Wellness

[matty liz]

You guys are so helpful and just checking for help with my problem, just to cope.  I have tinnitus in an almost deaf ear.  No lectures please as I have a GP, Audiologist, recently a sleep specialist.  Had MRI Cat scan nothing.  I'm to the point of knowing no stopping noise,which is 24/7 365 days a yr. but just looking for something that might distract me, esp. at night.  Thanks

[Auntie CC]

I've had the same issues with tinnitus. It gets worse as we age. Sorry to say but there are no cures. I've learned to live with it.

[Chessa35]

Have you tried listening to music ,wearing earbuds ?

[depglass]

My solution?  TV every waking hour as I work around the house..  Radio in the car.  I've had CT scans, the works.  I was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia, no one has said the tinnitus problem is part of it.  I do know I'm losing some hearing in the affected ear.  I think some major research is needed.  Sympathy for you, I'll be following this thread.

[seaBreeze]

Sleep medication is all I can recommend.  Sleeping is the only time I am at peace.  Mine started three years ago after taking pain medication.  I cannot rest during the day, as my head constantly buzzes like crickets in my head.

I have to take melatonin to sleep otherwise the noise in my head is unbearable at night.  My mother has it and she doesn't appear to be as depressed as I am as it is debilitating (for me).

[NicksmomESQ]

DH developed tinnitus a couple months ago. With him it comes & goes. A family friend is an audiologist. She's been guiding him through. She told DH to try his best to ignore it & cancel out the noise with music, tv or white noise.
 DH is learning to do that. He stopped talking about it because that just brings attention to it. When he ignores it there are times he doesn't hear it in his head.

[geezerette]

I don't have a real bad case of it, but since I've been taking pycnogenol it's been drastically reduced or eliminated most days/nights.

[skatting44]

 Have you obtained another opinion from a Neurologist ?  Dr David S. Zee  @  Johns Hopkins  . His expertise in  Ataxia, Neurology, Nystagmus, and  Vertigo.

" Dr. David Zee specializes in vertigo, dizziness and imbalance (including ataxia) and in disorders of eye movements (including nystagmus and strabismus). He is a Professor of Neurology with secondary appointments in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ophthalmology and Neuroscience."

https://professorships.jhu.edu/professorship/david-zee-m-d-and-paul-and-betty-cinquegrana-professors...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/doctors-puzzled-by-womans-dizziness-and-ampli...

[Sweetbay magnolia]

Is this new, @matty liz ?  I know when I first started developing tinnitus, I was distraught.  Initially it would come and go.  I became obsessed with the inability to hear "silence".

I've gotten used to it.  I think it still comes and goes, gets better then worse, but mostly I don't pay attention.  I never thought it would happen, but I honestly don't care a fig anymore.  It's just there, and likely always will be.

I use a white noise machine at night - mine is a " 'Lectro Fan EVO".  It may help you conquer some of what you're going through.  I didn't actually get one for the tinnitus, just that I find it calming at night.  In that sense it works - the tinnitus can cause agitation and the machine will calm the noise, so you may sleep better with one.  Maybe once you get used to your condition, the machine will just be a normal calming nighttime influence.

Lots of famous people have tinnitus.  William Shatner, for one, and many musicians (for obvious reasons, many rock stars!).  I've found it helpful to read about their experiences.  At least we are not alone.

My left ear is ringing away as I type this.  I keep music on in the house all day, but that's more a function of just liking music on all day.  It may also help you get through this, to have music playing.  A calming distraction.

[JeanLouiseFinch]

I have had tinnitus for many years. I also have significant hearing loss that continues to worsen.  A professional diagnosis and an excellent pair of hearing aids, professionally fitted by an excellent, knowledgeable audiologist (no Costco or Miracle Ear), has helped me considerably.  There is no cure, just management.