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.
Hello friends,
Again I am back, with reoccurring severe tinnitus. I am 57 yrs old, but since I can remember have suffered from slight ringing in my ears.
Some history, 3 1/2 yrs ago out of the blue one morning I awoke to a shrilling hissing in both my years. It subsided a bit through out the day, but continued in a set pattern like that for about 6 months.
Back then, I saw my family dr., and ENT, and my Neuro. I do have a form of an odd immune disorder, as well as suffer from migraines. All doctors claimed there was nothing serious wrong, my hearing was ok, and since no other new symptoms were present, there was nothing I could do for the ringing in my ears. They said, to try to eat better, sleep better, and up my low vitamin D. So, I did do all of that.
I visited this cite for some answers and support, changed my salt intake, ate healthy and started walking all in hopes to "cure" or relive the horrible hissing, ringing, and odd ear noises I was subjected to.
My tinnitus did let up significantly, it was truly not as loud, and I carried on with life not thinking about it. But, with that said, I still always had ringing of some sort after awaking, and spikes on occasion. As well, as I always hear a low humming noise, but I got used to that, it gets worse when I am tired, and I hear it only when it is quiet.
So, in part I think I got used to it and it did ease up as well. So, was it from making healthy changes?
At any rate, one day a week ago, I stood up at work and out of the blue......a severe hissing,started in both of my years. I started to panic, it really through me off. The ringing did not let up what so ever. I stayed at work, anxious and it was difficult for me to focus.
It is still present, again worse when I wake up, but noticeable and loud through out my day. The different hissing, goes up and down. I am very upset, and with the tinnitus now anxious and depressed as well.
Since, three years ago, slowly I did start eating poorly again, more salt, less walking. In addition, 4 months ago I started a full time office position, with long hours and long drive, so I am tired often and under more stress than usual.
I guess what concerns me, is why...why would it just boom...come back so sudden...if it was from, more salt, less sleep...and so on?????
Again, I am visiting the same scary thoughts, such as, is it something serious, will it get worse, when will it stop, should I go back to my ENT, should I stop salt, should I drink more water, is it from not getting enough sleep the list goes on and on.
Again, I am finding it hard to cope, hard to carry on, not enjoying life as I want too. I love my grandkids, husband, going on outings, as well as do enjoy my job, but feel helpless and unable to enjoy life with this loud noise and the anxiety with it.
I feel ill when my years ring like this, because my ears ring when I am sick, so I relate the ringing to being very sick or very overtired.
I try to tell myself, just carry on, don't dwell on it, there is nothing seriously wrong, it will go way...but that is tough for me to do.
So, any ideas what can cause a sudden relapse? Has this ever happened to any of your folks?
Thanks so much, any of your ideas, suggestions as well as good old kind support is very welcomed.
Pattylyn
Again I am back, with reoccurring severe tinnitus. I am 57 yrs old, but since I can remember have suffered from slight ringing in my ears.
Some history, 3 1/2 yrs ago out of the blue one morning I awoke to a shrilling hissing in both my years. It subsided a bit through out the day, but continued in a set pattern like that for about 6 months.
Back then, I saw my family dr., and ENT, and my Neuro. I do have a form of an odd immune disorder, as well as suffer from migraines. All doctors claimed there was nothing serious wrong, my hearing was ok, and since no other new symptoms were present, there was nothing I could do for the ringing in my ears. They said, to try to eat better, sleep better, and up my low vitamin D. So, I did do all of that.
I visited this cite for some answers and support, changed my salt intake, ate healthy and started walking all in hopes to "cure" or relive the horrible hissing, ringing, and odd ear noises I was subjected to.
My tinnitus did let up significantly, it was truly not as loud, and I carried on with life not thinking about it. But, with that said, I still always had ringing of some sort after awaking, and spikes on occasion. As well, as I always hear a low humming noise, but I got used to that, it gets worse when I am tired, and I hear it only when it is quiet.
So, in part I think I got used to it and it did ease up as well. So, was it from making healthy changes?
