Those with Hyperacusis and Tinnitus, Please I Need Insight

[demi]

I'm new to having H. I have had T for over a year now, but H only since November. After attending a concert in November, my T spiked as well as this new feeling of an ear ache and fullness in my right ear. The pain and fullness went away in a few weeks, but yesterday I was sitting next to a microwave when someone in my office slammed the microwave door with my ear being 2 feet away. Immediately I felt the fullness and pain. Today it is not any better. I am so upset, and I just want to know does this go away and come back when sparked. ???

I am just confused.

 

[billie48]

I had hyperacusis shortly after T started a few years back. All normal sounds felt glassy in quality and appeared piercingly hurtful as if something drills into my nerve. I couldn't stand normal noises, TV, restaurant, driving, dish washing, people talking, even the soft voice of my spouse speaking too close. I had to wear ear plugs all the time. But the ear plugs block off all sounds which help to soothe my ultra high pitch loud tinnitus, making the shrill of T sound just quite unbearable. I was left to choose the lesser of two evils. I had to shun all social activities with noises or people talking. No party, no movie, no eating out. It was a tough, tough time of my life.

But forum members advised me not to over-protect my ears for normal sounds to avoid developing sound sensitivity. I listened and the ear plugs were coming off, if slowly. Over time, the hyperacusis just faded away slowly. Now, I don't wear ear plugs even when taking long intercontinental flights. But I don't stand in front of loud speakers and when the amplified sound is too loud, there go my fingers to cover the ears. LOL. From what I read so far, most people with hyperacusis will recover over time. So don't worry about it too much.

 

[demi]

@billie48 I just have came across the horror stories and just am so scared. Will this feeling of fullness and burning pain be constant until it slowly lets up?

 

[SueR]

demi, I'm still looking for answers too. My mild T (left ear) started nearly 2 years ago, but the H started on Nov. 18th. I've been using sound generators since Dec. 20th. But, I wonder sometimes if it's right for me. Every auditory input kicks up this return sound in my head of my own white noise. While the SG's helped a lot with my stress levels and I can now emerge from the solitude of my room, but the noise in my head bothers me by day's end.

I also have a little bit of dizziness and sometimes my ears get a little tickle in them which drives me nuts. I'm still seeking medical/therapy advice.

 

[NeoM]

@billie48 how long did it take for you hyperacusis to subside?

@SueR is this noise in your head that bothers you your tinnitus or that low sound you were talking about before?

 

[SueR]

I don't know if I'm using the right vocabulary to describe things. I call my left ear T (high pitch T, had almost 2 yrs, not bothersome). I call my right ear H (noise sensitivity, low pitch T that is always there, but louder with auditory input, everything in right ear started nov. )

 

[Max]

Demi,

IT WILL IMPROVE. I have had H for nearly 8 years now as the result of being front row at a concert for too long. It was awful for the months afterward. If I don't overexpose my ears to any substantially loud noise (concert, club, siren, etc.) and don't overprotect my ears in what feels like uncomfortable sound situations my sensitivity greatly improves over time! I still get numbness, burning and fullness all the time around exposure to what would seem like unharmful noise.

It does get better though, you just have to be disciplined and give your ears several months to gradually recoup their ability to endure sound - Then they will not overreact and experience the symptoms you describe so easily. This has been my experience with H over the years…..One awful setback can mess everything up though sadly (being at a loud venue for too long for example). I can tell you though that I have reached periods over the past 8 years where my ears have improved tremendously but I always mess it up sooner or later by overestimating my tolerance…..Anyway….Didn't mean to ramble but I am confident your symptoms will subside significantly and ease even if it takes weeks/months as I know exactly what you are feeling. Just be strong and positive.

 

[demi]

@Max, that is great to hear!

I feel like the burning doesn't happen as often anymore, but the fullness definitely does!
My fullness seemed to be subsiding until last night when I dropped frying pan on a baking sheet while I was washing dishes, and right away the fullness/numbing returned, and has not let up at all today - but I have hope!

I think I may start to wear earplugs while doing dishes now though.

 

[Max]

@demi - Glad to hear some of your discomfort is easing. Usually the burning/cooling sensations seem to come and go and don't last too long. The fullness tends to be triggered easier though...

