My Story

[Jack Carlson]

I'm Jack. I'm 63 yrs old. I woke up one morning about 3 years ago with a tea pot whistling in both ears. I never liked loud music and was never in a war zone. Maybe went to 4 concerts my whole life. One weird thing was that my tinnitus was on a three day rotating schedule of day 1 loud, day 2 medium and day 3 barely noticeable. I was miserable and depressed including at night where I would wake up every 1.5 - 2.0 hrs.

I tried antibiotics in hopes it was an ear infection. No luck. I tried vitamin supplements recommended by others with tinnitus. No luck. I tried playing all sorts of nature sounds at night as recommended by a specialist at the Oregon Tinnitus Clinic. No luck, made it even harder to sleep.

I tried masking it with two $300 hearing aid looking devices which go in the ears and put out an air hose noise to drown out my tea pot whistling. That worked somewhat, but you can't wear them at night.

I tried both a $1500 product and a $3,000 product sold to me by two different Otolaryngologists.

Both these products put sound in my ears for 2-4 hrs daily which included a sound in the background which matched my tinnitus. No luck. Here's what worked in the end. Over time, my brain has learned to ignore the tea pot whistling. It took about 18 - 24 months to go from noticing it 99.9% of the time to hardly ever noticing it (and then usually only when someone asks how it's doing). The interesting thing is that the products are advertised to take months to work. I think the makers know that the brain blocks out tinnitus in many cases after months. I wouldn't waste your money.

 

[bitrunner]

I would look at your sodium level, and if you are under 2500mg day, then add the difference through your diet. If you are concerned about blood pressure, drink it as a saline solution, which won't raise BP. Also add resistant starch to your diet to boost your immune system.
Also, if you exercise or sweat a lot during the day, you will need to replace the lost sodium.

 

[MBH]

I was wondering is that system by signa tonal hearing system where it matches your tone you use an in ear piece listen to ocean, cancel out your T. Due to it sounds similar to signa and if it similar to signa than it can help you out. I think it's good you are able to manage T. And move on with your day.

 

[lillejulie]

I would look at your sodium level, and if you are under 2500mg day, then add the difference through your diet. If you are concerned about blood pressure, drink it as a saline solution, which won't raise BP. Also add resistant starch to your diet to boost your immune system.
Also, if you exercise or sweat a lot during the day, you will need to replace the lost sodium.

How do you make saline solution? And What is resistent starch?

 

[bitrunner]

Heat two cups water in a microwave for 1.5 minutes. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon salt in the water.
Resistant starch: https://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-resistant-starch

 

[Bill Bauer]

I would look at your sodium level, and if you are under 2500mg day, then add the difference through your diet.

Are you saying that increasing salt intake can make T fade?

 

[Bassplayer]

I'm Jack. I'm 63 yrs old. I woke up one morning about 3 years ago with a tea pot whistling in both ears. I never liked loud music and was never in a war zone. Maybe went to 4 concerts my whole life. One weird thing was that my tinnitus was on a three day rotating schedule of day 1 loud, day 2 medium and day 3 barely noticeable. I was miserable and depressed including at night where I would wake up every 1.5 - 2.0 hrs.

I tried antibiotics in hopes it was an ear infection. No luck. I tried vitamin supplements recommended by others with tinnitus. No luck. I tried playing all sorts of nature sounds at night as recommended by a specialist at the Oregon Tinnitus Clinic. No luck, made it even harder to sleep.

I tried masking it with two $300 hearing aid looking devices which go in the ears and put out an air hose noise to drown out my tea pot whistling. That worked somewhat, but you can't wear them at night.

I tried both a $1500 product and a $3,000 product sold to me by two different Otolaryngologists.

Both these products put sound in my ears for 2-4 hrs daily which included a sound in the background which matched my tinnitus. No luck. Here's what worked in the end. Over time, my brain has learned to ignore the tea pot whistling. It took about 18 - 24 months to go from noticing it 99.9% of the time to hardly ever noticing it (and then usually only when someone asks how it's doing). The interesting thing is that the products are advertised to take months to work. I think the makers know that the brain blocks out tinnitus in many cases after months. I wouldn't waste your money.

Hi Jack, Yes, I found that in the end it's all about time and learning not to allow your emotions to latch onto the sound. Focusing on positive stuff helps the process. Listening for the T when you haven't noticed it is not wise in my opinion either. It's great to hear these positive stories.

 

[illegalmonkey77]

The interesting thing is that the products are advertised to take months to work. I think the makers know that the brain blocks out tinnitus in many cases after months. I wouldn't waste your money.

I've always kinda had the same suspicion. It's impossible to tell if people who have used these devices had gotten better specifically because of the device or not. Since you can't take two people with similar T and have one use a device and one not we'll never know. Everyone is different and I doubt anyone has the same T sound and cause of T as another person.

 

[bitrunner]

What I am saying is that tinnitus is a terrible side effect of a low sodium diet(less than 2500 mg/day). Sodium plays a role in reducing our bad gut bacteria . It is those bad gut bacteria that I believe is the cause of my tinnitus. If you are a fast food junkie, this does not apply to you.

