I've been afraid of "over protecting" my ears as I thought that could cause more severe hyperacusis... Maybe I will start using earplugs 24/7 from now on.
I really hope I didn't cause a lifetime long worsening with this latest loud sound. I don't know what I was thinking even moving that cart, and on a concrete floor as well. And I asked when I walked by "do you want me to help you with that?" I wasn't asked to do it so it is only my own fault. Stupid, stupid, stupid of me. I would do anything for my tinnitus to get back to first week level. I guess that's impossible for me.
Sounds like you've hit rock bottom in a way. It was an important step for me. You have realized that a normal life might not be possible without making your tinnitus worse. I think knowing the risks and avoiding them is the only rational thing to do.
I personally protect in the city, while commuting and in other places that CAN get loud without warning. I don't even have much hyperacusis anymore so it's just to avoid surprises. But when I'm home or at places I can control the volume of things I expose myself to a healthy amount of noise.
You currently have no idea if these recent spikes are permanent. Protect from now on and it's likely that your tinnitus will improve even though progress is slow. Just read stories on this forum, and keep in mind that the majority of posters are the very most unfortunate cases. Look for the more average or positive stories. There are many people who have had their tinnitus fade or improve in other ways. And if it does improve for you, remember that it's a second chance that probably won't come again. You have to be careful with sound for the rest of your life.
I got my spike one year ago. Back then, I had about 1/10 days where my tinnitus became much lower to the point where it didn't draw any attention to itself. Today, I have these very low days 45 percent of the time. I pretty much have a normal life on those days, although the days where I do hear it are often very very bad. And yes, I used headphones on low volume for a month after the trauma before I found this forum. It did make my tinnitus worse than the trauma alone, but it has still improved.
The anxiety, regret and more you are feeling right now can disappear even if your tinntus won't. That's a hopeful thought I try to think anyway, and I believe it.
Where will I be in one year? It will probably have improved even further. And if not, I will have gotten more used to it. My tinnitus really sucks, but I'm still in a better place now a year later. I have pretty loud tinnitus today. I have still been able to: be happy, hear my tinnitus but don't really care, create and listen to music, walk for hours in the city mostly without earplugs.
Basically I feel for you and hope that you will feel better in the future. I'm a very anxious, pessimistic and skeptical person but I still think that tinnitus can improve if the right measures are taken. Not sure I would have believed my own post if someone wrote it to me one year ago, but this is what I think..
I want to get the "sticky" bit of wax that is still on there away, but I am not so fond of the idea to use the syringe more, it feels like playing Russian roulette with my ears. Then again I would refuse microsuction and the idea of ENT taking it away with curette feels dangerous sinse it is so little and on my eardrum, not the ear canal.
Member
