Hi, I have been checking out these forums almost daily for nearly two years now. This is my story.
I got slapped on the ear, this happened to me almost me almost two years ago now and unfortunately I still have it as well as slight hyperacusis which is an intolerance to loud noise.
I was laying in bed when I did something that annoyed my wife unknowing to her I was laying with my head on my side she went to give me a slap and it ended up completely sealing my left ear. It was like a tsunami of sound waves entering my ear going deeper and deeper, when she pulled her hand off my ear which was very quick, the most horrible noise you could imagine raged from my ear.
My first words were what did you do that for you have just destroyed my life.
The sound was so bad I knew this was not going to go away anytime soon.
So here I am almost two years later so many doctors and specialist appointments, so many tears I have cried.
The trouble with tinnitus, well in my case what started in the ear progressed to my brain.
I have had to cut out so many foods due to the salt intake that I have now a very bland diet.
My life goes on, I am still working, I go on holidays and try my best to enjoy life.
I am still with my wife as we have five grown up children and four grandchildren. I know she is sorry for what she has done and she tries to support me the best she can.
Like myself before I had tinnitus, I never knew really what it was. I remember going for work medicals and them asking if you have ringing in your ears, what's that?
We can all relate to a stomach ache or a headache toothache etc , etc, but the general population can not relate to tinnitus. Hence we have no real relief available.
I took 2.5 ml Valium each night for about six months to help me relax and sleep, I found a YouTube sound therapy noise that is fantastic for me, it has like white noise with high pitched beeps. I play this sound and my tinnitus almost goes away. I am now listening to an external sound that almost sounds like my tinnitus, amazingly it cuts it out.
I always play this sound therapy at night going to sleep or during the day when it is bad. I still take 2.5 mg Valium if I am stressed to try and settle things down.
I try to remember to drink plenty of water, and get as much sleep as I can as this is what helps me cope during the day.
I really hope we can all find some relief from this horrible condition in the near future.
Best wishes to everyone.