Positive Distraction

[Currylover100]

I’ve just received my xtrainerz headphones that fit on your bone next to your ear, I’ve downloaded some running stream sound onto the headphones and it is really good at masking. I’m 26 years with Tinnitus but suffering very loud spikes at the moment with various noises, these headphones are really good - honest I’m not advertising, they really are very good and will help me mask when needed.

[doglover1973]

Hi Currylover. Someone else on the forum mentioned these recently - and I believe you can buy them from the BTA website. Hope they bring you lots of relief!

[Currylover100 in reply to doglover1973]

Early days doglover but very impressed so far thanks

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

They look really good,Mines still ringing in my right ear x

But I’m managing it…..

I will have a look at them…

Thankyou for sharing

Can I ask whe is your tinnitus at its worst

When you hear it…

Thankyou

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

Hi Eleanor my T spike is worse more in the morning as a night lying down obviously doesn’t suit it, but this spike is loud all the time with different noises and levels, I’ve had 24/7 T for 26 yrs had 2 spikes for the first time starting last September.

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

I have had tinnitus 26 years too Mine spike started 6 weeks ago I have been doing a lot of meditation relaxation x it seems to help

If I keep busy I can deflect away from it, I wear ear plugs if I’m out anywhere noisy at the moment…

I’m seeing tinnitus audiology at Kendal hospital NHS in a few weeks….

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

I’m pretty good at the mental side but this 2nd spike is a lot louder than the 1st, I’m hoping it will go sooner rather than later, like you I try to keep busy golf helps. Good luck with the audiologist

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

Thankyou

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

Do you think it’s possible to habituate the second time after having tinnitus 26 years at a manageable level….. I get worried about this

Thankyou

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

Hi Eleanor, yes I do believe it is possible to habituate more than once. My first habituation was about 6 months after I first got T, my 2nd was about 2 years ago when I had my ears syringed, and my 3rd ( partial ) was a few weeks ago during this spike although not fully yet as I have got a head cold and chest infection that has currently kicked it off again. Personally I’m a big believer in mindset you have to think positively otherwise it will be more difficult. It helps as my best mate has Cystic Fibrosis and I always look at how positive he is every day even though he plugs himself in a machine 3 to 4 times a day to keep alive ( ironically this helps me think positively )

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

Thankyou I seem to notice mine in the morning….

But seems to settle through the day….

I’m wearing my earplugs when I go out as it settles..

it’s six weeks since spike, I guess it still might settle, what do you think

Thankyou for all your advice

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

Hello Eleanor yes same here mine is louder in the mornings this due to lying down as I think this current spike or new sound is potentially neck related. Hopefully your spike will go, I had my first major spike last September and it lasted 12 weeks then I woke one morning and it was gone, so remain positive there is a fairly good chance ( fingers crossed ) that it will go.

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

I hope so,,,,I’m still working from home and I am keeping my noise levels down…. So not to aggravate it….

Going swimming tonight (with ear plugs) so m looking forward to that….

[RobWG]

Hi. I got a pair last week via BTA website with the discount. I mask a occasionally and they do work very well for me.

Rgds

Rob

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

I have gotten into the (some would say ill-advised) habit of saying "Aftershokz!" whenever I see a runner or jogger wearing a bone-conduction headset when I'm out with my wife and our dogs. I love my basic pair which I've had for a few years now - maybe it's time to upgrade...

[emmakt_ in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Hi Pat, I am looking at whether to buy a pair, would you recommend? And do you use them to listen to just masking sounds, or can you use them to listen to podcasts/music (at a low level of course)?

[TinnitusUKPat Partner in reply to emmakt_]

Yes, to both questions! To be honest, I tend not to use masking sounds, but they are perfect for listening to a podcast and some background listening. You can take and make phone calls on them, too.

I think the best thing in their favour for folks with tinnitus is that you can hear your environment around you, which can be helpful for habituation to sounds and giving yourself good stimuli to focus on.

[emmakt_ in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! Really helpful to know, esp as I'm at the start of my T journey so am keen to ensure I use headphones which aid habituation when I feel comfortable enough to use them.

[Glenkerry40]

Hi Can you wear these in bed at night ? As my Tinnitus ramps up when I take my hearing aids out I wear sleep phones which is a head band with speakers but I worry they make your ears sweat .

[Currylover100 in reply to Glenkerry40]

Hi Glenkerry yes I wore them in bed last night and they were fine, no issues. I have been using bose sleepbuds which are good but obviously in the ear, where these headphones are ideal as they are obviously on the bone outside the ear.

[Glenkerry40 in reply to Currylover100]

Where did you buy them ? BTA website

[Currylover100 in reply to Glenkerry40]

No availability was the issue I got them from an online cycle shop in the end

[Andy79]

Heard about these but haven't tried. Are they expensive? I'm coping well with my ear games atm but if I get spikes again I'll try them. Thanks Andy

[Currylover100 in reply to Andy79]

Hi Andy £139 but well worth it.

[Eleanor1989]

Went swimming last night with ear plugs, got in the car and the tonal sound was horrific in one ear….It had magnified so much I struggled to hear….

Has this happened to you,I was petrified…..

Seems better today….

So loud last night…..

[Eleanor1989]

Went swimming last night with ear plugs, got in the car and the tonal sound was horrific in one ear…. It had magnified so much I struggled to hear…..Has this happened to you, I was petrified….

