Tinnitus and Me After 30 Years

[Jazzer]

@threefirefour - those of us with intrusive Tinnitus 'know' there is no cure.
We also know there is no real treatment.
You want habituation stories flagged up, or set in a different place from genuine success stories.
Well - out of interest - what could represent a genuine success story to you?
There is no cure!

By the way - if habituation can make life more liveable - would that not represent some degree of success - and perhaps the only success you will ever see?

 

[Kritish Gooriah]

I think you are very pessimistic, i think, i can recover from my tinnitus and the research of dr shore are a good sign.

 

[threefirefour]

@threefirefour - those of us with intrusive Tinnitus 'know' there is no cure.
We also know there is no real treatment.
You want habituation stories flagged up, or set in a different place from genuine success stories.
Well - out of interest - would could represent a genuine success story to you?
There is no cure!

By the way - if habituation can make life more liveable - would that not represent some degree of success - and perhaps the only success you will ever see?

Now idk what you attempted to accomplish here, but two other people disagreeing with you was probably not it. Anyways I CAN provide examples. Look up any story in this section where the tinnitus actually goes away.

 

[Bill Bauer]

since is very rare for T to just go away (especially noise induced T).

Would you say that "between 25% and 70%" is very rare? Those are the figures in the only studies on this topic we could locate (in the Stats thread), with 70% being the figure for a "gunshot induced T".

People who had T for less than a month or two and then post, didn't really have full-on T like most of us here.

I agree.

if habituation can make life more liveable - would that not represent some degree of success

I think it would.

 

[Charles_T]

@threefirefour - those of us with intrusive Tinnitus 'know' there is no cure.
We also know there is no real treatment.
You want habituation stories flagged up, or set in a different place from genuine success stories.
Well - out of interest - would could represent a genuine success story to you?
There is no cure!

I am not sure how you think this is helpful to write in the Success Stories section?! This is one of the most ridiculous posts I have seen on this site. I get the feeling some of the people who have toughed it out with Tinnitus for multiple decades or longer who are "pro-habituation" don't want a cure to be found because they don't want others to find relief in there lifetime since it has been denied for them.

As long as I'm clearing the air, in the interest of total disclosure, I've had Hepatitis C for the past 21 years and have never taken treatments for that either. There are things you can do to successfully treat that disease, in most cases, but I don't worry about that either. I came to terms with my mortality years ago and death doesn't concern me any more than loss of hearing. If there was any question whether or not I was blowing smoke about tinnitus not worrying me that should dispel all doubt.

While your actions are certainly your own right I don't think not caring about anything is a very good idea to promote. It seems like your post is not really a success story but rather a post where you are proclaiming your mental toughness/superiority to others in a misguided and strange way. I actually fear Tinnitus and death to some degree but that doesn't make me weaker or less than you. I'm human and we are all at the end of the day.
I think that habituation can be helpful... I have a cousin who doesn't really care about his Tinnitus but then again he also doesn't care about working, having a family, or really much of anything other than taking pictures of his beard and posting it to his Instagram account. I am different I really care about a lot of things certainly care about finding a cure to Tinnitus and have been affected very negatively by Tinnitus coming into my life therefor I try different supplements and actively try different things to see if I can improve my condition. My point is we are all different and I think its ok that @threefirefour wants a cure. I want a cure too and I think in the year 2018 settling for anything less would be selling ourselves short. Just my opinion.

 

[Jazzer]

Now idk what you attempted to accomplish here, but two other people disagreeing with you was probably not it. Anyways I CAN provide examples. Look up any story in this section where the tinnitus actually goes away.

@threefirefour - so a couple of people disagreed with me - I'll try not to let that spoil my day.
I see you are proud of your negativity.
I believe I am a realist, so I'm not expecting a fairy story ending.
I believe the figures for noise induced Tinnitus magically disappearing are pretty negligible, because there is actual physical and neurological damage involved.
However, I keep an open mind.
In the meantime, I maintain an interest in whatever coping mechanisms are helpful to achieving better habituation.
Incidentally, did I read somewhere that you love animals and hate people?
Correct me if I am wrong.
I must be quirky.
I love both......

 

[threefirefour]

@threefirefour - so a couple of people disagreed with me - I'll try not to let that spoil my day.
I see you are proud of your negativity.
I believe I am a realist, so I'm not expecting a fairy story ending.
I believe the figures for noise induced Tinnitus magically disappearing are pretty negligible, because there is actual physical and neurological damage involved.
However, I keep an open mind.
In the meantime, I maintain an interest in whatever coping mechanisms are helpful to achieving better habituation.
Incidentally, did I read somewhere that you love animals and hate people?
Correct me if I am wrong.
I must be quirky.
I love both......

