People with Bi-Lateral Tinnitus: How Do You Sleep?

Mario martz

Member
Author
Feb 12, 2016
1,183
Tinnitus Since
02/2016
I have sleep apnea so I have to sleep on one side.

These past months I was sleeping on my right side (where I didn't have tinnitus) and N notice that by doing this, the hissing would be so soft that I wouldn't notice it for the rest of the day (I think this has something to do with the blood flow or idk)

BUT right now I don't know how to sleep.

I can't sleep on any of my sides since I have tinnitus in both, and I can't sleep on my back since I have sleep apnea (maybe the reason behind my tinnitus idk)

How the FFF I'm gonna sleep now lol

Any ideas? right now both ears are hissing and ringing very loud...

God
 
I have bilateral tinnitus but I'm very grateful that, so far, I don't have issues falling asleep. Do you take any sedatives? Do you have a CPAP for your apnea?

Hey Devonlee,
im glad you dont have sleeping issues, to be honest i dont have any problems on falling asleep.
the problems is the sleep apnea, i stop breathing during some point of the night, so i just wake up.
the only way to avoid this is by sleeping on one side.
but if i sleep on my bad ear... this makes the hissing so much worse the day after.
 
@Mario martz hey buddy. I have bilateral T and manage to sleep only if I watch a movie or something super boring. I just close my eyes. Now, on I sleep my right side for the most part due to scoliosis I am working on (C shape curve is in throasic section on the left side). So I gotta "counter" pressure it. Also just sleep on ur back.

Now, also get melatonin in 5mg rapidly disolvable tablet form. It will help you sleep and does not have any side effects. I use up to 10mg if my T is going nuts. But if my T is good that day - no melatonin, just boring movie.
 
I am fairly sure most people have bilateral tinnitus indeed. So do I.

You need time to learn to sleep with the ringing. You might want to use sound enrichment at night for the time being.
 
Guys! thank you so much for your answears,
but i think there might be a little misunderstanding.
i dont have any problem "to fall alseep" i literally fall asleep no matter what noise or ringing i listen to.

the problem is that i dont wanna sleep on mi left side or right side cause it spikes my tinnitus
but i also can sleep on my back cause i have sleep apnea.
i was just wondering if someone also deals with the same problem lol.
because i had unilateral tinnitus for a year, and now that it has gone bilateral.
im still learning to manage.
thank you!
 
The tinnitus isn't coming from your ear/s Sam it comes from the brain. Most people do perceive tinnitus through both ears bi-lateral, and at the same time also in the middle of the head.

Although i don't disagree; i can almost pinpoint where the sound is and it does seem to be in my right ear.
 
Although i don't disagree; i can almost pinpoint where the sound is and it does seem to be in my right ear.
I know exactly what you mean Sam that has happened to me many times. However, I assure you the tinnitus is coming from the brain although we perceive the noise through the ear/s. My tinnitus varies in intensity. Therefore, when it is very low it sometimes feels as if the tinnitus is coming from one ear. When it is completely silent I hear no noise at all - neither from my head nor ears. It is quite intrusive at the moment and the noise in in both ears and in the middle of my head. I am quite okay as I am wearing my white noise generators and the volume is set to below the tinnitus. I don't need to wear them as I can cope. I have become used to wearing them even when my tinnitus is silent.
Michael
 
@Michael Leigh yeah i guess you summed it up perfectly. Hope the intrusiveness will soon pass for you. I find it fascinating how much it varies for you, i wonder if they were to scan you during your different levels of t it could unveil some very interesting details.
 
Yo Mario! (Trying to throw in some humor) :). My "bad" ear is my right ear but I can't sleep on my left side because I'm so used to sleeping on my right. What I do is just sleep on right side anyways but with my ear not exactly touching the pillow. Lol. I don't know if it makes any sense... I'll send a pic later haha :)
 
Yo Mario! (Trying to throw in some humor) :). My "bad" ear is my right ear but I can't sleep on my left side because I'm so used to sleeping on my right. What I do is just sleep on right side anyways but with my ear not exactly touching the pillow. Lol. I don't know if it makes any sense... I'll send a pic later haha :)

I know how you mean haha.
 
