Any tinnitus sufferers out there?

Margaret52129

I've developed tinnitus and it's very annoying. I've had bouts previously and they've mysteriously cleared up, so am waiting to see if the same happens this time.

I know that if you have some background noise (personal MP3 player/radio) playing, it can mask it during the day, but one major problem I have is sleeping when you can't really wear earplugs - I find it hard to get to sleep, and when I do I find any little disturbance wakes me up and then it's very hard to get back to sleep because of the 'noise'.

What does anyone else do about this?

By the way, I'm deaf and have to wear hearing aids through the day but at night when I take them out, the tinnitus is worse as then I can't hear any background noise at all.

hopper0803

I have tinnitus as well and at first I found sleeping very difficult. Just as I was dropping off it would get louder and louder until it woke me with a bang!

Although it has not gone away I have found that my brain ignores the noise most of the time. What I found helped the most was to not worry about it. I know this is easier said than done, but I found it allowed my brain to ignore it rather than actively thinking about it all the time.

It only really affects my sleeping now if I'm having a bad nights sleep anyway due to stress/heat etc.

Kernel_Sanders

Margaret52129 wrote: »

one major problem I have is sleeping when you can't really wear earplugs

Can anybody else listening close up to your ear hear these sounds? If not, your brain must be producing them. How, pray, could earplugs possibly help?

Margaret52129

I did say in my post that using a personal MP3 player or such like helps to mask the noise. Personal as in using earplugs for a single person to hear it, rather than no earplugs for all to listen.

In this instance, you cannot (or I would not want to do for safety reasons) wear earplugs to listen to music etc. whilst in bed.

Tinnitus is a sound that only the sufferer hears, the ear/brain does make the sound, be it by blocked ear canals or some other reason. It varies from person to person with noises ranging from squeaking through to thumping sounds, mine is like being in the middle of a noisy mill 24/7 with a rhythmic whooshing sound in tune with my heartbeat.

There_Goes_Trouble

I think you're using the word earplugs instead of earphones, which is causing confusion. I would generally understand earplugs to be things you use to prevent noise or water (swimming) from entering the ear, but I think you mean earphones which I understand to be what you use to put music/sound directly into the ear.

hannah899

Do you sleep in a room on your own? I don't suffer from it personally but with you saying music noise helps can you not get a tape or white noise machine. I personally love the sounds of heavy rain which they do have a tape/cd of or ocean. A sound which is natural that would not disturb your husband/partner as much as it rains half the year anyway.

The one thing I would suggest is to get help or find something to help you are confortable with. For health reasons if you are not sleeping well you will probably develop sleep deprivation which will cause unstable effects on your mental health. Don't want to sound depressing but it does happen.

If nature sounds don't help the only other thing I could think to lessen health and safety risk would be wireless headphones as im guessing you mean with wired ones could wrap around your neck and body tossing and turning. The only problem with wireless is they are bulky and if you get to sleep in a uncomfortable position you may pull or damage muscles. Only other thing is asking a health profeesional. because they can not only suggest what they have found to work but any patient who has found a unique way to deal with it would inform their health professional and as long as they don't say any personal details they can pass on the technique to people who are struggling to get it under control. Hope something ive said can be of help

Margaret52129

There_Goes_Trouble wrote: »

I think you're using the word earplugs instead of earphones, which is causing confusion. I would generally understand earplugs to be things you use to prevent noise or water (swimming) from entering the ear, but I think you mean earphones which I understand to be what you use to put music/sound directly into the ear.

Oops - sorry! Thanks for the correction.

Margaret52129

Thanks Hannah - but I sleep with my husband and would prefer to keep it like that. As I said, because I am deaf and wear hearing aids, once they are taken out at night, I can't really hear much at all, which is a problem if I was to play a tape or something not using earphones. I would deafen the household, if not the street to have it my hearing level withough hearing aids!

I've contacted the doctor and am waiting a call back to see what they can do, if anything, for me.

I'm a regular patient at the hospital ENT department, but they can't see me till 16th September! Hopefully it will have gone by then, or at least lessened, or I've become more accustomed to it, but either way, they may be able to help somehow.

It's a darn nuisance coming now like it has, my daughter is getting married on Saturday, I just hope it doesn't interfere/spoil things too much.

pollypenny

I have a radio with a sleep timer, which I can set for up to an hour. I have a sound machine, which OH likes, too. We usually have it set on waves.

There is a variety of things available from the RNID, including an under-pillow speaker which plugs into a radio, so only one person hears it.

There is no cure, only learning to desensitise yourself. Good luck!

( had it since 2000. Made worse by stress , so perhaps it will improve after the wedding)

Errata

I'm also deaf and wear aids and have tinnitus. The most effective method I've found when it starts (and often I don't notice it's started until it stops) is to concentrate very hard in making the noise louder and louder. I think my brain gets bored with being 'got at' and gives up.

CoffeeCake_3

I've had tinnitus for years, possibly since childhood - but its only within the last few months I've realised having a constant high-pitched tone in my ears isn't normal(!)

I don't really notice it unless there isn't much background noise. Seems to be loud at the moment though...