New to Tinnitus and Falling Into Depression

[Carlyi]

Hi everyone,

I developed Tinnitus a few months ago. It started as a very low white noise kinda sound. And it would come and go. It did create alot of anxiety and panic attacks, and even a visit to the ER. A few weeks ago it was gone for several days and i thought it was permanantly gone. I was happy and continued life as normal.

Then a few days ago it came back alot louder and didn't stop! I have been a complete wreck since. I'm on Oxazepam and also had a few Lorazepams to calm down. Now i'm trying to figure out how i got Tinnitus. I'm in complete fight mode, i have a little baby to take care of and can't live like this.

I have jaw issues. I had jaw surgery 10 years ago and i have grind my teeth alot in the past. But lately i havent really been doing this anymore since i had botox put in my masseter muscles. I have pain on the right side of my jaw, and my jaw clicks when i eat and open it wide. My ears are also popping and feel full sometimes.

I went to a Physiotherapist specialised in TMJ and he told me nothing was wrong with my jaw and that it would go away!.. Well it only got worse shortly after.

I went to an ENT, he told me my ears look perfect so that the issues must be coming from my jaw.
I now have an appointment with a jaw surgeon, hopefully he can find something that could be causing this horrible condition. I have never ever felt this low in my life.

I feel for everybody that has T!! Please stay strong!

 

[JoyBenz007]

Hugs!!! You're not alone with the anxiety...wishing you well...

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Carlyi
Before the onset of your tinnitus did you used to listen to music through headphones regularly? Or attend places where loud music is played: concerts, clubs? I asked this as exposure to loud noise, sounds or music is the most common cause of tinnitus.

 

[alyssalee97]

I'm so sorry that you're struggling with the tinnitus. I know how easy it is to fall into depression with this condition. It's good that you've identify it. When I feel down because of my T I like to read the positivity thread (I'll link it to you here). It's really comforting to know that you can still enjoy life with T. I hope this helps at least a little bit!

 

[MikeL1972]

Hi @Carlyi,

Welcome aboard!

I know it is not easy but you need to stop fighting tinnitus because it is a battle you cannot win; you simply need to accept it (like religion, if you will). Believe me, I was in the same boat as you when I first got it, but about two weeks in I realized it is a no-win situation and slowly I accepted it. In all honesty, it took a good six months for me to habituate. Habituation is what the medical community recommends. All it means in simple terms is that your mind gets used to the sound to the point where it no longer affects your nervous system.

I realize you have a baby to tend to, but some coping mechanisms include reading, exercise (even a low impact activity like walking can do wonders), meditation/yoga, or listening to light (ie. classical, jazz) music. However, my suggestion is to avoid listening to music through headphones/ear buds.

Best of luck!

 

[Elinor]

I hope the jaw surgeon/specialist can come up with a solution to your problems. It's not very comforting in this situation but if it's your jaw, the T you are experiencing is more likely to be reversable.

Yes, you are definitely not alone when it comes to anxiety with this condition. Stay strong you too!

 

[billie48]

Welcome to the forum @Carlyi . TMJ is only one of the possible reasons for T. There are many causes which can trigger or aggravate tinnitus including but not limited to drug reaction or side-effects from ototoxic drugs, ear wax build-up, ear or Eustachian tube infection or ETD, ear drum injury, fluid build-up in ears feeling pressured or fullness, sinus infection & congestion especially with a bad cold, TMJ, TTTS, head trauma & injury, neck injury or muscle problems, high blood pressure or blood circulation problem, loud noise exposure or acoustic trauma/shock, hearing loss, Meniere's Decease, barotrauma from sudden change of air pressure such as during landing & taking off on flights especially with blocked nose causing failure to balance the pressure changes, slapping of the ears, deep grief for the loss of loved ones, untreated sleep apnea, extreme, extended stress, anxiety & panic disorder, etc., etc. Sometimes it can be due to a single problem or more. So you may want to look further than just possible TMJ related.

