Dear Linda,

Your experiencing the anxiety because you have not yet come to terms with this condition and have not learned to cope with it. This is not a criticism of you. This is a normal procedure that we've all gone through and in time we eventually find some peace of mind in coping with this affliction as we've all learned that it's not going away anytime soon. And hoprfully in the near future there will be a remedy for this condition.

Be thankful you are at the right place and at the right time for support from people who have the same conditions. Forums are the best place to be..

Being in a situation in which one has no control over can be debilitating and flustrating. Our mind focuses on the problem, more than it does the solution, in turn these types of feelings.

Blessings

Also... I wanted to mention that we never completely rid ourselves of the anxiety that we feel towards this condition. The main thing is to put into a proper perspective and not allow it to control our lives.

I think the best way to deal with t. is distraction. Keep your mind as busy as you can. Think of a project to do, or something you can really get into.

You are in a great support group, and there are so many caring people with great ideas and answers. You are not alone.

A big hug to you,
Kasandra

Thanks for the support!

I went to my family doctor this morning.

He has followed my migraine syndrome and has seen my MRIs. for 15 years, so he knows me well.

He looked into my ears of course and said, "normal" which I assumed they would look ok.

Then he asked if I took the hydrochlorothiazide for my high blood pressue that he prescribed for me a few weeks ago when I saw him for anxiety, and he stated my BP was high 150/97.

At that time I did not have the tinnitus to this degree.

My blood pressure has been noted high before, but usually only at the doctors, in the early day at times, or if I am very upset, I do have a meter at home, and when I am content it is normal, and only slightly high.

So needless to say, I feared taking a BP medication.

At any rate, I told him I did not take the medication, but I did have it in my purse, he asked "Is your purse feeling better" ha ha!! I knew he would be upset with me, for not following his orders.

He said BP can go up and down, and mine going up high so often could be some of my tinnuus, as well as aspirin could add to that, and poor diet, since he knows my ears often ring when I am dieting and not eating healhty or very upset to begin with.

He went on to saying that my abnormal MRI has not changed, and not even the area of the brain that would realte to tinnitus, which I trust he knows about, since he does suffer also from migraines, so he is pretty updated on the topic.

Also, I have no hearing loss, or other symptoms to suspect a serious disease.

My blood tests were not back yet, but he did say hormones possibly can also contribute to tinnitus,I have been having hot flashes at night, but on the most part the disorder "tinnitus" does not always have a clear cut known factor to pin point what the cause is from, unless injury, infection, or some other things that can be directly pin pointed to the cause. As you all probably know right?

He stated my up and down blood pressue and said my anxiety can be a factor. He was more concerned that my BP was 165/103 in his office today, than of my tinnitus and said that I need to take the BP pills!

So, now I am dealing with a headache, since I have not eaten much, have not slept well, and the ringing is on and off as it has been the past two weeks, but I am dealing (chuckle)

I am hoping that taking the BP med, eating a better diet, and being told that my tinnitus is not from something serious, although high BP is serious I suppose if not treated, I will be able to carry on a bit better.

I would like to know how many of you folks do not have a clear cut diagnose of the cause of your tinnitus?

I suppose since it really is not a competely "new" symptom for me, only more extreme, that is a good sign too, however still the symptom is not easy to adjust to overnight, for me anyway.

Thanks for listening. Hope all that pop in are having a nice day!

Pattylyn

Doom and anxiety feeling are completely normal. I have always had more of a claustrophobic feeling that turns into panic. It's like being trapped in a box with no way out. It does get better over time but I'm not sure if it will ever go away all together.

High anxiety is part of the T deal I think. Joy. I believe my tinnitus came from medication but who will ever really know? I lost 35 pounds when my T first came on as I was just a nervous wreck and was very fearful of putting anything in my mouth as I feared the tinnitus would get worse. When I finally went on anti anxiety meds I was able to eat and act more "normal" as I truly felt in the beginning that I was going crazy. You are probably not seriously ill but that is something that you don't want to be worrying about so it's good that you are getting everything checked out. Hopefully your bloodwork will have a glaring result and taking a pill or supplement will cure you of T! We can hope!!
Sue

Aspirin is known to be ear damaging (ototoxic) and cause ringing. There is a book at this website www.hearinglosshelp.com and that book is called "Ototoxic Drugs Exposed" and it lists all the drugs that are known to be harmful to your ears. Neil Bauman Ph.D. is the author. He is a wonderful helpful person who also has tinnitus and knows a lot about it and has other helpful books that can help you to habituate to it. You can also email him your questions at neil@hearinglosshelp.com.

