 75% of patients who developed T it cleared up within 6 months time, with the remaining 25% left with chronic T). I left the appointment with my T level exactly the same as the day it started, but I felt a lot more positive just to have a glimmer of hope. Fast foward to a week ago, and one day I woke up with my T noticeably lower. It had not varied in pitch/level one iota since it's onset, but still I was cautiously optimistic. Of course I thought about all the negative 'worst-case-sceanrios' (What if this is the calm before the storm, what if this is just a dip before spike, etc.). But here I am six days later and my T is SO much lower. It is so much lower than I can honestly say if it remained this way for the rest of my life, I would be absolutely fine with it. Is it gone? No. But it sure feels like it's on it's way to leaving. My body gave me absolutely no hint that my T was about to diminish in intensity. I changed nothing in my routine and was not on any new medications.
If just one person out there who is struggling with the onset of T can read this and find a glimmer of hope, it will be worth all the typing I just did.
One last piece of advice, which may seem sort of strange to post on a forum: STAY OFF THE FORUMS. If you are addicted to them, ONLY READ SUCCESS STORIES. Negative/catastrophic thinking is so cyclical in nature, it feeds of negativity. Reading peoples horror stories will only send you into a spiral of depression and anxiety, neither of which are good for your T. Do something positive for your mental health and avoid them completely.
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