I have had tinnitus now since last October I didn’t understand what it was when it started as came on suddenly I even know the date.it started off mild and I eventually got an appointment last Tuesday at ENT at the freeman hospital in Newcastle, I saw consultant and she asked how it was well at that time I felt it was mild and could manage it but the last few days it has really spiked so bad it’s driving me nuts so the consultant said as I am coping with it just to come back in six months cos my balance iffy.
I am having to turn the tv up more recently but can still here the noise, I have other health issues on top which doesn’t help and I need to rest and quiet but I can’t do as I need the noise to try and help the tinnitus, I can’t win,I am 60.
I had a hearing test and said I have a mild hearing loss think she said both ears.
I don’t what to do, any advice please, have tried apps and looking at ear pods but don’t which to buy?
Thank you.
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Jan87
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Julie. Anxiety makes it worse...easy to say but you need to relax and do something that keeps you busy ..mines been hissing all day but just get on with things ...just don’t panic as it will settle when you’re anxiety drops
Thank you, yes it’s not easy because I have fibromyalgia and ME so I need to rest in the quiet but resting and quiet don’t go well with tinnitus but I joined a support group in Newcastle and went yesterday really nice group and I found the information good so going to keep going.
The noise right now is quiet bad it eased off for a couple of weeks not as strong but every day still but today so bad. Someone came with bone conductor ear phones so looking at which ones to get, have you tried them?
Hi Julie. I haven’t and do need to make an effort to find some equipment - ear buds or conducting headphones ...am sorry you’re having a spike. This condition is so debilitating as it’s in our heads ...I hate the anxiety and depression. I keep going but do wish I had my old self back and not one who has fear of spikes and noise effects 😞
I have mild hearing loss - 25% at high frequency and tinnitus and am 60 next February. Like you I know the date and time the tinnitus started - 8th January 2019. You need to be referred to an audiologist so they can assess for hearing aids. I have had aids since June this year. I was on sleeping tablets from end of January to September but have weaned myself off them. The tinnitus is still there but has settled a little - I have a white noise machine next to my bed and can get to sleep most nights. If I have a bad night I still get up at the same time every day so that I can get to sleep ok the following night. I have accepted ( it took a while) that my funny brain noise will always be there and this has made me more relaxed which I think enables me to forget it for periods when I am busy. My hearing aids play pink noise which I can very the volume of depending on how my brain noise is on a given day. Had a follow up with the audiologist yesterday who said hopefully it will keep getting better for me.
I haven’t yet been referred to audiologist but I did see a consultant at the freeman in Newcastle who said not much can do but I said I have balance issues now so she is going to refree me somewhere but when I don’t know.
Doctors are useless no help at all.
At the hospital I was told I had a mild hearing loss when I had a hearing test.
No one has said anything about hearing aids so is it best to ask the doctor even though I know the answer.
I have looked at different white noise machines but not heard of pink one but glad it helps you, I am looking at apps and found some classical music that is not to bad and I joined a support group in Newcastle and someone brought a bone conductor head phones so looking at that to buy but not sure if it will help have you heard of them? What do you think?
I am so happy that it has helped you and not getting worse, mine seems to be getting worse so I will go back to the doctor and demand to see an audiologist as just writing this in the quite usual driving me mad.
Julie I am.sorry that you are suffering with tinnitus. Like you, when my tinnitus began about seven years ago I was truly overwhelmed!! I thought I would have to end my life because I believed tinnitus was unbearable and that I would lose my mind.
As I realized I wasn't losing my mind, I realized that my negative thinking was making me very anxious. As others have stated, anxiety only makes tinnitus (or any other condition) worse.
So I took charge and decided I wasn't going to let tinnitus ruin my life. I began to learn that many many people suffer from tinnitus and live very happy lives. They become ”habituated” to the point that they have controlled their tinnitus simply by controlling their reaction to tinnitus. Just knowing that helped me feel less helpless and anxious about my tinnitus.
As my anxiety decreased so did my tinnitus. I stopped thinking catastrophically and realized I was NOT powerless and could conquer my tinnitus.
It only took a few weeks for me to start to feel so much better. And it just snowballed. The less anxious I became, the less I thought about my tinnitus and the less attention I gave my tinnitus continued to reduce my tinnitus.
Sometimes, for days, my tinnitus is barely audible. When it does start up, I initially became anxious but I would IMMEDIATELY change my thinking and think about something else. I know this sounds very simplistic but this is how one becomes habituated.
It is very important that you believe your anxiety makes tinnitus worse and that less anxiety and focus on your tinnitus will work for you.
Please think about this and hopefully you will learn you are in control about your tinnitus.
I am trying same as I also realised it’s in the head...however T is so debilitating and I hope I get through as my life has been dented over last year with social anxiety and isolation ....
Thank you yes I can see anxiety is making me feel like this and I do suffer with that a lot recently my sister died and I started having panic attacks as well but this started last October I didn’t know what it was as one minute I could hear and next this noise and it’s 24/7 but seems to be getting worse. I joined a support group and went there yesterday found a lot of information and a nice group.
It’s so good how you have able to get threw this and come through the other side and I know I need to change how I am thinking but it’s not easy is it.
Thank you though will try my best and try this and sorry it’s been a long time in replying.
Please keep in touch and I will put about the hospital and what is next thing I can do as someone said about seeing an audiologist so going to sort that out as well.
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