Seeking Support for Severe Tinnitus Spike After Very Loud Restaurant with DJ Playing Music

[Smartone202]

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.

 

[drox]

Hi!

I have a similar story: I was wearing custom-molded -25 dB linear musician earplugs at a bar and spent a few hours on the dance floor, only to realize (once again) that these earplugs may not be the best when things get really loud! Next time, I'll either avoid such loud environments or use -30 dB foam earplugs, even though the music won't sound as good with them.

Once you have tinnitus, you tend to be more sensitive to new noise trauma and spikes. For me, masking works best for rehabituation after spikes, so I recommend doing this as much as possible, even at night. By the way, I highly recommend the new Soundcore A20 sleep buds for masking, especially when you need to block external noise while managing your tinnitus.

Relax your mind as much as possible and focus on getting your sleep back, using supplements or medication if necessary. Try to stay active with some sport or exercise, but don't overdo it; just enough to keep your body moving. Don't be too hard on yourself, and keep hoping for habituation to return. It probably will!

Most importantly, protect your ears carefully and avoid loud noises in the future.

Hang in there. You're not alone!

 

[Smartone202]

Don't be too hard on yourself, and keep hoping for habituation to return. It probably will!

The problem is that I can't get used to what's happening in my head right now. It needs to calm down because living like this long-term is not sustainable.

 

[Zigs]

Hey, I'm in a similar situation. I'm not sure of the cause, either two long drives or abruptly coming off Gabapentin. I'm trying to get some Diazepam to calm me down because I can't function right now.

 

[dan]

The problem is that I can't get used to what's happening in my head right now. It needs to calm down because living like this long-term is not sustainable.

I'm going through the same thing right now. It's very scary.

 

[Nick47]

For me, masking works best for rehabituation after spikes, so I recommend doing this as much as possible

How when they can't listen to music?

or abruptly coming off Gabapentin.

I take this as well. How long were you on it, and what dosage were you taking? Yes, tapering is the way to go.

Hindsight is wonderful!

 

[Smartone202]

Over two months later, still suffering.

It has now been two months since my spike began on August 31, 2024, and I am still dealing with what I can only describe as a "head buzz" noise on top of my regular, baseline tinnitus. I've had a few days back at baseline during all of this, which has given me some hope, but other than that, this has been one of the most stressful and awful periods of my life. Almost embarrassingly, I can say that I've been a semi-zombie over the last two months, with only a handful of decent nights of sleep. It's not falling asleep that's difficult; it's staying asleep. I almost always wake up too early in the morning, around 4 or 5 a.m., and am unable to fall back asleep because of the blaring head buzz and static electric noise that started that night.

I understand that spikes can last many months before they subside or before the inner ear or nervous system, whatever you want to call it, heals. I've been here before during my initial tinnitus onset in July 2018. I dealt with this same issue, as I explained in my initial post. I had baseline tinnitus and suffered with this "head buzz" noise on top of it, on and off, for well over a year before it went away. The good news, albeit a small comfort, is that I'm still fairly optimistic this will eventually go away, leaving me back at baseline. But I'd be lying if I said I'm not starting to feel broken inside. I've been so exhausted from poor sleep that I can barely function at work most days, just counting down the hours until I can go home, subconsciously counting down the days until my life returns to normal.

As I mentioned above, and another bit of good news, is that I've had a few days back at baseline. So I know it's possible. Those days have been joyful, and I've cherished every minute of them. Ironically, some of these days have come after setting an extra early alarm for work, leaving me little chance to wake up early from my tinnitus. For example, my usual wake-up time before all this began was around 7 a.m. Since the spike, I've been waking up around 5 a.m. with the tinnitus blaring and unable to fall back asleep. Yet on days when I've set my alarm for 5 a.m., I've occasionally woken up at baseline. It's all so bizarre and seems to be a mix of complicated neurological factors, possibly with anxiety, that I can't explain.

All I can hope for is that this ends sooner rather than later so I can get my life back, because right now, I feel half dead.

 

[Notreve7766]

Over two months later, still suffering.

It has now been two months since my spike began on August 31, 2024, and I am still dealing with what I can only describe as a "head buzz" noise on top of my regular, baseline tinnitus. I've had a few days back at baseline during all of this, which has given me some hope, but other than that, this has been one of the most stressful and awful periods of my life. Almost embarrassingly, I can say that I've been a semi-zombie over the last two months, with only a handful of decent nights of sleep. It's not falling asleep that's difficult; it's staying asleep. I almost always wake up too early in the morning, around 4 or 5 a.m., and am unable to fall back asleep because of the blaring head buzz and static electric noise that started that night.

