New Tinnitus Warrior from Manila, Philippines

[AlbertJ]

Dear all,
I am Albert from Manila, Philippines. I got tinnitus last December from an assortment of possible cause(s):

1. Cumulative noise exposure from years of using headphones on a loud volume
2. Otitis media with effusion due to eustachian tube dysfunction
3. Too much stress

I was put on amoxicillin and decongestant for 10 days but tinnitus and some form of hyperacusis remained after finishing my medication.

Initially I got tinnitus on my left ear where the fluid was but eventually affected my right ear.
I mostly hear a high-pitched ringing. The first few months was hell as became very loud especially at night - around 8/10.

There has been some improvement after some time, albeit very gradual. I have had spikes from sleeplessness and stress from work.

I would like to seek any thoughts on my current symptoms:

1. Tinnitus that varies in pitch and tone. The worst was like a siren screaming way back in July when I had not slept for more than 48 hours because of the ringing. It was 10/10. Eleven months into it and it now usually varies from 1-5/10, depending on stress level I have and the amount of sleep I lack.

2. Way back in January, I noticed that some weird sound, mostly on the left ear, randomly when I walk. It is like a soft tick and is in sync usually with my left foot. My ENT dismissed this symptom and told me that it was all in my head. I still suffer from this.

3. About last week, I noticed this weird whistling on running water when I use the toilet. I thought it was the exhaust fan. When I turn off the faucet, the whistling disappears. Then I noticed the whistling on my ceiling fan - it cost me two nights of sleeplessness as this is a new symptom just when I thought I am making some progress.

4. I still have some mild form of hyperacusis. I cannot stand clanging dishes and screaming kids.

I would like to hear your thoughts on my situation. Thanking you all in advance.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I still have some mild form of hyperacusis. I cannot stand clanging dishes and screaming kids.

I would like to hear your thoughts on my situation. Thanking you all in advance.

@AlbertJ

The main cause of your tinnitus is probably noise induced caused by listening to headphones at too high a volume. The fact that you have hyperacusis gives me reason to believe this is the cause. Other issues that you have raised are contributing factors too.

I advise you not to use any type of headphones to listen to audio even at low volume as you risk the tinnitus becoming worse. Please click on the links below and read my articles on tinnitus that you might find helpful. Read them slowly and thoroughly to absorb and retain the information. Since you have had the tinnitus and hyperacusis for quite a while, with additional problems. I think it best you seek professional help, with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment and management.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-complexities-of-tinnitus-and-hyperacusis.25733/

 

[AlbertJ]

Thank you very much @Michael Leigh. I appreciate it.
The hyperacusis is mostly 1-2/10 but the strange sound (whistle/flute) is new to me considering I am now 11 months into this and I have had no recent acoustic trauma.
I will definitely read all the articles you shared. Thank you so much.

Hugs,
Albert

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thank you very much @Michael Leigh. I appreciate it.
The hyperacusis is mostly 1-2/10 but the strange sound (whistle/flute) is new to me considering I am now 11 months into this and I have had no recent acoustic trauma.
I will definitely read all the articles you shared. Thank you so much.

Hugs,
Albert

HI @AlbertJ

If your hyperacusis has been improving over the last 11 months it will continue to do so. Hyperacusis can take up to 2 years to cure completely. Contrary to what some believe hyperacusis can be cured or at least reduced to very low levels. This can be achieved naturally or in some cases specialist treatment is required. If hyperacusis is problematic and remains untreated, a person will always have problems with their tinnitus and an oversensitive auditory system. This will often manifest itself with tinnitus spiking. Some people think this is a normal occurrence with tinnitus it is not necessarily so. Spikes are usually experienced by people with noise induced tinnitus, and is a result of hyperacusis not naturally reducing over time or when necessary, specialist treatment hasn't been sought.

My article: Hyperacusis, As I see it, explains in more detail in the link in the above post. It all depends how you feel whether you need to see the health professionals that I have mentioned.

I advise you never to return to using headphones even at low volume. More about this is explained in my articles.

All the best
Michael

 

[AlbertJ]

Hello again @Michael Leigh.

I find your articles to be very informative and extremely helpful for a new tinnitus patient like me.

In light of the article on tinnitus and hyperacusis, let me share with you my recent experience:

About last week, I started hearing a whistle or a low rumbling with a tonal quality to it while laying on bed with my ceiling fan turned on and a white noise app running.

