I would like to introduce myself my name is Rick, and to be honest I am suffering badly with tinnitus. Last summer I contracted an ear infection this infection led to meningitis and sepsis and a thrombosis behind my ear. I also had a mastoidectomy operation. The result of all this I have been left with a severe hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus. When I left the hospital in July of last year my tinnitus was at a low level it didn't really trouble me I was able to sleep as normal. However five weeks ago the volume suddenly increased I am now finding it very difficult to sleep only getting three or four as sleep at night if I'm lucky this has obviously affected my work. I have seen my GP who prescribed some antidepressants. I do wear a hearing aid but this hasn't really helped at the moment. Any advice would be much appreciated thank you.
New Member help: I would like to introduce... - Tinnitus UK
New Member help
Hi there
Sorry to hear that your tinnitus is causing distress. I'm new to this forum also and as yet not asked any questions but have replied to a few posts and also looked at some of the conversations. I've had the damn thing all life and never questioned it not the fact I felt my ears were fuzzy as I struggled in school and somehow missed getting hearing tested. I was fobbed off by doctor several times sayin all was healthy but finally as young adult went for hearing test and shocked as results showed mod/severe loss in both ears and was worse at mid frequency. Issued aids but didn't use but learned what this loud buzzing in head was. For some time it really irritated me and was stressful at times and played loud music etc to combat (not good idea I guess). Didn't use aids n went on in education but finally again with fella pushing me went for another test last year and results the same and audio said most likely from birth. Once I understood the t thing it has gone back to the old days when just thought everyone had but maybe mine was a bit louder n that's why couldn't make stuff out and kinda made own language up n coped. I know mines not going to leave as always been there like a massive swarm of bees n sometime have like total deafness and goes into car alarm but eventually goes back to the bees. I now wear my new aids and has improved stuff a lot like watching TV and enjoying the cinema. However if I use for long periods I get another noise like a screeching car and that seems to increase the bees. Sometimes after a rest from aids it does take like in a day but sometimes it takes for ever to return to the normal. I thought maybe the aids would make things worse but eventually it's ok. Sorry the epitaph it's just my experience. I've read others and sometimes it has gone away completely or lessened greatly in time so I don't suppose there are any answers but I would say don't lose hope as for many people it seems to diminish greatly over time. There are no answers as it seems everyone is different but please don't worry too much as it seems to make things worse as we concentrate on it too much. Without being flippant I have just accepted mine and in some ways feel lucky it's always been there because I've known no different. However mine has got much worse at times (didn't think possible) but over time has reduced and on average I'd say my normal hasn't got much worse all my life. If you want to chat and swap notes am here. Don't go on forum every day but check the emails that I get thro to alert me of messages This forums good for me so stick with it and it's also comforting to know that we are not alone at all with this thing. I think more research needs to be done to be honest as it seems it's very much dismissed as one f those things by some medics. Good luck and let me know how you're getting on
Julia
😻🐈🐾
Hello Julia many thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. It was much appreciated. Rick
Wow Rick you certainly have been through quite a bit and you have my deepest sympathy. I’m sorry you are not getting much sleep as that always makes anything worse, especially tinnitus from my experience. So the tinnitus is not letting get the rest you need which just makes your tinnitus worse.
When I first developed tinnitus ten years ago, I thought I would lose my mind. But soon I realized that that type of thinking made tinnitus worse. So you have to tell yourself that it’s not that awful to have tinnitus. As you likely know, our thoughts are very powerful! They can hurt us or truly help us.
So my thinking changed and I would say to myself tinnitus is not a big deal and then think about anything other than tinnitus. You have to try to not give it any attention and tell yourself or tell the tinnitus there are worse things and it’s not that bad.
Two weeks ago I had a sudden hearing loss in the right ear. Also the tinnitus seemed louder and localized to that ear. Then the ear became painful so I went to an audiologist to test my hearing. She took one look and said both ears were severely impacted with wax. She could not remove any of it as it was very hard. She told me to apply oil several times a day for a week and then the wax would be
soft enough to irrigate and remove.
If you go to the pharmacy they will have a variety of home kits with oil and peroxide and special applicators. Do not put cotton balls in your ears as they will absorb the oil.
After three days I noticed there was some wax on the applicator.
When I Googled how to remove ear wax at home, someone showed how to do it with a Waterpik (on LOW). I was amazed and thrilled how quickly it removed the ear wax. I already had a Waterpik but if you don’t it is worth buying an inexpensive model. One ear the wax came out in pieces and the other one large piece. Amazing to think I could hear at all with so much wax. It’s amazing how much and how hard it was.
I was thrilled! My hearing returned to normal. And I have not had tinnitus since. I hear it very very faintly at times or not at all.
I was wondering why no doctor ever suggested ear wax impaction as a cause.
So Rick I suggest you try to change your thoughts about your tinnitus and go to an audiologist or your doctor to see if your
ears are full of wax.
