will it get better? ❤️‍🩹

[Amyleeh]

hello,

I’m currently 2 months into a tinnitus spike.

Just before Christmas I was woken up with a LOUD pulsatile tinnitus in my left ear. Got into panic mode. Went to gp he said ear was red and gave me antibiotic drops. I used them for a week and I have been taking dymista (1 or 2 sprays in each nostril daily).

I have not heard the pulsating tinnitus since but my normal tinnitus has been louder. I think the pulsatile tinnitus has triggered post traumatic stress disorder of when I first developed tinnitus because I found it really hard to cope with all those years ago. I can honestly hear it over everything. Some days are better than others. I’m waking up most mornings with blocked right ear that eventually goes away throughout the day.

Every night I wake at least once and I am waiting in anticipation for the pulsing to start again. It scares me. I’m not sleeping properly at all. I wake every single night.

Tonight i have woken up to very loud tinnitus. I can’t even mask it. I just hope when my anxiety eases, it will ease too. I don’t know what to do when I can’t mask it. I pray that it will get better for me .😭

I don’t really know what I’m looking for maybe someone who has been through a spike this long and it got better? I have tinnitus 9 years now

[SueX]

I am in the same position - pulsatile tinnitus that is driving me mad. It's harder to mask than regular tinnitus. I've played around with various apps and if I find a background sound which is music AND an environment sound (ie sea) both together then that seems to work better for pulsatile tinnitus. I am not due to see the ENT until April but I can't manage like this so I'm seeing someone privately this week. I hope someone else posts with some practical tips! Thinking of you.

[Hidden]

I slightly worry when you say you can’t mask your tinnitus.

Tinnitus UK says (and my own experience agrees) that if you mask the sound completely it will just come back ore prominently when the masking is removed. For example, I can hear my T above the noise of my car travelling at 60 but it’s generally masked completely at seventy. So as soon as I’m relaxed again - woweeee Mr T makes his presence known.

I’m very fortunate in that I’ve never experienced pulsatile tinnitus. But certainly I wake every night and hear the tinnitus - but I’m habituated so it doesn’t trouble me. It’s just there, and is part of life’s rich pattern.

[SudokuKing in reply to Hidden]

...and I thought it was just me being weird - I tried leaving a fan on in my bedroom to mask my tinnitus and woke up an hour later with my head screaming. Good to know it's recognised.

[Non-Leaguer]

I have had pulsatile tinnitus for 3 years and the use of pillow speakers has helped. Also I use Shokz headphones which have helped mask the constant sound in my left ear. These fit round your neck and play music from your phone through your cheekbones! The good thing is you can hear all other sounds against the regular headphones which clamp over your ears and stop you carrying out a conversation. Best Wishes.

[ArchieKnight]

Hi...

Big virtual hug.

It's incredibly scary but I do find if I manage my stress, the tinnitus is slightly easier to manage.

Focus on your breathing in bed - that also helps.

X

[BlackSwamper]

I sympathize with you, tinnitus can dominate our attention and thoughts as we struggle to habituate to spikes and new frequently disconcerting noises (currently “enjoying” a non pulsatile thump in my left ear that came out of the blue). I find that developing a mindfulness routine that encompasses stretching, neck and jaw massage to relieve tension and turning off the TV and putting the phone up an hour before bed time is helpful. I take my hearing aids out in order to give myself time to habituate to the inevitable uptick in my tinnitus and read and relax. Then, and only then do I go to my bedroom. I have bad nights here and there but it really seems to help. I hope that you will weather this latest bump in your tinnitus journey and find peace!