Hello!

[Scouse_Mouse]

I've just joined this forum and I must say, after reading some of the posts on here I've been quite reassured in certain regards about my tinnitus.

I do have a question and wonder if anyone can shed some light on my particular case.

I became aware of my tinnitus almost exactly 3 years ago. My GP initially told me I had scarring on my ear drums, probably due to years of exposure to loud music/work/etc. After an unsettling first few weeks and months it basically hadn't been too much of a worry for me. Every day ambient noises were enough to mask the sound and I've always fallen asleep with headphones on watching some rubbish or another on TV/youtube. I've always had that reminder of it in the morning when I first wake up but that only lasts until the day-to-day life begins.

Unfortunately, in the past 2 weeks it's seems to have gotten more noticeable to the point were sitting and watching TV isn't enough to distract me from my T (it also doesn't seem to diminish the sound with increased volume of whatever I'm listening to any more).

I had a very sore throat just after Christmas (4 weeks ago from the time of writing this) which I was taking 2 ibuprofen and 2 paracetamol 3 times a day for a number of days. It felt like a swollen gland that was sore to the touch.

Three weeks ago (a week after the sore throat) I developed a swelling in the gum behind my bottom left wisdom tooth which I believed to be a abscess but this died down on it's own after a few days. Again, only using painkillers until it subsided.

Then, almost 2 weeks ago to the day, I became aware of my T being notably more prominent than it had been at any point in the previous 3 years. It's actually causing me a great deal of distress at the moment. I normally sleep well of a night but I haven't had (what I would consider) a full nights sleep in the last fortnight.

I'm struggling to drift off due to anxiety. My heart rate increases and just as I'm about to nod off, I twitch or jerk awake. If I do drift off, I've been waking up during the night and finding myself unable to sleep again due to being aware of the noise (previously, if I'd woken up at any point during the night I could easily get back to sleep again almost straight away due to being tired/half asleep, regardless of the T). My thoughts have turned quite dark as I lie awake at night. I find myself focusing on it at least 50% of my waking hours as well, which can't be helping matters. All of these reasons have prompted me to seek medical help from my GP who, I believe, is referring me to a specialist next week.

Anyway, sorry for the essay and thank you very much to everyone who posts here asking questions or helping other with answers. It's made for some very interesting reading!

Cheers,

Graeme.

[Happyrosie]

Hello Scouse-Mouse. You’re doing the right thing in getting professional help. In these Covid days it takes a bit of effort to see a dentist about a possible abscess, too. But you might want to pursue that further.

I’m not a doctor but I can imagine something towards the back of your mouth being infected could easily trigger something in your brain which your brain then likes to interpret by giving you noises - the T!

Now, I’m going to say habituation. You’re waking suddenly and this creates anxiety, which feeds the T which feeds the anxiety ...... and so on.

So, if you can find some way of dampening down your anxiety - meditation, breathing, whatever - that’s going to give you some hope. It’s not easy: but it is what is going to help you.

Habituation is when you get used to it and it doesn’t bother you much. Yes, it can come out at you suddenly but you say to the T “I am in charge of my body and not You”. Tell it to go away. And it might creep into the corner, discouraged.

I wish you well.

[Scouse_Mouse in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you for your response, Rosie. It means a lot to me to be in touch with people who share similar experiences!

The main thing I'm worried about right now is if this sudden increase in my T due to infections is permanent or temporary. I suppose either way the answer is the same. Re-habituate!

[doglover1973 in reply to Scouse_Mouse]

Hi Scouse Mouse. Just got up from a sleepless night myself. Similar story. Several quiet years. Now much noisier. Waiting to see a specialist too. Your new noise levels may well be linked to the infection. I'm sure ENT will be able to tell you. You could try natural sounds at night. Like rainfall or rivers. It's very soothing even if it doesn't send you straight back to sleep. I take antihistamines once a week .. Just for a little relief. All the best.

[Scouse_Mouse in reply to doglover1973]

Thanks doglover. I tried decongestant tablets a few years back believing the cause to be Eustachian Tube Dysfunction but sadly it wasn't the case, although my ears still do crackle when I swallow.

I think my sleeping problems stem from anxiety rather than the actual tinnitus itself. Even when I'm absolutely shattered, something jerks my body away from sleep which is very distressing as it can happen dozens of times during a sleepless night.

It's also difficult to find sounds that correlate with the high pitched tone I'm experiencing to try and take my mind off it. I've only really used youtube up until this point as a distraction but I believe there are many apps and devices out there than can help.

[Hla20]

Hi Graeme,

I completely sympathise with the anxiety & the fear at night. I sincerely hope you are able to find relief with the help & support of a specialist.

[lesley2015]

Hi Scouse_MouseSorry to read that you are struggling so.

I have had T for about 3 years also, seen specialist, have hearing aids in both ears which does reduce the noise - until bed time!

I have a white noise machine which helps but I think for me, it is often my own mental attitude at the time, as to how I deal with it.

Mine is incredibly loud at the moment and a few new noises too. My hearing aids broke and had to go off for repair (by post because of Covid), so it got worse over the week I didn't have them and has not returned to my 'normal' .

I have also had a rotten cold and couch, so I have been congested which seems to have aggravated it also, I am hoping it will settle shortly.

It has become my way of life now, one I would rather have but there is little choice so I try an accept it. I have other health conditions which cause pain and discomfort, these and the medications I believe triggered the T.

See a specialist - and be kind to yourself. For me, I find it quite a solitary condition, no one can see it, feel it, hear it or understand it other than the person who has it - and we are all different.

Sorry not to have any wonderful words of wisdom, just distraction and humor - being outside is often better - not much else we can do really but remember we are not alone!

Best wishes

[Scouse_Mouse in reply to lesley2015]

Thanks Lesley, I really appreciate you sharing your experiences. It's such an unusual affliction in terms of how it starts and develops differently from person to person.

Good luck and be safe.

[Singinglouder]

Hi Scouse_Mouse. You say your T is quite high pitched. Mine is too, and I did have to experiment a bit to find a sound to help me sleep. I have an app called White Noise. It has all the usual water-based sounds, which I’m never sure about - I have an elastic bladder, but most people I know would spend half the night in the loo if they listened to running water 😂 - but pink noise masks quite well for me.

Hope you find something that helps and get some sleep.

[Scouse_Mouse in reply to Singinglouder]

Thanks Singing. Glad you have something that works for you. I've just discovered the Beltone app which did well to mask it a lot of the time.

Unfortunately, my anxiety has been through the roof for the past fortnight and it's that which is keeping me awake at the moment rather than the T. Even a sleeping pill didn't seem to want to work very well last night.

Take care.