Tinnitus

[terrybiggs]

How to Cope with tinnitus

[Happyrosie]

please, Terry, have a look at the replies to a recent poster September1969. Lost of info there, and as you’re in the UK you can phone the Tinnitus UK helpline - details on their website - or have a webchat with them.

[doglover1973]

Hello Terry. There are a number of ways to cope with T . The challenge is to find what works best for you. Can you say a little more about yourself? Whether it's hearing loss and T or just T . Whether days or nights are the problem. Or possibly both. What you've tried so far . If anything. That way people will be able to tailor the advice to you.

[terrybiggs in reply to doglover1973]

Thanks for asking. I am new to this so not sure if I am pressing the right buttons for all to see this. August 2022 ear felt full of water, then overnight ear drum perforated apparently due to ear infection. Had virtually no warning. was prescribed Gentamicin ear drops for a week, then sofradex for another week. Ear infection cleared up mid Sept but has left me with either a gushing sound in time with heart beat or a continuous ringing in that ear. It has got more noticeable over the last month. I have just bought some blue tooth ear buds and connect phone with "Resound" app to play sounds like wind and rain which does help. Also have Otovent nose balloon to help prevent glue ear and that provides a short relief now and then. I do sleep OK but even in the cold weather I sometimes use a fan which masks it. Sometimes having noise around masks it, sometimes even then it doesnt. I try to look at the sounds beyond the ear but sometimes its so loud I only hear the tinnitus.

[doglover1973 in reply to terrybiggs]

Hi Terry. It's not unusual for an ear infection to cause tinnitus. Sound therapy is a good place to start. The Resound app is very good. Whether you choose to wear earbuds regularly is up to you. I like to let my ears breathe. The next step is relaxation. The more relaxed you are the better . Breathing exercises can be helpful. Or just doing things you enjoy. There's CBT too. I understand. Sometimes T can be so loud you just have to roll with it.

[terrybiggs in reply to doglover1973]

Thank you. How bad is yours and how do you cope?

[doglover1973 in reply to terrybiggs]

My T is loud - especially in my deaf ear . On a scale of 1-10 (1 = quiet;10 = loud) I would say 7 on an average day. At first I didn't cope very well. I joined Tinnitus UK. I used sound therapy, relaxation techniques and did a short course of CBT. I read lots of info and came on the forum most days. Over time (2 years or so) I've gradually got used to a loud sound in my ear . Life is slowly but surely returning to normal. There's hope!

[terrybiggs in reply to doglover1973]

I find it strange that life can return to normal with that sound in your ears. How do you ignore it?

[doglover1973 in reply to terrybiggs]

I know. It seems strange. I don't ignore it. I live with it. If that makes sense.

[Toughmathew in reply to terrybiggs]

I wonder the same thing especially mine is in head

[terrybiggs in reply to doglover1973]

Also what is CBT please?

[doglover1973 in reply to terrybiggs]

It's a type of counselling that helps you change the way you think about things. The idea is that thoughts lead to feelings and feelings to behaviour . I was sceptical at first but it's surprisingly helpful.

[terrybiggs in reply to doglover1973]

Thank you. Where is that available from please?

[doglover1973 in reply to terrybiggs]

You can ask your GP if it's available in your area or you can go private. Tinnitus UK do an online course specifically for T with Debbie Featherstone. You get a discount if you're a member . I went to the local health centre. It wasn't too expensive for a short course.

[Darren6]

I also used CBT as part of my journey to habituation. I would recommend trying it as i was a non believer at first.

I quote you "I find it strange that life can return to normal with that sound in your ears. How do you ignore it?".

This is so hard to comprehend when the noise is so loud and i questioned this at the start but your brain does learn to filter it out once you have habituated. its there but you don't hear it unless you focus on it and even when you do focus on it, it doesn't seem as loud and bothersome.

[terrybiggs in reply to Darren6]

Thank you very much.