People With Tinnitus at a Young Age

[geg1992]

Shouldn't have read that thread asking if people get worse over time.

I've had a recent spike just 3 months after I got T through noise exposure which scares me, and every so often, like once every 2 nights, my ear gets so loud it almost paralyses me, but only for about 20 minutes - 1 hour. I'm scared T will get this loud permanently why is it doing this

For young people, from what I've read; it seems like it's just going to keep getting worse and worse until I can't cope any more I can't bare the thought of that especially as it's got worse already.

I just feel so rubbish as it feels like I won't be able to grow old with my girlfriend and with kids etc and I don't know its just really getting me down.

 

[Nick the Swede]

Stop reading the bad stories, there a lot of them.Try to focus on the things that are good in your life that you still can do. Get out on a long walk or even better run and you will be feeling better.

 

[Kopesy]

I'm exactly in the same boat as you dude. I'm constantly getting spikes & my hearing seems to be getting worse & worse

My girlfriend & me have grown so distant since this all began & I was so close to losing her a couple of nights ago.

What I'm saying is don't let it control your life no matter how bad it gets. We're young & therefore have much more time to wait for a cure, what with the recent development & awareness, I'm sure it's coming soon

Let people in, don't push them away no matter how hard it gets

 

[Telis]

Sounds like you are worrying too much. Take it a day at a time. We aren't promissed tomorrow anyway, just think about having a decent day today and try the best you can to work around your current situation. Deal with one thing at a time rather than freaking out about things that haven't even happened.

I do understand your concern, I'm not as young as you but im not old either. Keep things in the moment, you have enough on your plate with your current T situation, you don't need to add to it. And if your T situation is more driven by fear than actual T, you can get phycological help for that.

 

[Mark Beehre]

Hey Geg,

I've had a relapse and been having a series of quiet days followed by loud days. No particular pattern and no particular control. 5 months on things are getting better. Yep, still got it, just don't notice it as much. A lot changes when your reaction stops. Eventually habituation takes hold and you forget you even have it for long periods of time. Don't let it get you down, but do give it time.

 

[Marcini]

Shouldn't have read that thread asking if people get worse over time.

This forum can drag you down quicker than it can pick you up. My advice is to get the information that you need from it and try to move on slowly by leaving negative places like this behind. Life isn't perfect but you have to try to spin it as positively as you can and the despair that lives on these forums just goes on to breed more despair in others.

 

[MattK]

I agree with @Telis, you're worrying way too much.

For all you know, your tinnitus could get better or go away. Both of those things have happened to people too. Or there could be a real cure in the next couple of years.

But also keep in mind that the future is uncertain for everyone, not just tinnitus sufferers. I know a guy who just had a freak accident at work and is now paralyzed from the waist down. I know someone who got cancer, went through chemo, and has tinnitus because of it. Basically, if you try to think of things to worry about it, you are going to find it. Because, well, this fallen world we live in can really suck sometimes.

 

[RB2014]

I dont really think it gets worst over time unless you or someone does something to make it worst. Mine has really been pretty consistent for 25 years or until recently when I had a lot of stress/anxiety in my life. My hearing has also been dropping slowly during this time. Once this is all over I'm pretty sure I will be back to the same level I was at 4 months ago where I could barely notice it.
From what you have posted I'm pretty sure the same thing will happen to you. I can tell you if you start thinking its not going to get better, then its just going to extend the amount of time you are suffering. For me thinking positively is bringing me better days than when when I start thinking negatively, which just adds more days and volume to my T

 

[I who love music]

There are people here who think they know all about tinnitus, will show you numbers, tell you stories, etc....
That's a downer. And they don't know.
Like the people who say, "Live your life, go to the concert." Good god, this is an ear disease and they actually are recommending subjecting the afflicted organ to the very thing that causes the disease. But that's the internet for you.
After 40 years of T, I recommend that you use your common sense. That's always been my motto.

 

[RB2014]

I who love music,
Your threads were incredibly helpful to me when my tinnitus got worst back in december and I started reading anything and everything I could to figure out what was happening to me. A heart felt thanks are in order. I'm hoping you are enjoying being back in the silence and I look forward to joining you there soon.