Trying to find and heal the cause is one thing. Trying to maintain a good mental stamina facing T is another. A big part of T suffering is mental. So it is important to learn how to live with T if it doesn't go away for the short term. You may want to start masking T if it continues to cause anxiety and panic attacks. I was in your shoe many years ago, having lots of anxiety and panic attacks. My T is ultra high pitched like a dentist drill with 10 times the pitch, and worse, severe hyperacusis also joined in the misery soon after T. I was in such a mess initially. I had prior history of PTSD and anxiety panic disorder for decades prior to T & H. So these two alien monsters just opened the floodgate of hell of relentless anxiety and panic attacks daily, the minute I woke up by loud screaming T. I thought my life would end soon and no way I could live with so much suffering and that my good life would be gone forever. But today I do just that. I live a normal, happy and absolutely enjoyable life. I posted my success story like others did and share my strategies and insights. If you have time, check it out. Don't despair and don't panic. Good life can be back. Believe it. Give it some time and learn some good strategies from others and apply them. You will be just fine over time. God bless.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...w-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/

 

[GregCA]

Start the diagnosis process. You may find that what you have is curable.
Also don't take a "thumbs up from the ENT" as equivalent to "my hearing is fine": their insights into our hearing apparatus is quite limited.

 

[Carlyi]

Thanks everybody for your comments. I never listen to loud music and only used headphones to listen to asmr. Something i can only dream of now. I do find it weird that my ears crackle alot and that my Tinnitus improves after i steam altough the ENT didnt wanna talk about ETD. I do have a alot of mucus running down my throat and blocked nostril. Can TMJ cause this? My ENT pretty much told me its caused by stress without even checking me properly frist. Are all ENT's this useless? And are they capable of checking the eustachian tube? I refuse to believe this is not curable. Thanks again everyone, we are in this together.

 

[Wojtek Kalka]

Are all ENT's this useless?

Sadly 90% are ...

 

[billie48]

Are all ENT's this useless?

Your ENT is at least not as 'useless' as mine, or shall I say not as 'brutal'. Mine simply told me during my most desperate time with the 'dentist drill' 7/24 that the only way he can stop my ringing is to shoot me. Was he suggesting something to my desperate mind? Gosh!!! The ENTs of the world really need to be trained on counseling their desperate patients with highly intrusive T. They should just refer their patients to some tinnitus clinic or shut up with their 'counseling'.

 

[ChineseHazel]

Hello,Carlyi!Just want to tell you please pay attention to your anti-anxiety drugs.I heard some of these medicine can reduce T.However,they also can be the trigger of T or make your T worse!Please look out
Best wishes

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Carlyi If you think that your jaw is still a problem, get a referral from a dentist and go to a 3d imaging center. Images around your head will check your jaw, teeth alignment, fractures, nerves in and under the jaw, nerves in the face, neck and ears. The cost is usually 400 dollar. You will get one 3d circular exam and it takes just 30 seconds each. 3d is not loud. Wear some ear plugs. Centers for imaging now have new 3d technology since June of 2016. The new imaging has less radiation per cone and one 3d is considered safe.

Be careful with trying to totally mast out your tinnitus. I will never use or follow advice given from most articles on the net about tinnitus. That would include tone audio exams for high pitch tinnitus. I use white noise (rain) placed several feet from my head and not at a high volume.

I've worked for several large medical companies, medical investor groups as well as several government agencies. Big business knows how to make a buck off those of those suffering from all conditions within the human body. Articles promoting false claims are all over the net per tinnitus. Many drug studies overstate results using several keywords. Many times these trials never make it to larger trials or to phase 3 clinical trials. There's lot of money being make off of research. Doctors, hospitals, clinics and the media all collect a paycheck from studies.

 

[Carlyi]

Thank you, i looked into the 3D images. im going to a jaw surgeon tomorrow. My doctor looked at my ears today and he said both eardrums are slightly inward. So he says it could be ETD. I do notice that my T is very mild when i dont stress about it. I have read too many horror stories here and that made me very scared yesterday. So if its not my jaw it most likely is ETD. I dont like the comments that say that once you have T. You have it for life. I think that if you dont have hearing loss and find the root cause of your T. There is a big chance it can go.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Are all ENT's this useless?

