Sleep Elevates My Tinnitus

[Cbush]

I've had what I would say is a minor case of tinnitus since 2018. What I mean is I knew I had it but for most of the time it didn't really bother me.

About 10 days ago, however, I ran into some really loud noise that I couldn't avoid. Burglary alarm going off. The ringing in my head became a really high pitch whine 24 hours a day and the worst thing is it became very difficult to fall asleep.

But yesterday I was running around doing some errands and in the afternoon and in the evening I said I thought wow, I can barely hear any tinnitus.

I went to sleep and woke up about 6 am with bad tinnitus back.

This has happened twice in the last week.

I've gone to sleep with little tinnitus, and awake with it high. What does this indicate?

Also, what are the best meds risk/benefits ratio wise for taming the spike?

 

[Davy]

Hi cbush sorry to hear you have this terrible unexplained noise in your head. Trust me I feel your pain.

Regarding waking up with tinnitus, I have the exact opposite. I go to bed with tinnitus and wake up with nothing for a few minutes then my day starts all over again with the constant buzzing and frequency noise... Very strange...

 

[Stacken77]

Hi @Cbush,
Sorry to hear about your recent spike.

But yesterday I was running around doing some errands and in the afternoon and in the evening I said I thought wow, I can barely hear any tinnitus.

I went to sleep and woke up about 6 am with bad tinnitus back.

This has happened twice in the last week.

Tinnitus can be extremely unpredictable and manifest in different ways. Most people experience a decrease in tinnitus severity following a good nights sleep. What has happened to me a few times is delayed spikes which only set in during the following night. For me, this is more exception than rule, since it's most often than not quieter in the morning. I've also had more quieter days following more intense noise exposure.

I think what you're experiencing is very normal.

Also, what are the best meds risk/benefits ratio wise for taming the spike?

The best way to handle the spike is to first and foremost let the ears rest a little and try to avoid spikes in the future, this would mean using hearing protection in quite a lot of environments where sound levels can be unpredictable and momentarily very loud. As for medications, there's not really much that can help. If you're having trouble with sleep, one could try Melatonin or Hydroxyzine. Medications should always be taken with great caution, as it can worsen tinnitus or sound sensitivity. There's also some supplements like Magnesium and N-Acetylcysteine which have been discussed in depth on the forum.

Your spike should resolve in time.

Wishing you a speedy recovery,
Stacken

 

[DaveFromChicago]

To Cbush:

It's the damnedest thing.

For 7.5 years I have had this same situation (as have numerous other Posters on this Forum).

Since I am retired, I would regard a short nap in the afternoon as a real luxury.

However, when I would do so, awakening would result in my tinnitus instantly going off like a diesel train slamming it's breaks on the track.

Now, no matter how drowsy I am, I will drink a megaton concentration of caffeinated instant coffee before I will allow myself to drowse off for even a few minutes. I had only to be asleep very briefly to experience this onslaught of exacerbated tinnitus upon wakening.

My unsubstantiated, layperson's theory is that when the brain is jolted awake this "surprise" over-alerts it with the resultant increased tinnitus volume.

 

[Clerkp]

My unsubstantiated, layperson's theory is that when the brain is jolted awake this "surprise" over-alerts it with the resultant increased tinnitus volume.

I think this is real and correct. This is precisely what I am experiencing right now.

 

[Rayk]

I suffer from my tinnitus fluctuating wildly during sleep - go to bed and it's manageable, about a 2, only to find it has risen to a 9 when I awake. Then after a few days of it at 8 or 9, go to bed and wake up and then it's a 2 again for a whole day - and the cycle continues like groundhog day - been like this for over a year and have found no way to break this pattern.

I discovered this piece of research but could find nothing further about it.

https://rnid.org.uk/hearing-research/our-research-projects/how-does-sleep-affect-tinnitus/