The Positivity Thread

[emmalee]

@emmalee

I'm a cat person too. Though I'm ok with pretty much any animal that isn't aggressive toward me. We don't have many outdoor cats where I live but a friendly hello from a kitty always makes my day too.

I should take your advice on the walks. I tend to come hear when my T spikes. A walk would probably do much better.

@New Guy, cat people are good people, this I know. Dog people, too.

You should try a walk, I do my best thinking when I'm walking. Since getting tinnitus it has become a lifesaver for me especially when, like you say, I am experiencing a spike.

I will do my best to get a pic of Alex. He has to be within seeing distance for me to get his attention, being that he is deaf. It makes me laugh out loud to watch him coming towards me. He takes two steps, stops, rolls over on his back and just lays there. He is hoping that I will come to him so that he doesn't have to make the journey to the end of the driveway. I wait him out because it is so cute to watch his antics, he eventually relents and comes to me. The fussing and ear scratching are well worth his trouble.

 

[New Guy]

It's like two old friends seeing each other.

 

[emmalee]

It's like two old friends seeing each other.

Yes it is @New Guy.

No walking today, unfortunately, it is raining cats & dogs here. (pun intended )

 

[emmalee]

We are in the midst of a major ice storm. I am looking out the window as I type and I feel that actual Spring will never get here. It does look like a winter wonderland, though, so not all bad. A lazy Sunday, spent in comfy, soft clothes, no complaints.

So, it has been one full week since I found this forum. I cannot say it enough, everyone is so warm and welcoming, not to mention supportive in so many ways. I do tend to stick to the positive threads because positivity and hope are vital to my being able to cope with the T. I have set a goal. I will remain calm and positive, no dwelling on the negative at all from now until my appointment with the ENT specialist on May 10th. This is doable. Less than a month to go.

Still forgoing the coffee, this is something I have needed to do for a very long time now. The T is the reason I will make it work this time. A cup of strong, black coffee upon awakening just isn't good for me. I do not need to feel any more jittery than I already do. Yoga on a daily basis has been instrumental, the relaxation and breathing stability helps so much with the anxiety. I highly recommend this to everyone. No need to go out to a class, just find a youtube instructor and a quiet place in your own home and give it a try.

Thanks to this place and understanding people, I am able to cope. Life is good.

 

[emmalee]

No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen. This really is true, isn't it?

 

[emmalee]

How are you doing today @New Guy?

 

[New Guy]

@emmalee

I woke up with the 95lb dog on one side of my legs and the cat on the other. The dog is usually in the bed but the cat was a welcome surprise. It was a good morning!

Emmalee I admire your attitude. You sound like you've got it under control. I hope I don't set you up for failure saying this but if you get emotional at some point it's ok. You don't have to tell us about it if you don't want to. We all need a little release now and then. This can be difficult to get through.

I agree with you 100% about sticking with positive posts. I try to stay with them too. We all have bad days and need to vent and that's understandable and what this forum is for. Many here have helped me find the silver lining more than once.

It was in the 60's yesterday and it's 38 right now with the wood stove blazing away. We're getting rain tomorrow. Life is good!

 

[emmalee]

Oh my! Now that's a morning greeting, @New Guy. I am happy to hear that it was a good morning for you.

There's nothing like a wood stove, I love them. At one time in my life I had a pot-bellied wood stove, could that little work horse ever heat up a cottage. We used to put our wet clothes, boots, etc. near it to dry them, only took a short time. Where I live now there is a wood burning fireplace, or at least there was, I had a gas fireplace installed. House insurance rates skyrocket when you have a wood burner, some companies refuse to cover them at all.

I surely do have my low moments, that's the truth. I am trying my best to stay positive and not get panicky. If I feel too stressed, on go the shoes and out I go. Needless to say I have spent a huge amount of my time outdoors since early March, when the T struck. This place is a soft spot to land, I am so fortunate to have found it.

I do hope you continue to have good mornings New Guy, and afternoon and nights.

 

[David Dubros]

Hi all
Theres an ice storm here too. TORONTO. and the wind is brutal.
Haven't posted much because last week i ruptured a disc in my lower back.
But even in this crummy weather my wife said we should get me crutches to get around.
So off we went to a home medic place today.
I was able to drive just not walk so my other half went into the store and bought the crutches.
They work great so i can get around.
God bless my wife... she is so supportive with me.
Having the ruptured disc really put things in perspective. My T hasn't even been on my mind with the pain ive been in.
Its all perspective.
Just thought id share.
Stay positive and well folks

 

[New Guy]

God bless my wife... she is so supportive with me.

Having the support of those you live with is so important. Probably the most important part of having T.

I'm down in the states and the rain just started about an hour ago. You guys are getting pummeled up there.