I know what you mean with the dishes. I am confident I'm not the only one who will tell you this though…..but avoid wearing ear plugs around sounds that may feel uncomfortable yet are not dangerous at all to your ears. I've found that while this can be very difficult/uncomfortable and cause a lot of anxiety, it has helped my ears adapt much quicker to louder sounds again.

I believe you can prolong H for way too long by overprotecting your ears from noises that without H you would;t think twice about. Allowing your ears to get used to even uncomfortable sounds again I think can help one improve their tolerance to sound much faster. This has been my experience. Try to only use ear plugs around things you really feel could cause a reverse set back in tolerance (Loud bars/music, sirens, etc.)

Most of all though, trust your judgement, try to tolerate normal everyday sounds and avoid excessive / dangerous noise. It will get better!

 

[demi]

@Max How long typically would you say your fullness lasts/lasted when you first got H?

 

[Max]

@demi It's hard to remember exactly the first time…..It was several weeks or even months though. I didn't really understand what was happening at the time though and suffered frequent setbacks which prolonged it. I can describe better what's it like now though. When my ears do become irritated and full from being around uncomfortable noise too long (again depending on the noise) but it can was up after a couple of hours or it might take a few days. And again….the hyper sensitivity always improves much quicker if I don't overprotect my ears after I've had a setback.

I don't know much about your story though? I got H from being front row at a concert for too long. Is that what happened to you? It's always a downer to think about. I still don't understand why H / T doesn't occur in more people who frequently go to shows…

 

[alibee]

@demi When my ears do become irritated and full from being around uncomfortable noise too long (again depending on the noise) but it can was up after a couple of hours or it might take a few days.

I've had pressure and sound sensitivity for the past few months, but by the end of the day I start reacting to nearly every sound as if it's overwhelming (so I'm pretty much walking around with my shoulders all hunched up, as if to protect myself). Unfortunately, it means that I'm the least patient version of myself when I can least afford to be (when I get home to my kids, who are young enough to have no volume control ). Is this ear fatigue paired with hyperacusis? Or just ear fatigue? Or am I a special snowflake?

 

[Street Spirit]

Hi alibee, I feel the same..I have T and H and I don't know why...could be TMJ related though. I have also been to many concerts too...who knows, but it is VERY hard. I am quite depressed and I am mom having hard time.

 

[Street Spirit]

Max you are really strong and positive despite this..did you ever try TRT? I was thinking about it..thanks for sharing your story, gives me hope Also I have wondered the same thing about concert goers, or more so musicians..heck others too..H sucks!

 

[NeoM]

I've had pressure and sound sensitivity for the past few months, but by the end of the day I start reacting to nearly every sound as if it's overwhelming (so I'm pretty much walking around with my shoulders all hunched up, as if to protect myself). Unfortunately, it means that I'm the least patient version of myself when I can least afford to be (when I get home to my kids, who are young enough to have no volume control ). Is this ear fatigue paired with hyperacusis? Or just ear fatigue? Or am I a special snowflake?

It depends. I think if this reaction to sound and feeling overwhelmed is a post tinnitus thing then there is a very good chance it's your anxiousness about sound.

You should probably see an audiologist about it and get a loudness discomfort test to see whether it's hyperacusis or maybe misophonia or phonophobia.

 

[demi]

I don't know much about your story though? I got H from being front row at a concert for too long. Is that what happened to you? It's always a downer to think about. I still don't understand why H / T doesn't occur in more people who frequently go to shows…

@Max
I first got T in December of 2012, after going to a concert in November of 2013 I increased my T and developed H. :/

 

[demi]

I was at Target and person after person was slamming their cars and I freaked out and put my plugs in. I'm not sure if my ears were hurt? My T definitely got a bit louder, but I think I am just really scared of noise.

 

[SueR]

my audiologist said it was important to not have a negative association to noise, so don't worry about needing to plug until you work your way to that level.

for me, it's the beeping of cars when the owners lock their doors. many of those locks will toot the horn as an indication it's locked. ughhhh!

but, at the office, the door to the bathroom is extremely loud for just a door. I am now doing just fine with that.

 

[Max]

@Street Spirit

Sorry for the last response here - I had typed something up days ago and accidentally deleted it!!!! I have not tried official TRT per say….but I believe I've done a good job of improving my noise tolerance informally over the years by gradually allowing myself to be around louder and louder noises (gradually!). I cannot speak to the science of it all but as someone who had very severe H for months / years, your sensitivity and tolerance does improve greatly with time it just takes TIME and a lot of effort to avoid things that are dangerously loud.