Then I realized that I am hearing it from the ceiling fan, which I thought was making the weird sound because of some dust. Then on the bathroom, I was hearing a whistle while the water was running onto the pail. I am sure I never heard that sound before. Afterwards, I realized that it seems my tinnitus - or hearing system - is reacting to certain sounds. The sound of a microphone feels like distorted to me. And last Monday night, while ridding a cab beside the driver, I freaked out because of the loud whistling I was hearing from the vibrations inside the car. It was hardly maskable. This has never happened to me before.

Coming across about misophonia and phonophobia in your article is enlightening to me and I do not want to have them.

But right now, I am in a bad place again because of the new sound my head is generating. I have had no recent major noise exposure and my tinnitus is mostly 1-3/10 nowadays. My hyperacusis, on the other hand, is 1-1.5/10. I have been listening out to all sounds the past week and I am headed to paranoia if I won't stop it.
The new sounds are tolerable at this point but what I can't tolerate is the possibility that my condition is morphing into something monstrous, more sinister than what I experienced on the initial onset.

Any thoughts will be very helpful to me.

Thank you.


Warmest regards,
Albert

 

[Michael Leigh]

But right now, I am in a bad place again because of the new sound my head is generating. I have had no recent major noise exposure and my tinnitus is mostly 1-3/10 nowadays. My hyperacusis, on the other hand, is 1-1.5/10. I have been listening out to all sounds the past week and I am headed to paranoia if I won't stop it.
The new sounds are tolerable at this point but what I can't tolerate is the possibility that my condition is morphing into something monstrous, more sinister than what I experienced on the initial onset.

Any thoughts will be very helpful to me.

@AlbertJ

Thank you for your kind works they are much appreciated.

You are focusing too much on your ears and auditory system and this is increasing stress and anxiety. It can make the tinnitus and hyperacusis more intrusive and result in making your own mind/brain generate more tinnitus sounds to focus on. It can become a vicious cycle and you need to try and stop this. Tinnitus and hyperacusis is intrinsically linked to our mental and emotional wellbeing. The more stressed we become the more intrusive the tinnitus will tend to be. The more relaxed we are will have a beneficial effect on the tinnitus because the brain will focus less on it and push the tinnitus further into the background.

My posts in the links above explain this in more detail: Acquiring a positive mind-set. Positivity and Tinnitus. Is Positivity important. Tinnitus and the negative mind-set. Please take your time and read these and refer to them often. The reason being, it will help to reinforce more positive thinking and it will help to reduce stress. It takes time to achieve this. Talk to your doctor about how you feel. You may need a mild medication to help reduce stress or see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment. Counselling maybe recommended which can be very helpful. Try to engage in this that you like to do to help take your mind off the tinnitus. Use low level sound enrichment especially at night. Nature sounds played at a low level can be very relaxing.

Michael

 

[AlbertJ]

Thank you so much @Michael Leigh.
I have read through your articles and I agree with your recommendations.
I use earphones as protection whenever I go outside. I do not hook it on my smartphone. The jack is just dangling inside my bag. I no longer listen on my headphones, go to movies (which I used to love), or attend loud parties. I even gave up flying for fear of barotrauma exacerbating my condition.

I have a standard 3M earplug I carry with me. I only wear it on loud restaurants and inside the train.

Relaxation is what I really need to muster. I believe it would really help me calm my already sensitive hearing system. I feel like I am about to get phonophobic in light of my recent symptoms (or new sounds) but I really thank you for sharing me your articles.

Sometimes, I feel like I am a host of symptoms ready to explode anytime soon - tinnitus + hyperacusis + eustachian tube dysfunction - that would take my sanity away. But I thank you for helping people like me who is still fumbling at the world of tinnitus. I know it will be a long journey.

Warmest regards,
Albert

 

[Michael Leigh]

HI @AlbertJ

Please try and not put too much restrictions on your life as it could start to make you miserable. Try and go out and socialise with friends. Find a hobby anything to help take your mind off the tinnitus. Please do not keep yourself at home hiding away from sound. This is not the answer as you don't want additional problems to occur. Make an effort to go out and try not to use ear protection too often. Your hyperacusis is improving by steadily introducing yourself to more environmental sounds will help to desensitise your auditory system and treat the hyperacusis.

It does take time, you are doing well just take things slowly.
All the best

Michael

 

[AlbertJ]

Thank you so much @Michael Leigh. Your pieces of advice are well noted.
It may take a while for me to bring back my old way of living to be honest. I am sort of in between accepting this as the new normal and hoping to be physically healed completely. Hahaha.

But I will dwell more on positivity as what you stated on your article. It will take some practice and more intentional practice.

Warmest regards,
Albert

 

[newarrior]

How bad is New Year's eve in Manila?

How can I protect myself? Thanks!