On My Way to Recovery from Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

[Vassili]

After 21 Months

I thought I need to write a small update.

After 21 months I don't hear my tinnitus outside, I mostly don't hear ringing in the bathroom (I hear a quiet static), I can read a book in a quiet room without a head ache and without hearing ringing, I started sleeping without sound enrichment (only with a clock), I can listen to music (I do it on low volume), I feel that normal life is slowly coming back.

What Symptoms I Still Have

I still, sometimes, feel a really mild burning mostly in my right ear, I do sometimes hear a really quiet ringing, sometimes my right ear feels blocked for couple of seconds, facial muscle spasms still occur, visual snow is still present a bit. Also, ears react a bit to certain loud noise. All the symptoms are mild enough for my brain to sort them out automatically. But there are days when I'm still a bit depressed and nervous. They just happen, but I hope that they would disappear completely and not bother me at all.

Also wanted to say that quality of sleeping makes a big deal. My sleeping improved significantly and it made a difference. I can feel that a good sleep has a huge impact on healing.

I wish all new sufferers to take it day by day and to stay strong and positive. Unfortunately, if it's noise-induced, there's no other way other than to wait. Find positivity in every day, help others and don't loose hope.

 

[Vassili]

Today, when I woke up, I realized that my visual snow got much better. I would say now it's 95% reduced, or even more. Also, I feel that anxiety level dropped significantly. Today I went to a noisy mall and felt surprisingly good. No anxiety, no things that I don't suppose to hear, everything sounds almost normal (or even normal). Level of tinnitus and hyperacusis also dropped. Now I do think that it's 95% reduced, or even more. What is very pleasing is the fact that head ache became even more softer and, basically, I don't have it anymore.

Yesterday I felt really weird. I thought things started to get worse but no, they didn't.

I just hope that everything stays this way or even goes further toward recovery.

I am almost there.

 

[Vassili]

22 months in. I think I can say that I've almost recovered from pain but tinnitus is raging at times. Plus, sometimes, there's almost no tinnitus at all for couple of hours. This instability makes me depressed and scared. I have a feeling that I need 5 years or more for this problem to heal.

 

[transient18]

You have been amazing sport Vassili. I have been various times in past 5 months motivated by your posts. You can't loose hope.

 

[Vassili]

You have been amazing sport Vassili. I have been various times in past 5 months motivated by your posts. You can't loose hope.

Thank you for kind words. I am doing everything to regain my positive mindset because it is the key to success. Only time heals this thing and every journey to success is different.

 

[Vassili]

Yesterday I ordered a white noise machine.

Can't wait to try it.

 

[transient18]

Yesterday I ordered a white noise machine.

Can't wait to try it.

Do you mean in-ear or bedside one?

 

[Vassili]

Do you mean in-ear or bedside one?

I ordered a bedside one. You see, sometimes I can sleep without sound enrichment, depending om my tinnitus, but most of the time I still need it. It helps me relax and sleep.

I am tired using a laptop because sound enrichment videos come with advertisements. I don't want to use my phone either. So I bought a third option which will suit me well, I hope.

I believe someday this beautiful tinnitus free day would come and it would feel like a breath of freash air, like a resurrection, a miracle.

 

[Vassili]

New sound in my right ear - weird Morse code. Thank God it's not loud.

 

[transient18]

New sound in my right ear - weird Morse code. Thank God it's not loud.

That must be scary... how are you doing?

 

[Vassili]

That must be scary... how are you doing?

I am a bit worried but I hope that it will go away like many other sounds that I had.

 

[Vassili]

What are the odds to recover after two year mark? I am getting nervous although I understand that 2 years is not that much time in the tinnitus universe.

 

[Exit]

What are the odds to recover after two year mark? I am getting nervous although I understand that 2 years is not that much time in the tinnitus universe.

I think many here are unbelievable jealous of your improvements, because they've been amazing!

Don't worry, just keep away from loud shit

 

[Vassili]

23 months in. When I was outside I wore my old headphones. I did it for 1 year and 5 months. I think I'm not going to do it any more. 95% of the time I don't hear my tinnitus outside.

 

[Brandon Wong]

@Vassili, thank you for your thread. It gave me hope.

I am two months in from an audio system feedback induced tinnitus. Although symptoms are mild, it didn't quite get better over these two months.

I read that recently your tinnitus is raging? What did you think happened?

 

[Vassili]

thank you for your thread. It gave me hope.

I am glad that my thread gives hope. It is very important.

I hear my tinnitus at home. I still can't sleep without sound enrichment. I can't say that it's raging, I think it's my depression and my reaction to it. I am very tired and it's hard to stay positive. People wrote me that it can take up to 4 years. I hope that I am halfway there.

 

[Exit]

23 months in. When I was outside I wore my old headphones. I did it for 1 year and 5 months. I think I'm not going to do it any more. 95% of the time I don't hear my tinnitus outside.

Hey!

By this you mean headphones without sound right? Just for some protection? And no noise cancellation?

Wish you a good weekend.

 

[Vassili]

Hey!

By this you mean headphones without sound right? Just for some protection? And no noise cancellation?

Wish you a good weekend.

