Tinnitus help please

[Peterpiper1966]

Have had tinnitus for 2 months now in one ear. Was a low hum but lately the noise level has increased and its reducing my length of sleep. Any tips out there ? Am trying white noise to be played at bedtime but does it take time before it helps ?

[jetttsd]

I was having this problem and told my rheumatologist, he suspected one of my medications, Sulfasalazine. When I went off the tinnitus improved right away.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to jetttsd]

Thanks jet for ure reply. Originaly I was on methetrexate for over a year but had to come off and went on Sulfa After 2 months I reduced the dosage to 2 a day as I was struggling with it and the arthritic pain is ok so I could come off sulfa but running out of medication to choose. Lol. It's only in one ear !! Thinking of buying a tinnitus sound machine but not sure that will help if indeed it's caused by the Sulla Ime on now ? 👍

[jetttsd in reply to Peterpiper1966]

Mine was only 1 ear also. My rheumatologist took me off the Sulfa when it told him of the tinnitus which got increasingly worse. I think it may be a symptom of a bigger problem with the medication, I’m not sure.

Unfortunately Sulfa was my last oral medication, I have gone through all of them. I am now doing Actemra infusions (4th biologic).

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to jetttsd]

Jet so sorry to hear that. Before you came off Sulla did you try a tinnitus sound machine ? I imagine you did though. I tell u what helped me in the last 3 months Ime eating fruit with my cornflakes and I mean lots. I put raspberry on plus black currants with grapes and pineapple crush and no longer put sugar on. Also have cut right back on my sweet tooth and can say my athritus has improved by 60 % so try eating raspberries. Before I d

Ate them I cud the sleep on my left side but I can now ! Although it can be sore if it's through the night. Ok hope things imps

Rove for you 👍

[jetttsd in reply to Peterpiper1966]

Thanks piper. I will try the berries. Unfortunately, I am having problems with mouth ulcers right now and every time I eat fruit it is awful.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to jetttsd]

Oh dear not good. What I do think is we must stay positive. Easy to say but not easy to stay posotive though

[jetttsd in reply to Peterpiper1966]

I agree. If we are negative all the time, it is just worse.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to jetttsd]

Exactley

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to jetttsd]

Meant to add ANY red berries help but maybe not when it tastes so bad !!

[Granny2six in reply to jetttsd]

Mouth ulcers can be caused by the meds. How are your bloods?

[jetttsd in reply to Granny2six]

I had to come off methotrexate because of liver numbers.

[wishbone]

I've had tinnitus for a number of years. It began a few years after I started methotrexate. It does seem to have eased off since I stopped methotrexate a couple of years back, but it's difficult to be sure as it was never particularly bad so perhaps I've got used to it over time and don't notice it as much. Could be that the disease itself is the cause as there's so many uncertainties involved with both the disease and meds that it's difficult to say exactly what's causing what much of the time.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to wishbone]

Wishbone yes I see what u mean it may have nothing to do with my medication at all however Ime seeing my consultant soon so shall talk about my options. Glad to hear you no longer needed methotrexate or did u have to change to another Medicare

Toon ? Either way thank you for your input much appreciated

[wishbone in reply to Peterpiper1966]

It's a long story, but I had to stop taking methotrexate. Currently taking hydroxychloroquine, but it's not very effective so I'm hoping to start a new med - baricitinib soon.

Hope you get some help with your tinnitus as it seems worse than what I had.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to wishbone]

Ok. I take hydroxy as well as Sulla. Think it's more of a secondary help. Do u take folic acid once a week too ?

[wishbone in reply to Peterpiper1966]

Nope, used to take it once a week but it was stopped the same time as the methotrexate was.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to wishbone]

Gotcha. A woman I know has injection where the pain is and she seems fine now but can only take the injection 3 times a year. Not sure what the injection is though. Might b a steroid

[wishbone in reply to Peterpiper1966]

Yes, it could be steroids. I've had a few steroid jabs over the years for a really bad flare and they did help a lot, but the relief only lasted a couple of weeks. That said, I'm sure I read somewhere that there's different mixes of steroid jabs available and a some last longer than others...don't quote me on that though. Apparently they don't work for everyone.

