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Ring Ring I'm Here

Rintintin

Member
Author
Mar 4, 2016
23
East Coast
Tinnitus Since
Sept 2015
Cause of Tinnitus
Loud music and head injury
Hi, I'd like to introduce myself. I have had tinnitus generally since Sept 2015. I got it because I had PTSD and listened to music too loud. It was franco-canadien hip-hop. Very good music, but I had been going off the rails from stress and went for a hike with my headphones on. I was out for 5-6 hours and had the volume three-quarters up. I thought it would be okay but when I got home my ears were very sore. The next day I felt ringing in my right ear.

It was worse when I laid down on my back. Eventually, it went away but I could tell that I still had hearing sensitivity. Then, however, I had an accident and hit the back of my head. The next day, I drove to a taco place and in the taco place, they were blasting music. My tacos were there so I thought I would just eat quickly and leave... once I arrived at home, my tinnitus was quite loud. Then my brain started swelling from the concussion from hitting my head. There was a screaming in my ears. At night, fluid was coming out of my ears in my sleep. It was a clear fluid from the head injury.

Two months later, my tinnitus has improved. The first two or three weeks after the head injury in January were very dark, though - I had suicidal ideation and wondered if I wanted to live my life. A week ago, my tinnitus went away for a day. However, that night, I ran a blow dryer on my puppy after a bath. I had hearing protection on, but the T returned. Since then, it has gotten a bit worse and is at a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1-10. The wind really bothers my tinnitus. It has been really windy outside.

I'm 39 and halfway finished with my life. The next half of my life doesn't look encouraging. I always seem to choose a challenging path. Praying T will leave, but I have realized I will always need to be cautious. Bars and loud music are out even with hearing protection. I have a cocker spaniel puppy who is terrific and a non-barker - he is noise-sensitive, also. If you are looking for a quiet dog, a cocker spaniel that is well-bred may be your answer, it has worked for me.

Thank God I have my little fellow to keep me company. I have not tried bioflavenoids yet, but have started some other supplements. High potency Omega-3 fish oil, a multivitamin, Lemon Balm Force from New Chapter to manage the stress (highly recommended). I have had a lot of health problems from foot problems to sciatica to PTSD/depression to tinnitus, something always seems to be causing suffering. Taking walks in the woods gives me peace. I have been reading this site Tinnitustalk for a while but have yet to post. Sometimes this site is great and sometimes disturbing, I feel so bad for the people who are suffering tremendously - my heart goes out to you.

I would like to mention a couple things for people with very bad Hyperacusis - there are toilet seats that fall down quietly without making noise. Also, I think a pet is a great help. If you get a dog, you need a non-barker obviously and I think cocker spaniels are a good bet based on my experience with my dog and a former neighbor's dog. Or if you really can't stand an animal like that, maybe a pet snake like a python would be quiet and a good choice. Just a way to help beat the isolation if you've got something around that is living and breathing.

My life is fairly limited and there isn't much I want to do except take care of my pooch, go hiking and do some writing. It is hard to focus on reading books with the ringing in my ears. I will keep trying to make the adjustment, though. I hope that everyone on this group finds peace (and quiet!).

Best,

Rintintin
 
Hi, Rintinin, and welcome!

I'm so sorry to hear about your head injury, but glad to hear that your tinnitus has somewhat improved. Maybe the fact that your T went away for a day is a good sign that things will eventually improve even more.

Have you been checked by a doctor for your head injury? And have you had any sort of hearing test, to determine if you have hearing loss or other ear-related issues? Perhaps a doctor could suggest some things you could try, such as a short course of anti-depressants, to help you get through the worst days. For some people, hearing aids/maskers can help, too. Do you have soft background sounds that you can play in your environment? It helps not to be in a totally quiet environment, as I'm sure you've discovered.

I know what you mean about not being able to read books. When my T first started, it was impossible to concentrate on anything for very long, and reading was impossible. Now, however, I am able to read books again, and do most things I want to do. It does take time to adjust to this condition, and there are no hard and fast rules about how long it may take. But it can be done.

I agree that having a dog can be calming and therapeutic, and taking long walks can really help, too. Just getting outside and in nature can help take your mind off the tinnitus.

I'm sure other people will have additional suggestions for you. Your tinnitus is still fairly new, so things may improve for you over the next several months. Keep doing the things you're doing, and try to live your life as normally as possible. As your brain and body adjust to the tinnitus, you may find that you will be able to cope much better.

Best wishes,
Karen
 
Thanks Karen, I appreciate your kind response. Getting out in nature can help take my mind off of Tinnitus. I have not seen an ENT - just a nurse practitioner. She recommended a white noise machine and I purchased one, but did not like it as it seemed to make my Tinnitus worse once I turned it off.

My depression has pretty much subsided and what has helped a lot is the Lemon Balm Force as well as the exercise and the receding of my symptoms. That is why I would really recommend this product:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...+30+softgels&sprefix=lemon+balm+force,aps,199

Another trouble I have is that I am a loud snorer. My snoring actually hurts my T and I can wake up in the morning with it worse. It is encouraged to hear that you read books. Hopefully, I will get back to that in time. I am very hopeful that the supplements I am taking will make a big difference.

Best,

Rintintin
 
Good for you, @Rintintin! I'm glad to hear you're having good results from natural supplements. That's actually what I believe in, too. The doctors prescribed various types of antidepressant drugs for me when mine first started, but I resisted taking them because I didn't want any side effects. Natural supplements have really helped me, and I might consider taking that lemon balm that you recommended. Sounds good!

These days, the supplements I'm taking include magnesium chloride and NAC. Those have really helped me to cope. When my T first started, I took holy basil, pharma GABA, and reishi mushrooms, all of which were calming.

Yes, I never thought I would get back to reading books again, but time has proved me wrong (thank goodness!). Now, I'm in a book club, and I read on the average of 25 - 30 books a year, like I used to do. My T is still there (I have both hissing and pulsating tinnitus), but I've learned to ignore it as best I can.

Sorry you're having a problem with snoring, and I wonder if a sleep study could help you. Maybe that would help to determine the cause of the snoring (?), and suggest some things you could do to minimize it.

Take care, and I'm glad you've joined us here on Tinnitus Talk!

Karen
 
Karen,

Thanks, that is great to hear that you are interested in trying Lemon Balm Force. I think you would really like taking it. It is funny that you mentioned Holy Basil because I ordered it a couple of days ago to add to the mix - just took it for the first time a couple of minutes ago. I really like the brand New Chapter Organics.

I have some magnesium that I take occasionally, but am not yet a believer (plus, there are only so many supplements I can take). I have never heard of NAC before and will need to research that one. I would like to take Vitamin B's but have heard that cyanocobalamin could cause cancer. Any thoughts on that?

Funny you should mention the sleep test. I have sleep apnea but cannot tolerate a Cpap machine. I had a sleep test a couple of weeks ago but the doctor tried the cpap again when he should have been testing me for the bipap. I got very sick and almost passed out, so now I need to retake the test. Yikes.

You seem to really have a talent for reading. I have a talent for writing, but am a slow reader. However, I like dense material like 19th Century fiction and some of the American authors currently are at the top of the list. Henry James and Edith Wharton. The last book I read was Portrait of a Lady. Great book.

Thanks for welcoming me and for the supplement tips, I really appreciate it.

Rintintin
 

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