Tinnitus Support Group

I think you are right. There are a few in the 20+ year category, but not many. The ones I know basically check in from time to time to make sure everyone else is doing OK.

I'm going on 13 years now. Years 7 to 10 my tinnitus was not that bothersome. Did not post on the Yuku site and forgot where my maskers were. I was doing pretty good. Then about 3 years ago it started to get worse month by month and it's been pretty bad since then. I feel like i'm starting all over again. I really hope my situation is not the norm and hope everyones gets better as time goes by.

It's true what you are saying. I was fine for 15 years, that I had my T.

Then a year and a half ago, it got worse.

I have had t for fifteen years, I come on a lot and just read. I am still learning.

Also when I get a spike for a long time, I know where I can come for understanding. We all still need that.

And if I do know something that can help, hopefully, I post.

I am going on 7 years now with my T. Still not used to it. It is so high pitched it is hard to habituate. But I have a family and need to get on with life the best I can. Hopefully someone will come out with some sort of cure or parial cure soon. Until then it is a day by day endurance.

I am 68 years old and cannot remember NOT having tinnitus. However, in my younger years it was lower. Definitely 40 years living with this condition and 1-1/2 years ago I purchased hearing aids with maskers which have helped tremendously. While I don't anticipate every being tinnitus free, the hearing aids have reduced the number and intensity of spikes. But, for $6500, they should do something! I also want to mention I do have a high frequency hearing loss as well. Pat

I've had tinnitus for 3 yrs. At first it was intrusive, bothersome, and about drove me nuts. It took time but I've learned to live with it and go on. I still have spikes that can be difficult and I come here and get support and give support but I have found that as of late my tinnitus is there but in the background more as time passes. But I still come to this site to stay in touch and encourage others. Judy

I have had it for 16 months now. I'm having a very hard time this morning. I was just saying to my husband that there are people in this support group and others that I have read about on the internet that have had it for 20 years or more and I can't understand how they can live so long with this torture. Mine has been very high pitched for most days out of the week, everyday and everyweek. I don't know what to do anymore. I wish I could tolerate it like those of you who have had it for so long, but I just can't.

It takes time. However you will learn to get on with life regardless. I am still learning, trying etc. It's not hell forever.

I've had it 3 yrs. and it isnt easy at first. It took me a good year or so to adjust to it. Mine, on the bad days, is a high pitched hissing. I have learned to let it co-exist with me, detach from it, do what it does while I do what I do, and after 3 yrs. I can say my life has gone on. Is it perfect? No. Do I wish it would one day just go away? You bet. I've learned on the bad days to get through them. I've learned the less I pay attention to it and the more I distract or immerse myself in whatever Im doing its much easier to deal with. Taking away it's power is key. Not letting it run your life. Not thinking about it, talking about it, rating it, or paying too terribly much attention to it has been key for me. But that's just for me. I understand that not everyone habituates or does it at the same rate of speed as the next person. We just have to take it one day at a time. Judy