Suffering through being stubborn

[GDJTAM]

Still in the experimenting process of what works for me and I'm struggling today. I watched Glastonbury last night and will again today, I had an OK day yesterday and thought twice about watching it. I have a decent TV and sound bar set up as I like my films and music, so I thought I'm not giving in to the T!

Today, It's been the loudest I've had the high pitched tone and I've been googling options to suppress it as much as I can. I've cleaned the cars, done a bit of gardening and diddly squat...no change.

I have just downloaded another app called white noise (picture is like a graphic equaliser), it has 40 different sounds, a timer up to 8 hours, a digital clock and a few other bits. As a Postman, I'm not too bad during the day with the street noises so I'm listening to it whilst posting this. I am more calmer now but in a few hours Glastonbury will be back on.

I thought about playing the white noise through an earphone (I only have 1 ear that works!) but I've read contrasting reports on what type. I have seen the 3 pictures in the photo, are any of these ok or a no no?

[Hidden]

Hi you never get 2 days the same with tinnitus as for playing white noise through earphones a No No as most tinnitus sufferers Will advise you i have another high buzzing sound and I had to vent my anger shouting out but at least it

Releases the tension.

[GDJTAM in reply to Hidden]

Hi David, how are you today? I'm sitting here watching Glastonbury with the tv on and violet noise playing gently in my ear, My dear wife told me off last night for playing rain on a car roof. She told me to get ear phones hence the question.

I would yell but it would probably give me a bigger headache. This T hasn't abated all day.

The wife is keeping out of the way today, I think she's fed up of me constantly telling her what I'm hearing.

[JohnJopp]

Hi Graham, if you're talking about something to use while sleeping then I don't think any of those would be recommended. Have a look at pillow speakers or bluetooth headband speakers. I've not tried headband speakers so can't comment on those but I did buy a pair of pillow speakers. They're sort of ok but I found them a bit of a faff to be honest. I found the volume was very low and had to have the volume control on the speakers and on my phone set to max. I found they tend to move about under the pillow as well. They worked insofar as my wife couldn't hear them. I only use then occasionally now so you're welcome to borrow them for a week or two if you want to give them a go to see if you get on with them. If interested PM me your address and I'll stick them in the post.

John

[GDJTAM in reply to JohnJopp]

Hi John,

That's a very kind gesture thank you. I'm ok at the moment with sleeping, The Dr has put me on Amitriptyline 35mg which is helping me sleep, I also have my phone playing white noises. All I'm missing is twinkle stars roaming around the ceiling and I'm sorted.

I was looking at ear/headphones for when the TV is on and I don't disturb my wife, also I'm going on a cruise in 1 month 16 days and 22 hours and I wanted something to help me listen to music on the sun lounger. Is that a no no now I'm a T sufferer?

Once again many thanks

Graham

[JohnJopp in reply to GDJTAM]

All I can tell you is that Michael would advise you not to listen to music on earphones or headphones even at low volume as it could make your T worse. This is especially the case if your T was caused by exposure to loud noise. I respect Michael's opinion - he is a very experienced counsellor. However, it goes against the grain to have to give up something that you enjoy. I enjoy listening to music and as my T wasn't caused by loud noise I thought it was worth the risk and I've had no adverse effects from using either earphones or headphones at low volume. Of the two I believe that over the ear headphones are considered safer than in ear earphones. To sum up, I'm sure that some people's T is adversely affected by listening to music through ear/headphones - but this isn't the case for everyone. The decision is yours really.

John

[GDJTAM]

Hi John,

I have no idea how or why my T came on, I have never worked in a loud environment and it's not through loud music. I had an acoustic Neuroma 30+ years ago so I would have thought I would have had the T a long time ago. I had a next injury 3 years ago and other than that I can't think what caused it. I have it and God knows why but I'm not losing sleep over it.

I totally agree with you regarding giving certain pleasures up. So long as I'm sensible I'm determined to carry on as normal. Michael sent me some info recently and I learned more through his papers that Google could ever educate me with.

[JohnJopp in reply to GDJTAM]

Hi Graham. Can I ask about your acoustic neuroma? How big was it? Did you say you had it removed? How did they do that? I'm asking as I have one myself (possibly the cause of my T). I had an MRI last week to see if the little bugger had grown much. I'm waiting for an appointment to get the results. I'm sort of resigned to the fact that it'll probably need some sort of treatment at some stage but I don't think they plan on actually removing it - more like zap it with some gamma rays or something.

John

[GDJTAM in reply to JohnJopp]

Hi John, my tumour was the size of a satsuma orange, it was removed by knife and lasers. 30 years on and no doubt new procedures and technology have made the removal and recovery less risky and stressful. My nerves etc were cut during the 3 ops I had which left me deaf in 1 ear and part facial paralysis. After the op I had physio and that was it. No drugs for life or radiotherapy etc. Just check up every 6 months for 5 years.

Feel free to ask anything else.

Regards

Graham

[JohnJopp in reply to GDJTAM]

Hi Graham. Quite a biggy then. If we're talking fruit & veg mine was only about pea size this time last year. I think they will treat it at some point to stop it growing before it gets big enough to press against anything and cause physical problems.

John

[GDJTAM in reply to JohnJopp]

Hi John, Yes it was a biggy, my Doctor was treating me for sinus problems. I then took myself to A&E one day and that evening I was having my head shaved. Since then I don't trust anything GP's tell me. In my book there role is to say 'leave it a week and if it doesn't go away come back'. Where possible I always see a specialist. When I had strange sounds in my head and ear the doctor told me to pinch my nose and blow to unblock my ears????

Fingers crossed, your team will be able to control or remove the tumour without any adverse affects on your nerve system.

Where and when is your next appointment?

Graham

[JohnJopp in reply to GDJTAM]

It'll be at Darent Valley Hospital nr. Dartford in Kent. Just waiting now to get an appointment.

John