[sylvi]

You get used to it after a time,i have had it for nearly 23yrs. I do have a hearing aid to mask the noise. Put music on to mask the noise. Hugs.xxxx

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to sylvi]

Yes music helps. Will be buying a tinnitus sound machine on Amazon so helping that will help me sleeping. It's worse at night n before I had it I loved going to bed but now never much go till midnight lol. Have to say Sylvia you are so positive but it must be difficult with so much going on. Just wish I had a magic wand to help you and all the other people on here x

[sylvi in reply to Peterpiper1966]

It is what it is darling we are given only what we can cope with darling.xxxxxx

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to sylvi]

Indeed. With summer approaching and the warm weather let's hope that can help 😎

[Milo247]

google Medical medium tinnitus

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to Milo247]

Had a look and apparently potatoes help tinnitus and have kept the addy but will look further into it when Ime not as busy so thanks milo

[Nuttyshirlz]

Hi

I’m also having same problem.

I’m seeing rheumy doc in few weeks. When I email my nurse she said to mention it. Has she wasn’t sure which pills are causing it. I’m on mxt and sulfz plus two blood pressure pills. I’ve being having it ages.

I even bought an ear flusher thinking it was my ears lol 😳

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

On the leaflets for met AND sulk can cause ear ringing. My volume goes up n down which is annoying. Going to buy a tinnitus sound machine on Amazon. Hope that will help. Good luck wen u see the consultant. Yes I had my ear stringed hoping it was ear wax but sadly not Grrrrrr lol

[Nuttyshirlz in reply to Peterpiper1966]

Lol I bought my stringer off amazon too. Thanks hopefully this consultant lasts longer than last two lol. I did read up all side affects too 🙂

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

Think we mean a syringe but u knew that lol. I spelt it wrong. Ure best to go to the docs n get the nurse to syringe as she told me the ones you buy are rubbish n u can cause even more damage. Didn't know u cud take both medications for athritus at the same time. Don't think lie ask for more as it takes ages to do my weekly pill box as it is lol

[Nuttyshirlz in reply to Peterpiper1966]

Lol ooh picking on me. No I showed a nurse at doctors and she said it was ok. It’s an acu u have to put oil in your ears for few days first.it does not go down into your drum. Yes you can take both together quite a few ppl do.I couldn’t fit mine into a pill box lol

[stbernhard]

I've been living with severe tinnitus in both ears for forty odd years now. Neither MTX nor Sulfasalazine made any difference either way. I hope it'll only be a passing annoyance for you. All the best.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to stbernhard]

Thank you been thankfully it's only one ear. Guess the tinnitus noise machine doesn't work for you then. Hope things Improve for both of us 🍺

[Ruth12345]

Ive had it for a number if years. Nothing masks it in my left ear. I was sent on an information session about 3 years ago at the hospital. It helped as I now understand the mechanics of it and do some cognative exercises which sometimes helps. I really relaxed more about it after the info session and I highly recommend it if you have access to a course. It was run by the consultant audiologist at the hospital. All the best

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to Ruth12345]

Hi Ruth its late now so will reply properly tomorrow. Night night

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to Ruth12345]

Me again lol. Will definitely look into cognitive exercises so thanks. It amazes me with all the things doctors can do they still have no real cure for tinnitus !! Maybe one day soon they will especially as your really suffering

[manwithnoname]

Hi I've had it for a few years now I use brown noise and it helps me to sleep. I got my Dr to send me to audiologist and they have fitted me with an hearing aide that I wear all day it is set to block out the noise of the Tinnitus.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to manwithnoname]

Have heard of white noise but not brown ! Well hope it does the trick for you man 👍

[manwithnoname in reply to Peterpiper1966]

