What are your Tinnitus spikes like?

[RockyB88]

my tinnitus has gone from bad to absolutely horrendous in the last month or so. I don’t feel like I have been under any excessive amount of stress and have of course been careful with hearing protection, not that I often am in loud environments or for long durations. So im getting nervous this isn’t a spike and that this is the new norm for me, that for some reason my hearing is declining very fast. Which will be a significant change from what I was managing to cope with up until then and has me riddled with depression and anxiety currently. At 34 years old it seems like such a mountain in front of me.

[doglover1973]

Hi     RockyB88 So sorry. This happened to me two years ago. My T got much worse in the space of several weeks. A hearing test showed serious hearing loss in one ear . I didn't think I'd be a able to cope but gradually I've got there. Like you I was riddled with fear and anxiety at first . Ask your GP for a referral to ENT and audiology. This may take time but there are things you can do while you wait. I contacted the BTA, joined the forum, read books, tried sound therapy & relaxation techniques and did a short course of CBT. It's about finding what works for you.

[Suz_2 in reply to doglover1973]

hi dl how are doing with the hearing aids ? did u try them again? Is it still very loud when take them out?

Mt T has got worse over this past week - trying to work out why - its unbearable today , both sides - sometimes i think i cant survive this

[doglover1973 in reply to Suz_2]

No . I haven't tried the HAs again yet. I'm just giving my ears a rest while I wait for an audio appt. I'm sorry your T is worse than usual. Mine is too. Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason or at least not one that we can work out. You can do this Suz_2 You've come a long way. You're a survivor - like all of us on the forum.

[Suz_2 in reply to doglover1973]

thanks - do u use sound therapy? how do u do this - is it effective ?? thnx again

[doglover1973 in reply to Suz_2]

I do use sound therapy. I often play soft music - like Jazz - or natural sounds but I keep it very low. It helps me relax more than anything. I spend time in silence too. Just to remind myself I'm not afraid of the T . Are you still having trouble with sound pushing up your T?

[Suz_2 in reply to doglover1973]

i think it can push up the T if its loud - i shall have to try sound therapy again as i am really suffering at moment . I tried hearing aids but the tinnitus was horrendous when i took them out - i think i do not have the 'normal T , it could be a rare type - i am restricted as well in what i can do as well - i need to wear ear defenders in car and shops and cant go to restaurants. I thought I would have had some improvement after one year but its worse

[doglover1973 in reply to Suz_2]

A year isn't all that long in terms of T . They say it takes at least 18 months to get used to it - if not longer . It's a good idea to try sound therapy again. Just very quietly at first. I'm sorry you're so restricted in what you can do. I don't go out & about very much. I prefer to be in quiet places too.

[Fridays_Child_62]

Sometimes there seems no rhyme or reason for a T spike or change. I think the panic of a long spike makes the situation worse, as you become more preoccupied with your T. Acceptance is hard but may be the most effective way through. If you think your T may have spiked due to a deterioration in your hearing, you should get your hearing tested. For T caused my hearing loss, hearing aids can be a partial fix for some people.

[Suz_2]

can i ask Rocky - what does yr T sound like ? is it both sides ?

My T has got worse over this past week - trying to work out why - its unbearable today , both sides - sometimes i just cant function , I cant travel in car very far as it pushes up the T - how are u on car journeys?

We have to keep going trying to find ways to manage it

[RockyB88 in reply to Suz_2]

Hi Suz26. Mine is very much one sided. Seems like it literally comes from the middle of my left ear. I'd describe it as a mix of ringing and static these days. Hard to work out the frequency but something like 2000-2500hz. It's almost as if it hasn't necessarily gotten louder recently, but more that I hear it all the time and just can't shake my attention away from it. I drive almost every day and haven't found that to worsen my T. In fact the car is one of my refuges where my T is really well masked by the radio and the engine so I feel most at piece in the car. I've never had CBT for it though so I'm thinking that's where I need to start as I don't want to spend my life relying on medication to get me through although it's been a literal life saver.

[777john]

My T does that all the time it suddenly goes from loud to very very loud and i never understand why . I think the brain has a mind of its own and does what it wants The only thing i know that makes my T worse is caffeine which i never take now. For me its not the noise any more im used to it infact if my T suddenly stopped it would take some time to adjust . I have just had flu and my T hit the roof a very high pitched squeaking sound all around my head it went 2 days ago and thank god my flu has gone. We talk about spikes and when they happen they can over whelm us and from my point of view they can last months . My hearing got worse when i had them syringed last year but i dont think T damages your ears. Every body has these fluctuations with there T i am sure your T will ease again. Believe you me i have have gone to hell and back many times at this moment i am ok and you will be to my friend .

[RockyB88]

Thanks everyone. It's hard to know what to expect when someone says "tinnitus spike". I had it in my mind that they were fleeting things, a few days max. So obviously having a spike for a number of weeks now was getting me feeling pretty helpless again and completely overwhelmed. But I'm feeling a lot more confident now, sleeping better again which helps although it is a real battle each night.