Please click on the link below and read my article @Carlyi. Try to read it in full and not skim through it. You will see that I explain what usually happens when a person is seen at ENT. If your experience at your ENT clinic wasn't something similar and you didn't have the tests mentioned, then you were not properly examined and I advise that you see another ENT doctor.

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

 

[Rasmus]

Thanks everybody for your comments. I never listen to loud music and only used headphones to listen to asmr. Something i can only dream of now. I do find it weird that my ears crackle alot and that my Tinnitus improves after i steam altough the ENT didnt wanna talk about ETD. I do have a alot of mucus running down my throat and blocked nostril. Can TMJ cause this? My ENT pretty much told me its caused by stress without even checking me properly frist. Are all ENT's this useless? And are they capable of checking the eustachian tube? I refuse to believe this is not curable. Thanks again everyone, we are in this together.

If you say you got T to a ENT they just give you a reason without knowing what it really is.

 

[fishbone]

Hi everyone,

I developed Tinnitus a few months ago. It started as a very low white noise kinda sound. And it would come and go. It did create alot of anxiety and panic attacks, and even a visit to the ER. A few weeks ago it was gone for several days and i thought it was permanantly gone. I was happy and continued life as normal.

Then a few days ago it came back alot louder and didn't stop! I have been a complete wreck since. I'm on Oxazepam and also had a few Lorazepams to calm down. Now i'm trying to figure out how i got Tinnitus. I'm in complete fight mode, i have a little baby to take care of and can't live like this.

I have jaw issues. I had jaw surgery 10 years ago and i have grind my teeth alot in the past. But lately i havent really been doing this anymore since i had botox put in my masseter muscles. I have pain on the right side of my jaw, and my jaw clicks when i eat and open it wide. My ears are also popping and feel full sometimes.

I went to a Physiotherapist specialised in TMJ and he told me nothing was wrong with my jaw and that it would go away!.. Well it only got worse shortly after.

I went to an ENT, he told me my ears look perfect so that the issues must be coming from my jaw.
I now have an appointment with a jaw surgeon, hopefully he can find something that could be causing this horrible condition. I have never ever felt this low in my life.

I feel for everybody that has T!! Please stay strong!

Tinnitus is a horrible thing, especially for those that are new to it. I highly suggest you talk it out with your family friends and get as much support as possible. Exercise and remain as stress free as possible, it is very possible to do this. Avoid loud places and protect your ears....

Be well....

 

[Shera]

My ears are great and the issue of the T coming on was head trauma. I know it's from my TMJ, especially after it worsened, and neck. I've been using a great chiropractor to help get it in place and he does acupuncture to help the muscles. Because it's messed up. Recently what's really helped is find a massage therapist who knows what she's doing. Massaging my TMJ. Especially since half the issues are the muscles as they even twitch and pulse.

I'm just coming out of the depression side of things and if you can get your mind off it helps.

I'm keeping the faith too that as I heal my TMJ will get quieter and go away. Maybe it won't, but I like to stay positive. Be careful with the ETD, treating my ears for that actually made my T worse as it wasn't the main cause. (Because I had ear pain, but never associated the feeling to actually being the TMJ.)

 

[ChineseHazel]

I have read too many horror stories here and that made me very scared

Hey,you can read success story.There are lots of fabulous stories people shared with us on this forum

 

[MJv]

Hey,you can read success story.There are lots of fabulous stories people shared with us on this forum

That is T... I can be mild/severe/extreme. I think it's good to know not every T is the same. Goodluck and being positive might help you

 

[Natalier]

Hey, just trying my best to help. I completely understand you.If the anxiety is still bothering you, give my anxiety techniques a try. Doesnt hurt.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...om-anxiety-tinnitus-associated-anxiety.22257/

 

[Criggs]

I've tried fighting tinnitus and I lost, I thought I couldn't handle it mentally, but I did. No one knows why we have it, or get it. There's a lot of guesses and theorys. It may get better, mines gotten worse twice. Each time I have been able to habituate to it. Mines pretty loud, I hear it all of the time if I think about it. I go days at a time without thinking about it. My point is, you can and will be ok. You can do this, you can take care of your child and your life will be normal. Try masking it as much as you can with other sounds, keep a fan running at night...etc. You have to get your mind to stop thinking about it. Don't give up and you can beat this!