At any rate, one day a week ago, I stood up at work and out of the blue......a severe hissing,started in both of my years. I started to panic, it really through me off. The ringing did not let up what so ever. I stayed at work, anxious and it was difficult for me to focus.
It is still present, again worse when I wake up, but noticeable and loud through out my day. The different hissing, goes up and down. I am very upset, and with the tinnitus now anxious and depressed as well.
Since, three years ago, slowly I did start eating poorly again, more salt, less walking. In addition, 4 months ago I started a full time office position, with long hours and long drive, so I am tired often and under more stress than usual.
I guess what concerns me, is why...why would it just boom...come back so sudden...if it was from, more salt, less sleep...and so on?????
Again, I am visiting the same scary thoughts, such as, is it something serious, will it get worse, when will it stop, should I go back to my ENT, should I stop salt, should I drink more water, is it from not getting enough sleep the list goes on and on.
Again, I am finding it hard to cope, hard to carry on, not enjoying life as I want too. I love my grandkids, husband, going on outings, as well as do enjoy my job, but feel helpless and unable to enjoy life with this loud noise and the anxiety with it.
I feel ill when my years ring like this, because my ears ring when I am sick, so I relate the ringing to being very sick or very overtired.
I try to tell myself, just carry on, don't dwell on it, there is nothing seriously wrong, it will go way...but that is tough for me to do.
So, any ideas what can cause a sudden relapse? Has this ever happened to any of your folks?
Thanks so much, any of your ideas, suggestions as well as good old kind support is very welcomed.
Pattylyn
I understand completely about the anxiety and depression that comes with T. I've so been there...as have most of us in here. Do you think an anti-anxiety med might help you, such as Klonopin or Ativan? That might get you over the hump as you try to adjust to the new noise(s) and sometimes these help lower T volume in some people.
I am having a spike right now. Having researched T as much as i possibly can i have come to realize it does its own thiing. Yes, reducing the stress makes it a bit easier but there are few answers. This leaves you with having to learn coping skills. I am sure you have them but will need to use them fully now. Driving and working are stressful. Too much noise will affect the T also. Atavan works as a good rescue medication - but be careful as it can become addictive. The Dr.'s do not have much to help as there is no cure. I jointed the American Tinnitus Association. Last week they put out a guide for Tinnitus. The kind that the medical profession would use as a standard of care. It was a good read. Coming to this site helps for support. Hang in there - Rose
I am trying to cope, sometimes are easier than others. I did make an apt back with my ENT, but I feel that it might be a disappointing visit.
I do not take medications for my immune disorder, so I can rule out a medication that is triggering my tinnitus.
At work my tinnitus appears to become more noticeable, for what ever reason I am not sure. I work in a busy dental office, signing patients in and out, so it is not quiet. But, when there is a lull in patients and I find myself thinking about it and listen for it, I become so aware, then so so anxious. I know that sounds ridicules but I get so nervous. I fear it will become so bad that I might just "freak" out and go crazy or have a seizure or something. I am an anxious person to begin with. (can ya tell?) I do not take anxiety medication, but do have Xanax if needed. I also have fears about medications...so I tend to shy away from them...bad me I know.
I tell myself when I start to panic at work, "relax.... nothing else is going to happen." And I am always right, the noise is there, but nothing really ever happens. Oh my...it is a battle for me to stay above water and not just leave work in a panic. Then once I get home, my ears are still ringing but I don't appear as anxious. It does not usually interrupt my sleep, but then I am so exhausted that sleep falls upon me not matter what. But, only to awake with the ringing. After I am up the severe ringing lets up to odd hisses, and so on...
When I am busy with my grandkids, out and about...getting Christmas photos, at the mall or shopping, I tend to forget about it and feel better...but that can be costly, shopping really helps...(chuckle) Oh, and showers blocks the noise and I feel "normal" for a bit anyway...
Any tips are welcome...thanks.
