How do you cope with tinnitus?
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tinnitus
if thee is a way to get around this diagnosis from hell ...i dont know it..... i have had tinnitus for eight years and i am used to it by now. being an ER Nurse, i am close to major medical centers and physicians and there is no hope...but....you will get used to it.... i will never know what silence is in my life and that caused panic attacks at first but know i wouldnt know what life would be without ringing.
oddly enough one day i was given a shot of phenergan for nausea and i noticed the ringing was gone. Scared the hell out of me.. thought i was dead. the tinnitus resumed quickly after the effects of the shot wore off.
the casuative effects of tinnitus can be many things; drug related, aspirin is a major causative effect, some of the old time antibiotics they gave us when we were kids, chronic ear infections and ruptured ear drums. loud noise.
i am sure mine is caused by my south asian trips in 68 and 69. things seem to have gotten very loud over there at times.
good luck...you really will get used to it. everyone i know that has it has adapted ok. try getting xanax to help you sleep.
good luck dave
when you absolutely need the message delivered overnight...you dont call Fed-Ex you call a Navy Seal Team!
if thee is a way to get around this diagnosis from hell ...i dont know it..... i have had tinnitus for eight years and i am used to it by now. being an ER Nurse, i am close to major medical centers and physicians and there is no hope...but....you will get used to it.... i will never know what silence is in my life and that caused panic attacks at first but know i wouldnt know what life would be without ringing.
oddly enough one day i was given a shot of phenergan for nausea and i noticed the ringing was gone. Scared the hell out of me.. thought i was dead. the tinnitus resumed quickly after the effects of the shot wore off.
the casuative effects of tinnitus can be many things; drug related, aspirin is a major causative effect, some of the old time antibiotics they gave us when we were kids, chronic ear infections and ruptured ear drums. loud noise.
i am sure mine is caused by my south asian trips in 68 and 69. things seem to have gotten very loud over there at times.
good luck...you really will get used to it. everyone i know that has it has adapted ok. try getting xanax to help you sleep.
good luck dave
when you absolutely need the message delivered overnight...you dont call Fed-Ex you call a Navy Seal Team!
EroticCuriosity
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sweetandkinky said:
Nice to meet you too. I've been deaf in both ears from birth (inherited from my mother), and, like I have previously said, I have had this tinnitus for as long as I can remember. I don't really do anything to drown it out, I just divert my attention elsewhere.
Yes you're correct about it being easier to meet people online, it's the same for me. Although, lip-reading is second nature for me, but I don't enjoy meetings and groups for the same reason.
lindiana
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EroticCuriosity said:Nice to meet you too. I've been deaf in both ears from birth (inherited from my mother), and, like I have previously said, I have had this tinnitus for as long as I can remember. I don't really do anything to drown it out, I just divert my attention elsewhere.
Yes you're correct about it being easier to meet people online, it's the same for me. Although, lip-reading is second nature for me, but I don't enjoy meetings and groups for the same reason.
Me too, no cyber...giggles
But yes, online is easier for the hard of hearing but I have discovered it still does not stop people from reading between the lines.
wideeyedgrin
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Drumsticks, man! And just find the beat that matches the melody!
Seriously though; I find a ticking clock helps for sleep. I'm focusing on the noise outside my head instead of in it. Other times I start listening closely and I'll drift of to sleep with what sound like a classical symphony.
Breathing exercises for relaxation bring the volume down for me. Cutting way back on the salt and drinking plenty of fluids also works. This is only for me as I'm used to the hum.
Taking a hearing test is a bear, though. I have to let the tone get loud enough to hear over the ringing, then I can hear it pretty far down.
Seriously though; I find a ticking clock helps for sleep. I'm focusing on the noise outside my head instead of in it. Other times I start listening closely and I'll drift of to sleep with what sound like a classical symphony.
Breathing exercises for relaxation bring the volume down for me. Cutting way back on the salt and drinking plenty of fluids also works. This is only for me as I'm used to the hum.
Taking a hearing test is a bear, though. I have to let the tone get loud enough to hear over the ringing, then I can hear it pretty far down.
Little Bird
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The sad thing about all this is, that there's only one real soltion: Get used to it.
It started when I was 14 or so and it anoied me for years. I heard it only inside but not outside, which was some relive. The most horrible times where naturally those when I wanted to sleep and a 14-year-old sometimes needs two or three hours to get to sleep, so that was a torture. (It was many years later, until I discovered that staying up longer made everything easier.)
I started to play some silent music in my room when I wanted to sleep. I don't need it anymore, because I only hear the sounds when I'm really listening to it, but I keep listening to some music, even when I'm falling asleep in less than two minutes today.
It started when I was 14 or so and it anoied me for years. I heard it only inside but not outside, which was some relive. The most horrible times where naturally those when I wanted to sleep and a 14-year-old sometimes needs two or three hours to get to sleep, so that was a torture. (It was many years later, until I discovered that staying up longer made everything easier.
)I started to play some silent music in my room when I wanted to sleep. I don't need it anymore, because I only hear the sounds when I'm really listening to it, but I keep listening to some music, even when I'm falling asleep in less than two minutes today.
