4am wake up daily. Tinnitus

[Bev14]

Hi

I have been living with severe tinnitus (both ears) since 2013 usually I manage with distractions etc. Since lockdown ( I have to self shield 12 weeks) I am waking at 4am -4.10am every morning. It doesn’t matter what time I go to bed. I am struggling to cope with it and feel I’m losing 2-3 hours sleep every night. I can get to sleep as I read until I sleep but when I wake it’s horrendously loud and impossible to stay in bed.

I have a lot of medical problems but this is driving me crazy.

To be honest I don’t mind if medication is addictive because anything would be better than this 4am wake up, alone and with a long day of isolation ahead.

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice please?

Bev

[Chall11]

Morning. I understand completely what you’re going through. My advice would be to speak with your GP about getting some temporary medication. There is diazepam or zopiclone for short term use and I didn’t have any problems coming off them even after longer term use. They totally work in a situation like this. Alternatively there’s promethizine that is non addictive anti histamine that they use for sedation. I use that now. Please explain how this is impacting you and that U need to get some sleep. Keep me posted as to how you get on. Best wishes Caroline

[Bev14 in reply to Chall11]

Thank you for your reply Caroline. I should have mentioned I was given 10 days of diazepam (still woke at 4) then 14 days of (zopiclone) still woke at 4 then promethizine 25mg I took one then the next night took 2x25mg still woke at 4am.

My doctor said that’s all she can give. I’ve become so despondent I don’t know what to do.

I said to my doctor I don’t care about becoming addicted to anything because this is making life (which is already difficult) impossible to tolerate.

I was told I would be sent back to the hospital to see audiologist but that could be months and months away.

I have an illness that effects my nervous system and I know that doesn’t help but I’ve never regularly woke at 4am & I feel it’s vital I get to change that before it turns into a set pattern.

Bev

[Chall11 in reply to Bev14]

Oh I see you’ve gone down that path already. Are you taking 50mg of promethizine now? In Australia I read it’s licenced to take up to 3 tablets a night. Not sure if that’s true but it’s a lot safer than the others. I also had to go down the route of antidepressants to help my mental state and also now have hearing aids for during the day for sound therapy. Which has helped over all for definite. So the audiology is a good route too.

[Bev14 in reply to Chall11]

Hi Chall,

Glad you have found some relief with the hearing aids and sound therapy. I cope most of the time as I’m used to it but not coping so well with the this.

I decided after the 50mg took of promethazine and still waking at 4am not to take anymore, they are the one tablets I do have more of but if they don’t work it’s hard to see the point of taking them, I didn’t know you could take 3.

For a long time during 2013 when I first got tinnitus it took ages to get to sleep but finally I found a way but it’s the waking and it being pitch dark that heightens so much anxiety that I have to get up immediately & with the lockdown and being isolated it feels quite torturous having no restbite with a decent nights sleep..

[Chall11 in reply to Bev14]

Yes I know what you mean. It sounds like more of a stress and emotional thing that you may need a little support with. It’s sometimes terrifying to deal with that we deal with. Is there anyone who supports you? Who could you talk to? I was very ill with things that now I still have the option to ring a support service 24/7 if I am struggling with my mental health. There are people out there to support you x

[Bev14 in reply to Chall11]

I’m Sorry you were so I’ll and It’s good that you have a lot of support chall and thank you for your replies. It’s good to know others understand what this is like.

I am under lots of consultants and also primary care doctor and I can call the mental health team but lack of sleep is making me ratty and when the talk about meditation and such I internally think you try meditating with tinnitus that at the moment feels off the chart.

Tinnitus when waking at 4am straight into the silence and dark with no distractions in a horizontal position is for me too much to tolerate.

I have been reading about a drug called Clonazepam, I’ve never heard of it before but I’m going to try and see if I can try it to see if it brings any relief.

[Chall11]

Yes that sounds like a good idea. Having re-read your initial post it appears that the lockdown has made things much more intense for you. I agree that having “mindfulness” “meditation” “relaxation techniques” etc. suggested is absurd when you’re in distress. It made me smile to read that as I know exactly what you mean! There are other benzodiazepines that they could prescribe such as the one you mentioned. It depends on how supportive and willing your GP is. It does sound like a temporary thing for you though. Do please try and bear that in mind that it absolutely won’t last for ever.

