Me again, as I’m new to T and don’t get much clear answers from ENT I’d thought I hope a few of you can share your experience with spikes. I have one constant sound in the right and one come-go buzzing in the left but 11 days ago I woke up to a strong high pitched spike, the one you can hear through everything, even outside. I also get some clicks coming hourly or so but doesn’t bother me that much.
I was wondering - has anyone else had a new sound spiking all of a sudden and has it gone down? Or is this just a new add-on sound I now have?
Life was hard but manageable before this sound. My t started in April this year. Now I feel so desperate and broken that is has gotten worse?
Please please if anyone has experience with spikes or how long they usually last please share.
Its different for different people and spike can vary depending on many reasons (Food, Drink ,Stress levels, even the weather), sometimes a matter of days, I myself have had a spike for over 12 weeks but it has settled down a bit so don't think that its a new permanent addition as it may well not be.
Often clicks are to do with Estuation tube dysfunction (where the air does not equalise properly in your middle ear) this can aggravate existing tinnitus and again my be part of the problem. Worth googling this and seeing if it matches your symptoms as there are a few thing you can do to help yourself.
Tinnitus is a horrible condition but given time your brain can adapt to make it less stressful, I've got mine 24/7 but im working towards habituation (the acceptance of Tinnitus) and im just starting to reclaim my life back - you can too.
I read your story and feel much sympathy for what you’ve gone through as well. I’m so glad you’re doing better though and feeling like you’re moving towards a better life with it.
I would probably be more relaxed if I knew it was gonna go down a notch, but the uncertainty kills me. Must learn to surrender.
For me dealing with the depression and Anxiety was key, it took time and it was/is painful but I believe you hold the key to your own prison, I’m taking antidepressants, I’m reconnecting with my friends, I’m acknowledging the times Im not thinking about it, I accept that l won’t be cured but I know my situation has been improved and I am working hard in mindset to improve things further. I will be back doing the Radio I love so much.
Please believe you can and will turn a corner - it takes work but you can do it.
How are you feeling now, after 10 days post jab? I had mine today and I’m dreading the outcome. My T spiked in both ears ( never happened before) yesterday, maybe because I was anxious about today, my usual tricks to keep it down are not working and I’m just hoping that this second jab will not aggravate my T any further.
Firstly well done for overcoming your fear ! The fact your T spiked before the jab is without doubt due to Anxiety, that makes sense - I would imagine you’re probably hyperware of your T now having had the jab, monitoring it listening to it etc which as we know is likely to exacerbate it further. I guess you just need to give yourself a little time to calm down and I’m sure your T will return to its base level.
I’m pleased to report I had my second jab and my T is no worse for it, I’m confident that it will stay that way.
🙂
May I ask which antideps you take and what the effect has been with those? My ENT gave my clonazepam for 2 weeks only and I’ve been taken them during emergency times but it’s not a long term solution.
I take 75mg of Sertraline mornings (started on 50mg) I take 10mg of Amitriptyline evenings which I sleep very well on (I was not sleeping at all).
If you can’t tackle the Tinnitus I can recommend from personal experience tackle how it makes you feel, go see your GP. Tell them what the Tinnitus is doing to your mental health. If it helps improves your mind set that will improve your perception of Tinnitus which in turn will lessen its impact on your life.
I would also ask for a referral to Audiology, it’s good to get your hearing tested and I found it a positive experience.
My Tinnitus is really going for it as I type, both ears but that’s because I’m thinking about it, it’s not stressing me out though and I kinda think that’s half the battle.
Yes I’ve done all hearing tests and seen many specialists cause luckily I was insured and could go private immediately. All tests were ok but I have hyperacusis on the right ear and mild hearing loss on the left ear on the high frequency ranges, so not ideal and I guess enough to cause T.
I’ve accepted T it’s just that I don’t know if I can do this intrusive loudness 24/7. Please let me know how you get on - when you say you feel improvement was it because of a lowered volume in T or your perception of it or both?
I would say my T remains the same but my acceptance has lowered my perception of it so when I’m busy, working, gardening etc I’m not focused on it and I don’t really hear it - it’s there 24/7 and it’s loud - the minute I think about it it comes crashing into my consciousness, but there in comes the trick - as I’ve said previously working on your anxiety and stress levels (of which mine were through the roof for months and T was all I could think of and how unfair it all was) does indeed lower your perception of it. It no longer makes me want to cry, it no longer stops me seeing friends or engaging in the things I enjoy, because once you get through that Red Alert stage where it’s all you can think of I do believe you’re on the road to habituation.