Yes, ordinary old little headphones without any noise cancellation. Just for protection.

I wish you a good weekend too.

 

[Vassili]

Two Weeks Left — A Two Year Update

So, I decided to write another update. Things are changing really slowly and because of that I don't feel any dramatic changes in my condition. Well, here it goes...

I want to start with a question: Do I hear my tinnitus outside? Yes, sometimes I do hear my tinnitus outside but I would say that 95% of the time I hear nothing. When I am in a mall some days I hear something that I should not hear some days I don't.

When I am at home I hear my tinnitus clearly only in the quiet bathroom. In the evening it gets worse so I hear it in other rooms too.

Sleeping without sound enrichment is still hard.

Overall I think I've reached 80%-90% recovery with my tinnitus. I still have mild hyperacusis too. I don't wear earplugs anymore. I did it for 1.5 years.

I am still depressed at times but at least now my condition is livable. Two years ago I thought that I would kill myself but now I want to go further and see what would third and so forth years bring.

I understood that only time works in my case.

 

[Brandon Wong]

Thanks for the update. If you only hear your tinnitus in a quiet bathroom, that's a victory! Both in habituation and actual lowered volume.

Mine recently (a week ago) went from left ear to right ear and stayed there. So it's kinda in the middle of my head. I have slowly grown to accept it... like a low volume high frequency static above other things... still wondering if it will change. It does give me a headache at time, especially when it fills my head in a quiet room and studio.

I'm happy for you @Vassili.

 

[Vassili]

Today was a very quiet day. I think on a scale from 1 to 10 it would be 2. It was the best day in two years. I hope that my recovery will continue.

 

[Outlaw]

Great news Vassili. At this point would you be able to record music at low volume? I used to be able to do that, and now I'm afraid it's lost for life.

 

[Vassili]

Great news Vassili. At this point would you be able to record music at low volume? I used to be able to do that, and now I'm afraid it's lost for life.

Hello!

It's a tough question. I will be thinking about it when I will recover (if I will recover completely). I haven't sang or recorded anything with a band for two years and, basically, I've quit music. My ENT also insisted on that. It was a very hard decision for me.

 

[Freerunner]

Hello @Vassili, I am glad to read that you are recovering! Fingers crossed you continue to improve!

I have one question regarding your tinnitus tones - I read you say they come and go. Were they loud and how much time did it take for a tone to go away? Was your tinnitus reactive to moderate/low noise?

I am two months in but I have various tones now (started with a hiss) and my main hissing tone worsened and it is more like a ring now.

 

[Vassili]

Hello @Vassili, I am glad to read that you are recovering! Fingers crossed you continue to improve!

I have one question regarding your tinnitus tones - I read you say they come and go. Were they loud and how much time did it take for a tone to go away? Was your tinnitus reactive to moderate/low noise?

I am two months in but I have various tones now (started with a hiss) and my main hissing tone worsened and it is more like a ring now.

Hello, @Freerunner! Thank you for kind words.

My tones were very loud (11 out of 10). First small improvement was after 10 months. My tinnitus was reactive to every noise possible.

To be honest, I can't even describe how bad my condition was 2 years and 2 months ago. It was a very tough time. I had more than 10 different tones, loudness hyperacusis, pain hyperacusis, vertigo, crazy visual snow and lots of other symptoms. Now my left ear quietly hisses and my right ear quietly rings. I hear my tinnitus only in a quiet room. I still hear it outside sometimes but mostly don't. Setbacks still occur till this day. It's part of the game because healing is not a linear process.

Be patient and try to control your stress levels. Take supplements, eat healthy, exercise, try to stay positive and give it time.

In the beginning I also experienced only worsening. Hold on. Things will get better.

And most important: give your ears rest but do not overprotect.

 

[Freerunner]

Hello, @Freerunner! Thank you for kind words.

My tones were very loud (11 out of 10). First small improvement was after 10 months. My tinnitus was reactive to every noise possible.

To be honest, I can't even describe how bad my condition was 2 years and 2 months ago. It was a very tough time. I had more than 10 different tones, loudness hyperacusis, pain hyperacusis, vertigo, crazy visual snow and lots of other symptoms. Now my left ear quietly hisses and my right ear quietly rings. I hear my tinnitus only in a quiet room. I still hear it outside sometimes but mostly don't. Setbacks still occur till this day. It's part of the game because healing is not a linear process.

Be patient and try to control your stress levels. Take supplements, eat healthy, exercise, try to stay positive and give it time.

In the beginning I also experienced only worsening. Hold on. Things will get better.

And most important: give your ears rest but do not overprotect.

Thanks for getting back to me @Vassili! During your first months while worsening, did you experience your baseline had gone up in volume?

 

[Vassili]

Thanks for getting back to me @Vassili! During your first months while worsening, did you experience your baseline had gone up in volume?

Yes, I did. I had every possible symptom out there in the beginning. Very rough experience.

 

[Vassili]

Merry Christmas! I wish everyone to regain health, reconnect with silence and find peace.

 

[MindOverMatter]

Merry Christmas to you too @Vassili.

 

[Wrfortiscue]

Just shows even the worst can recover or get better with time...