SnoopDog
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Now Tinnitus is truly a desease that to most people sounds harmless but is actually one of the worst non-lethal deseases.
My mothers suffers from Tinnitus and she has done so for over ten years now. She has tried a lot of things. She tried medication first, some stuff her doctor prescribed her. Didn't work at all. She she stayed at a clinic for a couple of weeks. They tried infusions which didn't work. She then proceeded to mental training, sessions where she would do some Yoga-stuff, listen to special music, just trying to be able to ignore the damn sounds. That didn't really work as well. In the end she has had some time with a psychiatrist. Today, she can live with it. She was really depressed for quite some time but now she's over it and manages to ignore it. She said that the best cure is being busy with and concentrated on sth. Then she can just shut out the sound. But other than that it seems that there is no real cure for her. Maybe all the above stuff helps other people but there are people who can't get rid off it. They just have to learn to live with it. It's sad but it's possible. So, just hold on and start to accept the fact that it will be a part of your life. I know it's difficult and maybe sth. will work for you but it is likely that it won't.
Either way, all the best !!
Snoops
My mothers suffers from Tinnitus and she has done so for over ten years now. She has tried a lot of things. She tried medication first, some stuff her doctor prescribed her. Didn't work at all. She she stayed at a clinic for a couple of weeks. They tried infusions which didn't work. She then proceeded to mental training, sessions where she would do some Yoga-stuff, listen to special music, just trying to be able to ignore the damn sounds. That didn't really work as well. In the end she has had some time with a psychiatrist. Today, she can live with it. She was really depressed for quite some time but now she's over it and manages to ignore it. She said that the best cure is being busy with and concentrated on sth. Then she can just shut out the sound. But other than that it seems that there is no real cure for her. Maybe all the above stuff helps other people but there are people who can't get rid off it. They just have to learn to live with it. It's sad but it's possible. So, just hold on and start to accept the fact that it will be a part of your life. I know it's difficult and maybe sth. will work for you but it is likely that it won't.
Either way, all the best !!
Snoops
i_m_reckus
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I just always have noise around. I also have apea and sleep with a CPAP so I have noise all night. During the day I always have a radio or TV on. I only think about mine when it is really quiet. Otherwise the other noises I have on drown it out..
major_stupidity
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Background noise. I find it helpful to have some degree of low volume background noise around so that I don't notice the ringing as much.
wildsweetone
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bumping this for International Tinnitus Awareness Week 21-27 May 2006
It stands to reason with so many members being on Literotica that there are plenty of other people who live with Tinnitus as I do.
I got mine a couple of years ago when young children where I work were using hammers and I've not had one seconds pure silence since.
It took a long time to accept that I would never have silence again, really I am still grappling with it. It also took a very long time for me to realise that of all the 'cures' out there, the majority appear to be snake oil. One can waste a lot of hard earned money on 'cures' that are advertised.
The American Tinnitus Association and the British Tinnitus Association are busy with research trying to find causes, common points and cures. Officially, there is no known cure, yet.
There are environmental things we can to do help ourselves, the low playing music or soft nature sounds, the keeping the mind active and keeping physically active, all can help, as does watching your diet. MSG (gluten) is a known cause of spiking tinnitus, so try to go back to basic foods where packet mixes of powers and potions are eliminated and that may help.
When you're new to tinnitus or when you're having trouble dealing with the noise, find yourself a support group. A good support group. There are a few around, just hunt for them through google. I've found understanding support from fellow 'sufferers' has been helpful in realising the world has not ended and I can still live a pretty much normal life. Supporters will come up with helpful suggestions and ideas you can try, much as people here have. Sometimes it's nice to just go and grap a cyber hug.
Also, attaching yourself to a support group can help with getting up to date information on the research being undertaken by the ATA and BTA.
International Tinnitus Awareness Week
Know that you are not alone.
It stands to reason with so many members being on Literotica that there are plenty of other people who live with Tinnitus as I do.
I got mine a couple of years ago when young children where I work were using hammers and I've not had one seconds pure silence since.
It took a long time to accept that I would never have silence again, really I am still grappling with it. It also took a very long time for me to realise that of all the 'cures' out there, the majority appear to be snake oil. One can waste a lot of hard earned money on 'cures' that are advertised.
The American Tinnitus Association and the British Tinnitus Association are busy with research trying to find causes, common points and cures. Officially, there is no known cure, yet.
There are environmental things we can to do help ourselves, the low playing music or soft nature sounds, the keeping the mind active and keeping physically active, all can help, as does watching your diet. MSG (gluten) is a known cause of spiking tinnitus, so try to go back to basic foods where packet mixes of powers and potions are eliminated and that may help.
When you're new to tinnitus or when you're having trouble dealing with the noise, find yourself a support group. A good support group. There are a few around, just hunt for them through google. I've found understanding support from fellow 'sufferers' has been helpful in realising the world has not ended and I can still live a pretty much normal life. Supporters will come up with helpful suggestions and ideas you can try, much as people here have. Sometimes it's nice to just go and grap a cyber hug.
