Hello, a newbie here

[Lancslass53]

I've had tinnitus for a long as I can remember though I didn't know it was tinnitus as I thought it was completely normal! Until tinnitus awareness week last week now I'm beside myself, hear the noises all the time and my anxiety is horrendous I can't cope with it. I'll be honest, at my age now (70) don't want to wake up in the morning. I don't want my remaining years miserable. Sorry my first post is so negative but that's how I now feel. Just wish I'd never seen the blasted poster for the campaign

[Happyrosie]

well, Lancslass, tinnitus is completely normal for a good percentage of the population. Some people it affects badly, some just regard it as part of life.

You are amongst people here who know what it’s like. I expect - I don’t know - that many people have gained insight and help here and no longer visit the site - why would they wan to be reminded of it?

Your best resource to understand and habituate, which should be your aim, is the website of Tinnitus UK.

, but if you’ve got specific issues you think we can help with please tell us and we will do our best.

[Lancslass53 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you so much for replying. I suspect I'm like a lot of people in that out and about I forget it it's just when I'm at home like now, watching telly etc. I also suspect that my heightened anxiety state isn't helping either. It is so comforting to know I'm really not alone. Thank you again

[TriumphT100 in reply to Lancslass53]

I agree its nice to not feel alone with the T. ! hope you ok and anxiety reduces!

[Ladysurvivor1 in reply to Happyrosie]

hiya Iam the same I’ve had tinitus for as long as I can remember too!

I have good days & bad days but I have found if I’m stressed or anxious it gets even louder which is also inline with my blood pressure.

Iam amazed that there are so many people with tinitus It is really reassuring to know that Iam also not alone 🥰🥰🥰

[Lancslass53 in reply to Ladysurvivor1]

Hi Yes I'm realising now my anxiety isn't helping but it is good to know we're not alone. All the best xxx

[daverussell]

I've had Tinnitus as long as I remember, but only heard it in complete silence. I went through a period where I thought it was normal - 'no such thing as complete silence'. I was fascinated by it if anything. I've since had my moments, but found this forum

I now know (and accepted) it's due to damaged to my ears, from an operation as a kid - in turn inducing hearing loss in my later life (though at 49, I'm only a spring chicken :)).

1. Eliminate any fixable underlying cause, or cause that could be making it more noticable.

2. Understand tinnitus ("make friends" or whatever).

3. If it becomes difficult look at other stress factors.

4. Maybe you've had a change in routine and your attention to it - Assuming you are, don't let it spoil you retirement. The latter is not easy, but withdrawal will make it worse.

All the best!

[Lancslass53 in reply to daverussell]

Hi, you're right I have had a change in circumstances and I lost my beloved pet on Christmas day who I still grieve for and I have noticed it worse since then. Mine is due to some ear damage as well they think so I've to wait till May to get an appointment to confirm it - hearing aid for me I think! Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Agnetha1985]

I turned 70 in December and became aware of my Tinnitus about two years ago and it's been horrendous. It's also been manageable and it's been low level and hardly there. Through my journey so far I've found this forum very helpful as well as the research I've done and the counselling I've had in order to get a sense of control. There are a myriad of reasons which causes it to be noticeable though the audiologist( private)I went to is fixed on it being about stress- I disagree, otherwise why does it play through the night?

I've found getting hearing aids has helped as I can play music, sounds and radio through them as a distraction and to cover the noises, noises designed to get my attention as they change and morph 24/7. CBT has helped me live with it and after a year I had my first NHS appointment in December! I'm now in the process of further investigations, so I feel good that at last action is being taken though anxious about what they might find.

[Lancslass53 in reply to Agnetha1985]

Hi sorry about my late reply to you and everyone else my phone stopped notifying me of replies! I'm the same as you apart from I've had mine for decades. I think losing my pet on Christmas day set my noticing it more. I do find dating to myself that I've had this forever and it never bothered me so I shouldn't let it now. I hopefully will have an appointment in May to get a final diagnosis of cause. Don't be anxious as anything sinister is very rare. Good luck xx

[Lancslass53 in reply to Lancslass53]

Saying to myself not dating !!