Hi peterpiper . I use this app (Starkey Relax) it has different sounds on it, and I just put my phone under the pillow and I find it help's me sleep.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to manwithnoname]

Have just down loaded the app. Very impressed and good the rest of the phone can be turned off n still plays. You should have told me before I ordered a tinnitus sound machine !! Lol but thank you for informing me 👍

[Gnarli]

Hi Peterpiper1966. I've had tinnitus for years which severely limits being able to join conversations especially if there's lots of background noise. It's quite isolating until you learn to ignore it. I saw a grumpy audiologist who said I had some hearing loss and said I could try hearing aids but held out no hope of them improving things. They didn't. I have noticed an increased volume of the tinnitus since being on MTX so will report that to rheumatology and pursue more help from GP. I hope you find a solution very soon

J

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to Gnarli]

Thank you. My word its a real problem for you. I was on methotrexate and was fine for 18 months bet then I had to come off due to breathing problems and now on Sulla but the notes on both can cause tinnitus !! As for ure athritus it's helped me by 60 percent by cutting out all sweet sugary things and eating fruit. When I have cornflakes I put raspberries ans other fruit with the cereal. Love the taste and took about three months before I felt the difference but far better now. Also had an asthma test n now take asthma twice a day n that's helping to but I do miss my chocolate lol anyway hope u get things sorted soon 👍

[Clare4447]

Hello there ive read your post I was wondering if youve recently had an ear infection or a head cold that may have triggered the tinnitus?? I also suffer with it in both ears but i have been diagnosed with Meniers disease and also a rare condition where i have a hole in each ear Have you seen your gp regarding this as you may need referring to ENT ? I look foward to your reply Clare

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to Clare4447]

Hi Clare I had my ears checked out and I was told I had exam ( spelt wrong ) so was given a spray. The exam has cleared up but sadly not my tinnitus but hopefully it will. Hope u get sorted soon n keep in touch 👍

[Joy_1]

10mg of Pred and above gives me Tinnitus.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to Joy_1]

Ok will mention that next time I go to see the consultant so thank you for that joy

[Joy_1 in reply to Peterpiper1966]

You are welcome Peter Piper.

Tinnitus is listed as one of the side effects re Pred.

[janmary]

I started to get tinnitus on Hydroxychloroquine . It got a bit better when I stopped , but is still constantly there - like Gnarli I find it makes it difficult to hear against background noise e.g. social situations, though my hearing is OK generally. If it's annoying me at night I put radio 4 on very quietly - spoken radio - music is too 'catchy'. it masks the tinnitus .

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to janmary]

Starkey relax .....just been told to try the app.. It's a free app. Maybe that cud help you !! I can't say as yet as I haven't tried it but I will do 👍 Hopefully it will help u but methinks uve probably already gone down that road Jan

[MissMinto]

Hi Peterpiper,

I've recently been driven nuts by tinnitus in my left ear, thought it might be related to meds or RA inner ear problems. Went to my GP who discovered I had a built-up of wax in that ear! GP surgery doesn't provide ear draining now so she recommended Earol olive oil spray - did the trick! Good luck.

PS prior to GP visit it was hard to get to sleep at night with the intrusive high-pitched whistle. White noise didn't work, but bizarrely, focussing on the noise (instead of trying to disguise/block it out) really helped...I fell asleep quicker.

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to MissMinto]

Thank you miss into that's something else to try and I defiantly will. Olé let u know if it does the trick 👍👍

[Granny2six]

Hello

Sometimes white noise doesn't help. I use irregular sleep sounds like rain, wind or even fire, apart from their ability to muffle the tinnitus they help with visualisation and relaxation techniques which help me sleep. Try some irregular sounds and see if those help

J

[Peterpiper1966 in reply to Granny2six]

Have made a note in what you suggest granny so will think what other sounds I could use. Maybe whilst Ime thinking it may send me to sleep 😉 Sorted !! Thank you for your help 👍