The Unwelcome Noise: My Tinnitus Journey

**Title: The Unwelcome Noise: A Personal Tinnitus Journey**

My tinnitus began on a summer day in 2017. I was on holiday when, suddenly, my right ear became clogged. I can't recall if it was due to excessive wax buildup or a change in air pressure. It had happened to me a few times before, so I didn’t think much of it at first. But this time was different. I was with friends, and we were about to eat dinner. The idea of spending the evening unable to hear properly was incredibly frustrating.

Then, I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life: I tried to clear the blockage by pressing my finger into my right ear, attempting to "pop" it. After a few minutes of unsuccessful attempts, I suddenly began hearing a high-pitched noise in my right ear. It felt like the sound was coming from deep inside. That’s when I realized something had gone wrong.

Unfortunately, that noise never went away. I visited an ENT specialist a while later, and he confirmed I had tinnitus with no available cure.

Over the years, I’ve tried to adapt to or at least ignore the constant noise, with mixed results. I use white noise at night to help me sleep and often throughout the day, especially when I’m working. I’ve come to notice that I’m almost afraid of the silence, as it amplifies the tinnitus, and I feel compelled to drown it out with background noise. Recently, I’ve started wondering if I should stop this habit, fearing I may never train my brain to ignore the sound otherwise.

On a brighter note, I started exercising and eating healthier in the hope it would help (spoiler: it didn’t do much for the tinnitus, but at least it brought some positive changes to my life).

Other relevant factors include my poor posture, which I suspect worsens my tinnitus. Additionally, I can "click" my Eustachian tubes, which I feel might also be related to my symptoms.

I remain optimistic by nature, still holding out hope for a cure. But I’ve realized that the more I focus on that hope, the more aware I become of the tinnitus, which only makes it worse.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. And if you have advice, I’m all ears!

 

One thing doctors should always tell you is that the only thing you should ever put in your ears is your elbow. I still don't understand why so many people put objects in their ears. Q-tips should be outlawed. Wax buildup should never be removed by microsuction or flushing with fluids. Bacteria-free olive oil can help loosen the wax safely.

When tinnitus sufferers develop certain habits, that's when tinnitus becomes more noticeable. Our brains try to distinguish between actual sounds and tinnitus. I suggest breaking those habits, using ear protection, and working toward habituating yourself to the reality of tinnitus, as it's not curable.

I've had tinnitus for over five years now, and I’ve learned to completely ignore it. Some days, it's very intrusive; other days, it's just a slow ringing or buzzing sound. I do everything from working with power tools in my woodshop to firing up a chainsaw—all with ear protection. There's no change in my tinnitus when I start a project. It’s hard to ignore, but it can be done.

Take care,
Elmer