Tinnitus

25gilbo21 You're welcome. I didn't know for years so like to spread the word. Much more useful to me than a network card. There has to be some compensation for the loss of hearing

I developed tinnitus about 5 years ago, along with 'dry eye' syndrome.

I have prescribed drops for my eyes, but my tinnitus seems to be getting worse. It is a very high pitched whistle in both ears.

Strangely, my hearing is sound.

I had a head scan recently because of severe and excruciating head pain which flares up and fades away.. I went to my GP for the result and I was so very relieved nothing sinister was found that I was in a bit of a daze and didn't ask any questions about other head things going on.

My ears are screaming now. Thank you for the info regarding the sleep hairband headset. I shall invest. I am an insomniac anyway but lying awake with a high pitched screaming in my ears makes me very fed up and affects my ability to re-energise for the next day.

CrazyGrandma2 I had absolutely no idea about the railcard.. worth knowing, thank you

I do...had it since tonsils were removed at 12 years old.... I’ve lived with it...I also suffer with exploding head syndrome...both stress related I believe! As my life from 13 has been one long stressful incident where I’ve nursed my father ...my mother...my grandmother.... my daughter.... and now my husband for passed 23 years I don’t expect to lose either anytime soon!

That sounds like me too SillyNanny, I’ve had mine since childhood, in fact until fairly recently I didn’t realise everyone didn’t have it. A friend had a perforated ear drum and her doctor told her tinnitus might be a side effect she developed because of it. We looked it up on internet and it was then I realised it sounded like my noises! I remember I used to suffer quite a lot with ear infections and had perforated ear drums as a child. I’ve never been to the doctor about it though so it’s a self diagnosis.

I too have tinnitus, especially bad at night, sometimes I feel like my head will explode with pressure. My doctor told me it is probably due to my arthritis in my neck. Although when I mentioned that on the next visit she told me it wouldn't be that lol. She prescribed me diazapan, not sure why? Maybe she thought that I wouldn't notice the ringing because I was so out if it on the valium lol Needless to say I've given up on doctors!

SirChenjin I've had tinnitus in both ears for several decades. Bummer isn't it?

I wear bi-lateral heading aids as I also have moderate hearing loss in both ears. Just over a year ago I bought private hearing aids from a guy who was a sound engineer before he retrained as an audiologist. That was a fortuitous encounter.

Not only can I hear better but also my aids have a tinnitus training programme. When I first had the aids I ran it morning and evening but over time I find that I use it less and less as the tinnitus has become less invasive. Needless to say as soon as I remove the aids it's back in full flow, so I take them out just before turning off the light and put them in first thing in the morning.

Whilst on the subject of hearing aids, I hope any wearers are aware that they are entitled to a Disabled Person's Railcard which affords reduced cost travel throughout the UK on any train - no time restrictions - and one fellow traveller gets the same discount. Many years before I found that out as it's not shouted from the rooftops!

I developed tinnitus after going on bp medication which was the wrong sort for me. Mine is like a high pitched scream. Hospital fitted me with hearing aids which help through the day, but the app “ tinnitus aid” is very good to fall asleep to.

I have had tinnitus at night for 10 years but find listening to R4 (World Service after midnight) with headphones, helps.

Recently a friend has developed severe tinnitus and other health problems which she ascribes to electromagnetic sensitivity. It is a controversial subject with most doctors treating it as psychosis while some countries take it more seriously.

My son has found "white noise" helpful.

Doctors don't seem able to help. I would try a reliable chiropractor myself.

I have had tinnitus since 1984. After several visits to the drs I am still no better. I have certainly got used to it but there are days when I could scream the place down. Right now I have a headache and my tinnitus is screaming! Whenever I have a cold or infection it is just as bad. Arghhhhhhhhhhh!

It should have read GP referral!

I know of people who have been helped by using a sound masker ( looks a bit like a hearing aid) to drown out the tinnitus. Your local audiology department would be able to help ( requires GO referral)

I have had tinnitus for years, sometimes it sounds like there is a radio on , or someone talking i,n another roonother times,i have gone into the bathroom thinking i have left a tap on,it sounds like was running,
Mostly i can ignore it

My GP was less than helpful and told me to go back when I become deaf! I decided to find ways to diminish the annoying sounds, so headphones are a boon as I can't hear it at all with music playing. I wonder whether we must be careful about the volume though so we don't make the problem worse.

