So I've had tinnitus from 18 to 28 (now). Mild up until 26, when tinnitus got worse from a wood saw exposure briefly, followed by a worsening of hyperacusis.
I've struggled off and on for last 2 years never quite getting to a point where I feel improved to forget about T/H. Some days better than others. One thing I cannot wrap my head around is to why this hyperacusis, which is what I assume is the cause, is causing me so much problems even 2 years post worsening of T.
I stay away from loud places and plug my ears to not get hit by idiots riding loud hogs, but everyday noises, traffic even, I don't shy away. I seem to do fine. But, incidents like what happened this past Saturday keep occurring and setting me back.
Incident:
I wen't to the store I always go to, and the idiots there decided the self check out scanner sound needed to be very loud. It was abnormally, not needed type of loud. It was a high pitch, loud beep every time I scanned. The first one bothered my ears, not a "I'm panicking because I think it's too loud" type of thing, an actual discomfort in my ear. By third one I felt very uneasy and my left ear felt a bit sore. I asked the person near by to please lower it, as she tried to tell me it needed to be loud, with no reason. I said I didn't care, it was hurting my ears. She proceeds to then lower it and I see the Volume % on this machine was at like 90% volume. She moved it to 82, which of course, was not even noticeable once I scanned again.
So, all in total 7 swipes. Each time, a jolt of pain to my left ear. I go home and my T in my left ear, which for last month or so has been relatively stable, is now a bit higher in pitch. Noticeable, not psychological. I know when a change happens, and I at night watch t.v at a low volume is a 40ish db surrounding and have a certain sound I know in my ears. It was now higher and different. I also felt a soreness deep in the ear, a light ache and a feeling of like the muscles inside are a bit tense.
A few days go by, no real improvement. By Tuesday/Wed, I notice that right when I wake up my left ear doesn't feel "tight" as much, and then progressively through out the morning goes back to being a bit tight feeling that occurred right after the scanner incident. The ache comes and goes, but sitting today the ache is worse than the last couple of days. Very unpleasant. Right ear seems relatively unaffected.
So, what is going on? I can't imagine this is damage? Even if I figure out the level and go back with a meter. Even if it was 110db which I can't imagine, it was quick, and 7 times with a break between each. How exactly am I having soreness and my T now higher pitch over this?
Is it possible that only specific sounds that are louder can impact and affect my ear? I also have issues with glass hitting each other or plates ect., causing slight discomfort. But nothing has affected me like this high pitch beep sound from the self check out. It was without a doubt, higher than what would be just normal.
I'm assuming and hoping this is temporary as I refuse to believe this has now changed my T pitch forever, but sitting close to week from the incident and no improvement on T and ear still sore, has be concerned on recovery.
I've struggled off and on for last 2 years never quite getting to a point where I feel improved to forget about T/H. Some days better than others. One thing I cannot wrap my head around is to why this hyperacusis, which is what I assume is the cause, is causing me so much problems even 2 years post worsening of T.
I stay away from loud places and plug my ears to not get hit by idiots riding loud hogs, but everyday noises, traffic even, I don't shy away. I seem to do fine. But, incidents like what happened this past Saturday keep occurring and setting me back.
Incident:
I wen't to the store I always go to, and the idiots there decided the self check out scanner sound needed to be very loud. It was abnormally, not needed type of loud. It was a high pitch, loud beep every time I scanned. The first one bothered my ears, not a "I'm panicking because I think it's too loud" type of thing, an actual discomfort in my ear. By third one I felt very uneasy and my left ear felt a bit sore. I asked the person near by to please lower it, as she tried to tell me it needed to be loud, with no reason. I said I didn't care, it was hurting my ears. She proceeds to then lower it and I see the Volume % on this machine was at like 90% volume. She moved it to 82, which of course, was not even noticeable once I scanned again.
So, all in total 7 swipes. Each time, a jolt of pain to my left ear. I go home and my T in my left ear, which for last month or so has been relatively stable, is now a bit higher in pitch. Noticeable, not psychological. I know when a change happens, and I at night watch t.v at a low volume is a 40ish db surrounding and have a certain sound I know in my ears. It was now higher and different. I also felt a soreness deep in the ear, a light ache and a feeling of like the muscles inside are a bit tense.
A few days go by, no real improvement. By Tuesday/Wed, I notice that right when I wake up my left ear doesn't feel "tight" as much, and then progressively through out the morning goes back to being a bit tight feeling that occurred right after the scanner incident. The ache comes and goes, but sitting today the ache is worse than the last couple of days. Very unpleasant. Right ear seems relatively unaffected.
So, what is going on? I can't imagine this is damage? Even if I figure out the level and go back with a meter. Even if it was 110db which I can't imagine, it was quick, and 7 times with a break between each. How exactly am I having soreness and my T now higher pitch over this?
Is it possible that only specific sounds that are louder can impact and affect my ear? I also have issues with glass hitting each other or plates ect., causing slight discomfort. But nothing has affected me like this high pitch beep sound from the self check out. It was without a doubt, higher than what would be just normal.
I'm assuming and hoping this is temporary as I refuse to believe this has now changed my T pitch forever, but sitting close to week from the incident and no improvement on T and ear still sore, has be concerned on recovery.
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