Sleeping on the side can be as much of a curse as sleeping on the back. I was a side sleeper for all my years until my muscles started going into spasm; now I am confined to sleeping on my back if I want to avoid further damage to my ears. I am really sorry you are going through this.

I would recommend playing light music in the background or use a fan. There are lots of ambient music tracks that have a lovely balance between high and low pitches, and are good for masking.
 
Yo Mario! (Trying to throw in some humor) :). My "bad" ear is my right ear but I can't sleep on my left side because I'm so used to sleeping on my right. What I do is just sleep on right side anyways but with my ear not exactly touching the pillow. Lol. I don't know if it makes any sense... I'll send a pic later haha :)
hahaha yes!! i think thats what ive been doing, i dont know how to explain it neither!
ohh we humans always find ways! :p thanks andrea <3
 
Hi Mario.
I have sleep apnoea as well.
I use a mouth guard and hopefully weight loss to control mine.
If you use a CPAP machine, you can sleep on your back. I trialled one, and once you get used to it, it's good!
Have you had a sleep study done?
I woke up feeling more refreshed and less times overnight.
Unfortunately my tinnitus didn't get any better so I figure sleep apnoea isn't the cause of my tinnitus....
 
I can hear my T in places with ambient noise below 50 db. My room is around 40-45 db even with the AC and/or fan on.

During the first month or so, I slept on my back because I hated hearing my T. But eventually I got used to it and now I sleep on the side, usually the left. As I've often said in this forum, it's the H that's giving me a lot of trouble.

But I'm well aware of the fact that T becomes more difficult to deal with when louder. So how loud is your T?
 
Hi Mario.
I have sleep apnoea as well.
I use a mouth guard and hopefully weight loss to control mine.
If you use a CPAP machine, you can sleep on your back. I trialled one, and once you get used to it, it's good!
Have you had a sleep study done?
I woke up feeling more refreshed and less times overnight.
Unfortunately my tinnitus didn't get any better so I figure sleep apnoea isn't the cause of my tinnitus....

Hey Samantha!!
thank you so much for your reply,
im sorry to hear that you suffer from sleep apnea too!
well it can be bothering i havent get the study but i have all the symptoms since 2014.
when i putted up some weight it returned so i think i need to loose 20 pounds to be honest.
i think this might be reason behind my T
but i also suspected lymes or something autoimmune, i hope im wrong thou

so CPAP has work for you??
thats great!! im gonna try to take care of my sleep apnea asap!
 
@Mario martz ,
Have you tried sleeping a little propped up with about 3-4 pillows ?
I dont have sleep apnia but suffer sever asthma and breathing at night is bad too and wake up with blue lips or out off puff ....lots of love glynis
 
"you just get used to it".

Yesterday I had the worst spike I've had in ages. Despite posting, and meaning it, that my tinnitus was 80% gone in like, Nov / Dec - I cried on my wife's lap as it felt like my inner ear was being stabbed. It's not due to external sounds. I don't have H. This pain can only be caused by my own brain.

This morning I woke up and I've been in silence since (roughly 8 hours now). I can only hear my T if I completely cover my ear canal with my thumbs. My 15 decibel earplugs do not block enough sound to hear it. I get this silence roughly every other day lately.

My ear still hurts from last night despite this silence.

Ya know what? I slept like a baby. Considering my extreme insomnia at onset, I find this amazing. If only 40-50% of my waking hours were as nice.
 
@Mario martz ,
Have you tried sleeping a little propped up with about 3-4 pillows ?
I dont have sleep apnia but suffer sever asthma and breathing at night is bad too and wake up with blue lips or out off puff ....lots of love glynis

awh glynis im sorry to hear about your breathing issues.
thats what im doing sleeping with 3 pillows, its going better!! thank you so much.
 

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