 

[Chris Holland]

Here's what worked in the end. Over time, my brain has learned to ignore the tea pot whistling. It took about 18 - 24 months to go from noticing it 99.9% of the time to hardly ever noticing it (and then usually only when someone asks how it's doing).

Nice, so you reached ''habituation of perception'', did you do anything specific in coping in the meanwhile?

 

[Nanny chocolate]

Hi Jack
Thank you so much for your positive post. I'm so scared and anxious and there is so
much DOOM in some of the posts. So frightened and started having panicky attacks again. You've shone a pin point of light.

 

[Bassplayer]

Nice, so you reached ''habituation of perception'', did you do anything specific in coping in the meanwhile?

I actually believe there are two stages to habituation.

The first stage is where we get long spells where we don't notice the T due to not focusing on it and focusing on something else.

In the second stage I genuinely believe that our brain starts to rewire itself and filters it out once it stops seeing it as a threat.

Actually, I don't like the word habituation as it kind of means to 'get used to something' or 'put up with something'. I don't put up with it anymore. It's simply not there unless I choose to listen for it. Even then it takes a while to hear it again because my brain has learnt to filter it out.

In the early days with T, I built my confidence up on the ever increasing intervals where I hadn't noticed the T. Seconds to minutes to hours to days to weeks to months....It does take time though like any kind of healing process.

 

[Chris Holland]

I actually believe there are two stages to habituation.

The first stage is where we get long spells where we don't notice the T due to not focusing on it and focusing on something else.

In the second stage I genuinely believe that our brain starts to rewire itself and filters it out once it stops seeing it as a threat.

Actually, I don't like the word habituation as it kind of means to 'get used to something' or 'put up with something'. I don't put up with it anymore. It's simply not there unless I choose to listen for it. Even then it takes a while to hear it again because my brain has learnt to filter it out.

In the early days with T, I built my confidence up on the ever increasing intervals where I hadn't noticed the T. Seconds to minutes to hours to days to weeks to months....It does take time though like any kind of healing process.

Hi Bassplayer,

Thanks for your post.

I agree with what you say about these stages of habituation, I have heard similar stories to yours from many people I spoke to who have habituated completely to their tinnitus. For me being so early in the process it still seems like a very abstract concept but I am experiencing periods where I am less aware of the tinnitus. Still have strong emotions towards the sound though as it has so completely disrupted my life and mental state.

About the re-wiring, I am also of the conviction this is what happens (given the fact one is also working on letting go of the negative focus on tinnitus), seeing as the brain is plastic and neurons that ''fire together wire together'' it makes sense the more time one can take their mind of tinnitus the more likely the brain is to put it on the back shelf. Also by use of mindfulness and CBT one can start giving a more neutral meaning to the tinnitus itself.

How long did it take you to go through this process and did you have any specific coping mechanisms in the early onset?

Best,

Chris

 

[Bassplayer]

Hi Bassplayer,

Thanks for your post.

I agree with what you say about these stages of habituation, I have heard similar stories to yours from many people I spoke to who have habituated completely to their tinnitus. For me being so early in the process it still seems like a very abstract concept but I am experiencing periods where I am less aware of the tinnitus. Still have strong emotions towards the sound though as it has so completely disrupted my life and mental state.

About the re-wiring, I am also of the conviction this is what happens (given the fact one is also working on letting go of the negative focus on tinnitus), seeing as the brain is plastic and neurons that ''fire together wire together'' it makes sense the more time one can take their mind of tinnitus the more likely the brain is to put it on the back shelf. Also by use of mindfulness and CBT one can start giving a more neutral meaning to the tinnitus itself.

How long did it take you to go through this process and did you have any specific coping mechanisms in the early onset?

Best,

Chris

I think it took me longer than it could have done really. I went through a lot of life stresses in the first year. As all forms of negative stress seem to spike the T, it's not helpful. Once I started getting my life back on track, things started to calm down.

One thing I would suggest is not to listen for your T when you realise you haven't noticed it. I mean, what's the point anyway? It will only knock your confidence.

Confidence in the brains ability to ignore the T starts quite early really. Even when you get periods of a few minutes without noticing it.

Keep yourself focussed on doing the things you like. Anything other than the T is a useful distraction. When you do things you like, you lift your spirits. That reduces the stress and volume of the T. The funny thing is that sometimes the T can spike, but if your mood is good, you can cope with it more.

I think masking devices are helpful in the earlier stages. I just played babbling brook sounds at just below my T level. However, as you start to build your confidence up in the brains ability to filter the T out , you might choose to stop relying on props. After all, isn't the aim to eventually forget about anything tinnitus related?

 

[Chris Holland]

I think it took me longer than it could have done really. I went through a lot of life stresses in the first year. As all forms of negative stress seem to spike the T, it's not helpful. Once I started getting my life back on track, things started to calm down.

I'm having the same issue, lot of stress during the onset and before, pressure from work, newly born son, relationship issues, passing of my father, moving house, my own business etc. Funny thing is because of tinnitus everything had to come down a notch so I am getting back on track with lowering stress.

