Struggling 😔

[Maesy]

Hello to everyone, I suffer with tinnitus and hope to find similar people.

My friends are probably fed up with me talking about it so I thought I'd seek help here.

Struggling today 😣

[Happyrosie]

Hello Maesy. Here is the place you find T sufferers. About one in twelve of the population has T so possibly some of your friends do too! If you haven’t yet been to a doctor about this, that might be a good first step. About 18 months ago the National Institute for Clinical Excellence published fresh guidelines for doctors to use when they have. Patient with T. Because Covid came along at the same time some doctors might not have caught up with these so you could have a read of them first. Go to the NICE website and put tinnitus into their search box.Have you got any specific concerns you think we might help with? Post them on here in Health Unlocked and we will see what we can do!

[Maesy in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you for your advice, I've had tinnitus for 7 years from loud music, last week I spiked my good ear with a sharp end of a garden plant... I know it sounds mad... Its changed the tinnitus and its so loud, today has been awful, I'm getting anxious about it like I did when I first had it.It's louder than ever, but yesterday it was quiet.... Want to walk into the sea but not brave enough. 😔😔😔

[doglover1973]

Hi Maesy Welcome to the forum .You've come to the right place . Tell us a bit more about yourself, your T, your specific struggles - if you'd like to. We're all ears 🙂

[Maesy in reply to doglover1973]

I has a high pitch hiss all around my head and I managed to damage my good ear last week, now its so loud, its distressing.Trying to chill out but its impossible.

Over the top of everything.

Going to meditate now.... Hope its not like this tomorrow, its awful.

I'd walk into the sea but its too bloody cold, plus I'm not brave enough x

[Hidden in reply to Maesy]

Hi Maesy, I'm sorry hear that you are struggling with your tinnitus and experiencing negative thoughts. It can be very distressing so I am glad that you have reached out to our forum. Tinnitus can be frightening, but I wish to reassure you that tinnitus often goes through better and worse periods, and it won't always be like this.

Whilst you are finding it hard, it may be worth giving us at the BTA a call on our helpline so that we can try and talk it through with you. We are aware of lots of techniques which can help manage tinnitus and can suggest avenues of support which may help whilst its quite loud. You can contact us on 0800 018 0527 or if you prefer you can webchat us in real time on our website: tinnitus.org.uk/

I would also recommend possibly giving the Samaritans a call as well while you’re feeling so distressed, as they have a lot of expertise in supporting people who are feeling low and/ or are having a difficult time. You can contact them by telephoning 116 123

Additionally, your local hospital should also have a Crisis Team connected to mental health service and you can just turn up in the A&E department any time and ask to see them. Their whole purpose is to see people who feel at breaking point for whatever reason and help them find appropriate help quickly. Again, even though a mental health service might not specialise in tinnitus, we do know that if people can be helped to feel less depressed, they generally cope with their tinnitus better.

[Maesy in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your kind and caring words, yes I'm very familiar with BTA and have spoken to them twice today. It's still loud but my frame of mind is less distressed with it and I had a better day at work.

[doglover1973 in reply to Maesy]

So sorry to hear of you struggles. Very good advice from Hidden The BTA helpline is a great place to start. Kind & helpful voices on the end of the line. One of my sisters does cold water swimming. She's yet to convince me it's a good idea 🙂

[Maesy in reply to doglover1973]

Cold water, not for me brrrrrrr.Thank you for your reply.

I'm better today with my frame of mind

[doglover1973 in reply to Maesy]

I'm glad you're feeling a little better today . It's not unusual to feel the way you do - especially if there's a change in your T all of a sudden. I was beside myself this time last year . On the upside if you got used to T once you can almost certainly do it again. Just realised you didn't mean a swim .. Sorry 😕

[Suz_2]

hello Maesy - u will get lots of support and advice here like i have had, over past few months - lots of lovely, caring helpful people

[Happyrosie]

It sounds to me, Maesy, as if you need help above and beyond what we can give you here. Please, please do go and see a doctor, or ring 111 assuming you’re in the UK, and tell them what you’ve told us about your physical and emotional problems.

[rabbits65]

Maesy. Please write to us whenever you want to . We are all in the same boat and we all understand what your going through . Please go and get an appointment with your doctor as I feel you need some extra help and support emotionally . Let us know how you get on .

[Maesy in reply to rabbits65]

Thanks for your kind words and it's helpful to know I can talk on here.I'm usually OK but since I spiked my ear in the garden it's been quite loud.

Today has been better, at work I thought... Fucxxxxit it's only a noise, loud noise but that's it. BTS have been great, very supportive.

It's nice to know I'm not alone

[msspinner]

Hello Maesy,

In my experience of T., the noise fluctuates. Right now, mine's more of a rumble so I tell myself it's someone's washing machine.

Anyway, I hope you're feeling better today. You've received some excellent advice from others on this board 👍

[Hidden]

Hello Maesy.

Sorry you are going through this. It is good that you meditate. I hope that helps you. I think you would benefit from further help too, as Happy Rosie says. Mine's is a constant hissing with a ring tone which builds up to a peak with inner ear pressure. At the build-up point loud sounds make me jump and ears can feel sore.

