Ray200 here

[Ray200]

Any tips coping with T gladly appreciated.

[Happyrosie]

hello Ray200 and welcome. Other posters may give you their tips, here are mine.

1. Scroll down a little and read, here, what other people have said.

2. Go to the website of Tinnitus UK, a wonderful resource you can use and go back to again and again.

[Ray200 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks, Rosie!

[Non-Leaguer]

Hi. Ray(I am also a Ray). Tinnitus takes time to get used too, but gradually you will get used to it. Pillow speakers are good with calming music while in the daytime I use Shokz headphones to play music from my phone. The difference is that these fit round the back of your head and play the music through your cheekbones! The bonus is that you can carry on chatting, listening for traffic etc. Keep posting and best wishes.

[Ray200 in reply to Non-Leaguer]

Hello Ray. I'm indignant that at 64 I now suffer T. I don't intend to suffer that long with it (if that is possible!). According to the Wiki entry on T, I have come to it as a case of "suddenly emerge during a period of emotional stress.[4][3][2][12][13] It is more common in those with depression.[3]"

From mid May, I had 3 significant bereavements in just 7 weeks. An (estranged) father at 91, which was difficult enough then 2 friends whose combined friendship totalled 63 years. I have suffered enough without T.

My T tends to vary. Almost absent one day but present the following. I noticed that when it started about 3 weeks ago, an anti depressant (Clomipramine 50g) stopped it. For a day. So did 2 x paracetamol on another occasion. But here I am now. However, that it did stop for a while gives me some hope.

Thanks for the Shokz headphones tip. I'll look into that. I'm on the spend lately. £80 will get me a portable sound box and a couple of proper headphones with cables of varying length. At the moment I'm coping with cheapo earpieces which I loathe and need to stick to my ears with masking tape.

Thanks again, and best wishes to you.

[Kellythecat-74]

Hi Ray. sorry you had so much sadness hope you are getting along a bit better now . . I think there are many causes of MrT and there are lots of ways people cope, but its not a one size fits all . The fact that it stopped for a while is hopeful. First thing I did was make a note of what made it worse. e.g for me, computer, female voices on the telephone , long car rides, music. I tried to avoid these and/ or use earplugs . Then what helps quieten it down . Being busy is one of the best along with my ear phones on LBC.

[Ray200 in reply to Kellythecat-74]

Hello Kelly. Thank you passing on your coping tips.

Until recently I knew next to nothing about T, despite it being in the family (brother has it, so do some cousins, father had it - we all share a profoundly deaf great grandmother). I had thought I'd avoided that family curse. From what I understand now, I may still have done so. Anyone can come down with emotional stress T. No underlying necessary.

I don't have the thing right now, but it kept me awake until after 2am last night. I'll be relieved partially when I get the right kit in like proper headphones and a sound box.

My best wishes to you. Keep well! Ray.

[Kellythecat-74 in reply to Ray200]

how are you getting on now ? any better ?

[Ray200 in reply to Kellythecat-74]

Hello again Kelly!

It comes and goes in intensity. It's acceptable today at midday but was very definitely sleep stopping yesterday night for a bit. I'm approaching the subject as a campaign. A long term campaign. I'll let the community know any progress, but I'm not expecting to be putting anything down just yet...

[Kellythecat-74 in reply to Ray200]

Yes it does go like that. Sometimes I think its fading , then sometime later I hear it loud again. The other day I thought it might be good to have a few people write an ongoing diary maybe every few weeks . So others can see how the journey is going.. Its not a quick fix. Sometimes now after 7 months, I forget to use my walkman with the earphone. Then suddenly realise I can hear Mr T , then run round the house trying to find my little radio. My NHS hearing aides with bluetooth are still on order .Tried Specsavers ones , 2 lots of 90 days . Didnt get on with them , the sounds were tinny. Too much to pay for the occasional wear. Do you have the radio on at night? or listen to tinnitus soothing sounds on you-tube ? I sleep with the radio on and an over ear piece. If I wake up in the night it does seem to be louder , I just try to ignore it or turn the radio up a tad. , but generally I sleep ok.

[Ray200 in reply to Kellythecat-74]

I find the radio on low (or a bit louder) best for T in bed but the soundbox is around if needed. The spoken word is better than classical music, unless reading. I used to turn it off, but leaving it on now, as I nod off either way. The advantage with that is if I do wake in the night, I won't be alone with just T around. I read in bed and also do hard level Sudoku. The latter demands absolute concentration and I've found that you just don't notice T when engaged on that. Rather pleased with that recent discovery!

[Kellythecat-74]

2I listen to LBC all the time . Sometimes so low I cant make out what they are saying ,but its enough for me to ignore both sounds. There's always something that can lessen the burden, we are all different . Its part of our journey , finding our" helps"

[Ray200 in reply to Kellythecat-74]

I can also add that listening to something noisy on TV through headphones will disperse my T at least for a while afterwards. It just isn't there on taking them off. Strange that I never owned a pair of proper headphones until recently (at the age of 64) but I wouldn't be without them now!

[Kellythecat-74]

I might try that . the noisy bit. Always avoided loud noise , maybe it shocks the ears into silence

[Ray200 in reply to Kellythecat-74]

Trail and error is the way forward, Kelly. What's encouraging about that approach is the annoying description of T I've seen on on-line help sites. That T is imaginary or false noise. We hear what we hear - that description most likely written by health workers who don't actually have T. What they are saying is that T is not a physical noise (in most cases). It is not necessarily set at the level we hear it. That means hope.

[Kellythecat-74]

I'm pretty sure the first time, barotrauma was responsible then too much steam inhaling before bedtime, Woke up to screeching Parrots all over my head for an hour , couldn't even get to the phone, that as absolutely not imaginary, I know it did some damage somewhere to my inner ear . So I'm confused as to why its back just as loud from a tablet... I do realise lots of people have very loud Ts. So I am thankful mine isn't and can be disguised fairly easily. Not sure anyone who doesn't have it , can say where or how we hear it .

[Ray200 in reply to Kellythecat-74]

I'm intrigued about your steam inhaling. Recommended therapy?

[Kellythecat-74]

My doctor told me to do the face steaming for the barotrauma (blocked ear from plane pressure) Had it for 2 weeks , couldn't hear anything. Think I did it for too long , nearly an hour . I still blame him for not giving me a proper time limit and not telling me to come back in say a week if it wasn't working. Sorry its not for tinnitus therapy .

[Ray200 in reply to Kellythecat-74]

I had been irrigating ear canal with syringe and warm water. Then right side of face swelled up. Could only see top of right ear! Won't be doing that again unless I really have to...

[Kellythecat-74]

Wow that sounds weird .Why were you doing that , ear wax ?

[Ray200]

Yes. Thought that might be the problem. With really solid stuff causing T. It was the strangest thing - face swelled around 5pm but hadn't done irrigation since previous day morning. Fortunately it went down overnight and back to normal following day. Lesson learnt, though.