New and struggling.

[Maxi80]

Hi everybody. I’m new here 👋

I’m really struggling at the moment. It’s been around 4 months now. It’s a constant repetitive whoosh/hissing sound in my ear which is literally driving me mad. It’s triggered some sort of depression.

I’ve been to the GP and she thinks it’s tinnitus. I think it is too. But who knows. I’m trying to accept this. But it’s so hard. I’ve tried various techniques but just don’t seem to be habituating. It could take a while I suppose.

Anyway good to be here. Thanks

[rabbits65]

Hello Maxi80 . rabbits 65 here.

I am in a similar place to you. Had mine since February and I believe there is different levels of this awful thing. Stress makes it worse. Ask to be referred to the ENT clinic and get an mri scan , it will rule out anything structural . Read lots of the old posts on here and you will see that we are not alone.

I wish you well , everyone is lovely on here. Do you sometimes feel scared with the noise, I sometimes feel scared that my head might explode. My GP thinks mine is probably severe. However I am pleased that this site exists and that we are not so alone... good luck

Penny. rabbits65

[Maxi80 in reply to rabbits65]

Hey.

I know other people have it but it still feels very isolating doesn’t it? I want to believe abd hope that there is way forward..

[rabbits65 in reply to Maxi80]

Definitely isolating, I agree. I like the radio on low. Take walks with my dogs etc. We have to try and carry on but I just am not much further than you at this stage . Hope we can speak again .

[MichaelWebster]

I don't want to minimize the struggle. Tinnitus is horrific and disabling and I am challenged by it every day.

I will always be seeking a solution, but until that day, I have learned a few thoughts to help deal with it.

An amazing Dr, indeed world-wide expert, in tinnitus explained it to me like this.

I was sitting in a chair in his office and he asked simply,

"Is that a comfortable chair you're sitting?"

"why, yes, thank you, it's fine"

"Good" he said, "let me ask you something... do you feel the weight of your entire upper body resting on your butt as you sit there?"

"No, I guess I really don't...er, or didn't, until you mentioned it"

He said, "exactly, that what tinnitus is"

[Maxi80 in reply to MichaelWebster]

Thank you. I’m seeking positivity!

[Maxi80 in reply to MichaelWebster]

Do you have any other words of wisdom? Be great to here what else the doctor said 👍👍

[Maxi80 in reply to MichaelWebster]

Just a thought. Now that you’ve thought about the upper body how do you stop thinking about the upper body 🤔 lol

[rabbits65 in reply to MichaelWebster]

“Very good”. MichaelWebster

[Bellyboo]

Welcome Maxi80, I no longer get stressed out with my T. I’ve got used to it and tell myself everyday “it can’t harm me . I blame blows to my head as a child especially Goolongs to the side of my head from my step farther . I’m 68 now and still working and fit as a fiddle. I repair conservatory roofs so need to keep perfect balance . The T I have is chronic but when I got cancer I didn’t notice it as much? I drink a lot of whisky which makes me sleep till 2-3 a.m, I’m then awake and more aware of my T . Working helps enormously to take my mind off it. I was first aware of it when I reached 35, it has increased slowly.The worst times are on long haul flights. You will adjust to it mentally so hang on in there and know that your in good company (Barbara Streisand , Chris Martin, and lots lots more celebrities suffer with it. It’s faulty wiring in the brain caused by trauma or medication in my humble view. The old Sony Walkman has a lot to answer for also. Good luck mate!

[Maxi80 in reply to Bellyboo]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[Maxi80 in reply to Bellyboo]

My brain is telling me that it might not be tinnitus. I’ve had it before but this frequency seems really annoying! The hisssssss 🙈

[lynstone60]

Hi maxi80. I have the exact sound in my left ear since September this year,god its horrible isn't it. At first my doc thought it might be acoustic neuroma which totally sent my HA through the roof I had mri of ears and brain stem and thank god it was all clear . My doc says I just have to live with it ,I have got used to it now ,I wear soft ear plugs to sleep at night cuz hubby snores but they really help with the dreaded T. When I'm anxious it's much louder ,mine is a pulsating sound in time with my heart beat so I'm constantly aware of my heart beat aswell ,which I truly hate cuz I have a heart phobia to which just adds fuel to the fire . I take propranolol and I have to say really quiets the T sound I think that's because propranolol slows the heart rate down and makes me more relaxed so I'm not hearing the T all the time . I wish you well and try and take your mind off the T sound as much as you can and remember you are definitely not on your own ,x

[Maxi80 in reply to lynstone60]

Hi mate.

My whoosh isn’t perfectly in time with my heartbeat which annoys me even more 🙈 I don’t want to mask the T as I really want to habituate