Seems better today….

So loud last night….

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

Hello Eleanor I don’t go swimming but I do get similar experiences after exercise, golf, and sometimes when I wake up on the morning. Good to hear it wasn’t permanent

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

Hello How’s your tinnitus,,,,

Got appointment for a cranial sacral massage apparently there supposed to help….

have you had one before….

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

Hello Eleanor no I’ve not had one of those sounds interesting……. My T is much the same but I’m doing fairly well ignoring it at the moment it’s very much here and loud with different noises but I’m keeping myself distracted during the day, then put my waterfall noise on at night and I’m sleeping well. How are you?

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

I’m ok, still ringing in left ear….And other noises…. But I’ve booked cranial sacro massage for next week and some psychotherapy with Julian cowed hill….

See what happens….

Wearing my plugs when I’m out anywhere loud especially busy traffic….

Just protecting myself I guess….

How are you…..

[Eleanor1989]

Thankyou for your reply,,,,How is your tinnitus I hope it’s improving….

I feel that I am a bit sensitive to some sounds. Especially some voices,the delivery chaps voice t(tone) hurt my ear…..

Does this happen to you

[Eleanor1989]

Hello,,,,Got my appointment for audiology next week…. Just hope beeps and buzzes won’t upset my tinnitus….

How’s yours…..

Thankyou

[Eleanor1989]

How are you,,,,Is your tinnitus improving…..

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

I’m good thanks Eleanor habituating fairly well at the moment, it isn’t stopping me doing anything and my sleep is ok. Playing golf 3/4 times per week and I don’t notice it when I’m playing as I have to focus 100% on hitting the white ball straight… how are you?

[Eleanor1989]

Hello,Hearing is perfect,,,, and I’m going to try a masker,,,,

They think it’s from operation trauma…. So we will see,,,,

I Can hear it now because I’ve had my plugs in because the town is so busy….

It was a productive day….

Having cranialsacro massage on Friday…

[Eleanor1989]

How are you …..

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

Hello Eleanor I’m good thank you my spike is very much the same but I’m habituating well so I’m ok with it, hopefully things will change in the near future. How are you?

[Eleanor1989]

Yes I’m ok Been a bit tearful but my body is dealing with a lot of changes after my op….

As they removed my ovaries etc….

My hearing test was good they seem to think it’s stress that’s caused it….

Having head massage tomorrow…. So I will let you know how it goes….

Just trying to habituate, recognising the sound and accepting it,,, I think is part of it aswell…

What do you think

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

Sorry to hear about your Op Eleanor must of been really tough for you. Habituate is definitely the answer and try and think positively. Mindset is a key thing with everything in my opinion. Hope the head massage goes well.

[Eleanor1989]

Hello,Yes I shall let you know….

This started 4 weeks after surgery….

So glad it’s over though….

Fortunately it was benign….

Have a good positive day….

[Eleanor1989]

Hello,Massage was ok but room Enviroment was noisy, don’t think I will be going back….

How are you,I do hope it’s improving

[Eleanor1989]

How are you…..Hope fully feeling better….

[Currylover100]

I’m good thanks Eleanor, my head dealing with it is in a good place, my spike has moved from my left ear to my right but all ok thank you.

[Eleanor1989]

How are you getting on….

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

Much the same Eleanor, still very loud and intrusive but mentally I’m dealing with it fine so all ok thanks. You?

[Eleanor1989]

Hello currylover

Still the same,,,, Going to try a masker on Monday getting it from audiology… 9 weeks now but it’s still early days…. Certain environmental noises get to me but I guess it will settle…. Been having quite a mixture of sounds in my ear…

Back in the office fir a few hours next week instead of working from home, hopefully a good distraction….

I went a drive yesterday for the first time since my operation…. It was great….

Lovely day for an ice cream by the sea….

I do hope yours improves, what’s your noise like…. Mines quite intricate…..

[Currylover100 in reply to Eleanor1989]

Hi Eleanor Ice cream by the sea lovely….. my base T is like a sea shell noise with a high pitch with it, my spike has about 3 different noises, an up/down loud hum, an untuned radio that crackles, a high powered motorbike on tick over they are the main 3. But I’m dealing with it ok no problems at all, sleeping really well with the background noise in ( rain fall and running stream ) yours?

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

Hello,Thankyou for your reply,

Mines a ring with a tonal sound, and a hiss, when I listen to it the tonal sound takes over, it changes pitches….

Does that make sense,,,,

Especially when it’s quiet…. Or I’m lying on my bed thinking about it….

I’m still at the checking it stage I think….. even though it’s been nine weeks….

It’s similar I think to my base line T…. But louder….

I recently had a look on tinnitus talk and scared myself…. When I first got t all those years ago, I got no help, there was hardly any information. Now there’s all sorts…. It’s a different world now….

How long has your spike been now,,,,

I do hope it improves soon,

Im very aware of noise so I’m not sure I’m doing the right thing putting my plugs in, on busy streets etc I think I’m just paranoid about making it worse…. Although I am taking myself to the beach at night to listen to some soft natural sounds….

As I’m writing this, I can hear it but I’m not letting it bother me…. Is yours like that….

Im getting my masker tomorrow s will see how it goes….

Have you had a recent hearing test etc….

Thankyou for all your information I am finding it so helpful….

[Eleanor1989 in reply to Currylover100]

How are you doing….