 

[emmalee]

Hi all
Theres an ice storm here too. TORONTO. and the wind is brutal.
Haven't posted much because last week i ruptured a disc in my lower back.
But even in this crummy weather my wife said we should get me crutches to get around.
So off we went to a home medic place today.
I was able to drive just not walk so my other half went into the store and bought the crutches.
They work great so i can get around.
God bless my wife... she is so supportive with me.
Having the ruptured disc really put things in perspective. My T hasn't even been on my mind with the pain ive been in.
Its all perspective.
Just thought id share.
Stay positive and well folks

@David Dubros, we are almost neighbors, I am in the Niagara area. So very sorry to hear about your back. On a positive note, you are blessed to have a wonderful wife.

Feel better soon.

 

[Rob Hammer]

i stopped into the thread to say hello to New Guy. But found some posts from some neighbours. I'm in Hamilton and have also experienced some crazy weather.
I hope you are feeling better soon David. You are right perspective does have so much to do with learning to cope with T, and many other things in life. I didn't have much in the way of perspective when i first got tinnitus. I a m much better able to cope and find i forget about the T more often now. I still hear it well in quiet moments (how i miss these), but i can get busy and forget the T is there. It is taking some time to get here.

 

[emmalee]

i stopped into the thread to say hello to New Guy. But found some posts from some neighbours. I'm in Hamilton and have also experienced some crazy weather.
I hope you are feeling better soon David. You are right perspective does have so much to do with learning to cope with T, and many other things in life. I didn't have much in the way of perspective when i first got tinnitus. I a m much better able to cope and find i forget about the T more often now. I still hear it well in quiet moments (how i miss these), but i can get busy and forget the T is there. It is taking some time to get here.

Good Morning @Rob Hammer, nice to meet you.

Hamilton, Niagara, Toronto, in fact most of Southern Ontario have yet another crazy weather day to contend with, Rainfall warnings are in effect, as I am sure you are well aware of. Spring eludes us.

Like you, I miss my quiet moments, although yesterday the T seemed a bit quieter. I was able to go about my business without being constantly reminded, but this morning it is back. At least I had a decrease for a short time, I'll take it.

It is reassuring to hear that you are coping and managing to forget about you T. I wish you more and more quieter moments.

 

[David Dubros]

Hi all.
Thanks for the warm wishes and thoughts on my injury.
I am again feeling stronger emotionally . My wife went off to work this morning and assured me she would be ok on her own. She said things will get better and made me smile.
That feeling will stay with me all day.

Welcome to neighbor Rob Hammer in Hamilton and hoping you and Emmalee survived the wooly weekend weather.
I am staying put today as there is a wind and rain warning in effect.
It will let me heal my back.
My T is baseline today so i am ignoring it while listening to the radio.
Hope everyone has a great day.

 

[emmalee]

Hi all.
Thanks for the warm wishes and thoughts on my injury.
I am again feeling stronger emotionally . My wife went off to work this morning and assured me she would be ok on her own. She said things will get better and made me smile.
That feeling will stay with me all day.

Welcome to neighbor Rob Hammer in Hamilton and hoping you and Emmalee survived the wooly weekend weather.
I am staying put today as there is a wind and rain warning in effect.
It will let me heal my back.
My T is baseline today so i am ignoring it while listening to the radio.
Hope everyone has a great day.

@David Dubros, so nice to have such a lovely feeling to carry you through this day. What is that song....something like "Thank God for the radio....??" I'll have to google it, my "Oletimers" has got the best of me once again. My radio plays all day, even when I'm out. Country fan here.

Removed the video in case it is too loud for some. The link instead...old song for sure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thank_God_for_the_Radio

 

[New Guy]

Hi @Rob Hammer. Last week, after 6 weeks, I got back to work and the world didn't end. I work outdoors and with loud equipment but I kept the loud equipment home last week and did things with hand tools. I wore my nrr 30 ear muffs when driving my dump truck. I had a some moments where I got sad because of the noise. I couldn't help compare how things were before and after.

I also noticed the first changes in my T last week. There have been periods of about 15 minutes or so that it turns to a whooshing noise. I think the pitch is slowly getting higher but that could be in my mind. I sometimes feel the intensity is lessening.

I woke up this morning in the best mood I've been yet since I got T. It's still there and I still notice (and focus on it more than I should) but it's getting easier to move forward with it there.

 

[JessB4537]

I so often hear 'stop shouting' or 'are you deaf?', it can be so hard when others don't understand how it feels, and what you might struggle with throughout the day, but to have others to talk to, that actually understand how it feels, really gives me the hope that there might be some support in this world, even if there is no cure..... Yet!! My doctor actually listened to while I sat and cried today, and suggested support groups, feeling more positive already. Stay strong and keep smiling (something I have to remind myself all the time)

 

[emmalee]

Hi @JessB4537,

Stay strong and keep smiling (something I have to remind myself all the time)

I have to remind myself to do as you say all the time. We can do this.