Thanks so much, it’s very encouraging and I’ve heard about this process a lot, acceptance and commitment in its true form as you describe. I’m glad you can find things joyful again, I’m functional but don’t feel the same motivation or enjoyment in doing the things I like, reading/running. I feel kidnapped by my own body, or should I say, mind. But as you say, the red alert stage will pass, I will try to be patient.
I would also add I can see a time in the near future where I will discuss lowering my medication- I could probably do without the Amitriptyline, I’m going to speak to my GP about this soon.
Alex be careful with medication because some guys on this forum say that some medication makes our tinnitus worse , now I know sometimes it is necessary to take meditation but just be aware of it. I am on my second year of tinnitus now and I get days when I think I am habituating and then I get other days when I am in a bad way of trying to cope. Some people get tinnitus mildly , I am unfortunate that mine is quite severe but this site has definitely helped me cope a bit better. Hope you get on alright.
I agree with you totally on certain types of medication making T worse. I had it in one ear for over 5 years and managed it. Then at a routine ENT appointment a different doctor suggested a trial of Arlevert - the rest is history as they say! Now I have T in both ears and head. I cannot describe what my current situation is like. At times I I feel lost, helpless, desperate. But ENT deny any correlation between the two. Onwards and upwards! Lol!
Hi 1966366I get so cross with Ent and their attitude to tinnitus and our desperation in trying to help ourselves . You would think they would take a different attitude, listen to us properly and offer some decent help.
Thanks for your advice and agreed. I’ve heard of some meds causing T spikes but I don’t think I’m on any from the risk group. I wouldn’t take any anxiety meds long term but it’s for when spikes are particularly bad and I need that extra help.
Was your T always severe? What does yours sound like and do you know why you got it? Please let me know how you get on.
Hi Alex thank you for your reply. Mine started in January 2020, I’m convinced it was my fault , I put a cotton bud in my ear too far to clean. Stupidly, the pain was indescribable . Anyhow I got over that (like you do) but I noticed that my right ear was making like waves and horrible noises , I contacted my doctor and he calmly said “ oh you’ve got tinnitus”. So I said but I’ve only put a cotton bud in my ear !!!! Anyway, I had a scan and a ct scan and this revealed nothing. Then a hearing test, all good there. Gradually the tinnitus got worse , like a balloon blowing up or like the sound of a fan o en in my head. Doctor told me that not all people have tinnitus severely but that mine did in fact sound quite bad. 10 percent of people have tinnitus and 1 in the 10 have it severely. Different atmospheres accelerate it most of the time . If I’m on my own I can usually just about cope. I walk my dogs by the sea and run them in the field and find comfort from hearing the birds and trees. A bit pathetic I know, but you have to achieve your own way of coping and carrying on. I hope my little story helps you . Best wishes from Penny
Hi penny, Bella here. You are far from pathetic. You have been there for every one on here. I sit out the back garden for a bit then retreat to my bedroom. It’s the only way I can cope. I’m taking a day at a time for 5 years now. A lot of stuff has happened between then which spikes my T for mths and I’m exhausted for mths.
Hi rabbits65. I have severe T and chronic migraines. Your right what you are saying some people need to stay on medication. I’m on 50mg of amitriptyline at night and 15mg of diazepam a day to help keep me calm and for my migraines. They do help me. I get so depressed and stressed out when family come to visit as they are loud. And I can’t keep up with a group conversation. My T is constantly there. It’s fluctuating a lot for the past year. My ear blocks and I can’t hear and then it unblocks and T is louder. Morning and nights are bad. In the morning it takes hours and hours for them to even calm down a bit. Heart racing with anxiety and stress I was in a bad way when I got put on medication. I hear my T constantly in both ears.
Ps. Bella it’s me again. I just noticed on this long link someone called currylover mentioned how bad. Amitriptyline is for tinnitus , if you scroll down on here you will find it and read it . Just a point. You could be making your tinnitus worse .
