Tinnitus, Deafness and Ear Problems Support Group
This group is for those coping with Tinnitus (ringing ears or ear noise), hearing loss, and all ear issues. Join to find support and get advice from others.
I have had near-constant tinnitus since last December. It's a high-pitched tone (~10.5 kHz). About two-thirds of the time it's just the left ear, and the other third it's both. The intensity varies, but with no noticeable rhyme or reason. I have not found a single event, food, or activity that correlates to the tinnitus intensity. I don't eat junk food, but my diet is not restricted in any way, and I have played with holding off various "known" triggers (salt, caffeine, NSAIDs, etc.) with no noticeable change.
Unlike others, I have discovered that alcohol *significantly reduces* the volume, often to the point that it seems completely gone. Of course, I don't want to be drunk all the time, but a glass of bourbon before dinner can make an evening very pleasant.
During the day, I play a masking sound (self-created; sort of a "dancing rain" noise that is bandwidth-limited around the tinnitus frequency). For some reason, it prevents my mind from "finding" the tinnitus. It works reasonably well. I keep an iPod nano in my pocket (with a continuous loop of the sound), and wear a Bluetooth earpiece (one sided or two-sided, depending on the type of day it is), so it's not very obtrusive. So far, so good.
At night, I use Bedphones (very thin, lightweight) to play the masking sound as necessary from my iPad nightstand, and take 4 mg Lorazepam plus 25 mg Hydroxizine, and I fall asleep fairly easily. Sometimes (rarely), I wake up and need an additional 2 mg Lorazepam and/or 12 mg Hydroxizine.
The problem is that, WITHOUT FAIL, around 4-5 am the tinnitus becomes VERY loud, and stays that way until I get out of bed, usually between 7-8 am. I have to crank up the masking sound so much that the masking becomes almost as annoying as the tinnitus.
Once I wake up and go through my routine (hygiene, get dressed, breakfast, etc.) it usually settles down to whatever it will be that day: high or low, single- or double-sided. It's a totally coin toss each day. (Today is moderate volume, double-sided; not the best, but not the worst.)
Similarly, I can't take a nap during the day (without drugs, which would turn the nap into full-blown long-term sleep) as WITHOUT FAIL, I will wake up with that very loud tinnitus. I used to take naps of about 1.5 hours, especially after a tiring tennis match, and it used to refresh me. Now I dread the thought of a nap, but miss them very much.
I don't know if it's the drugs wearing off, or something about being horizontal. I tried sleeping sitting up, but that just doesn't work for me.
Has anyone else noticed this symptom? I lay in bed for 2-3 hours every morning, trying to get a bit more rest (and sometimes succeeding, with loud masking in effect), but it's very frustrating.
Rich
Unlike others, I have discovered that alcohol *significantly reduces* the volume, often to the point that it seems completely gone. Of course, I don't want to be drunk all the time, but a glass of bourbon before dinner can make an evening very pleasant.
During the day, I play a masking sound (self-created; sort of a "dancing rain" noise that is bandwidth-limited around the tinnitus frequency). For some reason, it prevents my mind from "finding" the tinnitus. It works reasonably well. I keep an iPod nano in my pocket (with a continuous loop of the sound), and wear a Bluetooth earpiece (one sided or two-sided, depending on the type of day it is), so it's not very obtrusive. So far, so good.
At night, I use Bedphones (very thin, lightweight) to play the masking sound as necessary from my iPad nightstand, and take 4 mg Lorazepam plus 25 mg Hydroxizine, and I fall asleep fairly easily. Sometimes (rarely), I wake up and need an additional 2 mg Lorazepam and/or 12 mg Hydroxizine.
The problem is that, WITHOUT FAIL, around 4-5 am the tinnitus becomes VERY loud, and stays that way until I get out of bed, usually between 7-8 am. I have to crank up the masking sound so much that the masking becomes almost as annoying as the tinnitus.
Once I wake up and go through my routine (hygiene, get dressed, breakfast, etc.) it usually settles down to whatever it will be that day: high or low, single- or double-sided. It's a totally coin toss each day. (Today is moderate volume, double-sided; not the best, but not the worst.)
Similarly, I can't take a nap during the day (without drugs, which would turn the nap into full-blown long-term sleep) as WITHOUT FAIL, I will wake up with that very loud tinnitus. I used to take naps of about 1.5 hours, especially after a tiring tennis match, and it used to refresh me. Now I dread the thought of a nap, but miss them very much.
I don't know if it's the drugs wearing off, or something about being horizontal. I tried sleeping sitting up, but that just doesn't work for me.
Has anyone else noticed this symptom? I lay in bed for 2-3 hours every morning, trying to get a bit more rest (and sometimes succeeding, with loud masking in effect), but it's very frustrating.
Rich
I don't have the nap issue because I can't sleep without aid, although some days I do take ambien during the day if I get everything I need to done, just to escape the noise...not a good habit to get into. HOwever, from being on this board for over 5 years can tell you that many people miss their naps because they experience what you do and they dare not risk a nap it isn't worth the T price they will pay.