Pregnant with Worsening Tinnitus

[zombiechick]

Hi, I've had tinnitus for over three years now. When it first started it was unbearable. I started taking my clonazepam more and melatonin. It took a while, probably a year to where it was manageable. It never was loud enough that I couldn't watch tv or go about my daily life. At 30 weeks pregnant it free far worse. Incredibly worse. I find it hard to watch tv. Have a conversation or go to work. I'm desperately afraid I won't be able to take care of my baby because my tinnitus is eating me up. The doctor put me on zoloft and told me to take my clonazepam if I needed it. I feel so helpless and hopeless. I'm afraid I'll lose my job. My boyfriend has been amazing and holds me when I'm freaking out. He tries not to cry a lot. I don't know what to do anymore. Its never been this bad. I'm I'm almost 33 weeks pregnant and don't want to lose my life to this.

 

[Fangen]

@Natalie Roberts,

Maybe you can give some insight in this?

 

[Sound Wave]

My prediction is that when you give birth to your baby, your T will decrease A LOT due to a storm of all positive neurochemicals like oxytocin etc. This happened to me when we got our firstborn a year ago -> my T went to all time low for about a month.

 

[zombiechick]

@Sound Wave
I hope you're right. Some days this is down right debilitating, I can barely leave the house to go to work. My boyfriend is trying so hard to keep me positive. Its gotten so tough for him. I feel guilty. It makes me feel like I won't be able to take care of my son.

 

[Sound Wave]

@zombiechick is this your first child?

 

[zombiechick]

@Sound Wave yes. And this tinnitus getting worse has sucked all the joy out of my pregnancy.

 

[no life]

Me and my partner wonted to try for a baby this year, I struggle with T and the thought of making it worse is scary. so baby making is on hold

 

[zombiechick]

@no life I can understand but I have read some women say their tinnitus didn't go up

 

[glynis]

If your tinnitus gets problamatic then white noise generators or hearing aids might help through pregnancy and counseling and relaxation tecneques ..
Try not to get stressed but hormones can spike tinnitus during pregnancy but should settle down again.
Have a read up on Nattalies posts who has just been through this....lots of love glynis

 

[Natalie Roberts]

Hi there. I developed reactive tinnitus and I believe some hyperacusis as well out of the blue at 28 weeks pregnant. It was awful. I had panic attacks and was unable to alone. My dr wanted to put me on Zoloft but I really didn't want to take medication so I held off.. I started doing mindful meditation with the help of a trained therapist. My baby is now 8 weeks old and although my tinnitus is still there I am totally able to manage and deal with it. It did take time. My doctors have told me hormones in pregnancy can play a part in worsening tinnitus . Also, fluid retention can damage and change your ears from what I've been told. Anyway, the good news is after pregnancy there sis a good chance your tinnitus will return to a normal level. I was having such a hard time dealing with my tinnitus until I gave birth and then nothing else but my baby really mattered.

My tinnitus still gets on my nerves but I don't let it control my life anymore. I basically turn it out and go hours without thinking about it. I know you're super stressed out right now but try to take some deep breaths. Download a meditation app or seek someone local to help you. It makes a world of difference in your stress level and therefore your t volume. I'm here to talk if you need anything . There have been other members who also dealt with T while pregnant. Maybe they have some insight or you can follow up on their posts? @LovesToTeach and especially @ampumpkin

 

[zombiechick]

@glynis I've tried masking devices, it doesn't cover up the sound sometimes it seems to make the tinnitus louder. I turned it right below the ringing now but it's still hard to fall asleep. They put me on Zoloft and I'm supposed to meet with a therapist sometime next week. They were afraid that I was going to send myself into early labor with all the panic attacks. It has gotten easier to deal with but sometimes I still get anxious. My boyfriend stays up with me and helps me listen to The Sounds instead of my ringing and sometimes I take a Benadryl. Some days are easy and some days are downright unbearable. I can be in a crowded restaurant and here tons of people talking but I can still hear a bunch of ringing. Some days it's louder in the left or the right.

 

[zombiechick]

@Natalie Roberts It is a lot louder than it was 3 years ago and I am getting better each day at coping but if they hadn't put me on Zoloft, I would have lost it and probably ended up in the hospital with the baby. It's hard to focus on TV and sometimes it's even hard to just focus on a conversation or articulating myself. it took me awhile to even convince myself that I should stop being afraid to eat and I have to eat. My boyfriend has been great about cooking at home and making meals that are less likely to make my tinnitus flare up because even without worrying about my sodium intake, my tinnitus is still pretty damn loud. I want to be there for my baby and for my boyfriend because I can't be falling apart everyday Or afraid to leave the apartment.

 

[derpytia]

I've never been pregnant but from what I understand from a friend, pregnancy can raise your T temporarily because of all the hormones involved. It's kinda like with my menstrual cycle. The week before and week of, my T is always louder than normal because my hormones are all out of whack. But once it's over, it goes back to normal (although my T is certainly never normal lol).

 

[JohnnyMx]

I've read alot about T (most of us have read alot), and T yes does increase for alot of girls when pregnant, but returns to previous levels once they give birth.