I find that certain foods, e.g. salty dishes, make it worse. I've been experimenting with different foods and find this website helpful: www.hiddenhearing.co.uk

Good luck with finding something which makes it tolerable for you.

I have it in both ears accompanied by hearing loss. I am at present waiting for a Cochlear implant and have been warned it might make the tinnitus worse for a while. Stress and alcohol don’t help it but most of the time it’s bearable - just a nuisance.

Hi SirChenjin, sorry if I missed you saying this, but have you been checked out by your GP? Maybe it's been brought on by something that can be treated...

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Have had mine since childhood. Can remember asking what the whistling was only to be told I was imagining it. Over the years it has worsened & ranges from a high pitched whistle to a whooshing beat when laying down. Being a bit deaf does not help but over the years have managed to tune it out except when wound up & stressed when it increases. Sorry not very helpful but as other posters have said, there are many ways to try to help cope with it.

Hi,

I never suffered with this until my Mam died three years ago and then suffered with lots of physical problems and tinnitus was one, I’ve never had it in my life until then so I’m sure stress makes it worse. I leave my fan on low all night and that helps a lot. The worst thing is catching a cold it seems to get so bad. I have a hearing test on Thursday at the hospital my gp referred me but I do think my hearing is ok though. It seems tinnitus is worse in quiet rooms.

I feel for you. One of the things I've found most effective is buying 'sleep headphones' such as these;
www.amazon.co.uk/CHOKMAX-Headphones-Adjustable-Comfortable-Relaxation-Black/dp/B07P1PRD8Q/ref=sr_1_15?crid=3OLOKS9CUSACH&keywords=sleep+headphones&sprefix=sleep+%2Caps%2C197&tag=gransnetforum-21&qid=1569314680&sr=8-15

I can listen to podcasts, books, music etc at night time, and even sleep on my side with them on.

A great podcast is radio 4 'bunkbed'

I’ve had it since I was 27, over 40 years. I’ve learnt to live with it although some days are worse than others. Alcohol, sadly, exacerbates it as does air travel, head cold and sinus probs and loud noise such as at a concerts. Mine is a constant ‘electrical’ ringing/squealing and sometimes the boom boom of my pulse which is really annoying. I had a brain scan a few years back as they thought it might be a broken blood vessel. It wasn’t. I think after all this time I’m lumbered with it. I have the radio on all day which helps - avoidance tactic! Some days I don’t notice it at all unless I consciously do, like now when writing about it and it’s screaming at me ?.
I hope yours is temporary and if it isn’t, take heart you can learn to live along side it

Hi yes I have tinnitus in both ears and hearing loss.Mine became worse in my early 50s as did the hearing loss.I've tried betahistine, but it didn't work for me unfortunately.Have you had a cold recently, mines so much worse, with any type of cold or cough, it takes weeks for it to return to my normal. Hope it improves very soon.

I felt the same when tinnitus arrived sirchenjin, about 20 years later it’s just part of who I am. Recently it’s changed when I lie down from its usual high pitched squeal to more of a distant motor bike which is actually quite soothing. I’ve never found sleep apps or listening to anything helpful but I know many do. Sometimes it drowns out normal life but that’s rare and most of the time I can ignore it. I agree, high stress levels make it worse as does tiredness and strangely being excited about anything (rare these days ). Some doctors are very dismissive, others take it more seriously. Good luck with it, hope you can sleep.

Thanks everyone I’m going to try the sleep app for the first time tonight so fingers crossed. It sounds a bit like speeded up morse code or a radio that’s gone off the station it was tuned to and it wakes me up - it came on out of nowhere about 3 weeks ago so I know it’s early days but it feels like it’s taking over my life and it’s very intrusive at night. I’m very tired because I’m not sleeping properly and it’s getting me down. Hopefully I’ll get used to it and the app and relaxation techniques will help.