unbearable hiss

hi, my t just seems to getting louder even though i’m trying CBT - though not easy when i’m distressed. And just can’t calm myself down, feel like i’m in fight/flight mode all the time. How can i cope? It’s really taking the joy of living away. Anyone have success with sound therapy? I sleep with hearing aid maskers ever night, sound of rain but it doesn’t calm the hissing at all. Any advice?

[doglover1973]

Hi Hidden I'm sorry you're having a tough time. It's not unusual to feel the way you do. T can cause a great deal of distress in the early days. The key is stay as calm as possible. . I used sound therapy and relaxation techniques and did a short course of CBT. All were very helpful but at the end of the day it's time that brings relief . You get used to the sounds - however loud they are - and you no longer feel acute distress. You're doing all the right things. Time will do the rest.

[Hidden in reply to doglover1973]

thanks for the comforting words doglover

[Suz_2 in reply to doglover1973]

hi DL - i know u have quite loud tinnitus - just how long did it take for you to sort of habituate? Does yr T increase with noise - as this is the big problem i have with my T

[doglover1973 in reply to Suz_2]

Hi Suz_2 It took me the best part of two years to come to terms with my T but there are still ups and downs. I had flu at the end of last year and have struggled with the volume ever since. It doesn't upset me but it is uncomfortable. My T doesn't increase with noise at moderate levels. I know that noise pushes your T up .. That's a challenge in itself.

[Suz_2]

Hi N - sorry to hear this.

N- does yr T increase in volume after using the maskers or is the volume just the same?

If yr T is getting louder after using the maskers more often , then i would stop using these for now

[Hidden in reply to Suz_2]

i feel the more i use maskers, the louder it’s getting. But trouble is i can’t sleep with maskers all night. Trying not to use during the day though my ent told me to wear them as max as possible. But others say just a few hours during the day. So i’m a bit confused about this whole sound therapy thing. What really is the best protocol to help habituation?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

sorry i meant cant sleep without maskers

[Suz_2 in reply to Hidden]

Hi N - Sound therapy works for many,many T sufferers but it doesnt work for everyone and i have a problem with it, as it pushes up my T . Yes , i have seen on Treble health that they recommend using maskers as much as possible but this is not possible for everyone and they acknowledge that as well. I tried hearing aids last year which made everything sound louder and my T went ballistic and i stopped these after 2 days, even though audiologist told me to keep going. Sometimes u have just got to trust yr own instincts, which is difficult when this goes against what the doctors are saying - but sometimes they just cannot know for sure how the therapies will work out.

its so difficult to know what to do with sound therapy and it is confusing, like you say. I expect the volume of yr maskers is lower than the T volume ? Would a sound therapy box next to yr bed be an option at times?

[doglover1973 in reply to Suz_2]

This is so true Suz_2 We must trust our own instincts. They're our ears and we've got to live with them. Doctors don't have all the answers.

[Karlos99 in reply to Hidden]

I’m the same. My brain just won’t switch off without using masking sounds. What I found useful was listening to podcasts through a Bluetooth sleep headband. A bit like falling asleep with the tv on but without the light.

When using masking sounds during the day make sure you don’t mask your tinnitus noise completely. That may make it seem worse when you don’t use maskers. All the best.

[Hidden in reply to Karlos99]

i tried a headband but found it very uncomfortable. Does anyone have a siggestion for a good flat speaker that can be put under the pillow. I bought one on Amazon, a little disc shape one but it was useless so sent it back.

[Karlos99 in reply to Hidden]

you can get pillows with a speaker inside. Not tried them myself though.

[Hidden in reply to Karlos99]

i saw that but the pillows are too big, i sleep with a flat pillow. So i would want a speaker slipped underneath. An Australian does one but it’s not available in Europe and is very expensive

[ETHEL103]

I have hissing too.Im trying to get thyroid tested thoroughly as I have been told it could be linked.I have underactive and on a low dose thyroxine but I feel I need increase.

[DownUnderInAus]

I too have a constant loud hissing, it is almost 3 year now and I've learnt to live with it. At one stage I used to listen to the radio in order to block out the noise in bed at night. I now find the radio irritates me more than the hissing.., you will adjust to this, keep smiling.

[psycholady666]

Horrible - but important to complete the CBT and do all the exercises/ practice tasks

[777john]

Hello Nanima try listening to audio books the ones that worked for me were listening to steven fry doing the harry potter series, his voice is amazing and really calmed me and got my mind in to the harry potter saga and got me off to sleep at night after about 6 months i changed and started listening to rain falling just like you but my rain was hitting a window and it worked wonders, its what my son had recommended because he had a about of tinnitus thankfully his now is very low. i now sleep with out any masking, even though my tinnitus is loud all the time and just like doglover1973 said you do eventually get used to the tinnitus.I know its hard and words do not help much , but hang in there i promise it will improve.

[Hidden in reply to 777john]

thanks!

[Mat189]

I sleep with a fan on during the night. My T is now getting louder than the fan but thankfully can still sleep. I just worry about the years to come! Hope you find a solution and I must read up on CBT

[Hamish4]

Hello darling. I have had Tinnitus for over 10 years now due to Chemotherapy. I have tried everything. Relaxation, pills acupuncture to name a few. It’s exhausting. No body wants to take notice. It’s fractured my well being. If I ever come across anything that helps, you will be the first to know. Take enormous care x

[Hidden in reply to Hamish4]

thanks love

[Bellyboo]

have you stringed your ears lately? I’ve recently seen 2 audiologists and both told me my ears were clear of wax. I purchased some ear candles from Amazon last week and you wouldn’t believe the amount of wax I got out of both ears . My T has since reduced by 35% which I can live with . I’ve also had no alcohol for 6 weeks as this is also outotoxic and makes it spike. One of the audiologists was specsave who fitted earphones but made zero deference. Don’t believe any of them

[HissingSid]

I wear my hearing aids with masking sounds from morning until night time. When I was given them I was told not to wear them in bed. It does take me a while to fall asleep and I do wake up a few times for toilet needs. This adds to my sleeplessness leaving me feeling tired during daylight hours. There are no easy answers and my only escape from constant noises is to go out walking or listening to radio on wet days.