So nice to meet you.

 

[emmalee]

I have changed my avatar. I'm in need of some peace and quiet today, though that will not happen.

Emmalee I admire your attitude. You sound like you've got it under control. I hope I don't set you up for failure saying this but if you get emotional at some point it's ok. You don't have to tell us about it if you don't want to. We all need a little release now and then. This can be difficult to get through.

@New Guy, just need a little release today. Coming here helps. You were right, difficult moments do come along.

Hope everyone else is having a gentle day.

 

[emmalee]

I almost forgot, it has been six days since I made the decision to give up my 3 cup a day coffee ritual. It is going okay, other than the expected dull headache and overall aching joints. This is a positive move in the right direction. This isn't my first go at it, but I will say that this is the longest I have lasted. I do still have two cups of tea, one in mid-morning and one in the late afternoon. I like the Uncle Lee's Organic white tea.

 

[New Guy]

@emmalee

It's perfectly normal to have moments like that. I still do too. This is one of the places you can admit to moments like that and everyone understands. I'm not the wreck I was when I first got here but I still have a long way to go. If you read my first post you'll see.

Please get a sound oasis s650 or s5000 for background noise. Play it, or any white noise from YouTube, just below the level of your T to keep your mind off it. Stay away from quiet places it won't do you any good.

At almost 7 weeks occasionally get some hissing/static mixed in. There's hope for all of us.

You're welcome to send me a message if you want to talk. Writing to people on the site helps keep my mind off of things and gives me encouragement. I love to talk about my cat, my dog and my hopes for chickens in the near future.

 

[emmalee]

@New Guy, thank-you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderfully supportive post. I am so grateful for this place and for the people who come here. Like you, I have a long way to go and it appears as though it is going to be a "one day at a time" journey for both of us.

Thanks for the advice, also. I did download the rain video from youtube that another member posted here a couple of days ago. It works pretty good for me. I use it to help me fall asleep and like you suggested I keep the volume to just below the level of my T. I can't begin to imagine what shape I would be in if not for this forum.

~emma

 

[New Guy]

This forum was a lifesaver for me too. Day by day is the secret.

 

[emmalee]

I had a good night, albeit I was restless some. On a more positive note, I am in a much better place this morning. Going to have a bite to eat and get myself outdoors, wait, what is that object in the sky? Oh, the sun, finally, lol!

The T is definitely making itself known but I am calmer today, that helps a lot.

I hope everyone has a good day.

 

[emmalee]

I have been researching ways to help me get through the first couple of weeks without coffee and I came across this...

I am still laughing....so friggin true!

 

[Contrast]

Just this week my tinnitus faded to a very low volume and I can sleep in a silent room.

3 months after my initial hearing trauma I noticed high frequency disestablishment where as before higher frequenceis sounded merged together or duller. Still present but I am certain a mild improvement happened.

Anti anxiety medicine is helping me relax and deal with my borderline personality disorder

 

[emmalee]

Just this week my tinnitus faded to a very low volume and I can sleep in a silent room.

3 months after my initial hearing trauma I noticed high frequency disestablishment where as before higher frequenceis sounded merged together or duller. Still present but I am certain a mild improvement happened.

Anti anxiety medicine is helping me relax and deal with my borderline personality disorder

@Contrast, this is such a positive post, I am happy for you. Sleep is so important to our well-being, with or without T. A mild improvement is wonderful news.

I hope you have another peaceful nights sleep in a quiet room.

 

[Contrast]

@Contrast, this is such a positive post, I am happy for you. Sleep is so important to our well-being, with or without T. A mild improvement is wonderful news.

I hope you have another peaceful night's sleep in a quiet room.

yes the first 2 1/2 months I was having panic attacks everynight with extreme anxiety and actually get sent to a mental health facility for a few days.

Atleast I've recovered from the worst of the worst I'm still depressed about the hearing loss though

 

[Contrast]

Even before I had tinnitus I slept with a fan on low/mid volume and didn't have a proper sleep schedule. It wasn't till after tinnitus when I truly appreciated sleep

 

[emmalee]

yes the first 2 1/2 months I was having panic attacks everynight with extreme anxiety and actually get sent to a mental health facility for a few days.

Atleast I've recovered from the worst of the worst I'm still depressed about the hearing loss though

Hearing loss can be very distressful, as can panic attacks and anxiety. Seeking treatment was wise, and now here you are experiencing some improvements. I am sincerely happy for you @Contrast.