Dreading Winter

[purenostalgia]

Living alone with hardly any visitors, I have always hated the dark cold winter nights, this will be the first with this Tinnitus ringing in my ears.

I have been spending hours sitting on the patio which is covered by a large carport, with traffic noise and my radio on my Tinnitus was masked.

Last night I felt so at peace that I was sat there at 5pm and it was dark.

Anyone else feel the same and what is the solution?.

[doglover1973]

Hi Mike. I live a quiet life due to health problems . I struggled last winter because I just wasn't prepared for the impact of troublesome T . It sounds as if you're much more aware - which is a good start. You've already found ways to lessen the impact. I think the best plan is to carry on as usual. Do all the things you usually do. That's what I'm going to do anyway 🙂

[rabbits65 in reply to doglover1973]

Keep up the good doggie walks !!!!

[purenostalgia in reply to rabbits65]

Thanks Rabbits65

I cannot walk far unfortunately due to heart problems.

[purenostalgia in reply to doglover1973]

Thank You dogiover

I thought about a patio heater as my carport is protected on 2 sides.

[doglover1973 in reply to purenostalgia]

That's a really good idea. The more time you can spend outside the better. Just read your response further down about not being able top read a book or a newspaper. I was the same at first. I started slowly with factual books about tinnitus and hearing loss. Just a few pages a day . I'm almost back up to speed - 16 months on.

[Happyrosie]

Hmm purenostalgia … asking for something that ‘works’ is indeed a big ask. For me, I go out for walks in quiet places and listen to the trees, birds, rain … relaxation breathing.Are you familiar with the British tinnitus Association? Their website will give you many ideas.

Everyone is different and there’s no “cure” but different people find different things that help them,

[rabbits65 in reply to Happyrosie]

I agree. 😃

[purenostalgia in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks Happyrosie

I hate winter months, I usually treat myself at Christmas, last year I bought myself a top of the range computer, I did not know what was around the corner with this Tinnitus.

[Suz_2]

is there a local Tinnitus support group near to where u live - or maybe join another sort of group to make new friends or just for the social connection - and How are u getting on with the hearing aids - has the T eased off at night at all?

[rabbits65 in reply to Suz_2]

What a good idea Suz , a tinnitus support group. Come to Bexhill on sea and join me for our first support group. Sadly I don’t think many exist

[purenostalgia in reply to Suz_2]

Hi Suz

I do not know of any groups, but our local hospital has just opened a Tinnitus unit in the ENT clinic, must ask the audiologist at my next appointment.

[rabbits65]

I live alone too , just me and my two poodles. We go for walks and enjoy the outside . Indoors though I feel trapped inside my own head and body with this tinnitus . I’m ok . Just but what I’m trying to say to you is I understand fully what your going through . Yes I’m dreading the long winter too . Your not alone. More walks I guess .

[purenostalgia in reply to rabbits65]

Hi Rabbit65

My walking is limited to a very slow short walk due to a heart complaint.

[rabbits65 in reply to purenostalgia]

I guess you have to be very careful with your heart complaint. Do they advise you to take a little exercise though , as you need some exercise for your joints.

[purenostalgia in reply to rabbits65]

rabbits65, I do try and get out, but when i start with chest pains I have to stop and rest for a few mins.

I live at the top of a hill and east west north and south is all downhill, so every walk but one is uphill coming back.

Luckily the short about 100 yards to the shops and bus stop is reasonably flat.

Very good bus service to Leeds and Wakefield every 10 mins plus I travel free.

4 days a week I catch the bus to Wakefield about 3 miles,I have a short walk around town and head back home.

With Covid the usual 6 month heart clinic has been suspended, I am not too keen on going into hospital at the moment.

Take Care

Mike

[rabbits65 in reply to purenostalgia]

Bless you Mike , your doing really well. I have hills here too at Bexhill , I have an awful pair of feet and I try hard to walk because it’s the only relief I get for this horrible tinnitus . Good job we have this site . We are not alone.

[bridgeit]

As you've probably gathered, there are no general solutions as such but we sufferers come up with assorted coping strategies to get us through each day.

