Tinnitus from Unknown Cause (Genetic, NIHL, Ototoxic Drugs, Stress)

[Regal]

Ok guys, I will try to keep it short

First of all, hello everyone: I've been a "ghost" member on Tinnitus Talk for a year. I want to first thanks everyone for the support, it is so hopeful to see so much dedicated people to help each other's with this "thing".

Well, to introduce myself. I'm a 26-year-old Frenchman with some health problems like high blood pressure (I have been taking medicine for it for more than 8 years) and some other issues.

To get back to main topic: my tinnitus started gradually on 15 January 2019 after a post-traumatic event including doctors (to keep it short: they said I have a risk of getting blind in the future...)

From that day onwards, first visual snow, floaters, flash, halos and of course tinnitus...

I have tried lot of things, some worked for a while (I think from the placebo effect)... When I noticed the tinnitus, I went to emergency room who gave me an audiogram (revealed mild to moderate hearing loss on all frequencies), I had some Prednisolone and Tanakan (Ginkgo Biloba) with really low effect.

During the first months, my tinnitus was loud and reactive to any kind of sound BUT I didn't get hyperacusis.

That was hard, my psyche had not been good for years so this was the cherry on the cake.

I had a scan which showed I have otosclerosis but my ENT didn't believe it because the scan was really bad, he suspects more a genetic cause.

In September 2019: I got some high quality hearing aids and they are really helpful, I even sleep with them sometimes... but they don't have a white noise program. They also support my tinnitus frequency which is higher than 10,000 kHz in both ears.

After months and months of reading this forum to not feel alone, my tinnitus or my perception of it gradually reduced. I can still hear it outside but it doesn't cause me any kind of stress (I would be lying if I said I didn't have a bad day sometimes and I just want to blow my head off...)

I want to help anyone who needs it, I am helping some French people with tinnitus too.

I attached my audiogram to show how much I fucked up my hearing.

Take care guys, feel free to ask me if you have any questions and sorry for my English.

 

[obutterfly]

What have you done that helps?

 

[Regal]

Hi,

Well not so many things helped me, mostly time and again time.

But actually I see little improvements with
- curcumin 1300 mg with piperine 20 mg and ginger (100 mg)
- magnesium + vitamin b6 (300 mg)
- zinc (25 mg)

I bought melatonin too but I feel I don't tolerate it quite well.

At this time, I have trouble sleeping, I wake up a lot of times during night and feel tired. It's not 100% fault of tinnitus but still annoying to get back to sleep.

On evening, I listen to sport channel to help me falling a sleep. Try focus less on it.

And of course hearing aids with my hearing loss, it's a drastic help (but I can still hear my tinnitus with them on).

 

[Scott85]

Dear all,

I'm new to this forum. In April 2019 I had my first experience of ear fullness, fluctuating high frequency hearing loss. Left ear is totally fine. 3 months later I started hearing a hissing sound in the same ear. I initially thought it was an ear wax issue or perhaps infection or something similar to that. After vising my GP, I was advised that there was no ear wax nor any infection. If the pressure inside my ear is gone, my hearing gets back to normal and tinnitus gets better. I then setup an appointment with an ENT doctor after 2 months. He diagnosed me with Meniere's disease. He prescribed oral steroid which works perfectly if taken at high doses (2 pills per day). But due to its side effects, I stopped taking it after 2 weeks. He also asked me to follow a low-salt diet which I do all the time. Each month my hearing fluctuates to the point that I can't hear anything. I've never had any balance problem, vertigo or dizziness; but only ear fullness, fluctuating hearing loss and hissing tinnitus. My hearing loss is toward high frequency sounds. My hearing loss toward the lower frequency spectrum is fine. My CT scan and MRI results showed absolutely nothing abnormal and unusual.

I am extremely depressed and anxious, and feel devastatingly hopeless. I am just 34 years old. I don't really know what's happened to me. If it is Meniere's disease, why don't I have any vertigo, balance, or dizziness issues? Not even one time that I can recall. Also, why high frequency hearing loss?

My ear fullness has become much better in the last 2 months. However, the hissing tinnitus in my right ear is driving me crazy. I don't know why I have tinnitus and high frequency hearing loss. I've never been exposed to loud noises (I'm an extremely careful guy), I regularly do exercise, eat a balanced diet, never took any Autotoxicity drugs, and didn't have any medical condition in the past. Also, no family history of hearing loss, tinnitus or Meniere's disease.

I would really appreciate if anyone could advise me what to do? Will I have hissing tinnitus for the rest of my life? I lost my job due to depression. No one understands me. No one can hear it except me My tinnitus is like a gas leaking sound coming from a punctured tyre.

Thank you and I really appreciate you all for your time.

Best regards, Scott

 

[Regal]

Hi,

I don't know what to say except to giving time, ears take a long time to heal... Your tinnitus is new like mine (about a year), I decided to give it at least 3 years to see if it's get better. If you have seen an improvement even 2% one, it's a good sign. Don't lose hope, if you let your tinnitus control yourself, you will suffer. I hear it all the time except in the shower but I'm still working, still doing my hobbies, etc. Don't change anything in your life except if you are exposed to loud noise (protect yourself). Sometimes, I want to give up but I remember this forum, the new cures or therapies coming. I'm just thinking "fuck off tinnitus, tomorrow will be better".

And stop thinking "will i have it forever?". This is the worst thing you can do to yourself, break that negative spiral until we have proof Lenire is working, Susan Shore's device is out, or FX-322 is released.

 

[Scott85]

Hi Regal,

Thanks for your heart-warming message. Much appreciated! I've tried very hard to have myself distracted from it, but haven't been successful so far. I'll take your advice seriously. The funny thing is that my tinnitus would be down to 1 or even sometimes 0 if I took two oral steroid pills (prednisolone) per day. The high frequency hearing loss would also seem to get better after taking oral steroids. But it persists once I stop taking it. I had to stop due to its numerous side effects. do you know any kind of healthy replacement to oral steroids which offers the same benefits? (something as strong as steroid without side effects in a long run.)

I noticed FX-322 and Lenire, which work based on neuron modulation technique, are only available in the U.K and some European countries. I am living in Australia. Can we order it online or we need to have a face-to-face consultation with the doctors in the clinic?

Thank you so much for your time.

Regards, Scott