Ringing in the New Year... God I Hope Not

[Bigbipper]

Hello forum,
My name is Richard. 40 year old male who just developed Tinnitus out of nowhere 3 weeks ago. Not brought on by noise-trauma or anything like that.

I am already at a loss on how to cope with this. ENT has already cleared me. Hearing test were fine. Nothing physical obvious on exams.

I have high blood pressure and Anxiety and sleep apnea.

In 3 weeks I have started just about every home remedy I have read about.

I am ready to run a pool cue through my head. Is this a life sentence? Is there any hope?


Wishing you all peace.

I believe John Lennon must have been singing about Tinnitus when he said,
"You say I'm putting you on but it's no joke; it's doing me harm.
You know I can't sleep; I can't stop my brain.
You know it's 3 weeks...IM GOING INSANE!!!
You know I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind!"

 

[MichaelDC]

Hello Richard-

I'm sorry you've joined us here, but I'm glad you've reached out. I'm very new to T (everyone here just calls it 'T' and doesn't write out 'Tinnitus') myself and I'm just learning how to cope with it too.

First: Don't panic, and don't despair. I know that's really easy for me to type, but it's where you've got to start.

I just came down with T a little over a month ago under pretty much the same circumstances as you: no identifiable hearing trauma, some minor hearing loss (probably age related) and no real explanation for how or why this has occurred.

I'm 44, have high blood pressure I control pretty well with meds, and I have sleep apnea too which I use a CPAP for. I'm pretty sure I had anxiety before this occurred, but I definitely have it now, so we're in the same boat there too.

The best and most immediate advice I can give you regarding the forum is that you'll quickly find out that you are not alone by any means and that there are lots of people here with a great deal of experience and knowledge to share. Starting in the Introduce Yourself section is great start. Read some of the success stories in that forum too, you'll find some much needed inspiration there. The stories of how some people have managed their T are epic.

Unfortunately, there are no home remedies or quick fixes that work. There's a great deal of snake oil out there and people willing to sell it to you. Sorry.

The best advice to escape it that I can give you in the meantime is learn to use white noise to mask the sound. I have a couple of noise generators around the house humming away at night and I have started sleeping with a pair of headphones designed to wear in bed so you can roll over on them without being awkward.

I don't sell these things, so I'm not trying to make a profit off of them. Here's an example of them on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/AcousticSheep...449544614&sr=8-4&keywords=sleeping+headphones

Like I said, I have sleep apnea and also wear a full face CPAP respirator when I sleep. However, it's no problem for me. The earphones are quite comfortable. I stream white noise sounds like rain and ocean sounds and, Thank God, it masks the sound enough for me to sleep.

Sleep is vital more than ever to you now. Dedicate yourself to getting as much as you can whatever it takes.

I haven't experimented with any supplements or anything else yet, but there are a lot of people out here who have and could give you some advice.

I wish I could tell you that this will pass, and maybe for you it will. I guess it's happened in the past.

However, in the meantime learning to cope is something you'll have to do, sometimes one day at a time. I'm sorry.

I don't know why this has happened to us and I don't know how long it will last. However, you're not along out here.

I hope you get some comfort from the forum and I'll be around to share what very little knowledge and advice I acquire.

We're going to go through this and we'll make it.

-Michael

 

[James]

Hello @Bigbipper
Thanks for bring up John Lennon around the holidays. Got to listen to some Beatles music this season.
When I was 40 I believe I was into his music. He died at 40. Those words sure seem to fit having T.
I wish you peace too. Let's hope next year will be great for everybody, especially us T people.

 

[billie48]

I have high blood pressure and Anxiety and sleep apnea.

Welcome to TT. As Michael puts it, you are never alone here at TT. We have been where you are and totally understand what you are going through. Yes, I also happen to have high blood pressure, anxiety/panic disorder and sleep apnea too. I have been wearing CPAP machines for over 25 years. So we have lots in common. LOL.

