Went back to see my GP with regard tinnitus becoming unbearable, she checked both ears which are clear,
She said I should up the gram of anti depressant and it should go away its only been 8 years after all,
This is why I feel that I'm getting no where and feeling so isolated
If I were you I would ask my GP to be referred to ENT for tests. If the tests are clear, referral to a Hearing Therapist is usually recommend for tinnitus management. Try to avoid quiet rooms and surroundings especially at night by using a sound machine.
I've been to ENT everything clear they simply told me to manage my mental health, I just don't know where to turn anymore
It is very strange that you haven't been referred to an Hearing Therapist. Have a word with your GP ask if it's possible you can be referred to a hearing therapist as they can usually help with the management of tinnitus. Keep going back to your GP if you have to as I once done the same.
Michael
Nobody has mentioned a hearing therapist I just no I can't continue living like this
A Hearing Therapist specialises in tinnitus management. Many hearing therapists were born with tinnitus or acquired it at some time in their life. Ask your GP to refer you to an hearing therapist for counselling on tinnitus management. I have written an article on tinnitus. It covers tinnitus treatment and coping methods and suggestions on bringing positivity into your life. I have also written a piece on using sound enrichment and how it can be benificial in helping tinnitus. If you would like to read it please send me an email: michael_lee83@yahoo.com
All the best
Michael
Thanks Michael much appreciated
I totally agree with Michael, your Gp is talking nonsense and you should be referred to an Audiology dept. If you havent already, you should have an MRI scan of the head just to rule out any other possible cause of your ear noises and then if Tinnitus is diagnosed you will be treated for it and helped to manage it. Sure drugs can be of help in as much as helping you to cope with the Tinnitus but as of yet there are no drugs that will take the noises completely away.
Best wishes, Pete.
I've been to an audiologist and was told slight hearing loss then reffered to ENT only to be told that depression can result in tinnitus and I have to manage my mental health, I don't know what to do
Hello Carol, i am only a layman with consequence my knowledge is only limited so if i say anything wrong forgive me please. Tinnitus is caused by the hairs on the cochlea being damaged in some way or another, by sound, for example. I feel that your depression can be caused by your Tinnitus and not the other way around so if you learn to manage your T then this in turn will help you with your depression.
Sincere regards, Peter.😊
I agree with Peter. And try every avenue.
Hi Carol71,
What antidepressant are you on and the dose ?
A referral to ENT will reasure you that all is well if do a MRI and hearing test.
Audiology can help with white noise generators or hearing aids and counselling.
Two months ago I was put on Nortriptyline 50mg.
It has made a massive difference to me and stopped my head tinnitus and loud drone tinnitus and took my high pitch tinnitus down a notch.
A'll so I'm having times when I can hear total silence and after over 12 years of sever tinnitus due to Menieres its made a massive difference to me...
Stay positive you will find what works best for you like I have done thanks to my wonderful doctor who never gave up on me.....lots of love glynis
Wow Glynis - that is all so good to hear! Well done, you are such a great help to us all. Love Angela xx
Fluoxetine 40mg been on it for aged never helped ease my tinnitus so to told to go away and double up meds really doesn't help, so fed up
it's so hard to stay positive when I feel i'm not being listened too by my own GP
I can't remember the last time I heard silence, I'm on Fluoxetine 40 mg have been for a long time, I've had a hearing test and been ENT told nothing can be done and to manage my mental health
Hi Carol,
Didn't audiology offer you any Maskers ?...lots of love glynis
Hope your fluoxentine if helping you.
MIND do wonderful counselling and get 10 free 50 minute one to one sessions ...
I hope the NHS still give out maskers... and not cutbacks ...lots of love glynis
Hi Carol, I was given maskers by my Audiologist on the NHS recently, there was no issue at all and it was their suggestion. So unless there's variation between trusts, I would be surprised if they didn't have them available. They are VERY helpful. Good luck!
I will be going back to my GP and I won't be leaving until I'm referred
I was offered nothing from the audiologist and ENT told me they cant do anything and told me to keep on top of my mental health then I was discharged
I am sorry that happened. I went to my GP on Monday and he gave me promethazine 10mg. One in the morning and two in the evening. It's an antihistamine but has calming effects.
After the first day of taking it my tinnitus went higher and more metallic again. I tried it again next morning to see if things might improve. I have a hearing aid with sound generator. Couldn't hear the generator..
Phoned surgery about it tells time. Receptionist phoned back and said to stop taking in that case and that there was no alternative. I had also mentioned I was severely stressed. I had asked for diazepam to help till the noise receded. Usually this is ok. I don't take it every day at a regular dose and times. And it doesn't affect my tinnitus.
Went to see the same GP after several days who said to try the medicine for a week and see. So tried it again and same thing. I must admit my tinnitus was a bit loud already but I still had some in my system. The noise ramped up and was steadily high as before. My tinnitus goes up and down normally.
I am sitting here with nature sounds on my kindle and over ear headphones to help.
According to the GP he was surprised when he got the line from the receptionist from me as regards the symptoms as the medication is for tinnitus symptoms.
