- Aug 29, 2018
- 207
- Tinnitus Since
- Very low since2004/Went haywire in 2018
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Loud noise in 04/Wedding dance floor and flying(?) in 18
I am a 40-year-old male looking for serious support and help. I've been dealing with tinnitus in my left ear since July 2018. After about a year, the noise subsided somewhat, partly due to habituation. It was a nightmare on and off, to say the least. Since then, I've managed to get on with my life reasonably well, but I've experienced quite a few spikes over the years, all noise-related. Most of these spikes have subsided within a few weeks, though I believe one or two may have lasted over a month.
These spikes typically occurred after being exposed to loud environments, like bars with loud music or sudden noises like fire alarms. I remember one spike triggered by something as simple as not holding the toilet seat down in a small bathroom, causing a noise that lasted several weeks. Despite this, I've done my best to protect my fragile left ear (and ears in general) since my tinnitus began. Occasionally, I've been careless, especially when my tinnitus seemed under control, which leads me to my current situation.
On Saturday, August 31st, over three weeks ago, I went out with friends. We ended up in a very loud restaurant with a dance floor downstairs where a DJ was playing music. I hadn't been near anything like this in years, and although it was loud, I had gone so long without a spike that I didn't think much of it. We spent about half an hour near the DJ booth, catching up and enjoying the music. But soon after leaving, my tinnitus flared up. I stayed calm, knowing this usually passes.
However, it's now been 26 days, and I'm getting nervous. This spike is probably the worst I've ever experienced and has consumed my life. My anxiety is sky-high, and between that and the louder noise, I've been sleeping poorly every night. I struggle to listen to music at any volume and feel stressed and depressed. The noise is intense and unbearable at times. Instead of my regular tinnitus being louder, it's more of a "head buzz" or high-pitched screeching noise layered on top of my usual tinnitus, which I have experienced before years ago. It feels like my ear and head are going haywire. I can still hear my baseline tinnitus underneath it all, but the sleep disruption is the worst part, making many days almost unbearable.
Every morning, I wake up briefly, and instead of falling back asleep, the high-pitched tinnitus and anxiety prevent me from getting the rest I need, leaving me exhausted.
Despite all this, I'm trying to stay optimistic and have promised myself never to put myself in such situations again. I'm making an effort to remain calm and manage my anxiety, but it's been really tough. I'm also dealing with several other personal issues, which has only added to my stress and depression. I'm here hoping to hear other stories, learn how long spikes typically last, and find some guidance.
Thank you for reading.
These spikes typically occurred after being exposed to loud environments, like bars with loud music or sudden noises like fire alarms. I remember one spike triggered by something as simple as not holding the toilet seat down in a small bathroom, causing a noise that lasted several weeks. Despite this, I've done my best to protect my fragile left ear (and ears in general) since my tinnitus began. Occasionally, I've been careless, especially when my tinnitus seemed under control, which leads me to my current situation.
On Saturday, August 31st, over three weeks ago, I went out with friends. We ended up in a very loud restaurant with a dance floor downstairs where a DJ was playing music. I hadn't been near anything like this in years, and although it was loud, I had gone so long without a spike that I didn't think much of it. We spent about half an hour near the DJ booth, catching up and enjoying the music. But soon after leaving, my tinnitus flared up. I stayed calm, knowing this usually passes.
However, it's now been 26 days, and I'm getting nervous. This spike is probably the worst I've ever experienced and has consumed my life. My anxiety is sky-high, and between that and the louder noise, I've been sleeping poorly every night. I struggle to listen to music at any volume and feel stressed and depressed. The noise is intense and unbearable at times. Instead of my regular tinnitus being louder, it's more of a "head buzz" or high-pitched screeching noise layered on top of my usual tinnitus, which I have experienced before years ago. It feels like my ear and head are going haywire. I can still hear my baseline tinnitus underneath it all, but the sleep disruption is the worst part, making many days almost unbearable.
Every morning, I wake up briefly, and instead of falling back asleep, the high-pitched tinnitus and anxiety prevent me from getting the rest I need, leaving me exhausted.
Despite all this, I'm trying to stay optimistic and have promised myself never to put myself in such situations again. I'm making an effort to remain calm and manage my anxiety, but it's been really tough. I'm also dealing with several other personal issues, which has only added to my stress and depression. I'm here hoping to hear other stories, learn how long spikes typically last, and find some guidance.
Thank you for reading.
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