I understand that spikes can last many months before they subside or before the inner ear or nervous system, whatever you want to call it, heals. I've been here before during my initial tinnitus onset in July 2018. I dealt with this same issue, as I explained in my initial post. I had baseline tinnitus and suffered with this "head buzz" noise on top of it, on and off, for well over a year before it went away. The good news, albeit a small comfort, is that I'm still fairly optimistic this will eventually go away, leaving me back at baseline. But I'd be lying if I said I'm not starting to feel broken inside. I've been so exhausted from poor sleep that I can barely function at work most days, just counting down the hours until I can go home, subconsciously counting down the days until my life returns to normal.

As I mentioned above, and another bit of good news, is that I've had a few days back at baseline. So I know it's possible. Those days have been joyful, and I've cherished every minute of them. Ironically, some of these days have come after setting an extra early alarm for work, leaving me little chance to wake up early from my tinnitus. For example, my usual wake-up time before all this began was around 7 a.m. Since the spike, I've been waking up around 5 a.m. with the tinnitus blaring and unable to fall back asleep. Yet on days when I've set my alarm for 5 a.m., I've occasionally woken up at baseline. It's all so bizarre and seems to be a mix of complicated neurological factors, possibly with anxiety, that I can't explain.

All I can hope for is that this ends sooner rather than later so I can get my life back, because right now, I feel half dead.

Hi @Smartone202,

Experiencing baseline days is really positive, and I am sure these will become more frequent as you adjust to this latest episode.

Have you considered a hearing test to rule out any potential hearing loss after the loud night out you had? It is more likely that the increased attention on your tinnitus following that night is causing your spike. A hearing test may give you some reassurance that you have not done any damage to your hearing.

In the unlikely event of increased hearing loss, you may qualify for hearing aid support, which I believe can help reduce the perception of tinnitus.

Be kind to yourself. Use your toolbox to help you relax. Try white noise, bodywork like massage, walks in nature, or whatever worked best for you last time. Prioritizing rest and allowing your body to fall and stay asleep is key.

This will pass more quickly if you can take your mind off it and calm your nervous system. Trust this process, and keep noticing and celebrating the good moments.

Do not be hard on yourself about the night out. You should be able to enjoy these things without spikes. In the absence of measurable hearing loss, it is most likely that an overactive nervous system caused the spike. This is not your fault but a natural response.

What I have always noticed about my own spikes is that they never pass when I am looking for them to go; instead, they pass, and I realize later, "Oh, it's gone now."

I hope this makes sense and that you feel better soon.

 

[Smartone202]

Have you considered a hearing test to rule out any potential hearing loss after the loud night out you had? It is more likely that the increased attention on your tinnitus following that night is causing your spike. A hearing test may give you some reassurance that you have not done any damage to your hearing.

In the unlikely event of increased hearing loss, you may qualify for hearing aid support, which I believe can help reduce the perception of tinnitus.

Be kind to yourself. Use your toolbox to help you relax. Try white noise, bodywork like massage, walks in nature, or whatever worked best for you last time. Prioritizing rest and allowing your body to fall and stay asleep is key.

This will pass more quickly if you can take your mind off it and calm your nervous system. Trust this process, and keep noticing and celebrating the good moments.

Do not be hard on yourself about the night out. You should be able to enjoy these things without spikes. In the absence of measurable hearing loss, it is most likely that an overactive nervous system caused the spike. This is not your fault but a natural response.

What I have always noticed about my own spikes is that they never pass when I am looking for them to go; instead, they pass, and I realize later, "Oh, it's gone now."

Thank you for your response. You seem very knowledgeable about tinnitus and spikes. I do have somewhat significant hearing loss in my tinnitus-affected ear, which was diagnosed years ago. I have always had a slight hereditary loss in that ear since birth, confirmed by many hearing tests as a kid, but it worsened over time. Being in loud nightclubs in my 20s certainly did not help. If only I could go back in time.

At this point, I decided years ago that I was done with hearing tests for several reasons. I have had so many that I just got tired of them, not to mention that the results are often depressing. I know I have significant loss in that ear, and what is done is done. All I can do now is try to protect what is left. In hindsight, it feels foolish considering what I allowed to happen, right?