Being strong and positive is important Lynn! I try to appreciate the fact that….I still have friends, I can swim, go the beach, drink good beer, enjoy coffee, run, ride bikes, you name it…..Many people in the world are much less fortunate and have even more debilitating issues. So try to appreciate all of the good things in life you can still enjoy despite the fact that you've been cursed with this annoyance and incoviennance. I do know that some people have T / H probably much more severe than me right now and it's much easier for me to say these things than them. My heart goes out to them though.

 

[here2help]

Demi,

I understand your concern about the ear pain and fullness you feel and how upsetting it is for the pain, burning, and fullness to return. Ear pain, burning, ear fullness, and numbness often go away by themselves. When they do not go away with time, there are things you can do so they will go away.

Since the ear pain and burning seem to be subsiding, I'd like to talk to you about ear fullness. In most cases, ear fullness will go away by itself. It can take time, so you may need to be patient. One reason you feel ear fullness when you drop a frying pan or when someone slams a microwave door is because your ears are on high alert. You may feel it is best to wear ear protection, but it would be better to steer clear of using ear protection around normal everyday sounds. I agree with Max's suggestion to you about that. Wearing ear protection when you do the dishes is like telling your ears they "should" be on high alert. Your ears will adapt on their own if you allow them to take in normal sound and let some time pass.

Ear fullness is what we feel when our ears are trying to protect themselves. In your case, the ear fullness began when your tinnitus spiked at a concert. The fullness was a symptom there was something not quite right. At this time, however, your ears are responding to other sounds in the same way. These other sounds are noticeable, but it is important to understand they will not hurt you.

NeoM mentioned an anxiousness to sound. SueR's audiologist talked to her about a negative association to sound. I think these are very good and important points. A lot of people feel this anxiety after they get tinnitus or hyperacusis. Alibee describes it in her post when she writes about walking around with her shoulders hunched up, as if to try to protect herself from sound that she believes might hurt her.

I wanted to mention something else you wrote about. It is natural to be scared when reading "horror stories" about tinnitus and hyperacusis. It is human to read those stories and understandable to be affected by them. Tune them out. Pay attention to the people who are making (or have made) progress.

I am glad that you have hope.

here2help

 

[demi]

@here2help Thank you for telling me about the ear fullness, since my pain was subsiding...

seems like the past couple days my ears have been painful...but no reason I can think of...as well as my neck on the side of the ear that hurts the most is hurting as well....

Do you know of anyways to ease this?

 

[Street Spirit]

It's all part of H Demi. Clonazepam helps me sometimes, though my dose is getting smaller and smaller. I also do trigger point therapy using the Clair Davies manual. I highly recommend it. Others take painkillers, and most take nothing. You could try moist heat and even ice packs. I have also used tylenol and another fellow says aleve works well for him.

 

[tomytl]

@here2help Thank you for telling me about the ear fullness, since my pain was subsiding...

seems like the past couple days my ears have been painful...but no reason I can think of...as well as my neck on the side of the ear that hurts the most is hurting as well....

Do you know of anyways to ease this?

Hi Demi,
I have also developed H & T after sudden hearing loss, and it was very huge... distorted hearing in my left ear, and
everything was very very loude. It happened 2003. I also experienced some hearing loss.
It was hell, everything was too loud and distored and I was afraid of every sound, even birds or thunder.
First I thought, it won't go away anymore, I was in this condition many monthes.
I also put cotton balls in my ears to get a kind of "protection". It's probalbly not this, what an ENT or Audiologists will recommend, but it gave (gives) me a better feeling.
Several times I was also happy to wear my cotton balls, because some crazy young people fired some fireworks without any reason, once also happend in vacation in Morocco, in a hotel.

But suffering from H went better and better. Distortion is nearly gone, only loud whistle does distort.

While my H, I listen to a lot of music with headphones at a very low level, I guess it's important to get the hearing
trained in some dynamics.