A few years back, my ultra high pitch dog whistle T plus severe hyperacusis (H) just turned me into a mess. Relentless anxiety and panic attacks also ruled the day and night. I had a 'hell' of a life back then and I never thought I could survive them nor would have my good life back. But never say never. Nowadays I live a normal and absolutely enjoyable life. My body is hardened to the T scream and I don't give a dime to T high or low. I never thought I could face up to this horrible T shrill but I am doing just that after some passage of time, and after switching to a more positive approach. I wrote my success story and listed many important points helping me turn around. If you have the time, check it out, and do check out the most read success story too by IWLM called 'Back to Silence'. Take good care and God bless.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...w-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/back-to-silence.7172/

 

[Bigbipper]

Thank you so much, Gentlemen for your replies. I can't tell you how much appreciate your time and your tale's of T. Especially the road to recovery or reinventing. I am scared to death this is a death sentence as I continue to run to open doors that keep slamming shut on me. I have to assume this is a natural reaction?

Never say never...I have to keep that in front of me.

 

[Bigbipper]

Hello @Bigbipper
Thanks for bring up John Lennon around the holidays. Got to listen to some Beatles music this season.
When I was 40 I believe I was into his music. He died at 40. Those words sure seem to fit having T.
I wish you peace too. Let's hope next year will be great for everybody, especially us T people.

John is now gone 35 years today. Such a tragic loss.

 

[Bigbipper]

Welcome to TT. As Michael puts it, you are never alone here at TT. We have been where you are and totally understand what you are going through. Yes, I also happen to have high blood pressure, anxiety/panic disorder and sleep apnea too. I have been wearing CPAP machines for over 25 years. So we have lots in common. LOL.

A few years back, my ultra high pitch dog whistle T plus severe hyperacusis (H) just turned me into a mess. Relentless anxiety and panic attacks also ruled the day and night. I had a 'hell' of a life back then and I never thought I could survive them nor would have my good life back. But never say never. Nowadays I live a normal and absolutely enjoyable life. My body is hardened to the T scream and I don't give a dime to T high or low. I never thought I could face up to this horrible T shrill but I am doing just that after some passage of time, and after switching to a more positive approach. I wrote my success story and listed many important points helping me turn around. If you have the time, check it out, and do check out the most read success story too by IWLM called 'Back to Silence'. Take good care and God bless.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...w-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/back-to-silence.7172/

Thank you, @billie48. I just read your post of positive reinforcement and I am blown away by your resolve. You loss of a child brought me to a stand still as I have 4 of my own. Ages 17, 10, 9, and 6. Even if I recover, even if this is only a moment I am stuck in, I will never forget your post as I feel it applies to everything we do in life.

 

[joseph Ghass]

The combination oh high blood pressure and anxiety can cause T.

I would start by getting into a nutrition protocol to regulate BP without meds and develop new stress management , lifestyle changes to lower anxiety.

that would help in fading your T.

take this opportunity to make a shift in ur life.

 

[Bigbipper]

The combination oh high blood pressure and anxiety can cause T.

I would start by getting into a nutrition protocol to regulate BP without meds and develop new stress management , lifestyle changes to lower anxiety.

that would help in fading your T.

take this opportunity to make a shift in ur life.

Thank you, @joseph Ghass . This past year has been filled with the most anxiety I have ever had. Constant Health anxiety. Countless visits to doctors for the slightest twinge or ache. From pancreatic cancer to ALS to Parkinson's. You name it, I thought I had it. I am constantly googling symptoms. And now ALL I do is research T. My life is very stressful and I am high strung as it is.

I started to take my BP once I noticed the T was full time. This was about 3 weeks ago. I was averaging around 145/95.
But the Anxiety and agitation are through the roof. It is one hot mess.

 

[joseph Ghass]

I can feel your pain man.

But you need to start with something.

I highly suggest starting a ketogenic diet with intermittent fasting.

This will regulate your BP and improve your mood.

 

[Bigbipper]

I can feel your pain man.

But you need to start with something.

I highly suggest starting a ketogenic diet with intermittent fasting.

This will regulate your BP and improve your mood.

You are right, @joseph Ghass. I have a wife and 4 young kids and I am ready to "check out". I have to try something. I should also mention that I have GERD.

 

[Natalie Roberts]

Thank you so much, Gentlemen for your replies. I can't tell you how much appreciate your time and your tale's of T. Especially the road to recovery or reinventing. I am scared to death this is a death sentence as I continue to run to open doors that keep slamming shut on me. I have to assume this is a natural reaction?

Never say never...I have to keep that in front of me.