I am curious about what you mean by "increased attention" on my tinnitus after that night, as I am not very knowledgeable in this area. Also, would there be a difference in tinnitus based on the amount of hearing loss? I completely agree with what you said about not noticing when spikes pass. I had the same experience years ago. There was not a single day when I woke up and found the head buzz was gone and never returned; it just gradually faded over time. It is hard to believe that for years, I comfortably lived with my baseline. But right now, I am really struggling, mainly due to poor sleep. On the few days I have slept better, even with the head buzz still there, I have been able to push through. But being exhausted with my head going haywire has almost completely broken me.

I can say with almost 100 percent certainty that the spike, or head buzz, seems to get worse when I am around noise. Whether I am in a busy room or at a mall, it can feel very uncomfortable at times. When things are quieter, it is more manageable. Strangely, it seems to be at its lowest when I am in the bathroom after a shower. This was the case years ago during the onset too, though I could not tell you why that is.

I know I probably sound like a broken record to my family and friends, but this time really has been a wake-up call. I will never again take any chances with loud places or music. Regarding the topic of spikes subsiding, I genuinely believe that the stress of it all has to lessen before I can improve. And in my honest, seasoned opinion as someone who has lived with tinnitus, that can only happen if I start sleeping better consistently. I have tried melatonin and similar sleep aids, but they have not helped much. So right now, it is hard to stay optimistic.

Still, I keep thinking about how beautiful those baseline days in the last couple of months were, and somehow, that is keeping me going.

 

[Notreve7766]

I am curious about what you mean by "increased attention" on my tinnitus after that night, as I am not very knowledgeable in this area

Hi @Smartone202,

How is your week going?

All I meant was that, throughout my journey, I noticed I often had spikes when I was expecting them. For example, after a night out, I would perceive my tinnitus as more intense, not because the night out actually made it worse, but because, on some level, I was looking for it and giving it more attention.

 

[Smartone202]

If I'm being honest, my week isn't going well at all. I've only slept well one day this entire week (and, of course, my tinnitus was lower that day—I've noticed that good sleep seems to help). The other days have still been a struggle. I'm really trying to stay strong, but I can't tell if I'm approaching a breaking point or if I can keep going.

I've been through a lot these last two months, and years ago during the initial onset of my tinnitus, but I truly thought I'd be in a better place by now. Over the past two months, I've probably only had 6 or 7 nights of good sleep; the rest have been either broken sleep or just plain bad sleep. I can't keep living as this zombie every day. I can't enjoy plans, I'm not comfortable making plans, and I can't enjoy myself at work. I'm feeling more depressed about this than ever because there really hasn't been any significant improvement—other than a handful of days when I was back at baseline.

I know those days are amazing signs that suggest this spike isn't permanent, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm struggling tremendously most days. I think, more than anything, I just need to find a way to sleep better.

I also disagree with your theory about spikes. I hope you didn't mean to imply that I'm imagining all of this just because I was nervous over the loud noise that night. I was near a super loud DJ for nearly an hour. It triggered something, whether it's in my ear, my nervous system, or whatever it is, and it still hasn't healed, even two months later.

 

[HighleyTall]

Good sleep is essential. I try to improve my sleep with Gabapentin (I take 150 mg, cutting a 300 mg tablet in half) and Melatonin (3 mg). Most of the time, this helps me sleep through the night, though not always.

 

[Notreve7766]

I hope you didn't mean to imply that I'm imagining all of this

I remember all too well how real tinnitus struggles can be. I spent many months living like a zombie, just going through the motions.

Improving my sleep was a huge step toward recovery. Many of the feelings you describe, I have felt too. Keep searching for ways to improve your sleep, and talk to your closest friends and family about how you are feeling.

 

[Smartone202]

I remember all too well how real tinnitus struggles can be. I spent many months living like a zombie, just going through the motions.

Improving my sleep was a huge step toward recovery. Many of the feelings you describe, I have felt too. Keep searching for ways to improve your sleep, and talk to your closest friends and family about how you are feeling.

Thank you for your kind words. I hope that one day, sooner rather than later, I can get back to living the way I did for the last four and a half years before this disaster happened. It's amazing how much I took it for granted, especially considering everything I went through with tinnitus years ago. When I say "everything I went through," I mean a year and a half of intermittent but intense struggles; stress, anxiety, MRIs, MRAs, CT scans, and multiple visits to ENTs.