Well why did they? The idea of wanting a success stories and a habituation stories desperate forums isn't crazy. It's actually a great compromise. I used to just want habituation stories buried, but this makes so much sense from both sides. I don't see why people wouldn't want this...

Not so sure you have an open mind. I've changed my views overtime to be better. I used to be a lot edgier here, but now most people here at least mildly agree with me, except for those guys who are completely lost like Chris Holland, Michael Leigh, or fishbone. You haven't changed at all despite being presented better viewpoints, so I don't think you have a very open mind.

Yes I don't like people very much and I'm a huge animal person. Although I don't think I mentioned it anywhere.

 

[Jazzer]

Well @threefirefour I may be quite an intuitive person, but I couldn't have pulled that statement out of thin air, could I?
However, a degree of edginess is apparent, in as much as you like to 'twist the sword' when replying to something that quite clearly annoys you, or goes against your own philosophy.
I don't mind that - I can always put my gum shield in and my sports jockstrap on before I engage with you.
Only kidding - you're probably a pussycat really - albeit - in disguise.......x

 

[Jazzer]

@threefirefour - so people who disagree with you are Completely Lost !!
Hahahahahahaha......
God - I wish I was clever........x

 

[threefirefour]

@threefirefour - so people who disagree with you are Completely Lost !!
Hahahahahahaha......
God - I wish I was clever........x

No, but completely lost people disagree with me.

There's a lot of people here I disagree with but aren't lost. They just kind of realized I'm not wrong overtime and admitted that at least, I have a point.

 

[Jazzer]

Habituation is one thing.

A complete cure would be something else.

I have to agree with that......

 

[threefirefour]

Habituation is one thing.

A complete cure would be something else.

I have to agree with that......

Im glad you do, because you're right. A complete cure belongs in the success stories forum, and habituation doesn't. Apples to oranges.

 

[Jazzer]

"YIPPEE FOLKS
- this means I'm not completely lost."
(.......dances round the maypole.....)

 

[John Meyers]

I think you are very pessimistic, i think, i can recover from my tinnitus and the research of dr shore are a good sign.

I didn't mean that sufferers can't recover. -- T has forced me into a healthier lifestyle which I am thankful for and I truly believe that I am in recovery.

If you look through the success stories, you will notice that a number of folks only had T for less than 2 months.

My point was just that I think that success stories should be from those who have suffered from T for at least 6 months. -- That would provide a more accurate gauge of what is working and what isn't.

A few people have said that 3 years seems to be the real positive turning point with Habituation. -- Sounds like a long time but it is something that I look forward to as well.

I apologize for my original post sounding negative. -- I am a realist but am also optimistic that a cure will found some day.

If you have had noise induced T and plan to rid of it soon, that is great! (Just please let us know how you did it!

I wish the best for everyone on this forum, can see how my original post got misconstrued, and am sorry for that (Unfortunately, I can't go back and edit that post to make it sound more positive.).

Sincerely,
John

 

[John Meyers]

Now idk what you attempted to accomplish here, but two other people disagreeing with you was probably not it. Anyways I CAN provide examples. Look up any story in this section where the tinnitus actually goes away.

If you see any "noise induced" stories where T actually goes away, can you share on this thread?

I've searched for them but usually only see ones where people had some kind of stress related T go away..

Thanks,
John

 

[Jazzer]

If you see any "noise induced" stories where T actually goes away, can you share on this thread?

I've searched for them but usually only see ones where people had some kind of stress related T go away..

Thanks,
John

@John Myers - "ZAKLY !!!"

 

[Zug]

I have drug induced tinnitus and this October with be 30 years since its onset. I remember the day it came on me like it was yesterday and it never left. It ranges from a high-pitched whistle to a hiss, to a combination of both, and at times sounds exactly like the sound Cicada make when they come out.

At first I thought it was a sign I was losing my mind and it worried me quite a bit, but I made the conscious decision early on I was not going to let it get the best of me, was going to go on with my life and that's exactly what I've done. I was not familiar with the term habituate before joining the forums today but that describes it perfectly:

"to accustom (a person, the mind, etc.), as to a particular situation
to cause habituation, physiologically or psychologically."

I told my doctor about it when it first appeared but all he did was look into my ears with his scope and said he couldn't see anything. Personally, I do not have faith in going to the doctor and haven't gone in several years for anything, much less tinnitus.

I've seen ads on TV touting remedies but have never tried any of them or done anything to try to alleviate it. I figured after living with it all these years, what's the point in spending money every month on something I learned to live with years ago?

