Tinnitus Got Worse After Attending a Live Performance

[Louise]

Louise --- The UST cd is worth a try. It may help you; it just didn't help me as much as I had hoped, and I used it every day for several months.

The sound therapy I sometimes use when watching t.v. is the UST sound therapy, on the "Tinnitus" track. Yes, I do have hearing loss in my tinnitus ear (right ear), but that's not the problem. It's the pitch of the sound from the t.v. that makes it worse. It is a feeling --- sort of like the sound is causing the tinnitus to penetrate the right side of my head! I think I get that because of my pulsating tinnitus; it seems to make it absolutely reverberate. Does that make any sense? I hope so; it's hard to describe in words!

I'm sorry your T has gotten worse recently; do you have hearing loss, too? Maybe it's due to slightly worsening hearing loss (?).

I remember someone saying that their tinnitus got worse after attending a live performance of "Phantom of the Opera" in London. Was that you? I love "Phantom", and know that it does get very loud at times, especially the organ music!

That was me Karen!! I've been to the theatre loads before T so didnt think it would be a problem. I got another hearing test after it as well and it hadnt got worse. But there's something about noisiness (normal levels) that makes mine worse and it stays worse, not a spike. I went to a restaurant before xmas and that did it. Just people talking and being noisy on the next table made my T worse. I cant do anything now for fear of that.

Yes, I have hearing loss nothing I notice or noticed in daily life but its measurable (25db at 6k and 40db at 4k in the worst ear). I got some NHS hearing aids and I now use those to watch TV so there's no stress on my ears trying to discern conversation.

Strange what the TV does to you. Its not an old TV is it? Is it worse on certain programmes? If you're watching a pgm that's just talking and no other noise are you ok then?

 

[Karen]

Louise --- Thought that was you! (I love live theatre, too). What a shame that the things you love to do (theatre, restaurants) must now be restricted because of tinnitus. I wonder if, since you have hearing loss, it would help you to wear the hearing aids at noisy restaurants. Would that help protect your ears from the sounds, and keep the T from getting any worse?

As for my t.v. problem: Well, yes, it could be because I have an older t.v. set. I was actually afraid to get a newer, larger set because it might make my problem even worse. I think my problem is due to the pulsating tinnitus, because there are certain things that seem to "set it off". When that happens, it feels like a twitching, vibrating, drilling sensation in the affected ear. However, my tinnitus has gotten somewhat better lately (I've had severe tinnitus and pulsating since May 2010), so the t.v. problem hasn't been quite as bad as it was. This could be encouraging news to you, too, because tinnitus really does seem to subside some after awhile. I don't know why, but it does. I hope that happens for you at some time in the future!

 

[Louise]

Yes Karen I used to love theatre and eating out. I wont eat out now unless its a quiet place and even then I find myself asking them to turn down the background music even though its not really loud or I put earplugs in for a big chunk of the time. I just cant cope with it getting any louder and wont take any risks! I wouldnt dream of going to the theatre now either.
For the first 9 weeks I had it (before the theatre) I never even thought about it getting louder, I thought that was it, it would stay as it eas and gradually get better Now its been made louder twice I find myself checking it a lot. Its the very last thing you are supposed to do I know that.

Im glad your T is a bit better lately. Hope mine goes that way too, as you say, in time. I just read another post of yours on another thread, so, like me you got yours originally from standing too close to a speaker.

Yours isnt a CRT TV is it? They do give off a high pitched noise I find. Sure you've thought of everything around the Tv problem anyway

 

[Karen]

Yes, Louise, I originally got my tinnitus (right side only) from being too close to a speaker. I thought it would go away the next day, but it never did. I acclimated to that sound after awhile, and have been living with it for about 28 years! What made the T worse was when I was prescribed blood pressure medicine by my doctor. I've gotten myself off the horrible medicine, but it has taken me over 2 years to get back to normal. Now, I take only natural supplements, except for my thyroid medicine.

My TV isnt a CRT type, so I think it's just the sound in general. I have to be careful in noisy situations, too, as you do. I now carry ear plugs as a just-in-case measure.