 

[Sean]

I who love music,
Your threads were incredibly helpful to me when my tinnitus got worst back in december and I started reading anything and everything I could to figure out what was happening to me. A heart felt thanks are in order. I'm hoping you are enjoying being back in the silence and I look forward to joining you there soon.

RB2014..how did u get tinnitus ?

 

[kmohoruk]

It sounds like you're focusing on many of the bad stories that are out on the internet. The good news? There's MANY people out in the world that have T and are living their lives up to the fullest.

Before I (I've had T since the age of 15) did something and caused my own sort of self inflicted spike (it's a long story and doesn't really matter in this situation), I was living an absolutely normal life. I was going to school, going to bars, dating etc.... So it is important to remember that you can live a normal life even with T (You just to be to be careful in certain situations)

I wanted to pass along this photo.... I used to be a photographer, and started the idea of printing off photos from my life and put them on my wall as a reminder of all the great times that I've had in my life (For those bad days). 95% of these photos I've taken since I got my T when I was 15.

I won't lie, I still have my bad ear days too. But these days now I am mostly having more "Good Ear days", compared to "Bad ear days"

 

[geg1992]

Thank you for all of your help and input, it's much appreciated.

Although my T is still loud, and my H still bad, I've had a much better day today!

I think anxiety plays a huge part, and reading your comments has helped to calm me down, so I thank you.

 

[geg1992]

It sounds like you're focusing on many of the bad stories that are out on the internet. The good news? There's MANY people out in the world that have T and are living their lives up to the fullest.

Before I (I've had T since the age of 15) did something and caused my own sort of self inflicted spike (it's a long story and doesn't really matter in this situation), I was living an absolutely normal life. I was going to school, going to bars, dating etc.... So it is important to remember that you can live a normal life even with T (You just to be to be careful in certain situations)

I wanted to pass along this photo.... I used to be a photographer, and started the idea of printing off photos from my life and put them on my wall as a reminder of all the great times that I've had in my life (For those bad days). 95% of these photos I've taken since I got my T when I was 15.

I won't lie, I still have my bad ear days too. But these days now I am mostly having more "Good Ear days", compared to "Bad ear days"

View attachment 5294

That's a fantastic idea! Thanks. I'm going to try and live normal, just be careful pretty much. Clubbing is a waste of money anyway and gigs I will miss, but it's not worth it! At the end of the day, it's a noise, we can get through this!

 

[kmohoruk]

That's a fantastic idea! Thanks. I'm going to try and live normal, just be careful pretty much. Clubbing is a waste of money anyway and gigs I will miss, but it's not worth it! At the end of the day, it's a noise, we can get through this!

Yea thats a good way of looking at it. Like for me, I did go to about 8 concerts after I got my T and I wore silicon ear plugs and was fine. I also worked at a more mellow Apple store for about two years and was fine.

For me, I'm not a big clubber (Everyone's all fake anyways ) and now I'm not really a big concert goer. Like you said (at least for me) it's just not really worth it anymore. The money, the crowds, the loud noise - meh I got lots of other stuff that I want to do like photography, hiking, kayaking etc...

Just going forward try and just be smart about it and use hearing protection when needed.

My T fluctuates on a daily basis depending on many things (Tense shoulders, TMJ, driving long distances, caffeine, tiredness etc...) so sometimes you just have to recognize that this is a more louder day, but there will be more quieter days to come

But I totally sympathize with your situation because I was (and am currently going through a bit of a bump in the road right now) in your situation at a very young age as well. Time really does help - just try and take everything one step at a time.

 

[geg1992]

Yea thats a good way of looking at it. Like for me, I did go to about 8 concerts after I got my T and I wore silicon ear plugs and was fine. I also worked at a more mellow Apple store for about two years and was fine.

For me, I'm not a big clubber (Everyone's all fake anyways ) and now I'm not really a big concert goer. Like you said (at least for me) it's just not really worth it anymore. The money, the crowds, the loud noise - meh I got lots of other stuff that I want to do like photography, hiking, kayaking etc...

Just going forward try and just be smart about it and use hearing protection when needed.