It hasn't been a bed of roses by any means. The more tired I become the louder it gets and there have been times in the past when I went to bed just to get some relief. There have also been times when I lie down to go to sleep that it's loud enough it prevents me from going to sleep. But these are random events, seldom in nature and the older I get the less it bothers me. Sometimes it is barely noticeable, usually in the mornings and there are times when I realize I haven't been aware it at all, which makes me aware of it again.

I love listening to music and living in an apartment complex I only use headphones to listen to it. I keep my music collection in digital format on my laptops and if I'm online I'm listening to music, as I am now. If I spend several hours it tends to make it louder but only temporarily and I don't see any difference in it the net day. Somebody asked me once why would I do something that made it worse? Because I do not let it rule my life.

I live a normal life in every sense of the word and do not let tinnitus dictate what I can and cannot to, or limit me in any fashion or form. It is no longer an affliction, after 30 years it's become a part of my life. It occupies my ears but it does not occupy my mind. I fully expect it to be with me the rest of my life but it concerns me not in the least.

Don't get me wrong. I'm no pillar of stone. I have feeling and issues just like anyone else. I truly feel empathy for the people I see post about how severely it affects them and especially those who feel they can't go on, which is why I joined the forums. I know none of this make the noise in your head any less severe, but I hope it helps make dealing with it just a little easier.

There is life after tinnitus, it's up to you to make the most of it.

Seems like a great and realistic success story. Congrats!!! I hope even the hopeless will get there someday.

Best,
Zug

 

[Apolonia]

If you see any "noise induced" stories where T actually goes away, can you share on this thread?

I've searched for them but usually only see ones where people had some kind of stress related T go away..

Thanks,
John

See Srdjan's thread. He had a noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Hearing loss lasted for a week I think and Came baci and tinnitus lasted for six months and IT gradually disappeared on its own... I think he is the only success story of a noise induced tinnitus that lasted exactly 6months....

 

[John Meyers]

See Srdjan's thread. He had a noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Hearing loss lasted for a week I think and Came baci and tinnitus lasted for six months and IT gradually disappeared on its own... I think he is the only success story of a noise induced tinnitus that lasted exactly 6months....

Ok. Thanks Aplonia!

 

[Greg Sacramento]

There are certain conditions where tinnitus can be greatly improved. Even noise induced T can improve over months and years.

Areas within the cervical spine. Finding the cause and getting the right treatment can reduce c spine T by 50%. The most successful cases is damaged nerve removal or repair at the C4-C6 level at a 99% success rate. Proper muscle treatments within the neck can provide long term relieve of T by 50% for 25% ---- 25% also get long term relief of 25%. This is why discussions on physical T are important. One x ray series of 4 views on the c spine along with other radiology tests can be life saving for some.

ATA information https://www.ata.org/managing-your-tinnitus/treatment-options/tmj-treatments

 

[OnceUponaTime]

There is no cure!

My sister had t. for 3 years... went to every doctor and had all kinds of tests done. One day she woke up and it was gone. Completely gone. It has been over 8 years now. She got her cure.

 

[Robert44]

My sister had t. for 3 years... went to every doctor and had all kinds of tests done. One day she woke up and it was gone. Completely gone. It has been over 8 years now. She got her cure.

How did she get it?

 

[Jazzer]

We would still have to say that an actual cure for noise induced Tinnitus (that applies to most of us) is incredibly rare.
I wouldn't rule it out of course - wonderful if it happens - but realistically.....??

 

[Jazzer]

I see your point, however, 99% of the success stories are habituation since is very rare for T to just go away (especially noise induced T).

People who had T for less than a month or two and then post, didn't really have full-on T like most of us here.

Remember that you are in a club that include thousands of people that none of us want to be in.

After 2.5 years, I still struggle, however, I stay busy and eat healthier as a result (which keeps it at bay).

Just message me if you want to chat. -- I have been through every stage of this beast and elaborate if that helps.

Take Care and Keep Smiling,
John

I'm with you @John Meyers.
Tinnitus is both wretched, and unique.
We are forced to live in noise, which we naturally hate - as would anybody - yet we must learnt not to hate it, but to ignore it, in an emotional sense, if we are to succeed and habituate.

 

[John_415]

I have drug induced tinnitus and this October with be 30 years since its onset. I remember the day it came on me like it was yesterday and it never left. It ranges from a high-pitched whistle to a hiss, to a combination of both, and at times sounds exactly like the sound Cicada make when they come out.

