Reactive Tinnitus (or Whatever You Want to Call It)

[Raphael7713]

So as the months passes away I'm starting to get more grip of my situation. I've learnt that my "ordinary" tinnitus (which can only be heard in absolute quiet) don't bother me so much and I easily mask it away at nights. The thing that bothers me is when my reactive tinnitus kicks in, which creates a whissling sound when external sounds make contact with my ears (even if the sounds aren't loud at all). However, my reactive tinnitus always comes and goes and is never permanent (thank you God!).

So for the last 3 weeks I've lived a normal life (which I still do) but now all of a sudden my reactive tinnitus came back, which it tends to do from time to time. What is causing this?

I haven't been stressed lately, I haven't been exposed to loud noises. It's like a schedule almost, it goes away for weeks, come for a couple of days then disappears again. With it also comes this feeling of blocked ears/ear fullness.

 

[Raphael7713]

Bump.

 

[flobo]

I think @orbiter12 has something similar.

I too have reactive T but it never stopped yet in my 10 weeks of T.

I hope it will because it's hell.

 

[Raphael7713]

I looked on his started threads (not all) and don't find anything similar. Lets hope he replies.

 

[orbiter12]

I have literally the exact same thing you have described.

Hadn't heard the noise for close to 6 weeks but it came back after going to the gym even wearing earplugs.

Faded after 2-3 days. It will probably be back again in a few weeks.

To answer your questions, I don't know what causes it either. Mine comes and goes like yours and is triggered by noises like the fan, running water etc. Its a whistling in my left ear that is much louder than my regular T.

 

[Raphael7713]

I think @orbiter12 has something similar.

I too have reactive T but it never stopped yet in my 10 weeks of T.

I hope it will because it's hell.

My situation has been like this since january. Comes, goes...comes, goes...comes and goes......and comes......and goes away again.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful it's not permanent.....but this also leaves a lot of questions as to why it behaves in this way.

 

[DebInAustralia]

I suspect our reactive t is linked to h

 

[Lorac]

My deaf ear reacts to every sound my good ears hears and this has been happening since I lost my hearing four years ago. Every sound. I hate it but it doesn't surprise me or scare me anymore.
I think I would love to have some temporary relief, a week or a day without this reactiveness. Maybe that would make it harder to live with though. Mine does not come and go. What I have is expected and consistent.

 

[Raphael7713]

That's my point. Shouldn't it be consistent? The fact that it can go away for weeks should indicate something (or at least I think). If I actually damaged my hearing from loud noises I can't see why it should behave like this, it not logical....but then again why knows anything for sure about T.

 

[Raphael7713]

I suspect our reactive t is linked to h

It is...but why would my H leave me for weeks, come for days/weeks and leave again for weeks and follow this pattern since january?

 

[Raphael7713]

I have literally the exact same thing you have described.

Hadn't heard the noise for close to 6 weeks but it came back after going to the gym even wearing earplugs.

Faded after 2-3 days. It will probably be back again in a few weeks.

To answer your questions, I don't know what causes it either. Mine comes and goes like yours and is triggered by noises like the fan, running water etc. Its a whistling in my left ear that is much louder than my regular T.

To be honest, if this is it's pattern and this is how it will be for time to come, we should consider us lucky even if it can be pain in the ass. The fact that we actually can get weeks of relief and get bothered a couple of days is nothing. But Im just simply curious to why it behaves like this. There should be something we should avoid or not do. If it can go away for weeks it means something must bring it back. It's not like the T is saying "Alright lets start working again" from nowhere. It must be something there.

 

[orbiter12]

To be honest, if this is it's pattern and this is how it will be for time to come, we should consider us lucky even if it can be pain in the ass. The fact that we actually can get weeks of relief and get bothered a couple of days is nothing. But Im just simply curious to why it behaves like this. There should be something we should avoid or not do. If it can go away for weeks it means something must bring it back. It's not like the T is saying "Alright lets start working again" from nowhere. It must be something there.

it's only the reactive noise that comes and goes. the ringing, dentist drill and EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE are there all the time.

 

[Raphael7713]

it's only the reactive noise that comes and goes. the ringing, dentist drill and EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE are there all the time.

But is your ordinary T loud? Do you hear it only in silence?

 

[orbiter12]

But is your ordinary T loud? Do you hear it only in silence?

loud... hear it over everyday noise such as walking outside, over the TV etc

 

[DebInAustralia]

It is...but why would my H leave me for weeks, come for days/weeks and leave again for weeks and follow this pattern since january?

I cant answer that.

I can say that my h and reactive t has dramatically improved with time.

 

[Raphael7713]

I cant answer that.

I can say that my h and reactive t has dramatically improved with time.

Is it still constant with you, or does it come in phases?

 

[DebInAustralia]

my h has not gone completely but has improved dramatically

 

[Raphael7713]

Bumping up this thread.