This site, and everyone on it, are so helpful. Through reading what others are going through I realised I was not losing my mind!

I've had T since about 2014, with hearing loss. I sometimes benefit from low sounds eg playing the radio or TV music channel in the background when my tinnitus is at its default level with the hiss and constant tone...

But when it builds up I need total quiet and usually have to lie down. I have diazepam and take half a tablet if it is really bad but try not to use it too often, every few weeks or so. My GP said it is not a long term solution and she is right. I'm lucky that I can get appointments with her though not yet face to face. I've been to Ear, Nose and Throat twice.

You will get lots of ideas on here. My poor mum had waterfall sounds and constant changing tones. It is awful and definitely made worse by the stress cycle too. The mental impact needs more general awareness in society.

I tell my friends what I'm going through though I edit it a bit. I've been coming on here more as people here are very understanding. Take care, keep sharing and hope it eases today. 💐 💙

[Oysterseeker]

Hi Maesy, others have given you good advice above. I've told friends and family about my T, my partner has had full on melt down from me trying to get him to understand what's going on and how difficult it is to cope but I don't think he's given it another thought since, well he can't hear it can he? But here we do understand and I do find it helpful to hear from others about their experience and advice.

Let us know if you manage to get to see your GP and how you get on. Hope you have a better day today and know you are not alone.

[Spurdog1]

Greetings Maesy. True friends are still there after all your suffering. I have suffered for 18 years, and count myself lucky because my T is manageable, it's a basic hiss. I know of ppl with wavering, and banging as well. Thats got to be worse. Maybe you could define your sounds.

Do tell us how we can help, maybe day to day exercises. How to "get away from it" for a while. General grumble. We've all been there. And BTA administrators watch over, but you are better off speaking to them on the phone.

Keep smiling

[Maesy in reply to Spurdog1]

Bless, you, I'm always on the phone to them, aren't they wonderful, I've spoke to them twice today.My noise, can be so loud and high pitched.... It distresses me at points. Seem to be handling it better today.

I hope it hadituates soon. I have a hum like the freezer in my left as well.

[Spurdog1 in reply to Maesy]

Great news that you are in a better place tonight. Mine is like a seashell on my ear.

[robtheprint]

Hi Maesy, sorry I am unable to add to the other comments but do remember you are not alone. I find walking by the sea is a great help, ,please stay on the beach/promemarde DONT go into the sea.

wishing you all the best.

[Maesy in reply to robtheprint]

Thank you.... Ha ha ha, no ill keep to the beach. Im to scared to do anything like that it's too bloody cold anyway.Needed a break from the continuous hissing and humming.

[Hop38]

Hi Maesy sorry that your suffering with this! My T is like an jet engine in one ear and like a swarm of bees in the other. I also get noises in my head also. These do fluctuate throughout the day. I suffered a spike last Monday which made my T increase in volume and made my right ear go all funny (echo/hollow sound which made other sounds distorted). Stress is a big trigger for me. That feeling has gone now (took about 4/5 days) but the T has remained the same😒! I have signed up for a CBT course through Debbie Featherstone. I have to start it again as I stopped in August as I wasn't in the right frame of mind to continue. Of what I have done, it was very informative and it gives you good breathing exercises to complete daily.

If my T gets on top of me I usually go for a walk or clean anything I can find! I do have 2 girls aged 7 & 3 so they do help to take my.mind of it sometimes. If it's only for 5 minutes that's good enough for me😊Do you have any children? This is a good forum to be apart of, everyone is so friendly and helpful and there is no negative talk which is great. How are you feeling today?

[Maesy in reply to Hop38]

Hello, wow you have a lot to manage sound wise in your head. I have a hum in my right ear a hiss in my head and a bloody annoying hiss in my right ear now, since I managed to spike my self in my ear with a plant leaf, out door big plant that is.Well I've been to work today and on the phone tBTA and I'm managing not to let it distress me so I'm OK at the moment... Thank you.

I've got 4 grown ups and 6 grandchildren.

I'm not an oldie though, I'm quite young at heart and did my ears in with too much loud music!!!!

Thank you for taking your time to write to me. I'm very grateful, in fact everyone has been so kind and caring.

[Hop38]

6 grandchildren🤔.....They will definitely keep you distracted so😂! I'm glad your feeling a little better, all we can do is take 1 day at a time really and on the bad days, hope for the next day to be a little better! Take care x

[Poetry19]

Hello Maesy I too suffer from Tinnitus and it got to the point I couldn’t sleep at all. I was researching this horrid condition online and came across a short video on YouTube by a Dr Alan Mendell. This involved a few exercises to do daily and I thought I’d give it a go as anything is worth trying. I have been doing these exercises daily for less than a week and I can honestly say my tinnitus has improved. It’s still there but it’s so much quieter and I truly feel confident to say it’s working for me. Maybe give it a go, the exercises are so easy to do and literally take minutes.

[surreycccfan]

Sorry, you are struggling, I think we have all been there. This is a good place for support but if you feel in anyway you are in crisis please follow the guidance Pat posted. I am not sure what support your have and the behavioral/techniques you are following but it may be worth attending one of the BTA support groups as a great place for empathetic support and how others manage their T tinnitus.org.uk/find-a-supp...