Tinnitus and hyperacussis

[Spring123]

Hi All, I am new here. I have both conditions since June 2018 after a long haul flight. Currently trying steroid injections as the last resort, but havent tried anything else. My biggest struggle is sleep, as after I wake up I cannot fall asleep again. Any tips? I am using white noise, I have Alexa and it helps to fall asleep. I feel the need to buy earbuds and/or headphones but its difficult to chose as I have both conditions. Can anyone share what has been helpful for them with these conditions but also what headphones/earbuds you found best? Thank you in advance

[marc1974]

Morning, just to touch on your comment steroid injections as a last resort? What do you mean?

Don’t catastophise it won’t help you can & will get better trust me I’m young had this 37 years and it’s loud. I also sometimes can’t bear my kids screaming or clanking plates loading the dishwasher with the hyperacusis ... but I do have many coping positive & live quite well run a business look after a family, ride a motocross bike even.

Look at firstly Julian Cowan hill in London w2 great YouTube videos too, then rewriting tinnitus also on YouTube..

My greatest advice is go to a Cbt councillor and practice mindfulness, that will teach you to seperate reactions emotions and anxiety from tinnitus... after all tinnitus is tinnitus the feast of the thoughts emotions and despair are a reaction to it, I’m not playing down the stress it causes just pointing out you really can get round it...

[Spring123 in reply to marc1974]

thank you for your thoughts, well the specialist told me its the last resort. Thank you for suggestions and advice, I will look into it. I am at the point of trying it all, and what someone told me stuck with me really, she said "once you accept it life will change and you will be happy again" and thats the feeling I have as I am really struggling to accept that my life is different from what it was. i have started meditation and yoga as well. Just bought the book you mentioned a few moments ago!

[marc1974 in reply to Spring123]

Your life won’t be different my friend just avoid noise on an extreme but I jump on the motocross bike with earplugs... yoga is fab if you can do that and let your tinnitus be there whilst in the chilled out mind it’s great...

Once you pass the overthinking & it is let it be type thinking you’ll look back and your amazing having done it...

I’m a stressful person have anxiety and panic anyway if I can I’d encourage anyone... Cbt changed my world, infact it’s widely recognised as the way forward... when your in bed tonight listen to Julian Cowan hill on you tube.. also there’s a video tinnitus masking it’s Great will give you time to gather yourself when needed.. just play it low enough to distance it for a while...youtu.be/GoZ0GzpzmKM(Not working as expected?)

[1162dog]

Did you tried a low laser ?

[Spring123 in reply to 1162dog]

No what is it?

[NicBTA Partner in reply to Spring123]

It's a treatment that has no clinical basis - sadly still doing the rounds since the early 2000s.

Warmest wishes

Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)

[Hidden]

Do you suffer headaches? I developed T in April and hyperacusis about a month later. Saw a good ENT consultant who diagnosed chronic migraine which I've never been aware of before. It was the cause of my T and the hyperacusis developed because I was stressed and not sleeping and clenching my jaw at night which tightened the muscles around my temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and pressed on the more delicate muscles near the inner ear. Someone else on here had suggested the migraine could come from neck problems. I had deep tissue massage, joint manipulation treatment from a physio/chiropractor, head massage and reflexology. I also made adjustments to my diet cutting out alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners and chocolate. The combination of all of this worked. I am almost completely free of all symptoms and have been for 2-3 months. When I get stressed I can feel pressure building in my head and a tension headache and my T begins to creep back but i manage it by using relaxation techniques and massage. Not saying this will work for everyone but it has for me and a couple of others who have posted on this site so worth sharing. Good luck.

[abic77 in reply to Hidden]

Hi there-how are things for you now? I read your post as if I could have written it myself! I am 3 years into T and also had mild H which has almost gone now (almost).

The T doesn’t bother me so much as the headaches and detached / brain fog type feeling I get. I was diagnosed with peri-menstrual migraine 7 years ago and for the most part I’ve been ok but this headache and T has just brought it all back. I’m struggling as making me so low and it’s the headache! I have a very colicky jaw, tension in my neck and for the first time ever my jaw locked on my right yesterday (my unaffected ear).

This shiz is so hard!

[Spring123 in reply to abic77]

Hi. I have passed the worse and as everyone said I am getting used to it. A lot if adjustments in my life had to happen and I am not happy about it but I hope with time it will get better. I was made redundant and had few months off which helped but now started working. My job is very stressful and even after 1 week only tinnitus has spiked up to the roof. But I come better, I decided to be stronger then T. Ignorance is bliss. Music helps. Sleeping is a problem as I don't want pills but trying natural. I am in much better place now then 8 m8nrhs ago. Starting CBT in 2 weeks! Good luck!

[Spring123]

Thank you for sharing. I do t suffer headaches but all of this started with excruciating pressure headache after I landed. All this you mentioned I have applied already,thank you. My biggest fear now is that I cannot work and I want to work but it seems I will have to go on sick leave as it's so debilitating at the moment and stress doesn't help.

[Momoko79 in reply to Spring123]

After a long haul flight you say? Might have something to do with ETD?? It’s the tube from your middle ear to your nose and throat that regulates pressure.

[Spring123 in reply to Momoko79]

They checked it ,it was blocked for 3 months and now is unblocked. Left with tinnitus hyperacussis and sleepless nights. Afraid I might have to give up working which is my life and I don't want t that ;(

[Momoko79 in reply to Spring123]

if you don't mind me asking, what do you do for work? Don't let it beat you, surely working can keep your mind off it?

[Fisherwoman1]

I suggest being tired and listening to the news with being on your side with half you head in your pillow. I also take nabumentone for arthritis and I think that has a

calming effect as does elavil or amatriptylinen which is now elavil. Elavil might help tinnitus as a trycilic antidepressant. Research antidepressants as some aggregate tinnitus. Alcohol makes mine spike except for a small glass of wine. Good luck and I hope this helps.

[NicBTA Partner]

Hello and welcome to the British Tinnitus Association forum. I hope that you find this a helpful and supportive place to help you manage your tinnitus.

Sleep is a problem for many people with tinnitus.

We have some resources that you might like to check out in addition to our home here:

tinnitus.org.uk/tinnitus-an...

takeontinnitus.co.uk

Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call [phone])

Warmest wishes

Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)

[Marius123]

Maybe try to imagine that this noise is making you sleepy,is like a sleeping pill and after a while dont pay attention to it anymore. I listen as well with ear phones some white noise or other relaxation music I downloded from you tube.