I’m new here. I started with tinnitus just after Christmas. I believe it was triggered by some woodwork I was doing foolishly not wearing ear protection .! I was using a multitool my ears were ringing after.
Initially felt a bunged up feeling so went for ear wax clean out. A couple of weeks later I went to see a consultant who looked in my ears and said everything was okay. No damage to the middle ear and eardrums are okay. It’s no problem in the day when when there’s plenty going on, but it’s getting terrible when in a quiet room or when trying to sleep. I’m also getting headaches which come and go. They are not severe I feel it’s tension. I’m extremely grateful for any tips are advice.
Kind regards
Written by
Marsh3l
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Hi Marsh. You'll get lots of hints and tips from this forum; you are not alone believe me! My T started as a result of neck trauma at an osteopath's, which is a long story that you don't need to read as it won't help you.
However, some things I've learned might. It could be that your system is still in shock, especially your aural nerve that has taken a bit of a pounding.
Now, it's possible (bear in mind I'm not medically trained) that your eustachian tubes are playing up as well. Try the Valsalva manoeuvre by holding your nose tightly and swallowing once or twice, then just let the sensation settle down. That expels excess fluid from the tubes behind the middle ear (they're not visible from the outside).
Try to relax. Stress is a know tinnitus (T) trigger and can send it off the scale. You are right - stress will cause headaches as it tenses muscles in and around the neck. Don't attach to "how things used to be" when it was quiet. Deal with now, don't focus on "then". Then is gone and we cannot manage the past. You can manage how you react to your T now.
Try not to have too quiet an environment around you. Make sure there's some background noise and home in on that, rather than the noise in your head.
If your T is caused by shock to your nervous system, it might settle down given enough time and patience. However, it might not in which case you'll need to habituate to T - and you will habituate. I know exactly what you're thinking right now; we've all been there. Habituation does happen, eventually. For some it can take years, but it does happen, even a few (peaceful) seconds at a time in some cases. The peace gradually builds, as our conscious brain learns to ignore its own noise.
That's enough rambling from me I think. Others are better than me on advising how to deal with T and have much more experience. They will reply to you I'm certain.
Meanwhile, a little positive reading for you: tinnitus.org.uk/ These people offer all the best advice.
PS. Ignore anything online that mentions the words "cure" and "cost" on the same page. Such promises are designed to relieve you of your cash, not your tinnitus!
Keep positive; you will deal with this in due course.
Thank you so much for your reply. It’s reassuring to know other people have this and are managing well.
I have found listening to White noise on my headphones helps when I’m relaxing in a quiet room. Throughout the day I don’t know it’s there..
The consultant, I visited checked my ears and did hearing test with vibrating tong thing? and said it may settle down. I am in general good health, exercise, regular. Hopefully it subsides but if not I’ll have to prepare to live with it. Keeping busy seams to be the key for me.
you’ve got some good advice there. You can get sleep headbands. I use one. They’re Bluetooth and I connect them to my phone. There’s a guy on YouTube who specialises in sounds for tinnitus. He’s called Dalesnale - Noise Ambient. Loads of different variations on there. All the best.
Hi Karlos thanks for the advice, the headband is a great idea, I’ve just purchased one today. I put my in ear headphones in last night but kept on falling out and prevented me for getting a good nights sleep.
Until a few days ago I could sleep in a certain position and not hear the T’s but now I can.
yes I struggled with headphones. With the sleep headband try and get one with the controls on the front. They do ones on the side but if you change position it can activate it. Mine was called musicozy. About £20 on Amazon.
Sorry you have this annoying symptom but looks like you have had some good advice on here. A couple of things come to mind - although the consultant carried out a test with tongs did you have a proper hearing test?? If not it maybe worthwhile also when listening to music, never have the music loud enough to try and drown the tinnitus out as the tinnitus will just increase in volume. Hopefully your tinnitus will settle down but if it doesn’t and you are still getting headaches then I would ask for it to be investigated further.
You are right when you say it is better when you are busy as distraction is the best remedy. I immerse myself in a book and literally drop off reading! I have musical tinnitus or Musical Ear Syndrome as it is called so hear undefined repetitive music throughout my waking hours. Mine was caused through Labyrinthitis. I thought I was going mad to begin with and went through every emotion possible but I am learning to live with it. If you feel your symptoms are stressing you out then getting some help with that would be beneficial to assist in coping with the tinnitus. Good luck - also deep breathing helps.
Morning Marsh, I was diagnosed with T in June 22. It took me by surprise and was likely bought on by a bout of Vertigo. I also had headaches due to lack of sleep. My GP has been great, currently I take a very small dose of Ametriptolene to aid a good nights sleep. As you said, nights/quiet times are when you notice the T the most.
For the occasion tension headaches I use Tiger Balm (White) as I prefer not to take tablets unless necessary.
As already mentioned, the Tinnitus UK website is great for support and information, don’t make the mistake I made when first diagnosed and search the web for “cures” etc. There aren’t any yet, research goes on.
Ieould seek further advice from a specialist as some one who hashed Tinnitus for over 20 years and investigated it throughly,if your eardrum is intact then he would not be able to see the inner ear as it’s obscured by the Tim panic membrane or eardrum ? Ear wax can trigger Tinnitus and also the removal of the wax but that is usually short lived .Have. You had a hearing test for tinnitus 🤔
I’ve seen a head/neck consultant at spire clinic. He said there is nothing to worry about and said it should subside..he checked my hearing with vibrating tongs. I’ve also seen my doctor last week who also isn’t concerned. However I’ve asked for a Scan to put my mind at ease.
I use the free app Beltone Tinnitus Calmer, it has some brilliant ambient sounds, some of which are simply relaxing. it also has some useful info on tinnitus and working with thoughts. Good luck with it all.
Good evening. Im here a few months after posting this, still Have T. It did seam to Settle down slightly however The last few days it seems to be back worse than before, it's now in my other ear in my other ear.I had 2 MRI scans and all is clear. I have pulsating Tinnitus which can ease when I move my head around?
In general I would say I've habituated it, I aways try to have some form of background noise on when in a quiteroom.
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