Tinnitus getting louder

[Jimmuck]

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I was coping quite well with Mr T and even when it spiked, I wasn't too concerned as I knew it would eventually subside to a lower volume. However, it has been mega loud for about two weeks now and I am very concerned that it's not a spike and might stay at this level permanently. I know t affects us all differently but has anyone had prolonged spikes that last weeks rather than days? Even my hearing aids at max volume are not making any difference at all and I feel just utterly worn out. I have an audiology appointment next week so I am hoping they can add some kind of masker to my aids. Even getting a slight reduction in volume would be a Godsend.

[Ingrid-p]

Hi I've got maskers in my NHS aids and they help to take the edge off the t. It doesn't go completely, but most days it's bearable.

Hope you get some relief soon.

Take care, Ingrid xx

[Jimmuck in reply to Ingrid-p]

Hi Ingrid and thanks for your reply. It's reassuring to know that your maskers are helping so I really hope they will also help me! When I first got my NHS aids they really seemed to quieten things down a tad but lately, the tinnitus has just gone into overdrive and the aids are not making the slightest difference. I know they were adjusted down as they were squealing so maybe they'll adjust them back up. Willing to try anything right now.

[Hidden]

Hi Jimmuck my dear friend i.m so sorry what you are going through I have been there it’s a living hell my only suggestion is to invest in private hearing aids which may be out of your budget I had private hearing aids and you can stream nature sounds straight to your hearing aids which is more of a comfort than white noise funnily enough I only use my NHS hearing aids these days which keep my tinnitus low I saw my audioligist to day to get one ear micro-suctioned and Tinnitus has different strains which you must have a bad strain as for me I am thinking of leaving these forums as I don’t really need to visit the website that is not saying I won’t in the future if you want any help of details where to shop for private hearing aids there are 2 makes Starkey or Resound both have websites if can be of more help then let me know again I hope things get better for you .

[Jimmuck in reply to Hidden]

Thanks David. If the NHS can't do anything else to help me, I might just have to bite the bullet and consider the private alternative. I just seem to be going round in circles seeing audiologists and consultants and all the while the tinnitus is getting worse. Today has been pretty grim and the only slight relief I got was a couple of hours working in the garden. The lawnmower drowned it out a little but believe it or not, I could still hear the t above it! Thanks again for your advice.

[Ingrid-p in reply to Jimmuck]

There are lots of private hearing aid places. My friend went to specsavers and they bought their specialist in from Birmingham. He was experienced in fitting aids for people suffering with tinnitus. She told me with her aids in she doesn’t hear her t all day. Having said that I don’t really know how severe her noises were and the aids were just short of £4000! Might be worth having a free trial tho.

Mine is so bad today, but I had my ear moulds changed to the small dome type yesterday and they are definitely rubbish for me. Back to the hospital today to have my old ones put back on. Not much fun is it?

Take care, Ingrid xx

[Ingrid-p in reply to Hidden]

Hi I agree with you, once you habituate I think it’s a good idea to not visit the forums. When I’m in a good place that’s exactly what I do 😊

Take care, Ingrid xx

[Curlew]

Hello J,sorry to hear you are having a hard time at the moment.I can't really tell if I actually have 'spikes' or not my T is so loud so I have periods where it us what I call more intrusive!

I have been having one of these for about two weeks now and I have had them in the past to the point where I think I'll never have a calmer day again, but eventually I do even if it takes a few weeks.

It's just awful isn't it, but you will cope and it will get easier.

Best wishes to you,

C

[AdamfromAus]

I have had similar experiences. I am able to habituate for months, sometimes years and all of a sudden it will come back and start to annoy me. My partner and I have nicknamed it a 'phase'. Sometimes phases last from a couple days to a few months. I have had these sorts of phases on and off for 20 years now (I'm 33) and each time there are a few common themes. Each phase appears worse than the last and feelings it will never get better. This time though I am telling myself it will get better again because it has every time in the past. Was there a particularly stressful situation recently, or have you been unwell as these things can cause the T to be louder. My biggest advice is to view the T like a dog, the more you feed it the more it will come back, the less you feed it the less intrusive it will become. Much easier said then done, but it has helped me in the past.

[Ingrid-p in reply to AdamfromAus]

Hi, your story sounds just like mine. It started 37 years ago after a bad infection. After a while I didn’t notice it anymore. I too can habituate normally for years until something triggers it again. Each phase definitely seems worse and I too feel that it will go on forever. What starts it off who knows. The noises never go, but the brain just chooses not to give them any attention.

Let’s hope our current phases don’t last much longer 😁

Take care, Ingrid xx