Ready to Give Up... Reactive Tinnitus Killing Me

[Michellejean]

Can anyone offer me hope about reactive tinnitus?

I've had it almost 10 months now and I'm exhausted. If it weren't for my daughter I'd be dead now.

 

[robHing]

Michelle,

I can feel your pain and suffering !
I also have reactive tinnitus (T + H).
It will get worse easily.

Please stay away from possible loud noise
... protecting your ears well.
You will be fine.

Please hang in there. God bless !!

 

[Michellejean]

@robHing how do you cope? Did you get your tinnitus in March? I did also.

 

[Jack Straw]

Can you describe your reactive tinnitus?

 

[TLion]

Michelle, don't give up. Been following your progress for a while now. I experienced a worsening of my pre existing Tinnitus in April. It is very very high pitched since then. It's also reactive but not as reactive as it was in the beginning. I have good and bad days but the total panic from the first 3 months is more or less gone. When I have bad days I tend to think nothing has changed but it did. For the better. The reactivity is better. The feeling of cramped ears is gone over the months. The clicking and hyperacusis are also much better.
I have for kids and I can stand much better bring around them when they are loud. That was very difficult in the first few months. Very very very slowly things start to improve. I'm still anxious and have bad days with dark thoughts (like today) but I try to push through.
Michelle, you have a lovely daughter and a partner who need you. Please stay strong and take care.
All the best!

 

[Michellejean]

@Jack Straw it's a very high pitched sssssss sound as if jumper cables were hooked up to both ears. It appears when I drive my car, put on white noise, refrigerator, walking outside which kills me because I can't even enjoy being outside.

I have in my left ear an intermittent high pitch static and faint whistle constantly and in my right ear the sound of an Xbox running, a high pitched whistle and what sounds like an alarm clock going ringing 100 times faster than normal. It's like a flicker.

 

[fishbone]

Re-active tinnitus has a lot to do with stress and our perception of noise and if it can hurt our ears or not. The stress of the noise, is just as bad as the noise it self or it can be. My tinnitus is loud enough and I feel like its a spike everyday. There are times when my mind may run wild and I may start having worries about certain areas and noises, it doesn't happen too much but it can at times. 9 months out from having tinnitus is a short time.

Of course loud noise can bother us as well, and I would always protect the ears against loud noises/scenes.

It probably took me 2 years to fully get a grip and understand what I was facing. There were no TT 30 years ago. You need to keep that mind healthy. I did this by seeking support and talking to people. Forums are great, but it will never compare to an actual conversation with someone.

I use to be a pretty social guy, before my tinnitus became intrusive. I cannot and will not let tinnitus cage me up and limit my life. Yes, I do take precautions and protect my ears, but I still live my life. I go to one of my lady friend's houses on the weekend and we usually sing karaoke together.

I do have my ear plug in my bad ear. When they start singing loud I plug up the other ear. I do have to take my ear plug at times to have conversations. I do get a bit of a spike after I leave and that spike lasts me about 1-2 days. I am by no means suggesting for people to sing and do karaoke.

All I am saying is that our tinnitus can possibly re-act when our mind re-acts. Our mind is saying to us 'is this noise going to hurt my ears?' "will I be ok If i am going to this place or that place." This can be a good thing, but at times it can also overprotect us and make things worst. The less the mind is re-active the better we can feel with or without tinnitus.

Hope you feel better

 

[Michellejean]

@TLion how do you do it? I'm on the brink of tears constantly. I think about suicide daily but then I see my beautiful daughter and couldn't imagine leaving her without a mom. How do I live my life this way? I'm sorry you're suffering too.

 

[robHing]

Michelle,

My ears will react to certain sharp noises and spike easily.
I have good days and bad days. Sometimes, it is very loud.
I try not to pay too much attention to it ( not too easy though ).
It usually will lower down after a good night sleep.
I do not think too much about future.
I live it day by day under His grace.

 

[TLion]

@TLion how do you do it? I'm on the brink of tears constantly. I think about suicide daily but then I see my beautiful daughter and couldn't imagine leaving her without a mom. How do I live my life this way? I'm sorry you're suffering too.

