What Makes Your Tinnitus Better, and What Makes It Worse?

[Rb86]

Really just looking for conversation. I'm having a higher volume day, keeping myself together, looking forward to sleeping.

What makes your tinnitus worse? What makes it better?

I am still new in, on my 5th week now, and my tinnitus fluctuates. I've achieved having days where I can work and not notice it for a minute or two.

Today unfortunately I woke up at 3:30 am, fell back asleep from about 6:00-6:30 and then that was it, I was up.

Over the weekend I painted the fence with my wife, which involved using the air compressor (for spraying). I used my 32 dB foam ear plugs at all times around the compressor.

I've noted that caffeine doesn't seem to affect my tinnitus, but, I had one beer (the first since onset) and, while I didn't seem to have any effect that evening, today all day has been louder.

I'm assuming mainly due to lack of solid sleep, but alcohol could be something.

Anyway, I made a nice bowl of chili for dinner, I'm going to do my cold shower which seems to stop my tinnitus for a minute, and I'm going to take Benadryl to hopefully get at least 6 hours sleep.

I've also been sometimes, although rare, experiencing ear spasm, brain zap, and fleeting tinnitus. I'm hoping those indicate the ears still working on healing, but, some people get it who've had tinnitus forever, so I guess not...

 

[Daniel S.]

Hi Rb! So I'm not sure what kind of sound your tinnitus has taken on, but for my ringing, I find that nature videos on YouTube help to mask it really, really well. If you have a high-pitched ringing like I do, try some videos of rain or running water. I use this water fountain video sometimes to help me sleep. It also masks my tinnitus enough to let me read in peace. If that doesn't work, I'd suggest doing a little browsing. I guarantee you'll find something that helps eventually.

Also, have you tried taking melatonin for sleeping? I use it sometimes when I'm really struggling to pass out, and it's been somewhat helpful. (Disclaimer: You obviously shouldn't try it before talking to your doctor, which I'm sure you already know, but I'm writing this out anyway just to cover my own butt lol!)

A big thing for me has been exercise, both cardio and weights. I tend to fall asleep more easily on workout days, and the endorphins give my mood a nice boost as well.

As far as what makes my tinnitus worse, well, there's not too much I encounter on a daily basis that effects it much. I can't drive with my windows down for too much time, though. When I do, I'll get a small spike which always does away later, but I still try to avoid it (don't like to tempt fate). And of course on those occasions when I'm unlucky enough to be outside walking just as a loud motorcycle or ambulance comes speeding past, my tinnitus goes into overdrive for a few minutes if I don't plug my ears fast enough. But that's why I like walking super early (at like 4 or 5 am). Hardly any traffic, which makes my ears very happy!

 

[GregCA]

What makes your tinnitus worse?

Nothing.

What makes it better?

Nothing.

 

[Samantha R]

Curcumin for me - must be some neurological inflammation going on for me.
Hormones make it worse (before and after mensturation). Very frustrating.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Really just looking for conversation. I'm having a higher volume day, keeping myself together, looking forward to sleeping.

What makes your tinnitus worse? What makes it better?

I am still new in, on my 5th week now, and my tinnitus fluctuates. I've achieved having days where I can work and not notice it for a minute or two.

Today unfortunately I woke up at 3:30 am, fell back asleep from about 6:00-6:30 and then that was it, I was up.

Over the weekend I painted the fence with my wife, which involved using the air compressor (for spraying). I used my 32 dB foam ear plugs at all times around the compressor.

I've noted that caffeine doesn't seem to affect my tinnitus, but, I had one beer (the first since onset) and, while I didn't seem to have any effect that evening, today all day has been louder.

I'm assuming mainly due to lack of solid sleep, but alcohol could be something.

Anyway, I made a nice bowl of chili for dinner, I'm going to do my cold shower which seems to stop my tinnitus for a minute, and I'm going to take Benadryl to hopefully get at least 6 hours sleep.

I've also been sometimes, although rare, experiencing ear spasm, brain zap, and fleeting tinnitus. I'm hoping those indicate the ears still working on healing, but, some people get it who've had tinnitus forever, so I guess not...