At first I thought it was a sign I was losing my mind and it worried me quite a bit, but I made the conscious decision early on I was not going to let it get the best of me, was going to go on with my life and that's exactly what I've done. I was not familiar with the term habituate before joining the forums today but that describes it perfectly:

"to accustom (a person, the mind, etc.), as to a particular situation
to cause habituation, physiologically or psychologically."

I told my doctor about it when it first appeared but all he did was look into my ears with his scope and said he couldn't see anything. Personally, I do not have faith in going to the doctor and haven't gone in several years for anything, much less tinnitus.

I've seen ads on TV touting remedies but have never tried any of them or done anything to try to alleviate it. I figured after living with it all these years, what's the point in spending money every month on something I learned to live with years ago?

It hasn't been a bed of roses by any means. The more tired I become the louder it gets and there have been times in the past when I went to bed just to get some relief. There have also been times when I lie down to go to sleep that it's loud enough it prevents me from going to sleep. But these are random events, seldom in nature and the older I get the less it bothers me. Sometimes it is barely noticeable, usually in the mornings and there are times when I realize I haven't been aware it at all, which makes me aware of it again.

I love listening to music and living in an apartment complex I only use headphones to listen to it. I keep my music collection in digital format on my laptops and if I'm online I'm listening to music, as I am now. If I spend several hours it tends to make it louder but only temporarily and I don't see any difference in it the net day. Somebody asked me once why would I do something that made it worse? Because I do not let it rule my life.

I live a normal life in every sense of the word and do not let tinnitus dictate what I can and cannot to, or limit me in any fashion or form. It is no longer an affliction, after 30 years it's become a part of my life. It occupies my ears but it does not occupy my mind. I fully expect it to be with me the rest of my life but it concerns me not in the least.

Don't get me wrong. I'm no pillar of stone. I have feeling and issues just like anyone else. I truly feel empathy for the people I see post about how severely it affects them and especially those who feel they can't go on, which is why I joined the forums. I know none of this make the noise in your head any less severe, but I hope it helps make dealing with it just a little easier.

There is life after tinnitus, it's up to you to make the most of it.

Thanks for posting this! Its inspiring to read how you adapted to changing circumstances and are fine with it.
Do you by chance do meditation?
I read that helps to get more into the present moment. I am doing a course on MBSR (Mindfullness Based Stress Reduction) to make peace with T and stress in general, actually to just accept that its there and go on with life. I think thats the best route in the long term anyway.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

@Robert44 It was probably high stress. Shes not sure.​

 

[Robert44]

@OnceUponaTime that is so great how it just went away!

 

[Greg Sacramento]

I know a money investment manager who contacted some very rich people about tinnitus fund granting. For many of these rich people their real worth came from medical startups ventures or from buying medical and bio tech stocks where they increased 10X to 100X.

Some of these people are early retired doctors with second homes in England or Ireland. This money manger also owns a large estate in England where he was born. I wish that I didn't have tinnitus and owned a small place in England as that's where I have lots of family that I never see. I also have family in Australia. I wish that I could travel being retired but I can't. I would love to travel all over Europe.

This money manager said that he received some warm thoughts from several who said that they have donated to the ATA and BTA. From some others he wrote all their thoughts down. Some being retired doctors, made concerning comments. Statements like T has relation to emotional illnesses and that needs to be addressed. There's no cure. T relates to other illnesses and these other illnesses need attention first. Also statements about how many claim to habituate, he heard this most. With many it disappears early on. That most don't have overwhelming high volume distress levels.

We want to tell others and do that they can habituate and many will, but at the same time it's slowing research funding and grants down, even with attention to those with severe T.

 

[John Meyers]

I'm with you @John Meyers.
Tinnitus is both wretched, and unique.
We are forced to live in noise, which we naturally hate - as would anybody - yet we must learnt not to hate it, but to ignore it, in an emotional sense, if we are to succeed and habituate.

Thank you for that Jazzer. -- So true..

When I am working on ignoring my T with masking, exercising, etc. I feel a sense of accomplishment with keeping it at bay.

For the past month, I have had a spike which is annoying but am going back to visiting this forum's "success stories", meditation, etc really helps me cope and move past it.

I have other personal stresses right now and I think that is what is making me get annoyed by it more right now. -- My T is noise induced so I know the stresses aren't directly causing it to get louder.

It really is all a state of mind and if you can get yourself in a good mindset and stay busy, you are on the right path.

 

[Jazzer]

@John Meyers - I have to say that my noise has not gone down.....but my stress level definitely has gone down, my real despair has gone, and I am coping much better.
I do think that coping with Tinnitus is a mental conundrum.
I know I 'can' hear it all the time,
but...frankly....why should I?
Better things to do.
Yes.....I do dip,
but I'm getting a grip. x