Sleep Deprivation — How to Mask High Pitched Electrical/Static Tinnitus?

[Oabmarcus]

As loud as my tinnitus is it usually does not prevent me from sleeping. I have always had a small air filter running in my bedroom, it sounds like pink or white noise. It has been suggested to turn it off to see if that changes anything but I'm sleeping so...

I always sleep better when it's raining, have you guys ever tried nature sounds like running water or rain (without the thunder of course)?

George

I guess your tinnitus is not as severe as some others. Like I said before, nature sounds are available in a sound machine, raining sounds, in particular, are good for high-frequency tinnitus. Even if your tinnitus is still heard above the raining sound, there is sufficient sound going on that will distract your main attention away from the tinnitus. I think that should be the key, try to train yourself to focus on something else less distressing and over time (and it can take a while) the tinnitus becomes less intrusive.

 

[GeorgeLG]

I guess none of us can ever know what someone else's tinnitus sounds like or how loud it is. We will only ever know what our brain has invented for us and how much it bothers us. Good luck getting some relief.

George

 

[Michael24]

Melatonin worked when it was really severe for me. Also, foam earplugs at nights, along with green tea.

Hang in there, it does get better, but it take months.

Which brand of Melatonin?

 

[Jon R.]

I can't cope with my tinnitus either, I have a hiss in both ears but on top of that a dog whistle that reacts to ANY noise. If I put the kettle on, as an example, it will scream louder in my ear. If I put a fan on it will hiss higher. If I put music on it just sounds flat and tissy. But then if I am in quiet it is also very loud along with my other rumbling tinnitus that needs a fan to mask. I am stuck.

 

[Digital Doc]

Which brand of Melatonin?

Should not make any difference. I have not taken it in over a year, but think it was the Walmart store brand, and it was a gummy.

 

[CDNThailand]

I have these mechanical noises too, you'll get used to them.

 

[aura]

I use the SoundPillow which helps me with sleep.

Make sure your vitamin levels are normal. Deficiencies in certain vitamins (Vitamin D, Vitamin B, etc.) may add to sleep issues.

Could you please tell me more about this pillow? Are you still using it?

 

[aura]

I have a question about sleep perception. When I manage to sleep, it feels like I'm still aware of one of my tinnitus sounds which is a heavy drilling like sensation in my head.

It feels like I'm always aware of this - does it mean that I don't sleep at all and this is not real sleep?

Yes, this happens to me pretty often unfortunately.

The sound is very intrusive, not necessarily loud but in my brain and I can't mask it. It's a morse code or a glass of wine sound effect. It kept me awake last night until 5 AM. I feel I can't take it much longer.

For me, it's like i'm not sleeping at all. I feel that i'm sleeping like a rabbit, very alert and aware of all the sounds around me.

What is your drug of choice now? Do you still have problems with your sleep?

 

[aura]

Cricket sounds on a high quality speaker

What speaker do you have, @kingsfan? I can't listen anything on my phone speaker. I get reactivity because of it.

Does it feel different with a good speaker, or the sound still feels "artificial"?

 

[wagen]

Yes, this happens to me pretty often unfortunately.

The sound is very intrusive, not necessarily loud but in my brain and I can't mask it. It's a morse code or a glass of wine sound effect. It kept me awake last night until 5 AM. I feel I can't take it much longer.

For me, it's like i'm not sleeping at all. I feel that i'm sleeping like a rabbit, very alert and aware of all the sounds around me.

What is your drug of choice now? Do you still have problems with your sleep?

Sounds like a very similar situation - I have multiple sounds, each of them challenging and difficult to mask all of them at the same time.

My sleep is awful, I just can't sleep through it. I sleep only when I really crash out of exhaustion.

I can only take Melatonin that helps a little. All sleep inducing drugs make my tinnitus worse. It was caused my Amitriptyline that I took for pain and so that's why I'm super sensitive to any drugs.

How many hours per night do you sleep?

 

[aura]

How many hours per night do you sleep

3-4 hours a night in the last three days...

 

[wagen]

3-4 hours a night in the last three days...

I feel you, I have slept similar amount of hours for a year now.

Is there anything that helps you with sleep? I'd be grateful for any advice.

I'm thinking about you.

 

[Lilah]

Could you please tell me more about this pillow? Are you still using it?

It is basically just pillow with speakers inside; it is also connected to an MP3 player so there are various sound options. I am trying to get away from being overly dependent on the pillow nowadays, so I have been recently sleeping with just a box fan.

 

[GeorgeLG]

When I can't fall asleep I find that taking Magnesium citrate helps me.

George

 

[MBH]

I have taken 2 Tylenol PM for about 4 years now. I use a sound machine and fan. Also, I make sure the room is dark. I sleep thru the night.

 

[makeyourownluck]

I've found that multiple sound sources is better than one louder one. Currently I have the TV on, white noise playing on my phone, and rain sounds coming from my sound machine.

All sources combined come to 45/50 dB. I still hear my tinnitus but there is so much else going on I can ignore it (most of the time).

Initially I tried to sleep in silence and while it was possible, and to some degree I think it helped me morning after, it just wasn't worth the harrowing nights.

 

[GeorgeLG]

I see many people here sleep better with some type of background noise so I tried this but for me I sleep better in total silence. When I get out of the shower my tinnitus is raging for an hour or two. I'm not sure why some of us can sleep through that and some of us can't so I guess it's trial and error to find out what works best.

George

 

[Michael Leigh]

I see many people here sleep better with some type of background noise so I tried this but for me I sleep better in total silence. When I get out of the shower my tinnitus is raging for an hour or two. I'm not sure why some of us can sleep through that and some of us can't so I guess it's trial and error to find out what works best.[/QUOTE
Using sound enrichment at night isn't meant to make a person sleep better although it can help. The purpose of it is to treat tinnitus and hyperacusis. If you sleep in a quiet room your tinnitus is likely to increase. For this reason most audiologists and hearing therapists, advise people with tinnitus to use a sound machine by the bedside at night. The volume should be kept below the tinnitus and not mask it. It takes about 8 weeks to get used to using sound enrichment at night.

 

[aura]

I feel you, I have slept similar amount of hours for a year now.

Is there anything that helps you with sleep? I'd be grateful for any advice.

I'm thinking about you.

Have you tried Mirtazapine?

 

[wagen]

Have you tried Mirtazapine?

I did.

Unfortunately, I respond very badly to antidepressants - they make me very anxious and overstimulated. I don't suffer from depression. I'm sleep deprived.

 

[volsung37]

Phenergan has helped me sleep.

Also wine.

Both are no match for natural sleep