At this moment, I fight with a fallback maybe like yours, full ear, T & little improved H.
I don't know where it came from again, but could be because I was stressed and in a restaurant with many talking
people... so my T increased and full ears. I experienced this about 3 times since my initial sudden hearing loss in 2003.
I know, it's very frustrating and it does panic. But I know it will improve again.

If you have the possibility to travel somewhere you can focus on all new things, it might be a good remedy.
I also went swimming, to put the head under water and just hear the water was a good feeling for me.

All the best!!!

 

[demi]

Do anyone of you know if taking amitriptyline will make things worse? Having both T & H I am nervous about medications. I went to my ENT to get my LDLS tested and instead he did what was comfortable for me instead of discomfort...not sure why, but my comfort levels are at 60. So he wants me to try a low dose of amitriptyline because he thinks it will help with the symptoms I am having. I tried to talk to him about doing TRT and he said he wanted me to try this first. I'm pretty frustrated, I don't know why he dismissed me doing TRT. It was like he didn't think I needed it.

 

[NeoM]

Do anyone of you know if taking amitriptyline will make things worse? Having both T & H I am nervous about medications. I went to my ENT to get my LDLS tested and instead he did what was comfortable for me instead of discomfort...not sure why, but my comfort levels are at 60. So he wants me to try a low dose of amitriptyline because he thinks it will help with the symptoms I am having. I tried to talk to him about doing TRT and he said he wanted me to try this first. I'm pretty frustrated, I don't know why he dismissed me doing TRT. It was like he didn't think I needed it.

I think his point is that the anxiety or stress related to what you have can make hyperacusis or tinnitus worse. I don't think what he is suggesting is necessarily that bad. I have also read that some people do improve after taking anti-anxiety or anti-depressants. It makes sense if someone also has misophonia with their hyperacusis. However, after a certain point if it doesn't work then I would try to get a legitimate TRT course in.

 

[Street Spirit]

Do anyone of you know if taking amitriptyline will make things worse? Having both T & H I am nervous about medications. I went to my ENT to get my LDLS tested and instead he did what was comfortable for me instead of discomfort...not sure why, but my comfort levels are at 60. So he wants me to try a low dose of amitriptyline because he thinks it will help with the symptoms I am having. I tried to talk to him about doing TRT and he said he wanted me to try this first. I'm pretty frustrated, I don't know why he dismissed me doing TRT. It was like he didn't think I needed it.

I just had mine tested as well and my "discomfort" level was 60-65 right ear and 70-75 left. I suppose she could of gone louder, but it's a confusing test. Then again, if she had gone a touch more loud, it might of harmed me..I see an ENT this week and I refuse another set of tests. The audiologist I saw was pretty amazing, compassionate woman, though she did not elaborate much on Hyperacusis and focused on my Tinnitus. (she also has loud T) However she did recommend TRT for me, (not through her) and also an antidepressant. She said ad's saved her life when her T began. She also recommended not to wear protection "too often" and said to exercise, take walks, find things to make me happy etc..BTW, I heard that amitriptyline has been used in H patients. I am thinking of taking it myself, but also for my TMJD.

 

[Street Spirit]

I forgot to answer your question...will it make things worse? No one really knows. However amitrip is used to help decrease volume in T patients, so that's a plus. A fellow H sufferer also was told by a Neuro, that the he treats his H patients with it. I feel the same as you, scared to try meds, but we won't know until we try. What symptoms is the doc looking to treat? ear fullness etc? Have you looked into Trigger Point therapy? you can do this yourself with the Clair Davies manual..I find it helps. I am a little different though as my jaw directly irritates my ear and triggers TTS as well..Many nights I awake with constant, vibrating spasms in my ear..I believe from clenching.

 

[TomT]

Ativan will help you with your H. It did mine

 

[demi]

@Street Spirit He said it would help the pain. I also haven't looked into Trigger Point Therapy, I will though!

 

[Street Spirit]

@demi yes, do so, it has helped me. How bad are your ears? is it mostly burning pain or fullness?

I was having that alot in the beginning, but it's mostly abated at this point..when ear pain starts, I immediately do trigger point..I have done research and learned this from another past H sufferer named "cub" type that name into H network search and you will see some valuable info. Also, others have had relief and even cured their H too..(according to another couple posters there) so there is some valuable info there and hopefully clinicians who work with H, start seeing that. Buy the Clair Davies manual. It's very easy to do, it was created to help people do this on themselves.