You are not alone! I am only 31 and got T out of the blue about 7 weeks ago. They said mine may be pregnancy related or possibly due to mild hearing loss. It is certainly scary at first. For the first several weeks I suffered chronic anxiety, panic attacks and fell into depression as I am pregnant they can't give me any medication to help. Over the next week I saw an ENT, got a hearing test and basically was sent on my way that this will "hopefully get better in time or after you deliver the baby". I also suffer from anxiety/ocd disorder and was under a great deal of stress when this started.

What has helped me most in the past 7 weeks is reading the success stories which gave me a lot of hope and ideas on how to cope. Also, I've been posting quite a lot in the support forumn because I was having lots of difficulties adjusting. I've got some great advice and most importantly more support then the doctor's or my family can offer since they really don't understand (although my family does try). So, what I can say to you is post as much as you need. You will find yourself surrounded by people who have been there and care immensely. READ lots of success stories! They really helped me in dark times! Learn about the condition and know that it CAN go away on it's own in time and maybe yours will too! Yours (mine and many other people here) have really new onset (less then 3 months or even pushing to 6 months)so theres lots of hope it can go away.

Try and stay positive.. As hard as it is. When I have positive thoughts and am able to control my anxiety my T is much less invasive. Also, try and sleep if you can. I haven't had much success with masking my sound because its fairly reactive but in just 7 weeks I have good days where I can ignore the sounds for a good portion of the day and control my anxiety.

I also have a partner and 2 young kids, a full time job and another baby on the way. It is exhausting at times but everyone here has reassured me we WILL be okay even if it doesn't go away. We CAN beat this! Anyway, you're not alone!

 

[Natalie Roberts]

Thank you, @joseph Ghass . This past year has been filled with the most anxiety I have ever had. Constant Health anxiety. Countless visits to doctors for the slightest twinge or ache. From pancreatic cancer to ALS to Parkinson's. You name it, I thought I had it. I am constantly googling symptoms. And now ALL I do is research T. My life is very stressful and I am high strung as it is.

I started to take my BP once I noticed the T was full time. This was about 3 weeks ago. I was averaging around 145/95.
But the Anxiety and agitation are through the roof. It is one hot mess.

I just read this and I have to say it sounds VERY similar to what I've been going through. Dealing with heart palpitations, chest pains, arm pain etc. Googling symptom and symptom only to learn the scariest possible diagnoses. Running to dr after dr when they tell you everything is "normal". For about 11 weeks I was sure I had a blood clot in my lungs or arm causing me the pain but multiple doctors (including ER) told me I did not . I was under a severe amount of stress because of my own symptoms and my mind was making it worse. Being pregnant and having crazy hormones hasn't helped.

I have literally been a giant ball of anxiety for the last 4 months. I am also very high strung and struggle to bring myself down when my obsessive, intrusive thoughts started. You know what is weird also? When the ringing started for me, my chest pains/palpitations and other discomforts faded into the background because my mind now had a new focus. Tinnitus. And it's all about focusing on it. I research it, I read posts after posts here. So, I totally understand where youre coming from.

Since medication is not an option for me, I can tell you what did work to help control my obsessive thoughts and control my anxiety. I found a professional psychotherapist who treats anxiety/ocd disorders through meditation. I see her 2 times a week (for just over a month) and I have been able to drastically lower my anxiety levels about my health issues through her teachings. If you can find a therapist who treats anxiety/OCD I HIGHLY recommend seeing someone now. Once you get your anxiety under control you will start to feel better overall. I'm learning my T is very reactive to stress/anxiety as is a lot of other people's. Or, even taking a yoga class or other meditation class without one on one treatment could benefit your anxiety and OCD thoughts/concerns on health issues. I honestly think my T stemmed from my pregnany and is exaggerated by my stress levels.

Hope I could help a litle and sorry for the novel!

 

[Bigbipper]

@Natalie Roberts Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I will do everything I can to beat this and not let it beat me because right now it pounding the Hell out of me.

 

[Bigbipper]

I have literally been a giant ball of anxiety for the last 4 months. I am also very high strung and struggle to bring myself down when my obsessive, intrusive thoughts started. You know what is weird also? When the ringing started for me, my chest pains/palpitations and other discomforts faded into the background because my mind now had a new focus. Tinnitus.