My T fluctuates on a daily basis depending on many things (Tense shoulders, TMJ, driving long distances, caffeine, tiredness etc...) so sometimes you just have to recognize that this is a more louder day, but there will be more quieter days to come

But I totally sympathize with your situation because I was (and am currently going through a bit of a bump in the road right now) in your situation at a very young age as well. Time really does help - just try and take everything one step at a time.

Oh really? Proves you can still have a life then. Perhaps I'll go to a couple of gigs, I doubt it though! I agree about the clubbing aspect, everyone is just fake and desperate. I've met someone I want to spend the rest of my life with so I don't care about that stuff!

With Kayaking, if you fall out, doesn't your ear splash against the water? The only reason I ask is because I'm off to Disney World later on and the water parks are my favourite! I'm wondering if splashing your ear against the water will cause T to get worse?

Yeah true, thanks for the advice!

 

[RB2014]

Sean, I've had T most of my life, but it was 6 months of stress that made it bad. I'm slowly recovering with more good days than bad, but it has not been easy.

Yeah, if you know you have T or are prone to get it stay away from any loud events. They will only make it worst. I have learned a lot the past couple months and loud events are just not worth the consequences. I don't want to live the rest of my life with loud T if I can control it

 

[Kane Moffat]

I'm a 19 year old student with Drug-induced tinnitus. I've had Tinnitus for 6 months now and it has been a massive challenge. It was 2 months into my tinnitus that I was told it was a chronic condition, from that point I fell into a spiral of depression and anxiety. Went through all the similar stages: fear of loud noises, feelings of despair.

The major issue for me was that my lifestyle and my entire life that went with it was no longer possible. I clubbed prolifically in my first year of university so I basically designed my life around that activity, all my relationships centered around it, So it was devastating to find out I couldn't do it anymore.

So I did the sensible thing: I stopped going out to loud environments and plugged up wherever I heard a loud noise.

But it was miserable. I did not want to live a lifestyle where I couldn't go out, chat to beautiful women, have fun with my freinds and live the student life. The alternative was just too depressing.

My resolution is to live life again. I still go clubbing and this is how I do it:

• Before clubbing I take magnesium, NAC and vitamin supplements (this is to protect the hair cells in the ear)
• I limit my alcohol consumption to a few units as it thins the blood and makes it harder for oxygen to get to the hair cells
• Use custom fit full blocking/23db attenuating ear plugs in bars or places where the volume isn't so high you can still talk to people.
• In the club I wear 33db foam ear plugs (They must be fit correctly, if they are not then they are providing no protection and you will receive damage as a result, I had been using ear plugs wrong for a while)
• Take frequent break, half an hour IN 15 mins OUT, repeat until exposure is 1 and a half hours.
• You will have a spike the next morning and this can last up to two days, do not test your ears or measure for an increase as you will become stressed.
• For the next 5 days you should take supplements to protect the ears, magnesium, NAC as this is when the hair cells will decide to die or survive.
• The next time it will be safe to club will be two weeks after your spike as any damage by then will be permanent but before that time noise exposure can make the damage worse.
• Finally, accept that if you do this there is a risk, hearing damage is cumulative so although you don't feel an increase to your tinnitus after following these guidelines you may still be making it worse. Everyone is different it's your decision to make.

I don't beleive I'm being irresponsible here as I'm doing this a safely as possible and I'm not doing it nearly as much as I did before. Concerts are also a no go for me- 120db concert is a different beast from a 100db club.

I see it this way, there will be an effective treatment in 10 years and a cure in 20 years. I need to be able to 'go out' for the next 5 years as this is how I will socialise, find a relationship etc. After 25 the need to go into loud environments is much less important and the desire to do so won't be high so if my Tinnitus is worse between 25 and 30 I'll take that over crushing depression and not getting to live life.

Stay safe, be smart, weigh up the cost and benefits.

 

[Carlos]

Hi, Im Carlos. Im 25, I live in Los Angeles and am a student at CSULB. Im in a fraternity and its hard sometimes to be honest with my friends about how I feel or that I even have hearing loss because I dont want to scare them. I can relate to all of your stories, I first got tinnitus at 18, and have been struggling with it since. I'd like to be friends with other people that are also going through the journey of t. My full name is Carlos Andrei Chavarin if you'd like to be friends on facebook and keep contact.