Carol singing and earplugs - update

[Jane2012]

Hello all - happy new year to you.

Following my previous post unfortunately the new tinnitus sounds have not subsided - it’s been the same for 2 weeks now. I have now got constant hissing and static in my ear and neck on my left which has tinnitus which then at times right across the head and into my good ear!

I have tried to find information about singing with ear plugs in but nothing definite found. I spoke to my doctor today as I am so stressed out with this noise and very tearful. Also waking early and not been able to get back to sleep. I have tried the self help technique that I’ve previously used. The doctor has increased the amitriptyline that I take to see if that helps with the anxiety. I explained what I thought had made the tinnitus worse - Carol singing with ear plugs- but he did not think that would happen.?

Also when I press that side of my face and neck the hissing gets worse - probably the extra tension held there.

Any flare up in the past was usually down to wax or an ear infection and it flared up before with syringing but luckily went back to ‘normal’. As this increase is due to none of those I am very worried this increase in sound is permanent.

Sorry for long post. So upset and wish I’d never gone to the Carol service!

(Also sorry if this appears twice - wasn’t sure if my update posted correctly)

Best wishes

[UnderAngelWings]

I am extremely saddened that you are going through this. I understand. I have been there and shall be again. You are having a "spike" in your tinnitus. It will go back down. I have them from music, singing etc. Please be good to yourself and take it easy. I know that tinnitus is terrifying. But you will be okay. Try to do things that relax you and avoid any triggers like alcohol, caffeine, sugar. Whatever dietary items tend to cause a spike for you. Sending you my deepest empathy. Truly. Never sit in "silence" with it. Keep some ambient noise on. Maybe buy an aquarium for that ambient noise. And to relax you looking at the fish. Just a thought!

[Jane2012 in reply to UnderAngelWings]

Thank you UnderAngelWings. I’m keeping everything crossed it is a spike and will go down again and you are right it is terrifying. I am trying to stay positive and not to cry but it is so hard when you feel like this. I’ve had my sound ball on today and use it at night but last night it did not help.

How long do your spikes last for?

Here hoping for an improvement soon and for everyone else who is struggling x

[Happyrosie]

nobody knows if your T was caused by or exacerbated by any actions you took. The enjoyment one gets from carol singing is well worth the risk, I’d have thought. And nobody knows whether your T will subside on its own.

What we DO know is that, as your brain and body begin to realise that the noise in your head is not a threat to you, then you should perceive it less. The amitriptiline should help with this.

And about waking early. This is such a common problem and we worry about not having enough sleep to be able to cope with whatever life throws at us. But as we get older, sleep is disrupted. It’s one of the downsides of getting older! The NHS has published an article on sleep hygiene (but if you search for it make sure you click on the right thing and not the stuff where people are trying to,sell you things!).

[Jane2012 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks Happyrosie. I know it’s how long is a bit of string situation and after years of protecting my ears I am so sad I still cannot do ‘normal things’ - unfortunately the enjoyment of the singing and be able to join in has been overshadowed by how I am now. I don’t want to go back to how I was when T started in 2012 - my poor other half has to put up with me like this! I will take a look at the nhs site. Thank you

[Cat-Mother]

So sorry you are feeling like this. Stress/anxiety can make T worse.

I feel because you are upset by it so much you are listening to your T instead of trying to ignore, accept and acclimate to it.

At night I use an app called relief. This has lots of info on Tinnitus but more importantly is that you can set this, on a timer or have permanently play, sounds that help lessen your T (everyone is different, even if, confusingly some have the same sounds as you get). You can also customise your ‘perfect’ masking night noise so that it is personalised for you. Of course there are already built in sounds - my preferred sound is a built in one, Fire and rain ( which includes thunder).

So if you wake early, restart your sound, and hopefully this will enable you to get back to sleep.

What you are aiming for is to fill the silence, which at night is more ‘silent’ than during the day.

All the best and please don’t give up singing. Pleasures are hard to find in this world, so don’t give them up - find solutions to help you cope.

[Jane2012 in reply to Cat-Mother]

Thank you for your reply Cat-Mother. I do have a sound clock that I got from previously from the bta and a sound ball. I have been using one all night and the other whilst I work during the day. Feeling a bit calmer today thankfully. I will continue to use the sound machines and I think the increase in my tablets is helping. Trying all my coping strategies and keeping my fingers crossed. Best wishes and hope things are good with you. x