I've had tinnitus in one ear for a couple of years now. The first doctor I spoke to when I first noticed it . was kind of dismissive. At the time it was relatively easy to ignore. However, since the beginning of this year it's gotten louder, just as if someone's turned up the volume. I spoke to a different doctor who referred me to the ENT dept . They sent me for an MRI scan and just recently I had a letter back stating nothing's wrong (no tumor or nerve damage or whatever) and that I don't need any follow up appointments. Good news, of course, but I'm thinking: what now? I still have this problem which hasn't stopped since I first noticed it. I've been reading some of the modules on the take-on-tinnitus website which has made it less daunting. I would welcome any help or advice.
Respectfully submitted,
Keoni
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Keoni
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Hi Keoni, and welcome to this forum which is the best for telling the truth and giving good advice. First, it is good news that your mri scan showed nothing untoward, as did mine. GPs and ENTs, in my experience, are of no help whatsoever, apart from the prescribing of meds to help in calming our minds. As well as Zopiclone to make me sleep, I was prescribed Mirtazapine specifically as an anti anxiety medicine. I would suggest that you need to be referred to the NHS audiology department for a hearing check. I have slight hearing loss in one ear and the hearing aid quietens my tinnitus. I have a white noise masker for my good ear, which I now only wear on those days when my T is bothersome. You could also ask your GP to refer you for CBT counselling, which may help you to feel more positive about your life and hence this will quieten your tinnitus.
Have some background noise on all night to help with sleep too - 2 years 8 months on from my onset of T and I still use my sound oasis machine all night, every night. During the day (I am retired) I surround myself with low level sound. Tinnitus feeds on silence, but don't have the surrounding sound too loud as your brain cannot habituate to a sound it cannot hear (as explained very well by michaelee's excellent posts). You are not alone, there are millions of us out there living alongside our tinnitus. Other folk cannot possibly understand as we look normal from the outside! Love and best wishes, Angela xx
Hi, Angela, thanks for your reply. The ent dept gave me a hearing test about 6 weeks before the scan and said I have a slight loss in the same ear as the tinnitus. The audiologist also ran through a check list of, I guess, the usual suspects, all of which were negative - it's not an ear wax problem, I've had no infections or head trauma, I've never been nightclubbing or gone to rock concerts, I don't wear earphones, nor go shooting as a hobby or been exposed to any loud noises or explosions. I will bear in mind your suggestions when I next see my GP.
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