I feel sympathy for all my T fellow, but I found really deep sadness when a mother or father with T is struggling to rise or take care of their children, because life should not be like that.

Some hope for you:

- Your loudness could DEFINITIVELY return to the previous level, it happens all the time with pregnant women that have already T, as long as I understand from what I've read.

- I also felt death and my life lost couple of years ago, my T is very loud, I can hear it clearly watching TV, with headphones, even inside of an airplane. I have 2 children, and I thought it was over, I was not gonna be able to take care of them. I was wrong. As an example, today, we have hollydays in my country, so we are just returning from a short trip to the beach. My T was all the time with me, but I was not with it, I was 100% having fun and taking care with my children.

- About work, once you have your feelings about your T under control (this is the key), you can work completely ok. I'm a software engineer, I need 100% concentration to work. I can work at the same rythm as before my T increased (I've had T since I was a child, but 3 years ago it just increased alot).

Remember, the problem about T, the biggest, is what we feel and thing about it.

I would literally give a kidney if that could make you enjoy your pregnancy, please do it, enjoy it. At first will be very hard, but if you try it, and you forget about your T as hard as you can, things will be ok, for sure.

The best for you and your family,
Johnny.

 

[Sara_Bond]

Just give you some warm comfort. I know it's hard. Hold on please for your baby, do hope for a better future, your man is supporting you, your baby is waiting for you. Hold on honey. Thinking about what you're going through, you're a strong woman. God bless you.

 

[zombiechick]

@JohnnyMx thank for that. My tinnitus ranges from mild to loud. Hearing it over the TV, most masking devices. I went out and got him stuff the other day and my father in law got us a car seat which is a huge relief. I'm happy but scared. I don't want this to get much louder, it's a constant fear of mine.

@Sara_Bond I keep that firmly in my mind everyday, it gets me out of bed and motivated. Thank you

 

[zombiechick]

@derpytia I used to notice a slight increase of ringing with my period. Nothing this strong but I hope it does return to its normal level. My ENT said it could take months but I'll take that.

 

[Marie79]

I might not be one to talk. I'm in the midst of the panic myself...

BUT I have had a baby and even though I didn't have T at that time I can tell you you only have 6-7 weeks left. You can do it. I've heard many women get this including a close conworker of mine when they were pregnant and it went away.

If you need to ask your ob if you can go on maternity leave early. You certainly have an added medical condition.

Hugs to you

 

[Natalie Roberts]

@Natalie Roberts It is a lot louder than it was 3 years ago and I am getting better each day at coping but if they hadn't put me on Zoloft, I would have lost it and probably ended up in the hospital with the baby. It's hard to focus on TV and sometimes it's even hard to just focus on a conversation or articulating myself. it took me awhile to even convince myself that I should stop being afraid to eat and I have to eat. My boyfriend has been great about cooking at home and making meals that are less likely to make my tinnitus flare up because even without worrying about my sodium intake, my tinnitus is still pretty damn loud. I want to be there for my baby and for my boyfriend because I can't be falling apart everyday Or afraid to leave the apartment.

I understand. I was at the breaking point and wanting to get on medication like Zoloft also. I didn't want to even think of caring for my two children or the baby in my belly. I starred doing mindful meditation and that helped me a great deal.. Once I delivered I guess I habituated a bit to my tinnitus. Although it's there it doesn't consume my every thought any longer.. You will be okay, given time. Try to think of your sweet baby. Once you see their face you won't care about anything else.

 

[zombiechick]

@Marie79 thank you. I'm trying to avoid going on leave early, it would be less time with my baby and less time to recover. I hope it goes back down. I have good days and really bad days. Sometimes I get worried when I have good days, wanting to make sure he's okay growing. My midwives have been extremely supportive. My Ent said my tubes were swollen. I go to a hearing doctor tomorrow.

 

[zombiechick]

@Natalie Roberts I think if I had waited, I would be in the the hospital. My T was fairly tolerable before pregnancy and became extremely reactive during my pregnancy. I couldn't stop shaking and I wasn't sleeping at all. Almost lost my job. I have to make myself work. Its gotten but easier but I'm still scared. I never even considered my T getting worse. Just figured. I had it and that was it. This has been quite a roller coaster. Now, I just want him to be healthy.

 

[Natalie Roberts]

@Natalie Roberts I think if I had waited, I would be in the the hospital. My T was fairly tolerable before pregnancy and became extremely reactive during my pregnancy. I couldn't stop shaking and I wasn't sleeping at all. Almost lost my job. I have to make myself work. Its gotten but easier but I'm still scared. I never even considered my T getting worse. Just figured. I had it and that was it. This has been quite a roller coaster. Now, I just want him to be healthy.

I understand what you mean. My tinnitus is also extremely reactive. It sounds like nails on a chalkboard often and drives me crazy. It's very frustrating. I don't blame you for taking the medicine. I was almost at that point myself but it has gotten better for me. Well, it hasn't gotten better but my reaction to it is better I suppose. Hang in there. I'm here if you want to talk.

 

[zombiechick]

@Natalie Roberts it didn't go down after your baby was born? I've heard it can take time. And I appreciate the offer of friendship. I'll definitely reach out to you.