I trust in God. Sounds weird but I think it's the only way to go. I have four kids which are four little wonders, I am not their father by accident. There must be a life livable beyond this Tinnitus stuff...

 

[TLion]

This helps me a lot. Does this mask your T?
I listen to this very often during the day.
Is sleep still a problem, Michelle?

 

[Bam]

@TLion how do you do it? I'm on the brink of tears constantly. I think about suicide daily but then I see my beautiful daughter and couldn't imagine leaving her without a mom. How do I live my life this way? I'm sorry you're suffering too.

It's truly abhorrent that you've been left in this state Michelle. I have no positives to give you, just to say I feel your pain and fully understand. Every single day for me is the same as you, a nightmare of being torn between life and death. Torture or suicide.

I have no prayers left but I hope for a miracle for all of us trapped in this nightmare state.

If only our voice was united and clear about how wretched this condition is and how much we desperately need help ASAP before more lives are lost.

 

[Wolfears]

Just like @Bam, I have no useful advice to give you... but I also understand what kind of hell you are going through.

I only encourage that you do speak out about this horrid condition to anyone who listens... this is one way to get the message out.

We need a cure or at least an effective treatment...
Too many people are being tortured to death by tinnitus as we speak.

 

[Michellejean]

@TLion thank you for sharing the sound video with me. That shhhsshhhh sound is exactly what my reactive tinnitus sounds like. I hate it. Unfortunately these videos make my tinnitus worse temporarily as do regular sounds.

I tried putting my faith in god but how could God allow this to happen to me. I'm on the verge of losing myself daily and my little girl needs me. I fear she won't be able to grow up with a mom.

Are you habituated? Is it possible to habituate to reactive tinnitus?

 

[Contrast]

why do people want to habituate?, why not ask for biomedical research to advance in the field of otology and neuro-otology. that's how we are going to see real help

 

[RobertFahey]

Michelle, I've had the same sounds you're describing since 2011. Do you notice it's more intense after you wake up from a nap, or wake in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom?

 

[Alue]

why do people want to habituate?, why not ask for biomedical research to advance in the field of otology and neuro-otology. that's how we are going to see real help

Because until that happens it's all we have. And it takes 10+ years for most medical treatments to go through clinical trials before being approved for the public. So even if a breakthrough were made today, it would be a long time before everyone is able to benefit from it.

 

[Contrast]

Because until that happens it's all we have. And it takes 10+ years for most medical treatments to go through clinical trials before being approved for the public. So even if a breakthrough were made today, it would be a long time before everyone is able to benefit from it.

there already are medicines to treat hearing loss, and one of them is in the clinic. Susan SHore's device and neuromod is very promising.

10 years tops for something

 

[Contrast]

people are already aware of the FDA's bullshit, once we can get the veterans community involved, it will be a piece of cake to get drugs on the market. Fight the habituation shilling with valor!

seriously the US Government knows veterans commit suicide because of tinnitus all the time and wants to do something about it.

 

[3ri0w]

Ye had the kinda "whistling along" kinda tinnitus from October 2016 to Summer 2017. Then it stopped, just gone. So hang in there

 

[another sean]

I've had severe reactive tinnitus for the last 3 years and I can tel you it does get better but only if you protect your hearing and not make your tinnitus worse. For example it took a year for me to be able stand next to a refrigerator without it spiking my T anymore. I can handle more more things with each passing year. Its slow af but it does get better. Just don't make it worse in that time.

 

[RCP1]

I've had severe reactive tinnitus for the last 3 years and I can tel you it does get better but only if you protect your hearing and not make your tinnitus worse. For example it took a year for me to be able stand next to a refrigerator without it spiking my T anymore. I can handle more more things with each passing year. Its slow af but it does get better. Just don't make it worse in that time.

I have R T also. How do you plan on going to thee dentist? This is a conundrum I havent been able to solve

 

[Bam]

seriously the US Government knows veterans commit suicide because of tinnitus all the time and wants to do something about it.

Some speak out and are honest enough to say that T is the very worst of their injuries.
But sadly a lot of these veterans are shamed in to 'silently' suffering from T because they don't want to appear weak and brought to their knees by a 'little ear ringing' when apparently millions of civilians are living happily with it.