Also, attaching yourself to a support group can help with getting up to date information on the research being undertaken by the ATA and BTA.
International Tinnitus Awareness Week
Know that you are not alone.
nydolls1973
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my god this thread is making me think i have it! I don't like being in silent places. My ears start doing weird things but it's not this loud ringing. maybe a little.
I shouldn't even complain, but i'm such a hypochondriac!
I shouldn't even complain, but i'm such a hypochondriac!
wildsweetone
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nydolls1973 said:my god this thread is making me think i have it! I don't like being in silent places. My ears start doing weird things but it's not this loud ringing. maybe a little.
I shouldn't even complain, but i'm such a hypochondriac!
Tinnitus comes in many different sounds, not always a loud ringing. I've heard people say ringing, clumping, rusty bed springs squeaking, wet boots walking... etc. Mine is the sound of a lot of cicadas screaming away.
If you only notice it when you're in silent places, then it sounds like it is mild. Perhaps it is a small warning to take care of your hearing in the future.
nydolls1973
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wildsweetone said:Tinnitus comes in many different sounds, not always a loud ringing. I've heard people say ringing, clumping, rusty bed springs squeaking, wet boots walking... etc. Mine is the sound of a lot of cicadas screaming away.
If you only notice it when you're in silent places, then it sounds like it is mild. Perhaps it is a small warning to take care of your hearing in the future.
I guess I should! One thing that's really noticeable though, whenever I'm outside or even walk up stairs or something a lot of times it feels like my ears are closing up. My hearing's not much worse but it feels like it. All I can do about it is wait and try to forget about it. it only lasts a minute or two but some days it happens 2 or 3 times, some days not at all.
it's annoying.
wildsweetone said:Tinnitus comes in many different sounds, not always a loud ringing. I've heard people say ringing, clumping, rusty bed springs squeaking, wet boots walking... etc. Mine is the sound of a lot of cicadas screaming away.
If you only notice it when you're in silent places, then it sounds like it is mild. Perhaps it is a small warning to take care of your hearing in the future.
Mine's there ALL the time. More so now that I can't wear my hearing aids.
It is a mixture of a pulse, together with an almost non-stop ringing like a tuning fork. Mostly it's in the head, not often in the ears. Walking makes it worse, each time my heel hits the ground it reverberates into the head, same when I'm driving and the car is bouncing around on some of the uneven road surfaces. No solution, other than some background sounds, say music, but that has to be loud enough for me to get the benefit which makes it FAR too loud for my dearest.
Best thing I've discovered, is to just let it get on with it - it's a part of ME.
G x
wildsweetone
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Mine's there all the time too. And mine is the kind that competes with all noises that are around, nothing will surpass it, so I have to learn to live with it.
I have found some foods, drink and noises make it worse. eg some of the music my teens listen to just sent my tinnitus skyrocketing, I haven't been able to narrow it down but I think it relates to the treble sounds.
I also have hyperacusis, being near the kitchen whilst the dishes were being washed was a killer.
My hearing aids have helped to tone down the loudness of noise to a certain extent. But I find that driving my car on certain road surfaces (the cheaper seal) really spikes my tinnitus, and if one of the children I work with squeals in delight, my tinnitus spikes for hours afterwards.
I've been tempted to crawl into a cupboard where no outside sound can be heard, but really, there's only so long one can do that.
I also know that exercise can cause the tinnitus to increase in volume, but it doesn't stay at the increase for too many hours after a good fast paced walk. Maybe trying shoes with thicker soles might help you?
I don't go into shops with loud music, I ask for the music to be turned down in cafes (I don't much like cafes either because of the noisy coffee machines).
But like you say midwicket, we need to 'just get on with it'. We still have life to live.
May I ask why you can't wear your hearing aids?
I have found some foods, drink and noises make it worse. eg some of the music my teens listen to just sent my tinnitus skyrocketing, I haven't been able to narrow it down but I think it relates to the treble sounds.
I also have hyperacusis, being near the kitchen whilst the dishes were being washed was a killer.
My hearing aids have helped to tone down the loudness of noise to a certain extent. But I find that driving my car on certain road surfaces (the cheaper seal) really spikes my tinnitus, and if one of the children I work with squeals in delight, my tinnitus spikes for hours afterwards.
I've been tempted to crawl into a cupboard where no outside sound can be heard, but really, there's only so long one can do that.
I also know that exercise can cause the tinnitus to increase in volume, but it doesn't stay at the increase for too many hours after a good fast paced walk. Maybe trying shoes with thicker soles might help you?
I don't go into shops with loud music, I ask for the music to be turned down in cafes (I don't much like cafes either because of the noisy coffee machines).
But like you say midwicket, we need to 'just get on with it'. We still have life to live.
May I ask why you can't wear your hearing aids?
wildsweetone said:May I ask why you can't wear your hearing aids?
Decades of 'wear&tear' exacerbated by frequent infection over recent years.
If I wear an aid for a while, the ear piece gets blocked up quickly. Consultant advises not to wear it (them) anymore.
Suggesting a bone-anchored instead!!.
G x
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