My Tinnitus — Week 24

[Dmitriy]

It's my 24th week with tinnitus after loud noise exposure. Almost half a year went by. As I read some T cases I realize that I've been very lucky with my T. Just static mostly, occasional mild ringing when I am in quiet room, but nothing close to horror stories described by other T sufferers. Even thought I have this condition I am grateful that it is at a level that I can easily deal with.

I haven't had ear fullness for probably 2 month now. After hard workouts I would get slight fullness feeling in my right ear but it usually passes within an hour.

Since I got T I went on 4 major trips, 2 of them overseas. For those who are afraid to fly with T I will say that I felt no different on the plane or after a long flight. I went skiing in a very cold climate. I read about T getting worse if you get a head cold or infection. I made sure to have cotton balls in each ear and warm hat tight over my ears. Everything went fine even though it was very windy and very cold.

I continue to take simple precautions. Avoid loud noises, avoid loud environments. I use cotton balls in loud places. I know that it's not "real" protection but they have been helping. I think cotton balls reduce certain frequency that I am more susceptible to.

I like this post in "Success Stories". People may recover even after 2 years, even after acoustic trauma.

What I should do (and what I do)

• Take 1-2 long walks per day to destress (really try to keep up with this)
• Drink chamomile tea at night to calm anxiety (still do)
• Occasional 10 minute meditation (haven't done in month, it really helped, need to start again)
• Morning run few times a week (still do)
• Cross training few times a week (still do)

 

[dpdx]

Nice

 

[Shid0x]

Nice to hear, living your life by your own rules is the key anyways.
You can't be a "slave" to your tinnitus but that's a trap many fall in.

Running and sports in general are so beneficial to tinnitus ( mostly because they relieves stress, but also helps your body align and support any body part that may be aggravating your t ).
Keep up the good work buddy.

 

[Localboy]

• Morning run few times a week (still do)

• Cross training few times a week (still do)

Does exercise make your tinnitus quieter for a brief of period of time or not?

 

[RichardGuy]

Mind if I ask what your exposure was?

I had an accident in the car 3 months ago. Last 24 hours have been curiously easy compared to just a few days ago where I was ripping my hair out.

 

[Dmitriy]

Mind if I ask what your exposure was?

I had loud noise exposure at a gun range back in July 2017. I had soft foam ear plugs which were apparently not fully or properly inserted. Wear your ear protection, kids.

 

[Dmitriy]

Does exercise make your tinnitus quieter for a brief of period of time or not?

Exercise does not have any major impact on my T. I don't hear my T much during the day. After exercise I may feel the right ear clogged just bit, just enough to notice, but that goes away within an hour. Overall, I believe exercise is beneficial to relieve stress and anxiety that for me are big T triggers.

 

[alleycat]

@Dmitriy how long did it take for your ear fullness to go away? Honestly that is bothering me more than the ear ringing....

 

[Canadaman]

Be careful with running. The impact motions travel up your body and may be able to harm to your ear if it's already been damaged (like all of ours have).

See if you can find an elliptical machine or something!

And I say this as someone who loves to run outside. That said, I have up that hobby a few years ago when I wrecked my knee...