My goodness, @Natalie Roberts did you just touch down on something so, so obvious to me. Prior to this onset of T I was dealing with:

• Brain fog
• All over pain in both ribs and thighs
• Was examined for Fibromyalgia
  
• High Anxiety
• Worried about Brain cancer

Now that has all up and left since I have a new focus. However, the Anxiety remains.

 

[Natalie Roberts]

My goodness, @Natalie Roberts did you just touch down on something so, so obvious to me. Prior to this onset of T I was dealing with:

• Brain fog
• All over pain in both ribs and thighs
• Was examined for Fibromyalgia
  
• High Anxiety
• Worried about Brain cancer

Now that has all up and left since I have a new focus. However, the Anxiety remains.

I really feel like anxiety is a huge contributor to my T onset. My anxiety was severe before this started.. And now the T is here and the anxiety makes it worse. So controlling my anxiety tends to help my T be much lower. I can't say enough about how meditation/ breathing techniques taught by my therapist has helped reduce those negative feelings and help me move to a more accepting place . I still hear the T often and sometimes struggle with anxiety but for only having this 7 weeks I am managing fairly well I think. I know my anxiety was also making my other symptoms worse like my chest pain. By controlling my emotional reactions to physical discomfort and not allowing my obsessive thought patterns to take over I feel better overall. Also I try not to google my symptoms anymore it just makes me more freaked out!

 

[Bigbipper]

@Natalie Roberts, I wonder if it could be as simple as eliminate anxiety...eliminate T?
Imagine that.

 

[Ecip]

I've also got tinnitus out of the blue on Nov 4th.. It started very loud. Now, a month later, its still ringing away but its about 75% better and more tolerable than it was. I can only hope that it will continue to improve.

Hang in there.

I recently read a report on hidden hearing loss and how the nerve cells try to turn up the 'gain' to compensate and produces T in the process. Ridiculous, really. And I'm only 32.

 

[Ecip]

@Natalie Roberts, I wonder if it could be as simple as eliminate anxiety...eliminate T?
Imagine that.

It could. I sometimes wonder of my ever growing dislike and boredness with my job had something to do with it. Either way, I'm making a change.
Prior to T I was also always preoccupied with dealing with my IBS, but since T it really hasn't bothered me lately.

I would really suggest to you to give the ketone diet a try. It'll be a change, and it may be tough, but its a good change.
Immediately cut out carbohydrates (anything wheat (breads, pasta, white rice etc)) and sugar. Follow this ketone diet food pyramid.
Also, do try to calm your mind and get lots of sleep at night.
I'd stay away from medications. There are some that will reduce T, but they have their side effects. If T really bothers you, you could try and see if your doctor will give you an RX for clonazepam. But only if absolutely necessary.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22626945

 

[Natalie Roberts]

@Natalie Roberts, I wonder if it could be as simple as eliminate anxiety...eliminate T?
Imagine that.

I don't know if it is that simple but I really believe that anxiety and stress play a HUGE roll in my tinnitus onset.. I absolutely feel like if I hadn't been under the stress constant panic I was in I wouldn't have developed this T or at least my mind wouldn't be sticking to it like glue.. I have also been limiting sugar, sodium and I don't drink caffeine.. For my general health reducing my anxiety is a must and my top priority.

Like you, I have been to the dr many many times over the past months and even stretching back a year or two with thoughts/symptoms like MS, fatigue and numbing in my legs and arms, blood clots in various locations, eye issues, etc. I've seen neurologists, cardiologists, primary care dr's and ER dr's and had MRI, Echocardiogram, EKGs and blood work multiple times. Everytime, they say my symptoms are probably caused by stress and then exaggerated by my anxiety. Now the physical issues I was having were real. Things hurt or felt strange, yes. But, because I suffer such severe anxiety I quadrupled how I felt with constant thinking about my symptoms which ultimately made me feel worse.. So I've decided enough is enough and am working towards improving that and hoping my other symptoms start to improve as well.

 

[Bigbipper]

I would really suggest to you to give the ketone diet a try. It'll be a change, and it may be tough, but its a good change.
Immediately cut out carbohydrates (anything wheat (breads, pasta, white rice etc)) and sugar. Follow this ketone diet food pyramid.
Also, do try to calm your mind and get lots of sleep at night.
I'd stay away from medications. There are some that will reduce T, but they have their side effects. If T really bothers you, you could try and see if your doctor will give you an RX for clonazepam. But only if absolutely necessary.