[Wringing1212]

Hi Bev, I've had tinnitus for 25 years. Severe T for the last 2. Nueropothy, spinal stenosi, etc.

I consider 6 hours of sleep per night pretty good these days. My audiologists offer medications for sleeping and or depression, but say, if I can cope without, I'm better off. I learned to meditate years ago. It is a type of brain training. You learn to roll your eyes back and check out. Too much stress keeps you thinking and with the T racket, it's almost impossible to get to sleep. A couple glasses of wine may help you nod off, but you'll likely wake up at 2:00am.

One trick my audiologists recommended was, not to fight it. If you're failing to get your frontal cortex to shut off, get up, watch a movie on your iPad, and you'll probably get tired again and feel like sleeping. The wine and TV aren't a permanent fix, but it may help adjust your sleep cycle in a couple of days.

My brain picks songs to play over and over in my head. It's learned to dilute the T affect with other imaginary audio. I'm not in control of it and when it first begun, I fought it. Now I realize why it happens.

[Bev14]

Hi, thanks for your reply and suggestions, I will try the eye rolling to see if that helps, and also try the song routine. I guess I just want to be knocked out without the horrendous jack hammer waking me at 4am.

I have always struggled with meditation I just can’t achieve any peace from it. Last night I couldn’t sleep until 1am I was counting forward and backwards for what felt like hours and then I got up, made a tea and read.

I just want to be able to switch off my awareness of it but it’s so difficult.

I just crave peace from T

[1Dar]

Hi Bev, tinnitus is such a cruel thing and I probably shouldn’t be scrolling the chatline as it just brings it all up again. I’ve had tinnitus for 4 years now after having a grommet put in my ear. I have had 7 operations on my ear in the past 4 years, so dealing with pain, anxiety and tinnitus. It’s been very difficult and stressful . I can get to sleep okay but like you wake up pretty early which makes it a long day. I’ve tried anti depressant tablets .. I think they sometimes add to the tinnitus. Have just started CBD drops which I’m hoping with my anxiety. It’s a very small amount I’m taking ... starting off slowly and will work my way up. Will let you know how it all goes. Just wanted to let you know you aren’t alone in this horrible journey.

Take care,

Jenny xxxxxxxxx

[1Dar]

Hi Bev, I saw one psychiatrist and he prescribed for me clonazapine for me. I took it for a couple of weeks ... saw my GP and she said it’s a very dangerous drug. Quite addictive . I’m not a Dr and your Dr may think it’s ok for you . I’m on the couch today in pain, giving the CBD drops a go, but so far no change. All the best .

Jenny

[1Dar]

Hi Bev .. I hope I didn’t upset you by talking about the clonazapine. It did help me with my anxiety and it may be good for you. I take anti depressants which are addictive , which I worry about , but living the moment . Just wondering how you are going with everything? Hope all is good especially in this crazy time . Take care

Jenny

[Erin60 in reply to 1Dar]

Hi Jenny , not at all you didn’t upset me. I did actually take clonazepam for 2 nights, it really did help with not noticing the tinnitus about 75% upon waking but I couldn’t handle the side effects, all day I felt weird and spacey.

If only;

1. They were not addictive.

2. Didn’t have such awful side effects!.

Alas that’s not the case.

I’m okay but it’s tough with the constant jack hammering going on inside my ears.

[1Dar]

Hi Bev, oh that’s great .. yes it did make me feel spacey too. I completely understand how you are feeling , it’s so debilitating, I have really withdrawn from friends as it’s hard to explain how I’m feeling. Just went for a walk as feeling panicky lately. Do you get like that? I’m also in pain as I have had 7 operations on my ear and now wear a cochlear implant which at the moment isn’t doing much good. I also wake up at 4.00 in the morning and the ringing starts straight away. It’s horrible and doesn’t leave me at all. Does yours ever go away? Do you have hearing aids? Feel free to private message me if you want to. I hope you are feeling better. Sending best wishes.

Jenny