Have you considered taking up a hobby that you can do online and drop in and out as the fancy takes you? For example: card games. I don't mean gambling, but pure card play such as bridge which requires a great deal of focused thinking. If you can play but haven't for years, or want to learn, joining an online club such as the excellent Bridgebase Online and/or looking for bridge lessons close to where you live might be enjoyable. There are different teaching groups online too, such as 'No Fear Bridge'. It sounds odd, but you may find that something like playing cards draws you away from thinking about the T and helps train your brain to ignore it. This assumes of course that you aren't already an avid bridge buff!

My other suggestion is to invest in top-quality headphones to listen to music or radio that masks the T and enables you to move around wherever you please without being overwhelmed by head noise.

I hope you find something that works for you.

[purenostalgia]

Hi Bridgeit

Concentration was the first thing to suffer when my Tinnitus increased, for instant I cannot read a book or newspaper.

My main hobby is making films, mostly local history I have about 300 short films on Youtube(mrhooley21), I also have 8000 old local photographs to archive, but I try to limit my time looking at a computer screen, or in my case a 55" Samsung tv, Lol.

[Griffiths30]

To keep busy and my mind off tinnitus, I've painted the kitchen while blasting out tunes from, dare I admit it, Donny Osmond!!! haha.

[purenostalgia]

Good idea frighten your tinnitus to death Lol. I must try that with my Gracie Fields CD.

[Hidden]

Hi I get like this too in the winter Purenostalgia.

I feel a bit melancholy...

Last winter in the UK as very hard with all the uncertainty too. I ate tons of chocolate biscuits at night and I am going to try to cut that down this time. I am determined to be more content this winter.

I love the long nights in the summer and really don't like the short days. Re: tinnitus I like to listen to Smooth FM down low.

Like you I find evenings are long in the winter. If I feel I need cheering up I like to watch documentary programmes where you feel like someone is speaking to you. It is a good distraction. I am looking forward to the new chanel 4 programme with Mirium Margolees and Alan Cumming in a campervan plus I have some films I'd like to watch. I might also re-watch some favourites like Strictly Ballroom and Rebecca.

I have some crows at the back of my house and I enjoy feeding them. I'm going to get some hanging bird seed for my garden as my cat is a mature boy now and will watch the birds but won't pounce on them! Sorry you are limited with walking. Could you go to a cafe with a big window/nice view? I like doing that in the winter for some light.

I know these are all simple things but sometimes those are the best. Vitamin D, Zinc and Vitamin C supplements are good. Keep checking in on here. It is good to chat. 🦆🦆

[purenostalgia in reply to Hidden]

Thank You, some ideas to think about.

Mike

[Hidden in reply to purenostalgia]

Take care. I've just fed my crows! 🙂

[rabbits65 in reply to Hidden]

Good evening FuzzyWuzzywaswoman. That programme you mention with Miriam Margolees , can you tell me the day and time it is on TV ? Thanks from me Penny

Rabbits65

[Hidden in reply to rabbits65]

Hello Penny.

It started on Tues, channel 4 at about 7pm ...link here.

channel4.com › miriam...

Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland - All 4 - Channel 4 Cheers, Lindz

[rabbits65 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Lindz

[surreycccfan]

Mike, I found going for a walk in winter was a great way to manage those autumn/winter blues.

The first two winters I had my T I was not managing it very well. So, I would go for a walk as I knew the exercise would probably help sleep better and it would probably help the reduction in my stress (fight/flight) hormones.

However, what I did when I was out for a walk was to do an active listening exercise (this was part of my T management plan I had put together), I would listen to something far away for 20 seconds (cars, birds, etc.) and then listen to something close up (sound of my footsteps, sound of my clothes moving, etc.) this helped me 'hear through' my T. This is a type of mindfulness exercise which brings you into the moment. I found this very helpful in relaxing me but also shifting my brains attention away from my T.

[purenostalgia in reply to surreycccfan]

Surreyccfan

I am not right good at walking at the moment and every road is down hill, ok outwards but a struggle coming back.

A bit sad that I think our Yorkshire CCC may have to close down.

Take Care

Mike

[surreycccfan in reply to purenostalgia]

Sorry to hear that, you can still use that technique if you outside, you don't have to to be moving

Yip, not been good but I am sure they will bounce back, I will miss going to Headingly for Internationals