@Ecip Thank you so much. The great thing is that the Ketogenic Lifestyle is not that foreign to me as I had great success with it. I was 318 lbs in January 2014. I got down to 256. Today I am 270. This was all done on Low Carb/Keto/High Fat. I have not been sharp recently (last 3-4 months) and have reintroduced lots of the Standard American Diet back into my life.

Wonder if my body is like "Dude, WTF? Why the carbs again?"

I have a script for Clonazepam, but use it very rarely as Benzo's scare the crap out of me.

 

[Bigbipper]

I just wanted to drop a note for the recent suffers of T. Late yesterday afternoon I started to adopt a "FU Ringing" approach as I sat in in a quiet church praying. I was frustrated because T was no getting in the way of my prayers with my Lord. I left church telling myself that I will tell T that is has no place in my life. I spent the remainder of the day blocking it out by paying it no mind. I have noticed a marked improvement. I know it is still there, hanging on...begging for me to notice it....but I don't give it the mind that I did just 24 hours ago.

@joseph Ghass nailed it. This is a wake up call to better myself and my life. God is ringing the bell and He may be expecting me to answer it.

 

[Bigbipper]

Absolute nightmare of a night. Ringing and anxiety crippled me till 4:30am.

@joseph Ghass, I'm wondering if a day of pizza at two meals and ice cream after 9pm crippled me.
Up until yesterday, I had 4 pretty good days.

Last night just floored me.

 

[joseph Ghass]

Hard to tell. Probably insuline spike due to high carbs consumption and salt caused this spike.

T is very unpredictable.

 

[Bigbipper]

Hard to tell. Probably insuline spike due to high carbs consumption and salt caused this spike.

T is very unpredictable.

Thanks, Joe. I'm running on 2.5 hours of broken sleep. If I have to drink Kale for the rest of my life to avoid these spikes, I will.

 

[joseph Ghass]

Yeah, these spikes bring you back to square zero.

Take a look at my thread if you want to eat optimally.

You can do it not only for your T but for your overall health.

 

[Bigbipper]

My brother was speaking to an ENT friend of his about my condition and one thing that was asked that jarred my memory was if I had "bumped my head". Well, I forgot that about 4-6 weeks ago I whacked the top of my head with the tailgate of my Suburban as I tried to shut it.

 

[John Meyers]

Absolute nightmare of a night. Ringing and anxiety crippled me till 4:30am.

@joseph Ghass, I'm wondering if a day of pizza at two meals and ice cream after 9pm crippled me.
Up until yesterday, I had 4 pretty good days.

Last night just floored me.

Hello Bigbipper. -- The salt and sugar spike my T every frick'n time (more so than coffee or even a mild hangover!).

I still indulge in pizza occasionally and a few sweets here and there. -- I started working out like a mad man and found that although working out doesn't remedy my T, it puts me in a much more stable state as I work through this.

Good luck!

 

[John Meyers]

I just wanted to drop a note for the recent suffers of T. Late yesterday afternoon I started to adopt a "FU Ringing" approach as I sat in in a quiet church praying. I was frustrated because T was no getting in the way of my prayers with my Lord. I left church telling myself that I will tell T that is has no place in my life. I spent the remainder of the day blocking it out by paying it no mind. I have noticed a marked improvement. I know it is still there, hanging on...begging for me to notice it....but I don't give it the mind that I did just 24 hours ago.

@joseph Ghass nailed it. This is a wake up call to better myself and my life. God is ringing the bell and He may be expecting me to answer it.

My wife says that T is God's way of getting me back into shape with a healthy lifestyle. -- I say "He could have just asked me!"

 

[Andersson]

Diet changes is always something to try.
For me salt,sugar,caffeine does not make my t worse. Alcohol actually makes it better but i hardly ever drink.

I also did hard keto sub 20g carb for 6 months and it did nothing for me. Actually my body responded bad to keto. My body prefers a more normal food intake with carbs.

We are all different in body chemistry.

I tried every diet change to help t but nothing changed it and actually made it worse when i could not enjoy some things i like.
Staying healthy helps everything though and that includes tinnitus since your body and brain feels better.
But i would never exclude something i love to drink or eat unless its dangerous for me.