 

[Molan]

When I first got Tinnitus the idea of falling asleep in silence was a nightmare. However now that I have had it quite a long time it's not so bad for me now. Hopefully someone will find something long before you have it as long as me though!

 

[Louise]

When I first got Tinnitus the idea of falling asleep in silence was a nightmare. However now that I have had it quite a long time it's not so bad for me now. Hopefully someone will find something long before you have it as long as me though!

It sounds like time makes things easier then. I doubt theyll find anything soon, they seem to be in the Dark Ages with this thing

 

[Louise]

Yes, Louise, I originally got my tinnitus (right side only) from being too close to a speaker. I thought it would go away the next day, but it never did. I acclimated to that sound after awhile, and have been living with it for about 28 years! What made the T worse was when I was prescribed blood pressure medicine by my doctor. I've gotten myself off the horrible medicine, but it has taken me over 2 years to get back to normal. Now, I take only natural supplements, except for my thyroid medicine.

My TV isnt a CRT type, so I think it's just the sound in general. I have to be careful in noisy situations, too, as you do. I now carry ear plugs as a just-in-case measure.

So we did the same thing then Karen, too close to a speaker
Mine was only in one ear for months now its started in the other ear too. Its so frightening.
If you end up in a noisy situation (just a busy restaurant type level of noise) does your T spike and come back down or does it get louder and stay louder like mine?
You were unlucky with those meds Is the T now back down to the level it was before the meds?

 

[Karen]

Hi, Louise,

Yes, I believe we had a similar experience. Mine has only been in one ear all this time. Occasionally, I'll hear a small ringing in a my left ear for a moment or two, as if my ears are trying to balance themselves out, but that's it.

The times I've been in a noisy situation, my T has gotten worse, but it always seems to come back down to the same level. No ongoing spikes, that I can recall.

The meds may have done some permanent damage (but I'm trying to think otherwise!). No, my T is not back down to the level it was before. But, it is better than it was in 2010, when the severe tinnitus and pulsating began. Which do I think is worse --- the ringing or the pulsating? The pulsating is far worse. I feel that I could deal with just ringing, but it's difficult hearing one's heartbeat all the time. It sort of freaks me out!

 

[Louise]

I hope the meds havent done anything permanent for you Karen. Its getting better so that's a good sign something is reversing itself.
That pulsating must be awful. I wonder why it latches onto the heartbeat? Or is it that you can hear the blood flow?

There shouldnt be any such thing as tinnitus!! And we shouldnt have to be digging around for answers

Oh, sorry for suggesting you might have a very old TV yesterday

 

[Karen]

Louise, I certainly agree with you that we shouldn't have to be our own detectives (or doctors), and dig for answers ourselves. But that's just how it is right now. I'm hoping that in 2013 there will be some sort of breakthrough in tinnitus research!

Yes, it is a good sign that the ringing, etc. are finally getting calmer and better with time. And that is good news for you, too. It's hard to be patient with a thing like tinnitus, but in time, believe it or not, it does get better.

The pulsating is difficult to deal with. It is in tune with the heartbeat, but what I'm actually hearing is the blood flowing. And I'll never understand why it started suddenly. I'm hoping it will go away just as suddenly!

(As an aside: I saw "Les Miserables" (the movie) last night. It was fabulous! I'll admit I did use ear plugs! Great cast; great adaptation.)

 

[Louise]

Do you think its possible it will get better with time for me when all its done so far over the last 6 months is get worse?

There's a popular 'theory' that the noises we hear are normal inner ear activities that we would normally not be aware of and have become aware because the brain has intensified our hearing because of hearing loss or stress. Hearing is heightened when we are on 'red alert'. I can understand that thinking. Do you think that would apply to yourself?

Oh, I've seen the ad for the Les Mes film on TV and thought it "looks marvellous", quickly followed by the thought that "I cant do that"
Could you hear it ok through the plugs? What sort of plugs did you use? My heavy duty plugs are 35db foam ones, then I have some musicians earplugs that are smarter with what they block out, they let you hear more without letting in anything damaging. The trouble is its a much lower level of noise than 'damaging' that makes my T worse (and stay worse).

