Hi all.
I am 66 & have had tinnitus for 38 years. I have coped ok. Until 3 mths ago when the volume went up to a near unbearable level. I have done everything from hearing aids , mediation, music, walking. But I'm struggling . Any help out there?
I live in Australia.
Trish
I know this will only help for minutes but if you stand underneath the shower have it coming straight onto your head it blocks it. Also no one can hear you cry. I am so sorry you are suffering so. I also have had tinnitus for as long as you gentle hugs
Someone understands me. Thank you starveycat.My partner put in a spa & although I can hear my tinnitus noise above the bubbles it helps. Yes I run the water on my head until it runs cold.
Dictor put me in drugs. I hate them.
Hugs back x
Hi Bonnyttt, I empathize. It is hard when you think you finally cracked habituating and suddenly it creeps up on you with something new. I believe in time you will learn to live with the new . I actually have sound generators which help distract the sound. They emit white noise so distract me when the sounds are too heavy going. Your audiologist might be able to help. I definitely agree with the getting in the shower! I also stick the hair dryer or hoover on for about 5 minutes and it tends to decrease the tinnitus for about 10 minutes afterwards funnily enough. Who knew housework could help!? Use sound enrichment eg nature sounds, radio, audio books etc. as much as possible to distract and relax you that's my advice. Have you got the app called Calm? I use it and find it very useful. I do pay for it but that's coz I think its worth it. You can get free apps as well. Have you jointed the facebook group Calm Community. And the British Tinnitus Association who have resources you can call on. I am 59 and have had it for 4 years - its tough. Some days are easier than others. As the saying goes - "Give me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot control, the STRENGTH to change the things I can; and the WISDOM to know the difference." Some days I can live by this, other days I try and spend the day finding the strength to live like this! Sending virtual sympathetic hugs, and hoping for you to have quieter days! 🙃
Hi Louise, yes, a shower is good. 🙂 I hope you're having a better day today.
😉Thanks.
Hi LouisepMartin.
Thank you for your reply. I love my shower but my partner does not like the electricity bills
😐. My audiologist has told me I have responsive tinnitus (lucky me). It reacts & tries to beat any sounds . I have to put ear plugs & ear muffs to do the lawns etc. It's really strange but its true. When I had it years ago I worked horses & had a tractor & every time I got off the tractor my ears were so loud like they are now)( and no I didn't cover them up back then) but the noise always came down to a level I could handle. I am doing my best . It is so nice to have good people who understand how hard this can be. I am much better outdoors & my gardens & spa are my saviours.
I also pray lots......
😊
Stay safe & keep doing your best.
I pray too It is re assuring. I believe that every day is a new day and a new start. Keep safe. I will pray for you all and I send warm blessings your way. 🤗
Very wise words. Powerful saying/prayer. I to try to apply this on a daily basis. Some days good some not so.
hI BONNYTTT I am 81 years old and have had tinnitus for over 20 years and like yourself my tinnitus was no problem until about a month ago when it came back louder and more bothersome this is caused by stress which can raise our tinnitus level from a manage able 3 or 4 level to a 7 or 8 level the pandemic has put stress at an all time high there is not much we can do about the tinnitus but there are things we can do to lessen our stress levels yoga meditation and muscle relaxing tapes might help you through this anxious time
Same for me caramel, I've had years of my tinnitus being manageable and now since last May it's been really bothersome. I hope you've had a good day today. 🙂
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Hi caramel999
Only the lord knows why because not many on this earth can work it out but in saying that I do not think enough money is being thrown at it to help all the people like ourselves.
I am finding this very hard . I want to be on my own as I can not join in conversion because I can not understand because my noise is so loud. when mine went up my audiologist measured the level at 80 decibels 3 times , she said she even tried to trick me , she said that's %$#^$# loud. I said I know. If it just gave me a break I could cope. Doctors just want to put you on more medicine. But its not their fault , they don't know enough about it.
I live with ear buddies , I play classical piano a lot & bird sounds. & my partner made me a water fountain for my bedroom.
Thank you for replying & you are now in my prayers
Hi Bonny. Will you pray for me too? I don't think there's any help down here .. so maybe there's some help up there. Thank you.
Hi doglover (me too!) There is help here but not a cure sadly. We are here and maybe you want to give the BTA a call. They can put you in touch with an online support group😉. Keep calm and carry on my friend 🐕
Thank you Louise. I will do. I think a support group would be a great help 🙂
Hi doglover1973.Of cause I will & I will let the prayer group know as well xx
Thanks so much Bonny!!!
Hi Bonny. How are you? Thank you for praying for me. I'm better than I was when I posted this. Please thank the group for me too. God bless you.
Hello Bonnyttt , that’s very interesting , how do you install a water fountain in your bedroom?Sounds like your suffering with tinnitus even worse than I am. Mine is loud but yours might be louder still.