I'm still confused about this whole reactive tinnitus stuff. Every possible sound, even the lowest, seems to result in me hearing this whissling background sound - except music. If I open my window a little it's enough for my reactive tinnitus to kick in. A car passing by, the slightest wind or tree movements. The positive thing is that when it's quiet, it's quiet, then i'm left with the "normal" T or the normal head noise which I've always had, but that is masked by everything.

Like I said, this comes and goes in phases so lets hope it disappears again. I'm still trying to figure out what brings it back.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Like I said, this comes and goes in phases so lets hope it disappears again. I'm still trying to figure out what brings it back.

You are new to tinnitus @Raphael7713 that was probably caused by noise trauma and therefore your sensitivity to sound. Continue using sound enrichment night and day as described in my articles: Tinnitus, A Personal View. Hyperacusis, As I see It. Reducing this sensitivity to sound and for your auditory system to recover takes time; many months in some cases. Keep with it and try to focus on the positive things in your life. I am not saying never to be negative. However, allowing negativity to become all consuming can make matters worse.

Michael

 

[3ri0w]

Bumping up this thread.

I'm still confused about this whole reactive tinnitus stuff. Every possible sound, even the lowest, seems to result in me hearing this whissling background sound - except music. If I open my window a little it's enough for my reactive tinnitus to kick in. A car passing by, the slightest wind or tree movements. The positive thing is that when it's quiet, it's quiet, then i'm left with the "normal" T or the normal head noise which I've always had, but that is masked by everything.

Like I said, this comes and goes in phases so lets hope it disappears again. I'm still trying to figure out what brings it back.

Yea it's soo annoying!!! No "piece of mind" for a second or two. I too wonder what makes it come and go.

 

[Raphael7713]

Yea it's soo annoying!!! No "piece of mind" for a second or two. I too wonder what makes it come and go.

Positive thing is that it can go away and always does. We need to find out what brings it back. How is ur situation exactly?

 

[3ri0w]

Positive thing is that it can go away and always does. We need to find out what brings it back. How is ur situation exactly?

It started in summer 2016..then got a lot worse in November (much louder and much more annoying)...then it rang for months..then disappeared, then returned.. then disappeared and returned on and on and on and on.

Now it has been gone for a month or so.

How is yours?

 

[Raphael7713]

It started in summer 2016..then got a lot worse in November (much louder and much more annoying)...then it rang for months..then disappeared, then returned.. then disappeared and returned on and on and on and on.

Now it has been gone for a month or so.

How is yours?

Since january mine has come and go maybe over 6-7 times. Comes for weeks or maybe a month, disappears for weeks or month and so on.
Im glad its gone. But now when ur reactive T is gone, do u have anything else? An "ordinary" T? Are u in peace?

 

[3ri0w]

Since january mine has come and go maybe over 6-7 times. Comes for weeks or maybe a month, disappears for weeks or month and so on.
Im glad its gone. But now when ur reactive T is gone, do u have anything else? An "ordinary" T? Are u in peace?

How long has it been away now Ye I got like 6 tones shizzling and whining away but I'm at peace ye!! They don't bother me (now atleast lol). Are you in Peace?

 

[Raphael7713]

How long has it been away now Ye I got like 6 tones shizzling and whining away but I'm at peace ye!! They don't bother me (now atleast lol). Are you in Peace?

It came back around the time I started this thread. So I hope it goes away again!

Im glad ur doing fine!

 

[Raphael7713]

I'm mostly in peace, but I got days when i get irritated about it. As soon as it disappears its like i never had it, i live exatly like i did before T. When I get it back (now when im used to it) its not that devestating, but irritating sometimes.

 

[3ri0w]

Exact same here "As soon as it disappears its like i never had it"

 

[BuzzyBee]

That's my point. Shouldn't it be consistent? The fact that it can go away for weeks should indicate something (or at least I think). If I actually damaged my hearing from loud noises I can't see why it should behave like this, it not logical....but then again why knows anything for sure about T.

This is my big question, too! If there are good days, it seems there should be a drug or therapy to replicate the good days (my T is lower in silence, too -- any noise, even the air conditioner, kicks it off). Louder the noise, louder the T.

 

[Raphael7713]

This is my big question, too! If there are good days, it seems there should be a drug or therapy to replicate the good days (my T is lower in silence, too -- any noise, even the air conditioner, kicks it off). Louder the noise, louder the T.

So yours also comes in phases? Well that should be a good sign. Really wondering what is causing this. Cause if it goes away it must mean something, and when it comes back it also needs to mean something. It cant be coincidense.

 

[flobo]

11 weeks on for me, and it still have not gone away.

I hope it will go away like yours though since it's the end of summer, it's starting to rain more, and rain make my reactive T scream :'( .