bebee,Will be very honest with you. 12 years with tinnitus and it is still is a struggle. I had 4 years where my tinnitus was very low in volume and didn't pay that much attention to it. That changed a couple of years ago where it became a problem again. Wished I had better new's.

Have had T 13 months. Mine is the kind that is always very shrill, but changes volume, location (ear, ears, or electric shrill brain buzz), and tone day by day, or sometimes even just upon entering a different room or building. I also prayed for God to take me, my T was so loud--jet turbines--at first. My T is affected by what I eat (sugar), so I have lost a lot of weight. I work from home all day. With that background, here are my responses:

1 - I am not yet habituated, and my life isn't great, but it has improved some since I first got T thanks to a number of things I have learned and tried and do. I am cautiously hopeful, though I doubt I will ever be able to eat processed sugar or take naps again.

2 - No, I'm not enjoying life as yet, or not nearly as much as I once did, but am not as miserable as I was 13 months ago.

1. Not habituated but not suicidal in a long time where those first 6 months there is no doubt in my mind if my kids were older I would be gone.

2. Enjoying life waiting for the "good days"....I have rheumatoid arthritis too so getting the 2 conditions to both have a good day, the same day isn't easy but when I do I'd say I enjoy those days more than I ever enjoyed any day when I was healthy.

Sue

Please keep the answers coming...

Deltadart, I knew you were one of those that has been suffering more than most. Of course we have never met, but believe me, I think about you a lot more than you will ever realize. I pray for better days ahead for you my friend. bob

it's hard to enjoy life with T bebee.. at least for me..
suicidal thoughts also crossed my mind many times... but it probably isn't the best of options...i have faith in better days

I have had t for nearly 4 years. It is the intermittent type which ranges from awful loud days with every kind of sound, but predominately teakettles to a quieter hissing days. I usually categorize them simply has good and bad days. I make adjustments with my activities, based on what I am hearing, pun intended. I am not too close to habituation, as i am always aware of my t, but have learned about the meaning to live with it.

The t came from nowhere for me. I was working one day, looked up and there it was. I had not had a previous chronic condition previously. I went to the GP who acted that it wasn't any big deal and sent me to an ENT. At the ENT, I had a work-up by an audiologist, the ENT looked at my ears, and he acted like it wasn't any big deal and told me the dreaded words, "Learn to live with it". What, where is the medicine, you need to investigate further, clean my ear passages, please do something. "Sorry Buddy" I left the office a mess.

For the next 6 months, I struggled alone with the internet, noticing somethings such as the t being intermittent, and getting triggers from certain foods, such as sodium. Also it was worst with increase stress.

Approximately 6 months later, I posted my first thread in the t support group. I got a couple of dozen answers, and realized I am not alone in this world with t. There were people who understood. Even people who were newer to this then me, and had questions that I could answer. I felt important and honored to assist them. This is when my recovery began.

Everyone is different and each of our experience with t is as unique as a fingerprint. But for me, I discovered being positive about doing the best that we can going forward, worked to be beneficial. I was able to live with t better, knowing that my experiences were actually helping other people. What goes around comes around, I actually started to feel better. My levels of t over the three years after learning about the medicine of support have gotten better for me. I have a bad day out of three or four currently. I can't ignore any day completely, but I could offer positive feedback to anyone who sufferers with this. I also learned that this optimistic thinking was beneficial for any affliction. I had learned all about the charitable method of real support and it had nothing at all to do with making a cash contribution to a foundation. I do support the ATA anyways, as I understand that it is most beneficial to have an agency who is informing a newbie, that research is being done, can offer referrals to ENT and inform you of masking devices. Very good options.

I have not left DS as you can see. I have made the most wonderful friends. I am only semi-active in the t support group, because I think many people want to hear from those who are at the same stage that they are with their t. But I am learning the same as anyone and wish to be a positive influence for anyone else.