Hi AlexPlease try to calm your body & mind any way you can as Tinnitus feeds on stress and anxiety . I started with mine only in May although thinking back now I have had it a long time but it never bothered me as was so low . It really spiked loud it May & I was just like you & trust me I still have my bad days such as yesterday when I was given a cancer diagnosis . I think now the Tinnitus spiked at the same time as this lump appeared which of course I’m hoping & praying can be treated . But I now realise my body was & still is in stress mode & that is why my Tinnitus has spiked. Trust me I have had some very dark days lately & this site has helped me with people I don’t even know giving me messages of hope . So download a calm app try some deep breathing meditation even some herbal remedies at first May help like rescue or calms. Get out in the fresh air talk to people to try distract you . Calm yourself listen to some podcasts on helping to deal with Tinnitus . It will calm when you do. It’s the hardest thing ever but it will get easier.
Oh Yogachamp I'm so sorry you've had a diagnosis of the Big C. It can't help! If you are indeed a yoga champ you will know the benefits of calming your mind with breathing techniques.
I too had a cancer diagnosis seven years ago but hear I am still! and no, the diagnosis didn't make any difference to the T.
Thank you Happyrosie yes it’s not the best news but to be honest T is the harder to deal with. I’m afraid I’m not a yoga champ wish I was although I do love yoga. You are completely right relaxation is the key so let’s pray I get through the big C & back on track. Thank you for your kind words x
I’m so sorry to hear this. I can only imagine how stressful this must be to you, I hope it doesn’t cause any big spikes while you’re sorting this out to heal from your cancer. Please let us know how you get on.
You’ve had it since very recently just like myself, and it’s almost crazy to hear that you say T feels harder, it shouldn’t have to be that way. If you have energy to describe how long your spike lasted and what it sounded like I would love to know.
Hi AlexThank you for your words of comfort . I believe the Tinnitus is telling me my body is in distress with the cancer . It’s 10 weeks since my T started so that was about 2 weeks after I discovered my lump the only other thing that happened at this time is I also had my 2nd Covid jab & I know a lot of people do think the jab started the T. I can’t really know but in the first few weeks I was having the loudest ringing in my head along with buzzing like a radio trying to find its station , headaches as well . I can only explain it as the darkest days of my life , since then I have dreaded waking in the mornings not wanting to open my eyes & go thru it every day. I have seen 2 ENT doctors who were nothing short of useless , my GP same I even sat In A&E all night with my head in my hands all night only to be told sorry you need to see your GP. Anyway then I found this forum which has been my saviour to know your not the only one & get advise from other people who also been through it. Anyway I started meditation which has helped me a lot. & listened to podcasts & trying as hard as I can even with my recent diagnosis to try & accept the T & that way I feel I have good days n bad sometimes I sleep OK sometimes not . Just others all say it takes time & eventually you habituate . I still pray every day I will wake up to a quiet head & miracles do happen . 🙏🙏🙏 I hope to have my operation ASAP to remove my lump & Just pray one day I can smile again 😀
You are in my prayers. I no exactly what you mean. I don’t want to open my eyes. This forum saved me. I thought I was the only one on how can I go on Iv shared my feelings on this that Iv not told anyone in my family. I trust on here more than anything.
Thank you so muchWe will all survive this 🙏 It just takes so much mental strength . I just listen to others on here that say it will get easier , it’s hard for your close ones to understand as only we know what it’s like . Sending prayers & love right back at you .
Blessings, prayers and positive vibes for you. You are definitely a champ going through what you are going through and still try to stay calm with T and stress. You got this! Thousands of healing prayers for you.
Thanks Eleanor 1989I’m so happy for you , I am hoping to have my Tumor removed ASAP but I knows this is probably hard to believe it’s the tinnitus bothering me more . Do you mind me asking more about the masker is that like a hearing aid & how is your Tinnitus now .
I can hear my tinnitus in the right ear x It started 4 weeks post op….
It’s eight weeks now as I’ve had it 26 years but had habituated….
Yes I asked my doctor to refer me to audiology and I was fortunate In my area to get one quickly…..
My hearing was good although I have a bit of hyperacustic….
I also saw ENT this week and I’m getting a masker for my right ear…. It will play a sound and detract me from my tinnitus…. It is not a hearing aid although they do adapthearing aids to do both….