I had cattarh and dizziness and wasn't sure if how I was feeling was getting over the flu I had. Anxiety too I think. He prescribed the promethazine for those symptoms and for its calming effect.
Anyway when I went back he said that the diazepam fixes things for a while and it has to stop sometime.
Taking into consideration I had a nervous breakdown which caused the tinnitus to soar in the first place and that I have mental health issues and feel very vulnerable when things like that happen he might well have just opened the window and let me jump. How can a doctor leave you with nothing but to try again with the drug that caused the issues.
And I did try it again to prove to myself it wasn't fear of taking a new drug. I was all for it on starting it. Something to help anxiety and help with the other things.
Tinnitus and worsening of it are side effects which I wasn't aware of till checking. And this is what I said to the GP who then replied about the surprise at the line regarding it from me via the receptionist as it treats tinnitus symptoms.
I have some chlordiazepoxide of which I took one earlier. Calmer but still feel anxiety underneath if you know what I mean.
I take mirtazipine 45mg every evening. I have been waking up throughout the night two to three times the last few days and luckily falling over again but the noise is there and louder than usual.
I used to always listen to an audio book with loud background water noise and then I got to where I could just listen to the book with low background. The metallic noises dampened. Now they are back and I have been trying audio books today with the louder background noise and still the noise squeals through.
The noise generator stopped working today. Can hear the musical when it turns on but no noises. Just goes dead. Couldn't hear it anyway after starting that promethazine.
I go on 10th February to audiology instead of 10th March as I had asked to have it turned up. The audiologist wanted this at the time of fitting but I found it scary and she toned it down. When I got home and being out and about I couldn't hear it as loudly as I did in the audiologists office. I have to have a generator fitted to my other ear as well even although my hearing is perfect I have tinnitus at times. And the last days with promethazine haven't helped.
The letter came this morning for my earlier appointment. I will have to rely on my normal hearing aid and noise apps till then and I hope I get the generator for the other ear in February as well.
The noise generator in the hearing aid is tuned to your hearing and I must admit when I could hear it it felt very comforting because I knew it was working on my ear and I got used to it quickly.
Ask to see ENT and take everything you can get from them. Tinnitus can stop us from being the whole person and cause distress and misery. GPs should be helping a patient who is vulnerable and distressed.
I will go to the local hospital and see the mental health team if I can't manage. I get stuck to the spot rigid at times. And I can go and say my GP will not give me anything to help without having to go through the seeing the GP first before going. I have felt better and want to again. I just feel hopeless just now.
Please don't feel isolated although I know how difficult it is and feel isolated myself because there is no one to talk with who knows what I am feeling. And I have sobbed a lot this week and felt like I didn't want to go on.
I would go walking or out before but can't much with the dizziness and it has nothing to do with my ears. ENT said this last two visits. It's probably anxiety but I have had issues with sinuses etc.....off and on since the breakdown. And that adds to anxiety.
Can you see another GP? My neighbour has recommended his GP practice to me. He has loud tinnitus in both ears and gets good treatment there.
I have tried deep breathing, relaxation, anxiety management classes, mindfulness and guided hypnosis which I did find helpful. Sometimes however, it's an understanding GP we need to help, whether with medicine or referral for further treatment they can't give us.
I am sorry for droning on and I hope we both and all the others who suffer similar difficulties get through.
Getting through somehow shouldn't even be an option nowadays.
You're not droning at all I need all the advice I can get, I just don't know what to anymore, doubling my current medication turns me into a zombie, I was exhausted this morning, and mentally exhaustEd by this tinnitus,
Exhaustion doesn't help the tinnitus. I am hearing the metallic high pitch through heavy rain sound app just now. Off the scale.
Take my mirtazipine soon and hoping I sleep through tonight.
I am just going to go to the hospital if I can't take anymore.
You can phone NHS 24 and ask to speak to a mental health nurse. They will call you back. Tell them how you feel and ask for help.They should give you advice.
I sometimes have to phone when things get too bad.
I am sorry you are like this.
I was also effectively fobbed off by the ENT consultant recently, they just said I should try to find my own way of dealing with the tinnitus and go back to see them in 12mths time for another hearing test. At the time, I was so pleased that I didn't have to start wearing hearing aids that I didn't really question it but after the event I realised that I can't just struggle on with the tinnitus alone for the next year - as such, I went back to both the ENT department and my GP to pester them for a referral to Audiology for tinnitus therapy. As a result, I've now ended up with 2 separate referrals to different audiology departments - I intend taking up both referrals, I need as much help as I can get at the moment. Whether therapy will actually do any good remains to be seen.........
Basically, just don't take no for an answer.
i'm going back to my GP soon and will ask for referral, let us know how you get on
Hi Carol
Sometimes persistence is needed, unfortunately, but you have had some good advice from the members here.
You might like to work through our new e-learning platform takeontinnitus.co.uk which will give some exercises to try - similar to the things a hearing therapist would talk to you about.
Now nothing is going to be an instant fix, but over time - and with regular practice of these things - it should help you while you are waiting for your referral to come through.
Objective tinnitus help please.
Echo in head and Tinnitus/Hyperacusis
New Tinnitus Support Needed 
Moved to the other side.
Can't sleep at night