 

[Ed209]

why do people want to habituate?, why not ask for biomedical research to advance in the field of otology and neuro-otology. that's how we are going to see real help

Why not try and do both?

 

[Ed209]

Can anyone offer me hope about reactive tinnitus?

I've had it almost 10 months now and I'm exhausted. If it weren't for my daughter I'd be dead now.

Michelle, I've found reactive tinnitus can have a strong emotional/reactional link. Maybe not for everyone, but for me, I had the worst reactiveness when I was freaking out. Give it more time as 10 months is still very early days.

 

[Ed209]

Because until that happens it's all we have. And it takes 10+ years for most medical treatments to go through clinical trials before being approved for the public. So even if a breakthrough were made today, it would be a long time before everyone is able to benefit from it.

Exactly this. If you don't attempt to habituate then you will certainly live in hell. It's all we have and that's all there is.

We should fight for better treatments and a cure, but at the same time you need to look after your own sanity so you can live for today.

 

[TLion]

Exactly this. If you don't attempt to habituate then you will certainly live in hell. It's all we have and that's all there is.

We should fight for better treatments and a cure, but at the same time you need to look after your own sanity so you can live for today.

Yes, there is no reason to dwell in sadness or fear. Of course, a real treatment would be nice. BUT I was habituated before my recent spike and I know that I often thought about what I would do if there was a cure. And I came to the conclusion that in my previous state of habituation I wouldn't have taken the cure. If you habituate FULLY Tinnitus simply isn't a problem anymore.
This takes time and is a fragile state so of course we desperately NEED a cure. But habituation isn't just a lie, a phrase, it works. Even if it is no substitute to a real cure.

 

[Jazzer]

Some speak out and are honest enough to say that T is the very worst of their injuries.
But sadly a lot of these veterans are shamed in to 'silently' suffering from T because they don't want to appear weak and brought to their knees by a 'little ear ringing' when apparently millions of civilians are living happily with it.

I couldn't agree more Bam.
Just about the most disrespectful comment that one member can level at another, is that they are being 'negative.' "NEGATIVE !!"

"What The F*** Is That Supposed To Mean??"

When any person is struggling like mad to find any way possible to cope with this bastard thing, and is courageous enough to admit to themselves the severity of what is happening inside their own head, and to mention this to others, in the hope of finding some support, they should bloodywell be celebrated, not accused of negativity, FFS!

Far from being negative - it is the most positive route they can possibly take.
In fact, I would say, the only way.

We have to confront this reality, or go mad attempting to pretend otherwise, which will always be futile.

For myself - I know exactly what I have got.
I have to accept my predicament.
I do.
I have no choice, have I.
I will constantly seek the best accommodation to it, cultivate my relaxation methods, and hopefully preserve my (irreverent) sense of humour, and my (so far) indomitable cheerfulness.

 

[TLion]

I couldn't agree more Bam.
Just about the most disrespectful comment that one member can level at another, is that they are being 'negative.' "NEGATIVE !!"

"What The F*** Is That Supposed To Mean??"

When any person is struggling like mad to find any way possible to cope with this bastard thing, and is courageous enough to admit to themselves the severity of what is happening inside their own head, and to mention this to others, in the hope of finding some support, they should bloodywell be celebrated, not accused of negativity, FFS!

Far from being negative - it is the most positive route they can possibly take.
In fact, I would say, the only way.

We have to confront this reality, or go mad attempting to pretend otherwise, which will always be futile.

For myself - I know exactly what I have got.
I have to accept my predicament.
I do.
I have no choice, have I.
I will constantly seek the best accommodation to it, cultivate my relaxation methods, and hopefully preserve my (irreverent) sense of humour, and my (so far) indomitable cheerfulness.

I would never blame someone with this condition to be negative. But the problem is that we have to move on. So it is needed to find the way this can be done. And if there is a user in desperation it is essential to show ways to move on and not just stay at "yes, this is so awful". It surely is awful but we NEED to move on. And things don't necessarily stay the same. In fact it is more likely they will change for the better with time.

 

[Jazzer]

I would never blame someone with this condition to be negative.

Admitting to extreme severity is not being negative.