How do I manage?

[Indiarose00]

Hi all

I first experienced tinnitus in 2020/21. My experience is it only affects my right ear, and can only describe it as sounding high pitched and in morse code. It is not a constant sound, but as I say, is a long beep sound followed by a few short beeps all day long.

I had my ears cleaned of earwax with no effect, and was then referred to ENT last year. From there I had an MRI which came back clear. From then I have had no further support. Most of the time it is unnoticeable during the day, but at night time I have to put on a fan or play white noise on my phone.

Lately however it has become unbearable. I can hear it all day, and I am kept awake at night with it. Even when playing white noise, I can hear the morse code like squealing over any sound and it almost sounds like it is in sync with the white noise I play (I cannot make sense of this, and likely sounds bizarre but only way I can describe).

I was thinking of returning to the GP, but I believe they will just tell me to use noise to block it out. It is driving me insane and it is seriously affecting my sleep, well-being and to be honest is just damn right annoying.

So here I am reaching out hoping someone has any advice or techniques which could aid me, or at least distract me from this horrible noise.

Thank you.

[RobWG]

Hi

My T which I've had for 3 years is a constant noise that varies in pitch and tone, I perceive it as being in my left ear.

I've recently made significant progress in adapting to it, methods I use are masking occasionally with different sounds and music. I find being outside helps so going for walks or cycling calms me down.

On the masking I did experiment and eventually found certain sounds and music tracks were particularly effective for my specific T. I have a couple of playlists on Spotify i use when needed.

The local audiology team offered a hearing aid for my left ear even though the slight hearing loss didn't in itself warrant it and that I think for me has made a real difference, filling the gap before the T does perhaps.

Initially, I let the T stop me from doing things, I was wary of pubs ( I like pubs) cycling, going to football matches, flying, etc so I made a conscious effort to change that, this forum and site was beneficial here.

I'm probably not being much help here but for me my improvement has come with time, when I consider my relatively relaxed position with my T now compared to some of the dark spells in my first few months it's remarkable.

Hope you find some relief, this forum was very significant in helping me, any questions please ask.

Regards

Rob

[Indiarose00 in reply to RobWG]

Hi Rob

Thanks for your response. What kind of playlists do you have? I wondered if any could be of use to me - although I do try an array of different sounds.

[bournville]

if you can get on waiting list to do 8 week MCBT course with dr Laurence McKenna at UCLH hospital. It sorted the sleep out for me. Alternatively if you can afford it go private.

[Indiarose00 in reply to bournville]

Unfortunately a bit far from me, but thank you for the suggestion.

[sds111 in reply to bournville]

Is this online do you know?

[bournville in reply to sds111]

Hi I don’t know as it did it in person in a group setting. It may be worth making contact to see about online but personally I think it’s so involved and occasionally so subtle that some of the nuances could easily be lost online. Do it it person if at all possible.

[Kellythecat-74]

my T is left side only . I use a pocket radio and wired earpiece , just for that ear (Ok so I really need a bluetooth one) Quite low volume. I do hear the voices.. However I can also chat to people and listen to the TV . So a lot of the time I can ignore the radio..( I do leave it in at night. Have bought a sleep headband ( several people have recommended one) but haven't tried it yet. So far 2 trials of hearing aides don't really help me , the aides are programmed to my phone but seemed to get a tiny T sound in my right ear. and The T program sounds exactly the same as my T so I don't see the point.. And the sounds are really tinny. so I might not bother with them.,

[Indiarose00 in reply to Kellythecat-74]

Okay thank you. I’ve not seen the sleep headbands - i will look into this

[Kellythecat-74 in reply to Indiarose00]

amazon .

[RobWG]

Hi

I have a few general types of sounds that seem to help.

Generally, natural sounds work for me, rain or water or waves type of thing.

open.spotify.com/playlist/3...

That link is to a playlist I found on Spotify, I use that when going to sleep as well as in the day.

I like dull (and probably monotonous 😀) electronic music anyway and some of that helps, again this is probably very personal but Frosti by Bork and Linepulese by Sasha are the type of thing.

The amount of masking I do does vary, my T has spiked quite badly the last few weeks so using it a bit more as needed.

The hearing aid I have plays a white noise sound when on mask mode, it's useful as easily turned on and is quite subtle.

Regards

Rob

[Indiarose00 in reply to RobWG]

Thanks for this Rob. It sounds like the hearing aid is useful to some people. I don’t think I would be able to get one due to my hearing not being impaired at all. Thanks for the playlist I will check it out

[Cookie24 in reply to RobWG]

I am new to tinnitus and have sudden onset tinnitus in right ear only. Hearing aids have been ordered. What causes a spike?

[Kellythecat-74 in reply to RobWG]

I listen to talking programs. Am a bit wary of music, white noise etc. Do you find any of these noises actually quieten your T down all ? Or are they just for covering up ?

[rabbits65]

For me I find going for walks in the fresh air with my two dogs helps ease the tension and stress , listening to the wind, rustling leaves or a walk along the seafront and listening to the waves. . You see the thing is if you can completely relax your T will improve naturally on its own and then one day you will realise that it’s improved. Yes radios TV white noise all helps but to be honest you can’t beat going outside good luck