Im always listening out for it which doesn’t help x 🙄
But I’m trying x I’m still working from home but back in the office for a day next week….
I'm seven months in with Mr T. Scary at first but coped until i had my first spike this weekend,forcing me to my bed which lasted three days. I am also taking sertraline, which i have read can cause T. Who knows? All the best everyone.
Sertraline caused an awful spike in my T that I was forced to stop after four days and the spike lasted days, some of which I could barely function. Be careful what you put in your body re meds. All the best
Sorry to hear that! I know we’ve spoken before. Please let me know how you get on. Do you feel like your T is on a manageable level now or most of the times at least?
I’m sorry to hear that but glad you feel better now. What type of spike did you have, high pitched? Those can be devastating and I’ve had mine for almost 2 weeks now.
If you listen to the above advice, you will be ok.
We have all been in the same position as you and had the same anxieties and concerns, about new sounds and sensations etc. T and stress, anxiety, low mood all go hand in hand and one feeds of the other. You will probably find that your spike is related to the anxiety surrounding your T.
The key is to be able to control your emotional reaction to your tinnitus, this makes it lose its importance and helps with the acceptance of living with tinnitus, remember it's not going to hurt or harm you, it is not dangerous, tinnitus is nothing more than electrical signals being received in your brain, it is your mind that interprates it as a threat.
It takes time but you will get there, each day at a time. Ask anyone here and they will all agree, acceptance is key. You will be ok, have hope and work at it and the rest will come.
You are so right. When my other sounds spike I don’t get emotional but because this is new and so much louder and high pitched, feeling like it’s going to cut through glass, I’m left anxious unfortunately. But I’m trying not to be! So all stories on spikes and going down to baseline are helpful but ofc no one knows the course of T and it’s very individual. Did you have one really bad that settled? What is your situation?
I think because I have a mild high frequency hearing loss that my T is adjusting to whatever loss is being caused. But I’m trying to stay positive.
So I've had T for 30 years now and have experienced lots of different things with it.
I have various sounds in my left ear, which has the hearing loss, a variety of high pitch noises that change sometime with the environment I'm in, not all the time but sometimes, a mid range tone that fluctuates between 2 pitches a bit like a siren or someone playing pan pipes and last but not least a low tone hum or rumble. My right ear a high pitched wine which sometimes transfers the the centre of my head. Now these when they first started all caused anxiety, however by following the same process, they have all become the norm, so I very rarely notice them and when I do, it's not for very long and they have no emotion attached to them and that's the key, feeling nothing about them, makes them not important. Your brain will then stop paying attention to them and move on. You already do it, it's no different to the new sound's, you have to allow yourself the time to adapt, it will happen.🙂
I`m 18 months trying to accept my Tinnitus, at the moment I am having a bad spike which as lasted for 5 days now, not got a clue why this spike as started, not sure if it`s just the return of rubbish weather again!!
I do have good days when my Tinnitus does not bother me that much as I try to keep busy.
Just try to keep calm and hopefully things get better for you.
Thanks for sharing! Have you had a spike before? Is your spike very high pitched also or how does it differ from your normal sound? I hope it settles for you soon. A 5 day spike is probably nothing to worry about. I’ve had mine for almost 2 weeks so feel confused why it doesn’t settle. It makes me feel like I’ve got a new sound that’s unfortunately also louder than before.
Hi Alex, Iv`e had plenty of spikes in the last 18 months, usally last 4-7 days, my Tinnitus seem`s louder but have been told by ENT it`s just my brain telling me it`s louder.I have high pitched ringing in my left ear and medium pitched ringing in the right ear.
Hopefully will improve soon, just wish someone could find a cure, would like someone just to snip some wires in my brain!!
I have had spikes for several days. I think it is something to do with other conditions in my body. If I have a problem with some type of infection for example my T goes crazy. So I am thinking that sometimes I might have a minor problem with something that is not enough that it drives me to the Dr but maybe it is enough that it spike my T. Then when that condition goes away my T comes down.
who knows? just my imagination maybe but this seems to be the case.
Sorry to hear you’re going through a spike, have you had it before so you know it usually comes down? Is your spike very loud now and what does it sound like normally?