High BP can affect your tinnitus. Aspirin can affect tinnitus. Also, going into menopause or even perimenopause can cause tinnitus due to hormonal fluctuations. There is a myriad of things that can cause it. Finding out what your triggers are helps. I for one wouldnt take aspirin any more than absolutely necessary due to its ototoxicity to your ears. You need to stay hydrated and eat well and watch your salt, sugars, and stress for starters. We all find what our triggers are and that can help us. My allergies also play a part in my tinnitus. I just do my best to exercise, eat right, stay hyrdrated, cut out sugar and salt, keep my stress down. Best Wishes!

First thing that needs to be done is get your BP under control. I got mine under control from taking 1 pill a day. The days I forget to take it 9 times out of 10 my tinnitus will be higher the next day. So I think he is right about your blood pressure pills being in your purse.

Anxiety and depression are indeed a part of getting T. Very normal, and they need to be treated. Kevin Hogan's book "Tinnitus: Turning Down the Volume" is good about giving overviews on what's out there. Also, treating your BP a very important first step. There are many causes of T--meds, TMJ, GERD, inus probs, etc--but much of T is unexplained as to the "why." If you are menopausal (or pre) you might consider you are hypperinsulinemic. Stopping sugar of all kinds helped lower my T (not gone, but lower). See this diet study: http://www.tinnitusformula.com/infocenter/articles/treatments/sugar_met.aspx

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, input, and support. I truly do appreciate you reading my post, then taking time to reply back to me.

In part, I am sure my anxiety is adding to my present dismay with the t., now even when my doctor has stated that my T., is not not a "serious" symptom,in my case, even appearing to dismiss the symptom and was foucesed on my BP.

Logically I can see his point since my BP is always high there, what I don't understand also is BP I suppose. Mine is not always high, sometimes actully low. He stated that in my case the ups and downs of my BP still is not good, so that is why I need to take BP medication. The medication, is called Hyorochlorothiazide, which is a dieretic, and is also used to control BP. My unrealistic fear that since my BP is also normal at times, even low, makes me wonder if my BP will drop very low if I take it, and I will pass out. I did talk to him, he stated that is why he prescribed this type of medicaion.

I also am scared I will have some terrilbe reaction to the medication. However with that even said, I do not want to have a stroke, or heart attack, so need to take his advise, as well as others, and take the darn pills!!!!

Again, as I stated before, I can contibute my T to many things, I have been in menopause for 5 years, staring at age 48 I am 54 now, but still get hot flashes at night, so hormones might be a part still, aspirin, dieting, high BP, great annxiety lately too, but my wondering lies in why it so suddenly became worse???? Its seems it would of gradually got worse.

Also, since my T., ususally was actively noted by me when I was sick, tired, or have a migriane, I think in some ways I don't feel good presently with it ongoing, relating my onset of this T., to all the past times having illness or being tired.

In my thoughts I sill worry, "What if it is really something terribly serious?" When I have quiet moments, I think, maybe it went away, as I hear some of you do at times.

At night now, I almost don't want to go to sleep because morinings are the worse, I feel very doomed when I first wake up, depressed, and the ringing is at its peek. Our WNY gloomy cold long winer still dragging on has not helped much either for depression.

I have not even felt up to working the past three weeks due to this T, but have been busy still with company here, and I am off work this week, also having the Easter dinner at my home.

The week my dogie passed away after 17 years, my T became intense also. However I don't think it really was the reason.

Thanks again. I plan to pick up some books mentioned here, I have not yet been to the book store. I live in a small town with not book stores, but plan to drive to the city when my company (sister) departs next Monday after the holiday.

To all that pop in, hope you are having a nice day.

Pattylyn