HI @Rb86

Tinnitus does fluctuate a lot in the early stages for many people. This will take time to settle down providing you are not subjecting your ears and auditory system to overly loud sounds which may not be the case.

I have read your first post to this forum and note, your tinnitus was caused by noise. You have been a musician for many years and say you have been around loud sounds and now work in precision sheet metal. The facts are this: Loud noise and tinnitus do not go well together. Even if you were to wear the best "noise reducing" earplugs, if external sounds are loud enough, they will pass through your head and transfer to your inner ear by bone conduction and spike the tinnitus.

You will know if the environment that you're working in is too loud, as your tinnitus will continue to spike and sorry to say, could get worse if you don't make some changes and work in a less noisy surroundings. The same applies if you are still playing music in a band? Loud sounds just don't agree with tinnitus. Listening to music through any type of headphones is a definite NO even at low volume, for anyone with "Noise induced tinnitus".

Please click on the links below and read my posts which I think you will find helpful.

I wish you well

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

 

[Rb86]

HI @Rb86

Tinnitus does fluctuate a lot in the early stages for many people. This will take time to settle down providing you are not subjecting your ears and auditory system to overly loud sounds which may not be the case.

I have read your first post to this forum and note, your tinnitus was caused by noise. You have been a musician for many years and say you have been around loud sounds and now work in precision sheet metal. The facts are this: Loud noise and tinnitus do not go well together. Even if you were to wear the best "noise reducing" earplugs, if external sounds are loud enough, they will pass through your head and transfer to your inner ear by bone conduction and spike the tinnitus.

You will know if the environment that you're working in is too loud, as your tinnitus will continue to spike and sorry to say, could get worse if you don't make some changes and work in a less noisy surroundings. The same applies if you are still playing music in a band? Loud sounds just don't agree with tinnitus. Listening to music through any type of headphones is a definite NO even at low volume, for anyone with "Noise induced tinnitus".

Please click on the links below and read my posts which I think you will find helpful.

I wish you well

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

Thanks Michael. I don't play in bands anymore, that was years ago. Luckily I haven't had too much loud work environments over the past month. Any time I do I double protect - foam plugs and muffs over them.

I've been clinging to my faith and as God has it, my work has brought me to painting for the last 2 weeks. Quiet stuff that just popped up. I am lucky for that.

I'll read your posts. Thank you.

 

[Marslum]

I think showering makes my tinnitus better. But just right after and it does not last very long.

 

[boliston]

For me sleep quality has a huge effect - when I sleep badly I can almost guarantee my tinnitus (& hyperacusis) will be worse the next day - I use the FitBit sleep tracking function to keep a log of how I have slept as I would like to be able to sleep more - I have stopped having alcohol & caffeine as I think they were both impacting on my sleep.

 

[JohnAdams]

HI @Rb86

Tinnitus does fluctuate a lot in the early stages for many people. This will take time to settle down providing you are not subjecting your ears and auditory system to overly loud sounds which may not be the case.

I have read your first post to this forum and note, your tinnitus was caused by noise. You have been a musician for many years and say you have been around loud sounds and now work in precision sheet metal. The facts are this: Loud noise and tinnitus do not go well together. Even if you were to wear the best "noise reducing" earplugs, if external sounds are loud enough, they will pass through your head and transfer to your inner ear by bone conduction and spike the tinnitus.

You will know if the environment that you're working in is too loud, as your tinnitus will continue to spike and sorry to say, could get worse if you don't make some changes and work in a less noisy surroundings. The same applies if you are still playing music in a band? Loud sounds just don't agree with tinnitus. Listening to music through any type of headphones is a definite NO even at low volume, for anyone with "Noise induced tinnitus".

Please click on the links below and read my posts which I think you will find helpful.

I wish you well

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

is this you?

 

[Michael Leigh]

is this you?

For 5 years I have managed to keep my identity a secret until now. Please remove my picture as soon as possible.
Many thanks.