Pattylyn
Just an idea. :)
I am by no means an expert, and Doc is just a name - NOT a profession. :)
I would, however make a suggestion about your issue. While it is extremely important to address the T in any way you can, I think it is equally important to address how you feel, think, and behave because of it as well. When I hear you say that your thoughts race, you get nervous, and self-talk doesn't calm you down I immediately begin to think about cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT).
You might want to do some quick research on CBT to see if it sounds like the type of thing that may help and then see if your insurance or company's EAP can get you in to see someone who specializes in it.
Anytime we can ease our anxiety with just the power of our own thoughts, we eliminate the need for more medications that may just cause their own issues.
I wish you the best!
Doc.
My anxiety does get the best of me, and I defiantly am going to look into seeking out help. Also, I am trying to cut out salt and sugar, drink more water and walk attentively daily again, just be more healthy to see if my tinnitus lets up some..
I did see an ENT last week and heard the same old repeated story, its tinnitus and there is nothing I can really do about it, but learn ways to cope and deal with it. There is a support group that meets once a month, but I work in the middle of the day when it is scheduled, so most likely will not be able to attend.
Although I have been carrying on, its been difficult often at times, even more so when it spikes. When I have spikes during the day, and I become highly aware of the rining at work, its then when I become very anxious. I work as a secretary in a very busy 100 patient a day dental office closely with the public, so I need to be able to function and concentrate 8 hours a day.
The only way I can describe my tinnitus is the way you might feel if you are extremely overtired, or have been really sick. Its a high buzz, hiss, and at times goes to a really loud ring that goes up and then tones down. It almost sounds like a radio tuning in and out.
It just seems that when folks have spikes, or sudden worse unsets of tinnitus as such, it would have to be triggered by something doesn't it????. It has to have some cause.
My mind wonders to scary things, like maybe I have a tumor, or brain disorder. The condition actually tires me out, on top of my already tired self, from working long hours each day...ugggg!
I do suffer from migraines, and now have been told that many migraine suffers often have bouts of tinnitus. Do any of you folks have migraines as well as tinnitus? I also have had abnormal MRI in past, but there has been no change in them so I have been told the abnormality could be from migraine, or else at some point of time in my life I was exposed to Carbone dioxide. But, all in all they really do not know.
My family and I reside in WNY so have been in a State of EMG since Monday from huge snow storm. I have not been able to go to work since Monday. It has been a very devastating and debilitating storm.
Pattylyn
Neck and Shoulder Muscles NEW
by: Patricia
I am the person who wrote about tight neck and shoulder muscles causing tinnitus.
Note that "tinnitus" simply means "ringing". It does not necessarily refer to an ear issue. For me, tight neck and shoulder muscles were causing the ringing, and exercise made it vanish.
Exercises that worked for me:
1) Set palm against the side of head and push head against it gently to create resistance. Feel the muscle on the side of throat tense, thus it is being exercised. Do this on the other side of head as well.
2) Set both palms against forehead and push head against them gently to create resistance. This also exercises neck muscles in the throat area.
3) Set both palms against the back of head and push head gently against them to create resistance. This exercises the muscles in the back of neck.
4) For shoulder muscle exercises, use a dumbbell that is comfortable to lift but also provides some resistance and lift it as if lifting a bucket. Do this as many times as is comfortable.
5) Tilt head back as far as it will go and then open mouth as wide as possible, hold for several seconds, then close mouth into a pucker. This works the muscles beneath the ears as well as the throat.
Repeat these exercises as many times and as often as able to do comfortably. It will take a while, but eventually the ringing should ease as the muscles stretch. Don't give up too early as it does take a while. Note how the muscles in the throat area are directly beneath the ear. Any tightness in these muscles can cause tinnitus. The shoulder exercises are necessary in conjunction with the neck exercises because the shoulder and neck muscles are part of the same chain of muscles and work together.
Good luck. I hope everyone who reads this is helped by these exercises as much as I was.
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I've recently had a spike and it's been quite upsetting. I have mixed a few new (louder) sound to mask the new level.