[Ray200]

I get by by not leaving myself alone with tinnitus. Need to mask the sound. So that's wireless headphones at home, and I carry a small FM radio and earpieces when I'm out. Not all the time, often impractical, but the resources are there for when I need a break from the thing. Something to look forward to, as it happens. A good tip is to watch TV with wired headphones, gaming ones. They have a volume control slide. Of interest there is some programs have excellent stereophonic with them which you would not be aware of otherwise

[Lancslass53 in reply to Ray200]

Hi thanks for taking the time to reply. That sounds a good idea!

[Kellythecat-74 in reply to Ray200]

Glad its not just me who uses the wired radio in my pocket (also when I'm out). It was the only option 20 years ago. Maybe it did work because eventually I didn't hear the T at all . Last year statins caused my T to get noticeable again. So now a year later , I don't always notice it and often forget to use the radio. Just hoping it fades away like it did last time. I have now got NHS hearing aides with blue tooth , but I do find the radio voices sound very tinny. Prefer my tiny radio.

[Ray200 in reply to Kellythecat-74]

I could use the radio app on my mobile phone with my ear pieces but prefer the little radio. It's louder. But getting a constant signal on a moving bus - that's a challenge. The other thing is my preferred station is Boom which only broadcasts on DAB. I haven't looked how small DAB radios come but my 'portable' at the moment is the size of a large loaf of bread. It gets through batteries quickly, due to the technology involved so any thing smaller would be as much battery compartment as electronics. Never mind. Moan over!

[Kellythecat-74 in reply to Ray200]

had to laugh at a vision of you putting that large loaf of bread in your back pocket .

[Hillbark in reply to Kellythecat-74]

I've just noticed your reply and reference to statins. I've had hearing aids since 2018 . I found they helped to mask the tinnitus which was like a high beeping noise. I was prescribed statins last October and my tinnitus is much worse now, 3 different noises, beeping, whirring and whooshing sounds all at the same time. So bad, it wakes me up every night. Is there a proven link with taking the statins? I am taking Atorvastatin but may ask for an alternative if this is possible.

[Kellythecat-74 in reply to Hillbark]

Hi Hillbark , IMO, atorvastatin is best avoided by tinnitus sufferers. I had almost forgotten I had T, hadn't noticed it for years. Last year I was given Atorvastatin 40mg, I KNOW they caused it to come back. Look up " irreversible atorvastatin - associated hearing loss" It mentions the Tinnitus. I also found an American publication where it says Atorvastatin can make Tinnitus worse. The leaflet only says may cause it , not that it makes it worse. Only took 5 . I still have the T over a year later , but I don't think its quite so bad anymore. I know several friends on this high dose , have T . I have reported this statin to " YELLOW CARD" its for reporting suspected side effects to medication. Please do , the more people who report the better. By all means ask for another statin , do research too, I told my Dr that i would lower my cholestrol by diet . I did. He has now given me 10mg Rouvastatin . Still plucking up the courage to take it

[Hillbark in reply to Kellythecat-74]

Many thanks for your reply, so helpful. I'll be contacting my GP on Monday 🤞

[MickJF]

So sorry to hear but rest assured there are millions of us out there with the same affliction. Everybody has a personal story of course. My T started when I retired - great! May be that I then had more time on my hands to notice?

I have spent the last 7 years trying to find out what the issue is and then a cure. I have been down the ENT route with MRI's etc.. with no irregularities found which is good but of course frustrating. I have no discernable hearing loss for a 64 year old. I also have seen TMJ Physio specialist again with no issues found. My last resort is weight training as my right shoulder has dropped caused by 40 years sitting in front of a PC with a right hand mouse. Slouching to right has caused muscle wastage and suspect may be causing neck issues which is very close to the ear. I am convinced there may be a connection as my T pitch changes when I turn my neck. My T and PT is worse when I wake up so I cannot doze in bed. Try and stay positive. Rejoice that there is nothing really bad going on (although you may think otherwise) and try and keep occupied doing things. We all have our bad moments but hopefully they will not be lengthy and put it to the back of your mind. Having been a smoker I still have the odd moment where I think about a cigarette but it passes now within seconds. Treat T the same.

Don't let it beat you. Good luck.