Tinnitus

[Beatlesjax]

Would like to talk about my tinnitus as just been diagnosed.

[Happyrosie]

hello and welcome to this forum. I expect you’ve been made aware that, whilst there is no “cure” as such there’s a lot that you can do to help yourself and the first is not believe in any advertising for “cures”.

the best source of information is Tinnitus UK, the charity, which lays out very clearly what can be done. It can be something of a “try this and see” scenario. What helps one person might not help another. It can take quite a while to habituate yourself to the phantom noises in your head but you should get there in time.

Other posters might put in their own views - but I imagine that most people who find tinnitus is not a problem any more are no longer contributing to this forum - they are happy and do t need to be reminded of the time when they found the T difficult.

[Beatlesjax in reply to Happyrosie]

Hi Happyrosie

How long roughly; does it take to habituate yourself to the phantom noises ?

How did you achieve yourself as any useful information is helpful.

Regards

[Happyrosie in reply to Beatlesjax]

I habituated almost immediately 60 years ago. I regarded it as one of the many trials of growing up. Now and then in irritates me. If I choose to, I can hear it above the noise of a car driving at 60 on a motorway, but I choose not to let it bother me.

But I know I am very lucky..

[RockyB88 in reply to Beatlesjax]

hi Beatlesjax. It took me around 18 months of ups and downs to habituate. I wasn’t sure how I would feel or what I would “hear” when habituation happened. For me, my T hasn’t improved at all in that time really. It’s a fairly loud and intrusive high pitched ringing perceived in my left ear. But now I’ve habituated I can sit in a silent room with my T ringing away and I feel absolutely zero negative emotion to it. At the outset I didn’t believe that was possible, I hated it and wanted it gone so badly. Now it’s just a noise that has no effect over my emotions and well-being at all. I still wish I didn’t have it, but it doesn’t stop me doing anything. Acceptance is a massive part of habituation. The sooner you can accept the diagnosis and the possibility this noise is life long, the sooner you can start ignoring it through the day and when you do notice it it doesn’t trouble you.

[Beatlesjax in reply to RockyB88]

Hi

Yes I know it will take time so have been busy today and also adjusting to my new hearing aids ! I have had Tinnitus for now seven weeks and all tests possible have been done MRI, blood test, blood pressure Neurologist appointment, hearing aids due to hearing loss have a nice machine with white noises etc., and there is nothing further I can do but accept as it is not harmful just a nuisance.😔

[RobWG in reply to Beatlesjax]

Hi.It's taken me about two years to adapt. I still have bad spells (like now) but I never get to the sense of panic I had when it started.

This forum and Tinitus UK are great and contributed a lot for me.

Regards

Rob

[rabbits65]

This tinnitus site is very helpful and hopefully you will find many of your answers on here. Tell us a bit more about yourself. How are you getting on , try and keep busy if possible.

[daverussell]

Welcome.

What type of Tinnitus? Subjective or Pulsatile? Do you know what caused your Tinnitus?

I ask out of interest, but also knowing as much as you about your condition - call it "making friends with your demons". Habituation will occur naturally, so try not to think about it too much. Stress can be a major factor in how our brain responds. It's so easy to get caught in a vicious circle.

Be aware habituation is just a term for coping with it. It goes away when your mind is occupied - so as advised above keep busy.

Note: Don't be too perturbed by response from ENT consultants they can only refer you, for treatment e.g. an audiologist or neurologist. Tinnitus is often a comorbidity, either as result of or can cause other conditions.

Finally, as popular as it is (or as it seems to be claimed), other people are annoying; they will probably have it or know someone else who has it. Either they or the someone they know don't have a problem with it.

All the best. Stay strong.

[D-w-L2023]

I'm sorry to hear you've got tinnitus. I've had it for over 30 years and it seems to me that habituation techniques will vary from one person to another. Tinnitus UK provides lots of good information. I've been using an app called Mindear which I've found useful.

One thing I will warn about is that if you use social media (like Instagram etc) beware the rabbit hole of tinnitus cures. There are none., yet.

[DownUnderInAus]

I have had tinnitus for around 5 years, I hardly heard it today until I checked my emails, now I cant help but hear it.., lol

[Lulu_Lollipop]

Seven years since my tinnitus started. I felt as if my ear was bunged up with something and used drops, went to doctors, but ears "clean as a whistle". Was referred to ENT and my hearing described as "best in Rugby", but sent for MRI brain scan just to check there was nothing going on with the ear bits inside. Ears seen to be all good, but by chance a large brain aneurysm was spotted and I was referred on to neurovascular people. A year after tinnitus started I had a craniotomy to clip the aneurysm. Big op, thankfully fixed, but left with issues which is understandable. Tinnitus has stayed with me as it's unconnected with the brain aneurysm or the later stroke. Grateful to say that the tinnitus doesn't bother me too much. It's always there, sometimes worse than usual. Good luck with yours! Do please let us know how you get on.