Alex please be careful re tablets, my Doc prescribed Amitriptyline to me for an injury and informed me to take 10mg daily then on day 8 up it to 20mg which isn’t a lot, within 48 hrs I started with a very loud intrusive spike that lasted just over 3 months ( I have 24/7 Tinnitus and have for 26 years ) the Senior Doc at the practice apologised to me and said I should not have been given that drug as a tinnitus suffer. Nytol one a night are fine which is what I take together with rainfall or stream sounds playing in the background, I sleep fine. Positive mindset is the best way, it will get better.
Thanks for sharing and I will be careful ofc. I only started clonazepam when I got this spike because it was so intrusive and gave me an unbelievable anxiety but don’t take it anymore and it didn’t settle or make the spike worse. I’m glad your spike went down although it took some time. Did you always feel like it was a spike or did you ever fear it has simply gotten worse? What is your level of sound now?
I’m on antivirals now as the doctor has different theories and the next on the list is steroids which I very much contemplate taking, I was also on serc-16 before but didn’t really help. I feel like the ENT just wanted to send me off with pills but ultimately it’s probably best to avoid anything too strong although I could use some sedatives as I’m very anxious and worried as a person.
I had no spikes until the one in September, I’m currently in my 2nd spike which is a lot louder with different sounds this one is almost 4 months. It’s debatable how I got the 2nd spike it was either the reaction to a Big Bang on the head that caused a brain bleed or a long loud mobile phone call. I didn’t know about spikes until I had my first. I found the 2nd one tough for the first few weeks but I’m habituating fairly well with it now, and I’m optimistic that it will go sooner rather than later.
Try and keep busy, eat well, drink lots of water, noise mask, and try your best to relax.
My experience with tinnitus spikes is a mix of bad days and mix of good days. Mostly for me is bad days, but recently I started to experiencing better days. My spikes have turned more into a permanent sound. I was habituate before, but after an ear infection. 15 months ago I’m up and down all the time. Last night even my right ear ( it was the good one) started to become more high pitched and the left started screaming too.( I have several sounds in the left) . It could be because I was very anxious to have my second jab today. Honestly I do not now what to try anymore or what to think anymore! However I also have really good days where I feel my tinnitus is not bothering me and I can live my life as it used to be.
I feel I can habituate even to the higher pitched one. Usually when I think that life is possible again for me my T is quieter and I can distract very easily.
I have now been referred to a Ent but it might take months before I see anyone. I was also considering to take antidepressant to help me cope with T, but I’m trying my best not to. The only thing that helps me a bit with loud T is high dose magnesium and melatonin for sleeping. I’m sure your case might be very different from mine and your spike might last longer than usual, but it will go back to normal. Wishing you all the best with your journey!
Thanks for sharing! Sounds like your spikes fluctuate a lot, when you say it has become a permanent sound do you mean you eventually habituated to your spike or do you feel like you can come down to a quieter baseline at all? How long did your high pitch sound last?
I think it’s a good idea to see an ENT specialist. I’ve seen 2 now and also audiologists so I’ve got my hearing properly checked and found I have mild high frequency hearing loss on the left ear and hyperacusis in the right, which I’m sure is the reason I’m suffering from T.
Glad melatonin works for you, I suppose that’s better than any strong insomnia pills.
Hi again Alex, sorry for the confusion. My tinnitus can stay high pitch for days then goes down a notch for a couple of days then start all over again ! It does fluctuate a lot as you said 😬. I also have buzzing sounds that come from the back of my head - more than my ear. The combinations of the two, plus right ear is just debilitating. However as I said sometimes when it goes quieter I feel good and I don’t notice as much. These are the days I live for and I’m sure that somehow I will be able to cope much better even when T is at his worse. Ultimately I do think Habituation is an achievable goal for so many T sufferers even with loud tinnitus.
Hi Alex . I'm 15 months in to loud T. Last November I had quite a spike. It lasted 3 weeks and frightened the life out of me but it eased eventually. I panicked from start to finish. Recently I had a spike but I stayed calmer this time and it eased after 10 days or so. I think the key is to relax, stay calm, don't panic. I hope your T. settles very soon. I believe it will.
Hi it is very scary when you first get t I have had it for over 15 years and been through the mill with it I have it constant it does get more bearable with time and spikes make it difficult because they remind us of how difficult new pitches can effect our calmness they do settle back down white noise videos really work for me to gradually settle it down .
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