Tinnitus

[MeBeLacie]

I have, what I consider severe tinnitus. It keeps me awake at night. Sometimes it wakes me up at night. It gets so loud that I fee like I can actually feel the ringing. Anyone have any tips on, at the very least, minimizing it?

[MickeyJoints]

Hi,

It's a nightmare, isn't it? One technique I use is a sort of distraction, where I allow my mind to drop it's interest in the noises. They are there all the time for sure, but by taking my attention elsewhere the interference drops.

I have hearing aids and wearing them helps to soften the imposition. I think this is due to the hearing aids providing increased sound near the frequency range of the tinnitus so masks it. You don't mention if you have hearing loss or aids...?

If you have a smart phone you can get apps which produce white noise which again masks/swamps the tinnitus. There are also CD's for this purpose. Some have sounds like sea shores, brooks and forests. Rather nice.

Hope that might help...

[MeBeLacie in reply to MickeyJoints]

Thanks!! I've tried all the noises. Maybe ill try the soothing sound of a jack hammer next? Lol. Its really is a nightmare!!

[mutt1]

Hi @+MeBeLacie , I also have Tinnitus which was diagnosed in 2010. I also have Ménière's disease. I totally understand when you say that it's loud enough to wake during sleep. I too found this and tried sleeping with the TV on, but soon found that it would only take a change in program or a different pitch and again I would be woken. I tried setting the timer on my tv, so it would go off before the program finished. This just didn't work.

My tinnitus is in both ears and I also have a degre of deafness, I also have hyperacusis and find things like the noise keys make when you put them down, dinner plates being stacked in top of each other, and many other things would sound so loud it almost hurts. I also notice that when I have a shower or wash my hair I hear a bell sound in both my ears when I stick my fingers in them to rid any water. I also find stress can increase the volume, even babies or toddlers screaming is too much.

I see my audiology team every few months and I now see a hearing therapist to help me learn new ways in which to deal with my Tinnitis.

Tinnitus is a difficult condition to live with, it's very difficult physically and mentally and its difficult for those who deal with tinnitus to get those that don't to understand the impact it has. To get others to understand even just a small percentage of how it is, There are web pages that allow you to play the differing sounds.

I now take 80mg of Amitriptyline and 25mg of phenergan to help me sleep, I did have to play around with the different times of taking it. I have needed to increase the dose of Amitriptyline as initially I was on 20-30mg. I learnt that if I took them about 10pm I would sleep but found the next day I would feel exhausted and tired, so I tried them about 8pm and found I would only sleep for a short while, like 4 hours or so. I found that the best time for me was about 9.15 pm, about 10.30 - 11pm I felt sleepy enough, so off to bed I go and I can honestly say I sleep till about 6.30 - 7am.

I do hope you find a way to help you to live with it. It's trial and error. X

[whit]

hi ,i have occasional tinnitus, what helps me at night time is an sleep oasis , it plays various sounds ,like rain falling, sea surf , wind blowing etc, if you get one you will have to experiment to see what sound is best for you, i think i paid around £40 for mine, if you googl sleep oasis you will see what it`s all about

[MeBeLacie in reply to whit]

Thanks Whit! Mine is 24/7. I've tried all the noises out there.

[whit in reply to MeBeLacie]

i feel for you, as i said, mine, (thankfully is only occasionally ) it comes and goes , it may last for a few hours, or a couple of days the oasis sound i use at night time and it does help a bit ,through the day i use an mp3 player,

[pilotpuds]

Hi MeBeLacie, I have suffered from Tinnitus in my left ear for nearly 5 years now. I have also been diagnosed with Menieres and suffer from frquent vertigo/sickness attacks. Have not had a decent nights sleep for over two years and my doctor refuses any type of sleep aid!

Taking currently 6 x 32mg betahistamine Dyhydrochloride to control attacks.

Cant work

Cant sleep

Worry about not working which then causes attack, sometimes 3 attacks per week!

I have had some relief from playing music when i sleep, does help a little, still experimenting with different types of music......

[Lenocker68]

You will need to see your audiologist for professional help with that.