I do believe you when you say that anxiety is a big part of this. In fact, it's huge. But I also know that the sound levels that night triggered this spike, and this spike is what's disrupting my sleep most, if not all, nights. It's a terrible thing. Right now, we're just going through a dark time. It's a shame there's no end date in sight. It could be weeks, months, or even longer.

 

[Notreve7766]

You've been through a shock, and you're in the process of recovering. It's normal to reflect on that night, to feel sadness or regret about your situation; this is all part of the recovery journey.

Recovery can be slow, but you'll find comfort as you start to notice improvements, just as you did the last time. In fact, your past experience will almost certainly help you recover more quickly than before.

What helped me most with sleep was keeping a journal and making myself write down positives before bed, no matter how small. I also found that calming background music and deep breathing were beneficial; it's almost impossible to feel stressed while deep breathing.

I hope your weekend goes well. Take care, and be kind to yourself.

 

[Smartone202]

Update - A little over 3 months later:

Things started to improve slightly about three weeks ago. The spike-related high-pitched head buzz or tea kettle sound is no longer constant, which is a huge relief. While it is still present on a relatively frequent basis, I estimate it has gone from being there 95% of the time to about 65%. This feels like a significant improvement and, to me, a sign that my inner ear and nervous system are beginning to heal. However, my poor sleep continues to be the main source of my misery.

While I've gradually started having a few better nights, many nights still involve early awakenings around 4 or 5 a.m. The high-pitched tea kettle sound wakes me, and I'm unable to fall back asleep. This is due to a combination of the noise itself, the anxiety it triggers, and the knowledge that I likely won't be able to get back to sleep. As a result, I often face yet another zombie-like day. What fascinates me is how the spike can be low or almost non-existent throughout the day, allowing me to fall asleep peacefully, only to suddenly return in my sleep and wake me.

I haven't found an explanation for why the high-pitched noise seems to reappear during sleep. One theory I have is that my overall sleep quality acts as a trigger for the tinnitus flare-up. I've had some sleep issues over the years unrelated to tinnitus, with some nights being good and others not. Despite understanding the principles of good sleep hygiene, I can't pinpoint what might be causing weak sleep on these nights. I avoid iPhone use in bed, go to bed calm, and usually fall asleep within 30 to 45 minutes.

Unless there's some subconscious anxiety lingering from the stress of the past three-plus months, I don't have an explanation. Perhaps someone else has experienced this or can provide insight. Thank you.

 

[Dr Nick]

When I read your post, I had to check whether I had written it, as you are almost exactly describing my own experience. I have had tinnitus since around 2010 and have experienced two major spikes. The first occurred in late 2012 and was caused by letting a toilet seat drop in a small ensuite bathroom. That spike took around three years to resolve. The most recent one happened in April this year and was caused by an excessively loud DJ in a restaurant I was visiting with friends. The spike developed over 18 hours after the initial exposure.

I am now eight months in, and this spike has completely changed my life. At first, it presented as the same tone as my first spike, a 13 kHz high pitch in my left ear, but at a much higher volume. This, of course, ruined my sleep for weeks until I was prescribed Mirtazapine. I noticed that the tinnitus changed in amplitude from one day to another, with almost no predictability. For example, I might go to sleep when it was not too bad, but upon waking in the morning, it would sometimes be screaming at full volume. It felt as random as a fruit machine.

On some mornings, I would wake up at around 6 a.m. with it not being too bad, but if I drifted back to sleep for just a few minutes, I would wake again moments later with it much louder. I remember experiencing this during my first spike and telling my doctor, who dismissed it as coincidence. However, scientific studies have since corroborated this phenomenon.

Sleeping position also seems to influence the volume. Sleeping on my side or stomach causes significant increases, while sleeping on my back is currently the only tolerable position, though it is uncomfortable. This might suggest a somatic factor, possibly involving compression of the eighth cranial nerve.

The persistent, dentist-drill-like sound makes work and concentration very difficult. Driving has become almost impossible. Perhaps due to overprotection (using AirPods and earplugs), I have developed sensitivity to low-frequency sounds, which triggers low-frequency tinnitus that can last for days.

For the past few weeks, I have been enduring the worst 13 kHz sound I have ever experienced, both day and night. It has been a daily struggle just to get through. I am continuing to try sleeping on my back in the hope that sleeping position is a significant factor.

There are additional complicating factors. For example, I recently had COVID-19 again, which may be affecting my tinnitus. I suspect that sleep—its quality and even the process of sleeping itself—has a major influence on the short-term progression of a tinnitus spike.