One thing I would suggest is not to listen for your T when you realise you haven't noticed it. I mean, what's the point anyway? It will only knock your confidence.

I'm trying that now as well, I mean what's the point, it almost becomes like a self fulfilling prophecy at some stage.

Confidence in the brains ability to ignore the T starts quite early really. Even when you get periods of a few minutes without noticing it.

True, sometimes I'm doing something immersive and then it comes to that I did not notice my T for a period of time, I already had some periods where it was like it was waaaaay in the background (did not stay there unfortunately ). These moments are real confidence boosters, the spikes are confidence killers though ...

Keep yourself focussed on doing the things you like. Anything other than the T is a useful distraction. When you do things you like, you lift your spirits. That reduces the stress and volume of the T. The funny thing is that sometimes the T can spike, but if your mood is good, you can cope with it more.

Will do!

I think masking devices are helpful in the earlier stages. I just played babbling brook sounds at just below my T level. However, as you start to build your confidence up in the brains ability to filter the T out , you might choose to stop relying on props. After all, isn't the aim to eventually forget about anything tinnitus related?

In the house I need sound enrichment or else I'm going nuts still, I use a bluetooth speaker with nature sounds and a sound pillow. However I can listen to my tinnitus now for periods and not completely freak out ... I guess that's kind of progress. When did you stop masking?

Thanks for your feedback!

Best,

Chris

 

[Bassplayer]

When did you stop masking?

Chris

I think it was somewhere in the middle of the first year.

Another thing which might help is to see our brain as two parts. Emotional and logical.

The emotional bit is quite prehistoric and gives us the panic, fight or flight feelings. The fight or flight response heightens our senses... including hearing!! The higher the anxiety the louder the T which causes louder T!

The good news is that we can use the logical part of our brain to calm down the emotional part and break that vicious cycle.

It does take time and will power though.

 

[Dginobile]

@Bassplayer hi what did your T sound like and was it in your head or ears and do you know what the cause ways?

@Chris Holland hey how are you doing?

 

[Bassplayer]

@Bassplayer hi what did your T sound like and was it in your head or ears and do you know what the cause ways?

@Chris Holland hey how are you doing?

I'm not sure if you'll get this reply as it seems some of my posts are being blocked.

It was a high pitched screech in one ear. Looking back, I'm pretty sure it was stess caused from not coping with retirement and a broken down marriage. It is also possible that playing in a band didn't help!

 

[Dginobile]

@Bassplayer mine is a high pitched tone in 24/7 seems to be in the center of my head, the first couple weeks were HELL!!! But I seem to be coping better, still get sad it's there but I'm not suicidal anymore! Dr has me taking Xanax which kind of helps and gave me Lexapro for my depression and OCD and anxiety but I'm scared to start it

 

[Bassplayer]

@Bassplayer mine is a high pitched tone in 24/7 seems to be in the center of my head, the first couple weeks were HELL!!! But I seem to be coping better, still get sad it's there but I'm not suicidal anymore! Dr has me taking Xanax which kind of helps and gave me Lexapro for my depression and OCD and anxiety but I'm scared to start it

I do believe that we should follow the medical track along with any other coping methods. I was prescribed anti anxiety tablets in the very early panic stages, however I am quite stubborn and gave up taking them after a few as I didn't like having to rely on anything. You should do what the doctor says though,we are all different.

Interesting you mention OCD. I think I'm on the OCD spectrum (we seem to have names for everything these days!). Being obsessive can be a useful trait when trying to focus on fine detail with work, but it can be a problem when the obsessive behaviour causes us to focus too much on an ailment like tinnitus.

Bearing in mind they reckon 1 in 10 get tinnitus (actually heard 1 in 5 in one paper) it seems strange that only certain people go though this panic, negative loop phase. Could it be that if someone is on the OCD spectrum, that they tend to over focus on the T and start the negative loop spiral of tinnitus causes anxiety, anxiety causes worse T?

I have a number of friends who have T who never went through this panic phase. They just seemed to take it in their stride. I wonder for me whether I over obsessed about my T because I was also going through a lot of life stresses at the time. Getting my life back on track and taking control definitely helped. I live on a boat now and have remarried!

I really do believe that the majority of the suffering with tinnitus is emotional. I think it's more to do with the brain than just a noise. As we get older,things do start to break down a bit, but our brain is so good at adapting and making the best of what we have left. Once the brain works out the T is no longer a threat, it seems to let go of it, like a bad friend.

 

[Chris Holland]

@Chris Holland hey how are you doing?

I'm doing reasonably well, I'm over most of the initial panic, do have trouble sleeping and concentrating at times still and overall kind of a down feeling. However I gain a lot of confidence from stories such as Bassplayer's and from people I know that have went through the same that one day I will get there too (and so will you). This gives me a lot of comfort and helps me to put the tinnitus in a more neutral light which in turn lowers my anxiety.

But I seem to be coping better, still get sad it's there but I'm not suicidal anymore!

Glad to read that, it's a tough hand we got dealt but we will get through this.