Tinnitus Always So Loud When Waking Up — Any Science-Based Reason?

[su bernadette]

Hi all,

What on earth makes tinnitus worse when you waken up? Mine is always roaring when I wake up... It has done that now for over 2 years. I wish I understood it t. I'm so disappointed every morning to waken to the hissing dragon.

Any tips? And no, I can't stay awake for ever.

Susi

 

[billie48]

Mine is too. It is called by some the 'awakening response'. Below is what one doctor said about this, as he attempted to explain this phenomenon in more detail. I guess we just have to accept this vigilant job of the brain to make sure we are alive and well. Lol.

"I have always felt it to be due to the role of the reticular formation in tinnitus perception. The reticular formation is a primitive structure in the brain stem. It's a "vital sign monitor." When you wake up, the RF checks to see whether or not you are alive! It looks for heartbeat, respirations, blood pressure, temperature - basic bodily signs. It does not care whether or not these signs are good or bad - just that they are present. And as far as the RF is concerned, tinnitus is part of "expected" body function in an individual suffering from severe intrusive tinnitus. So when you wake, your RF checks to see whether or not tinnitus is present. And if it doesn't immediately find the tinnitus, the RF seeks it with a vengeance - - especially in the post-nap state, when there has been inadequate REM sleep and when, therefore, the RF is on already "high alert" that something might not be quite right. Theoretically - very theoretically - this RF hyperactivity in seeking tinnitus, which in a person with severe intrusive tinnitus it equates with life, results in temporarily markedly augmented tinnitus perception."

 

[erniej]

Waking from afternoon naps are a real killer. Or if I wake up in the morning and the ringing is tolerable I have to stay awake. If I go back to sleep when I wake up I'm usually in trouble.

 

[su bernadette]

Thank you all... I now understand... suppose I will just have to get used to it...

 

[strato2009]

Can it be due to different type of blood circulation/pressure when lying down? I suppose one could try sleeping reclined instead of laying down and see it?

I just try to keep my mind off it when I wake up, noticing it/thinking about it always makes it worse

 

[Steve Feldo]

I appreciate this is an old thread, but this is a big issue for me at the moment, after several years of habituation. I've been keeping a diary to try and identify triggers etc - As regular as clockwork I'm having one good day where my tinnitus is very low level and completely tolerable, then two 'bad' days with the regular nasty hissing and chirping.

The trigger for mine is nearly always waking up at night - generally approaching early morning but too early to get up, nodding off again - often dreaming - then waking up with the noise in my head/ears turned up... so frustrating.

It also triggers if have a nap during the day/evening. I'm actually at the point where I'm tempted to get up next time it happens to see if I can break this frustrating and annoying cycle.

If anyone else has this going on and you've any ideas how to break this cycle... I'm all ears.... please excuse the pun ;-)

 

[Digital Doc]

I have found that earplugs at night are a big help in quieting the tinnitus in the AM. I find that my ears are very vulnerable to being irritated when I am asleep.