Has anyone tried that Acouphenol they’ve advertised as being good for tinnitus . Does it go any good?
From Penny
How are you doing these days caramel, I hope you’re keeping well. 😊
HI JOLYN Thank you for your good wishes well a great deal has happened to me since i last posted the good news is that my tinnitus has settled to pre shut down levels I dont think that I would have wanted to live with the loud tinnitus 24/7 for long this is what Ido to train my brain to lower my tinnitus wearing my hearing aids I SHOOSH LOUDLY INTO MY LEFT EAR CUPPING IT WITH MY HAND THEN LESS LOUDLY INTO MY RIGHT I FOUND THAT SOME HOW IT CONFUSED MY BRAIN TEMPORARILY AND LESSENED THE NOISE I KEPT DOING THIS CONTINUALLY FOR WEEKS AND MY BRAIN GOT USED TOSHUTTING THE NOISE DOWN EACH TIME I SHOOSHED AND GRADUALLY HAVING THIS CONTROL OVER THE TINNITUS BROUGHT IT DOWN TO A MANAGEABLE LEVEL
Heavens, how odd. We all need to try that one Caramel. I shall start shooshing my ears to see what happens. So happy for you. Well done.
Hi Bonnyttt, I'm 67 years old and I've had tinnitus for 23 years, for most of those years its been really manageable. Around last May it flared up big time and has been most uncomfortable ever since. It quietens down a little sometimes then it flares back up. I've just enjoyed two calm weeks then suddenly this evening wham ... it's back and its loud. I have hyperacusis as well and that seems to come and go. I have hearing aids but I find when the tinnitus is really loud I just can't mask the noise unfortunately. How are you doing today? 🙂
Hi Jolyn.I'm not doing very well but you have to keep on trying. It's tough and when you don't get any break from the noise i cry a lot & that doesn't help either. I don't understand that there is no help , medically for us all. My doctor admitted to me on Monday that she knows nothing about tinnitus.
This is why I joined this site just to communicate with people with the same problem.
I keep praying & pray for every one with this dreadful hard to cope with tinnitus.
Stay safe x
Hi Bonnyttt, I’m so sorry you’re not feeling so good and I understand how hard it is. Do you get any relief when you’re outdoors? No, our GPS don’t know much about the condition at all it’s someone from audiology you need. Can you see someone there. It’s so difficult during Covid too, the waiting lists are dreadful. Are you still working and do you have any understanding family members or friends? Also have you listened to Julian Cowan Hill on YouTube, he has lots of good advise.
Stay safe yourself. ❤️
Hi Jolyn.I am retired.
My friend of 10 years said lots of people have that , I said I know but mine is about the volume of a lawn mower , she said nothing more except good luck with that. I have no family. My partner of 24 years is wonderful but he feels helpless. He walks with me. He also had tinnitus but not as loud.
We are actually on my way to Tasmania to get a little bit of land (cheaper there than mainland Australia) so I can have a horse , grow vegies & walk the beautiful national parks there. So yes I am much better outside. I have a water fountain in my room & its really good. I have taken it with me . We are caravanning so its good to be out & about. My head is so loud inside.
The audiologist I go to said she is a tinnitus expert (she honestly said that) but after doing every test she could think of she said keep walking & take the medication your dr put you on. She got me hearing aids but I took them back.
Enough about me. How are you doing?
Are you still working? Do any walking? Vegie garden or garden. Live in a quite area?
Questions Questions Questions
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How wonderful, having a horse and growing veggies is a great idea, lots to concentrate on and being outdoors is better for us. Keep feeling positive in the belief that if your tinnitus was manageable before, it could reduce its volume again in time. You’re doing all the right things and I’m glad you’re husband is so understanding. I lost my wonderful hubby 7 years ago sadly. Let me know how the land purchase goes and send me some pics, it sounds fascinating.I turned 67 this month so like you I’m retired. Yes, I live in a quiet area and have a very small garden. So I like a little gardening during the warmer weather. It’s tipping down at the moment. 😂 I do a lot of photography and am particularly fond of a pair of swans at my local lake. I go there most days to feed them for the last 13 years. It’s a great hobby and I enjoy it thoroughly. Being outside is better for my tinnitus. Your waterfall sounds a brilliant idea and a good distraction.
Ok ... I’m off to the lake now in the rain to feed the swans and ducks.
Wishing you as relaxing a day as possible. 😊
Take care. x
Hi bonny
Sorry to hear your story. I had T since the age of 30, 71 now.
Did fine with it till 5 years ago when it ramped up and couldn't sleep without benzos.
Then! Looked at the T in a NEW way a year ago - and it worked!
No benzos since then - fall asleep straight away.
If interested, please see my longer post from a year ago for how I did it.
All the best!
Alps
Help to habituate to Tinnitus - SSRIs?
Musical Tinnitus
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