Therefore.
1. How is my life with t. Better and better, learned to live with it. Make adjustments for good and bad days. Sometimes it is very much difficult. But have utilize everything that I have learned, which consisted of triggers and protect my ears. I have discovered that the positive mechanism within have helped me rally for easing this affliction.

2. Are you enjoying your life. Yes, my activity of daily living are almost completely back to normal. On occasion, I need to back off, cry a moment or just sleep. As mentioned the support network of DS with the understanding that we share has been awesome. DS is a gift and nothing makes me better then to repeat constantly that "I wish everyone to be well"

attester.. What a perfectly magnificent reply.
Hopeful, yet not denying the misery that t brings. It can be managed if not cured, mostly by one's own strength and courage.

Your post makes it easier to imagine better days in the future for short times like myself. I hope one day I can write something as hopeful for a new sufferer. Unfortunately, we all know there will be many many more, and at younger and younger ages.... bob

3 years with T and I can admit that in the beginning I had a plan to commit suicide. All I needed was the rope. I reached out to my doctor and ended up on antidepressants. Thankfully I got off of those.
Everyday I wake up and I am in hell. Everyday my memory, eyes, nerves are getting worse. I am sure the sound I hear is my nerves. The only thing that helps are the drugs that I take to lessen(not by much) the severity of this sound.
Sorry to rant...

I've had t since March 2010, when I lost hearing in one ear overnight. I was also suicidal. Life has improved although it is different than before. I had been a professional singer for most of my life and pretty much gave that up - the t, hearing problems and hyperacusis make it not fun. So I turned back to writing. My second novel will be published soon. Lemons out of lemonade? I guess so. I tend to keep to myself a lot, avoiding noisy and social situations. Some days the t is unnoticeable, and then it comes back, loud.
So...life can improve.

Katsinger what is the title of your first book. I would love to read!!!!

I have had screamin T since 1979. In the past I have asked God and Doctors to cure me or kill me. So far nothing.

I do believe that God can take this away. Since he hasn't I rely on Lorazapam, and anti-D, and Gabapentin. I have not tried TRT, but should. Cost is usually the reason I don't try anything new.

I am however at 53 yrs. old the most successful I have ever been. I do pretty well for what is stacked against me. Struggle, but it is doable.

It's been a real problem since Sep. 2005 on the left side and 2007 on the right thanks to the military and nerve damage. The first two or three years was the hardest no doubt. Once habituated (somewhat), I try to look at it like "the monkey on my back". Mornings are the worst, but I try to tell myself that things can and will improve as the day goes on. It's focusing on that first cup of coffee, tea or thinking/focusing on something important like a newspaper to get or feeding the dog. Staying in a regular schedule helps.

Dear bebee,

I have had t now for over ten years now.
I started out with panic attacks. I went like many, to doctor to doctor and clinic to clinic. I was finally diagnosed with reactive t. Which means noise of any kind makes the volume of my t go up. I at first went inside myself and did not want to do a thing with my life any more. Then I found this site and realized that I was not alone.

I still have days that my t is so loud I can feel my eyes cross. But I know life is short and I may be taken at any time. So I have decided to live.

I have been in a wonderful women's choir for three years, going on











four. I also volunteer at my local no kill animal shelter with my trusty Musician's ear plugs.

I do believe distraction really does help.

And I thank God for this site every day.

Hugs to you all,
Sandy

Sorry for the long gap, cell phone not letting me see the whole thing as I am writing this. :(

bebee, I have had tinnitus for 7 years now and there were times when I wished for death especially when it first started. I did have 4 years were my tinnitus could only be heard at night when the house was very quite, but now I can hear it all the time regardless of the environment I am in. So to answer your questions:

1. I struggle to habituate, but my life is getting better slowly.

2. I sometimes enjoy life it really depends on how well I am coping with my "T" on any given day. My boys keep me going without them I don't know how I would deal with tinnitus.