 

[daisyjc]

Hi Carlyi!

Just wanted to let you know that there is hope with Tinnitus. When I first developed Tinnitus, back in late December of 2014, I began having debilitating panic and anxiety attacks that landed me in the ER more than once. Doctors and specialists were less than helpful in identifying a cause and often told me that it was stress related. After several exams and a CT scan, doctors were unable to identify a reason for the onset of the ringing. This left me feeling miserable, alone and hopeless. Thankfully, I found a Tinnitus specialist who fit me for an ear piece that took the ringing away. Although I didn't have any hearing loss, somehow the widex zen hearing aid, when turned to the lowest frequency, completely canceled out the ringing. Although I only wore the ear piece for a couple hours at a time, it gave me a sense of control over the ringing, which is exactly what I needed at the time. Now, two years later, Tinnitus is something that hardly comes to mind. I think it's still there, but I truly have to listen for it to even notice it anymore. The ear piece allowed me to habituate to the noise to the point that my brain completely tunes it out. I no longer wear the aid (haven't for over a year), but keep it by my bedside in the event that I ever need it again. Truly, it was a life saver. In time, your brain will adjust and you will have your life back.

I hope this brings you encouragement and relief.

 

[Fleegle]

You have exactly what I have. Mucus down the throat and nostril, TMJ, clicky jaw, grinding, feeling of blocked ear, definite ETD (but no, everything works I am told), sound in my head, and I swear that I do not have hearing loss or damage. And the D feeling - where no one can possibly understand what i am going through.
I have described my symptoms in other posts to this group - and how the T comes and goes. It is currently the worst it has ever been - but you know what? I don't care. Just don't care. But I don't mean I have given up. I haven't given up - I am going to fight the fight no matter what. And it is draining and stressing. But I know I will beat it.
It's easy - there is a reason for it and I will find it. The finding is the hard part. But it is there somewhere.
It gives me joy to know that one day (and soon) I will confidently proclaim to this group that I haven't cured it but that I know what it is and I can calm it and maybe reduce it and maybe stop it. Yes. I. Can.
A trigger, a cause, a reason. I will find it.

 

[Gary P]

New here myself. Having read many of the comments I too hope that whatever you have specifically might some day go away as mysteriously as it arrived. I find that the only thing working for me is to ignore it. Most of the time I don't notice mine even though it is pretty loud and ever present. However, the second I 'notice' it I'm right back to the super annoying eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[Carlyi]

Hi everyone. Thanks for all your comments! I'm still fighting the T, but i feel like i had a reduction in volume as i'm trying to relax my jaw as much as possible. I'm also wearing a splint to prevent teeth grinding. I'm almost 100 percent cure it's jaw muscle related because when i touch my face the volume goes up, and when i let go it lowers again. Does anybody else have this?

My jaw is extremly tense, it feels like i'm wearing a tight mask over my face. I'm constantly aware of it.

Also when i massage my jaw for a while my ear stops hurting and i don't feel like it is suppressed by a muscle anymore, also the T almost completly dissapears, but this is only temporary because not long after my jaw completely tightens up again, i wonder if i can ever get them under control after years of grinding.

 

[TuneOut]

Do you have any idea why your jaw is tense? Do you tend to tend to clench your teeth when under stress?

 

[Carlyi]

Do you have any idea why your jaw is tense? Do you tend to tend to clench your teeth when under stress?

I used to have the bad habit of pushing my lower jaw forward all the time, and i grind and clench my teeth alot. Also after pregnancy i was under alot of stress because of the broken nights with a newborn. That all together is the perfect recipe for T. I can't wait for this to be over. Having a very bad day again after waking up with louder T. i have probably clenched all night.