I saw The Phantom in Leeds in August when it changed the T for the worse. Its was a fantastic production, the only thing it lacked was the chandalier crashing down. I'd already seen it twice in London and was blown away. I have the film on DVD which stars Gerard Butler as the Phantom. Its smashing!! I saw Les Mis in London too a lot of years ago.

I will wait for this Les Mis film to come out on dvd then and sit with the volume down (I bought my sister the Royal Albert Hall performance of it last year for xmas and she says its amazing and has watched it many, many times).

I really wanted to see the new production of Jesus Christ Superstar but that's out now

Do you think there might be a correlation between tinnitus women and a love of theatre as Click also loves Phantom

 

[erik]

Louise, by all means go see Les Mis. Don't let T dictate what you can or cannot do. You can do anything you want. If there is any doubt to whether an event or place might be too loud bring ear plugs. I carry some everywhere I go just in case but very rarely use them including at the cinema except for louder action movies. I saw Les Mes, The Hobbit and Django Unchained. If T gets louder after movie its usually because of your reaction or fear that it would, so it does. But it is temporary. Once you get over the fear that something like a movie will make your T louder than it doesn't ear plugs or not. So use ear plugs if it seems to loud. A good gauge of loudness is if it is so loud that you have to raise your voice to speak then it probably is too loud for your ears. Otherwise, fear not and enjoy yourself at the cinema or theater.

 

[Karen]

Erik,
You're braver than I am! It took me awhile before I felt confident enough to go to a movie again. Earplugs work just fine for me, even though movies seem louder than ever these days. The brand I have is Silencio, and they worked well for me. I have some foam earplugs, too, but prefer these.

Louise,
I hope you'll try going out again soon, when you're ready. I don't blame you for being gun-shy, though! Just make sure you have good-quality earplugs the first time you try it. Yes, I could hear it just find through the earplugs.

There could be a correlation between tinnitus women and theatre; it's possible we're a similar type of individual. Somewhere on TT, I read about the tinnitus type of person. We're all probably careful, cautious, a bit of a worrier, and perhaps sensitive, too. That sensitivity/awareness could be why arts and theatre appeal to us.

 

[Fish]

Very wise words from both Erik and Karen!

Do not let tinnitus control your life. If you want to do something, just do it! We are not disabled in any way, all we need is taking care of our hearing and make sure we have earplugs.

Karen is right about tinnitus personality I am very anxious myself, I worry about everything, about the family, job, school etc. When I attended a live concert early this month even though I had strong earplugs, I worried about doing damage to my hearing all the time. I did pull out my earplugs when I went outside the venue for a moment and oh boy it indeed was LOUD. And guess what, my tinnitus did spike later that evening. I am sure it was just stress and anxiety like Erik said. The next day it was back to the baseline level.

 

[Louise]

The thing is that I've had the T get worse and stay worse now twice through being in normal type noise and I was definitely not worried about it beforehand. Both times I'd had a few glasses of wine beforehand and was very relaxed and not thinking about T (which is very rare). It something the sound has done, just too much for my ears as they are now. If it was a spike that would be ok but it hasnt been. I wont risk it again. But in future if this thing ever settles down then I expect to be able to.

Karen, when you wear the plugs can you not hear the T louder and more annoying? I've been in places where I will put them in put the T noise is then louder and I find it too annoying. Doesnt anyone else have that?

I think there's a definite correlation between being a sensitive/anxious person and T.

 

[Karen]

Louise, Yes, I have had situations where the T seemed louder when I put in the earplugs. For me, that mostly happens when I'm at home and the surroundings are fairly quiet to begin with. I've tried experimenting with earplugs when I watch television, to see if it would help my T not spike. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and I notice the T even more.

But, in instances of very loud noise, like at a theatre or other event, it really helps me to put in those earplugs. Movies are so loud these days, I wouldn't consider going without them!

 

[Carroc]

It's hard to find a common thread. At first I journaled my T to figure out what to avoid and after 2 months I quit doing that because I can have good days for no reason and bad days for no reason. I do find concerts or the movies or noisy restaurants make it spike. Even sometimes any shrill noise like a baby crying or the beep you get when you lock your car door. It's a mystery. Then if you use earplugs you hear the T more and you don't have the distraction of what is going on around you.