I got tinnitus it seems outta nowhere

[buddhasummer]

I started getting tinnitus sporadically a few weeks ago, I recently started smoking again (I know) and have as of 4 weeks ago kicked a 2 year Benzo habit I didn't even know I had.

I went to an ENT last week and she said nothing wrong with my ears, did a hearing test and my hearing was within "normal" range.

Woke up Friday morning with it very loud, it's been like that now for 3 days. Super depressed about it, it's all I can hear or think about, haven't slept for 2 days. Tripping balls.

Did a ton of reading, could be withdrawal from the benzos, could be smoking, could have nothing to do with either.

Of course I'm hoping it goes but will assume it won't and will try to habituate to it. White noise does not mask it thus far but then I'm actively listening for it.

I'm bummed but trying not to catastrophise about it, acceptance may be my only "way out".

Poo.

 

[buddhasummer]

As at right this moment it's crazy making, I'm anxious at the best of times, this is not helping. Hitting myself in the head from despair last night did not help.

I'll try to make friends with it.

 

[buddhasummer]

PS if anyone knows any good articles on habituation to this I'd be most grateful.

Thank you.

 

[ofg-1]

I have had tinnitus for over 40 years. I think it goes back to my commercial diving days using Swindell hats and DESCO pots that did not have a clearing device built in. You do get used to it, in fact, I did not notice it until I read this thread.

I do have some high frequency hearing loss, but I understand that a lot of old guys do. I still dive with it, and the only thing I have noticed is that after a dive when your sinuses clear out, I can hear it. I also notice that when my blood pressure is higher, the frequency changes, although my doctor tells me that shouldn't happen.

Just look at it this way, when you have been married for 40 years, you will get really good at tuning out annoying noises.

 

[buddhasummer]

I have had tinnitus for over 40 years. I think it goes back to my commercial diving days using Swindell hats and DESCO pots that did not have a clearing device built in. You do get used to it, in fact, I did not notice it until I read this thread.

I do have some high frequency hearing loss, but I understand that a lot of old guys do. I still dive with it, and the only thing I have noticed is that after a dive when your sinuses clear out, I can hear it. I also notice that when my blood pressure is higher, the frequency changes, although my doctor tells me that shouldn't happen.

Just look at it this way, when you have been married for 40 years, you will get really good at tuning out annoying noises.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. "Getting used to it" is comforting.

 

[DanBMW]

I have had tinnitus in my left ear since the mid 80's and it originated in a simular way that yours did. I came up from an uneventful dive of about 70-80 feet with a feeling of cotton in my left ear. A week later the stuffy ness was still there and I saw a local ENT specialist who said that I probably suffered an inner ear barotrauma. I have had tinnitus ever since the stuffy cotton feeling went away.

I started wearing hearing aids about 5 years ago and when I wear them religiously, the tinnitus seems to be less of a problem. It never disappears and only gets worse or better when I am in a noisy environment or dive, which I do several times a week.

On a side note, my local ENT doctor said at my last visit that he noticed what looks like scar tissue on my inner ear. No one, up to now has either seen the scar tissue or just never commented on it.

 

[CT-Rich]

I have had it for a few years. I have bee on hearing aids for about 8 years. I have found listening to documentaries helps Me get to sleep. The tinnitus comes from nerves that are no longer getting a signal, so the “create” a signal, like a phantom limb. I don’t notice it when I am actively listening and it bothers me when I let it. My hearing has gotten bad enough that regular human speech is garbled without the hearing aids. I can listen to Tv and radio without the hearing aids, but I need to be alone (no one else wants it that loud). I try not to let it bother me because it isn’t going away. playing ocean sounds or music when you try to sleep will give your brain something to listen to.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Hi buddhasummer. I feel your pain. Very surprised that white noise hasn't helped you. The white noise machine was very helpful to me at first but it had to be set to just plain white noise, none of the fancy raindrops, jungle or ocean sounds helped. Another thing that is ppurely psychological but helps me nonetheless is wearing earplugs at bedtime. Of course, it doesn't stop tthe ringing because it's not coming from outside of your ears/head. You do have to make peace with it. It's a part of you. Examine with interest instead of annoyance. SOmetimes I can make out musical notes in one ear more than the other, an interesting competition. Hopefully this is a temporary situation for you. You are going off a med, whilst mine often worsens when I'm taking a medication. Tylenol, of all things sseems significant magnifier though my doctor says no, it wouldn't be that. Oh well, they're ringing off the charts today but I'm not feeling well today. Eventually l, I will put in my earplugs and let the ringing lullaby help put me to sleep.

 

[buddhasummer]

Last night was so bad, in both ears, was just one. Felt insanity creaking in and very dark depression. Guess I've more work to do. I'll go back to ENT as it's exponentially worse than it was my first visit. Poo.

 

[Murphy in NC]

Many causes of Tinnitus,
I wear a bite guard at night and this helps.
Also the more stressed I am the worse it is. If there is any relationship to grinding then, massage, teeth guard and stress reduction can help.

I am selling my guns as loud noises can be a problem as well.