Also there are quite a number of medications that can be toxic to the ears and cause tinnitus. They include many OTC meds such as aspirin and NSAIDS such as Advil. I’m a nurse so if I have said things you don’t understand, please let me know. Please Google medications that can be toxic to your ears.
Sometimes the solutions are a lot easier than we know or even doctors know.
I hope I have been of some help to you Rick. I know your tinnitus can and will improve if you are patient. If it doesn’t go away completely, you can learn to live with it to a point where it doesn’t bother you
as much. Please think positively and know that you are in charge, not the tinnitus.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Helping you helps me, so don’t hesitate.
Bye for now
Richard
Hello Richman, can you please let me know the certain hours you had to use oil and how you removed wax from your ears please?
Thank you
Nickolas, I used a common earwax removal kit from the pharmacy called Earol. It’s very inexpensive and comes with a perfect applicator. I used it four times a day for two days. On the third day, I used another solution I had already purchased. It was a solution of peroxide and oil. After that, it was very easy to remove the earwax with my Waterpik. I used it on low and did not point it directly towards the eardrum. You can also irrigate with a syringe but I don’t think it would work as quickly.
I was so impressed at how much wax came out and how easily. As gross as it was to see, it was wonderful to remove all of it.
It’s diffetent for everyone. I think the wax is ready to be removed when you see pieces of wax sticking to the oil applicator.
I shouldn’t say my tinnitus is gone entitely because it’s still there at times. But it’s not very audible and at times it is gone completely.
I hope I’ve been helpful to you.
Richard
Thank you very much RichmanDid tinittus cause you any confusion and pressure in head?Also im i going to need Waterpik and if yes, which one?
Nickolas, I have never experienced any confusion or pressure in my head. But if I had, I would mention these symptoms to my doctor.
As fa
Oops let me try that again. I just wanted to finish by mentioning that you don’t need to buy an expensive Waterpik for your ears or for your teeth either. The function is really simple. But it certainly worked for me. I hope it does for you as well.
Cheers
Richard
Oh thank you very much mate, I’ll try and clean my ears 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Richard.
Thank you for that reply. Like your positive attitude. I'm the same and completely believe the way we think and our emotional responses determine how we experience bodily symptoms and sensations. I am a mental health nurse. I have mild T , experienced in the left ear, although the symptoms come from the brain. In your case it seems amazing that you've had moderate T for 10 whole years, and its completely gone after the removal of impacted wax. Do you think that was the origional cause? Did you have investigations initially?. I haven't had any tests as I believe my T onset was a reaction to severe stress. It doesn't bother me, to be honest, but your reply made me question whether I need to have my ear checked for wax. I don't appear to have any hearing loss. The majority of people on here, I assume have had impacted wax, ruled out.
Hayley x
Hayley actually I really believe my tinnitus stemmed from overuse of Advil. I have OA in both knees and the Advil really helped the pain considerably. As my tinnitus became worse I began to investigate potential causes and I discovered NSAIDs can be ototoxic. I took more than the recommended daily dose for months which I knew was risky but it was the only thing that helped my pain significantly.
I stopped taking Advil months ago but my tinnitus didn’t let up. My anxiety about tinnitus worsened it.
I eventually realized my thoughts were having an impact because when I changed my thinking it got better.
I’m not entirely sure if it was coincidental that having the earwax removed improved my symptoms dramatically but as soon as the earwax became dislodged my tinnitus abated.
Sorry I’m rushing hear but I wanted to reply before I left.
I’m really glad your tinnitus is mild Hayley and with your positive thinking it will likely not worsen.
Cheers
Richard
Thank you for the reply, btw. I was in a hurry too when I read it. Luckily I don't take Advil (ibuprofen) and never have as I can't tolerate it in the stomach. I'm so pleased that your symptoms have abated to such a degree, it's lovely to hear a positive story.I'm so thankful my symptoms are mild, and I agree that because of my mindset, e.g., not adding fear or negativity, my symptoms won't get worse. I've believed that almost from the start. Take care x
Hello Rick, i been priscribed nortriptlyne but haven’t take it yet as i wanna talk to my neurologist today, once i get them i will let you know
Hello Nickolas thanks for the info. Rick
Hi my name is John have suffered with serve T for ove 4 years now have good days but mostly bad days lot of the time can not sleep but have found this helps sleepytime infusion tea bags all natural ingredients you can get them through amazon uk they help me sleep when T is not that bad there are a lot of different things you do to try to make living with T a bit better just look on any web site to do with T and perhaps you will find one that will work for you as it is T awareness week there are people you can ring on BTA that will happy discuss your T
Good luck
Hello and a belated welcome to the British Tinnitus Association forum. Do feel free to ask any questions, I hope that you find this a helpful and supportive place to help you manage your tinnitus.
We have some resources that you might like to check out in addition to our home here:
(information and support details)
(free tinnitus management programme)
Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call +44 (0)114 250 9922)
Warmest wishes
Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)
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