Non-stop Tinnitus!

marti8

Hi, for about the last 6 to 8 months I've had tinnitus, at the very begining it was there only sometimes and would then be fine again but now it's there ALL the time, non-stop,24/7. It drives me ****** crazy. If you had it you'd know exactly what I mean. My GP has put me on something called Amitriptyline to try and deal with tinnitus, it's an anti-depressant that has "off label" uses for tinnitus - doesn't do much though. Anyway, I am seeing an ENT specialist in a few days time in relation to a different issue, Upper Airway Cough Syndrome, aka, Post Nasal Drip (yeah, sounds lovely) But ENT specilaists can also deal with tinnitus - can I just mention the tinnitus to him or would I be better going to my doctor in advance getting a letter for the specialist outlining that I have tinnitus? Will he even check the tinnitus out without such a doctors letter I wonder?

There's other issues too but right now I'm just seeing an ENT specialist. Maybe I also need to see an audiologist? I was on disability allowance for years but recently they stopped it so I'm appealing that. My doc says I should be on DA, a psychologist I saw said I should be on DA, even the CWO who I get interim SWA payments from (while I'm appealing) says I should be on DA! Will see what happens with that, hopefully reinstated. Wasn't on DA for tinnitus or UACS, was on it initially for depression. According to my doctor I have a personality disorder, *****ng hell, great. Also told I may have ADHD, waiting to see a clinical psychologist about that.

Anyway, do I need to get a letter from my own GP for the ENT specialist so he'll check out my tinnitus or will he do so without such a letter? Tinnitus is cracking me up. Read that some folks who had non-stop tinnitus like that have even ended up topping themselves, not good. Thanks.

Mars Bar

I suffer from non stop Tinnitus too and it's enough to drive any one around the bend. I haven't really done anything about it so I hope you keep us up to date how you get on.

Good luck with it!

marti8

mars bar wrote: »

I suffer from non stop Tinnitus too and it's enough to drive any one around the bend. I haven't really done anything about it so I hope you keep us up to date how you get on.

Good luck with it!

Thanks. I was half way around the bend without it already...this is pushing me even further around that bend :mad: Trying to stay positive and deal with it though. And then the stupid ****** go and stop my DA!

Mars Bar

Well I've read quite a bit into it and stress can make it worse.

I read that xanax helped it a little and I was on that for anxiety after an accident. I was hoping it would help the tinnitus during my sleepless nights. Now I'm on anti-d's that have made it worse unfortunately. I'll try and deal with the tinnitus later.

I got it at a young age as I have other hearing problems but tinnitus has jumped to the top of the list.

I'm gonna ask about the amitriptyline you have mentioned there.

condra

For goodness sakes absolutely do mention it. Any ENT worth their salt will investigate the tinnitus. There is a fair chance it is related to your other ENT problems.

Do you have any problems with eyesight, fatigue, allergies, infections, inflammation?

marti8

condra wrote: »

For goodness sakes absolutely do mention it. Any ENT worth their salt will investigate the tinnitus. There is a fair chance it is related to your other ENT problems.

Do you have any problems with eyesight, fatigue, allergies, infections, inflammation?

Yeah, I will mention it all right, just didn't know whether I needed a letter from my GP - guess I don't. I do suffer from fatigue, have done so for years though, most likely linked to depression or whatever, lots of blood tests have been done but my GP can't find anything medically, physically, wrong to explain the fatigue. I'm on stuff already called "Flixonase" for suspected PND/UACS, last time I saw the ENT specialist (months ago) he said he doesn't think it is PND and in fact may be linked to a gastric condition! I sometimes get sick very easily (vomit) and sometimes get heartburn, has been like that for years. Was supposed to get a scope test done before when I was sent to a gastro specialist a few years ago (camera into your tum) but chickened out of it. Not as bad these days as before however, mush improved actully when it comes to getting sick and heartburn. It seems by in large to have worked itself out.

Allergies? Blood work came back fine for that as far as I know but I'll very often when out be sniffling away etc - sometimes I take tablets I bought on the net called "Cetirizine Hydrochloride" and they help reduce that. Thanks.

marti8

mars bar wrote: »

Well I've read quite a bit into it and stress can make it worse.

I read that xanax helped it a little and I was on that for anxiety after an accident. I was hoping it would help the tinnitus during my sleepless nights. Now I'm on anti-d's that have made it worse unfortunately. I'll try and deal with the tinnitus later.

I got it at a young age as I have other hearing problems but tinnitus has jumped to the top of the list.

I'm gonna ask about the amitriptyline you have mentioned there.

Yeah I think stress can do that all right. I never heard of "xanax" though. I've heard "white noise" etc can help. There's also some electro magnetic thingie, must ask about that. I've never ever had any hearing problems, slightly worried that tinnitus could lead eventually to deafness or partial deafness or whatever. So many bloody things happening at once, oh well, just have to deal with it.

Mars Bar

marti8 wrote: »

Yeah I think stress can do that all right. I never heard of "xanax" though. I've heard "white noise" etc can help. There's also some electro magnetic thingie, must ask about that. I've never ever had any hearing problems, slightly worried that tinnitus could lead eventually to deafness or partial deafness or whatever. So many bloody things happening at once, oh well, just have to deal with it.

Xanax is a benzodiazapene mainly used to treat anxiety, it can be addictive though.

I can't sleep without white noise it's that bad for me. I get really uncomfortable during silence coz the ringing is so strong.

marti8

mars bar wrote: »

Xanax is a benzodiazapene mainly used to treat anxiety, it can be addictive though.

I can't sleep without white noise it's that bad for me. I get really uncomfortable during silence coz the ringing is so strong.

I guess I can get anxious and stuff too - maybe I get more depressed than anxious, I'm not sure really. Not on any medication for depression or anything. I want to avoid meds if I can and try and sort things out without them. Will see what happens, there are good days and there are not so good days.

Yeah when there's silence it can be even worse, I don't use white noise not too sure what it is - wave sounds and stuff I think. It's very noticeable when trying to sleep for me too but I can get to sleep alright, guess I try to ignore it. It usually isn't there for the first say 10 or 15 minutes when I wake up and then it starts again

Mars Bar

What I do is turn on the radio on my alarm and find the noise between the radio frequencies, you know that tuning in sound?! I sleep with that when I'm at home and when I'm in my college accommodation, I have an application on my phone that makes thunder and rain sounds and basically, it sounds like you're living in a city. It's got car horns in the background and all! I use that. I'd be lost without it.

If I ever won the euromillions, I'd put millions of euro into researching and finding a cure for tinnitus. It's a bitch to live with.

Katy89

hey marti8,

sorry to hear about your trouble.
just to let you know, amitryptyline IS an antidepressant, surprised your doctor didn't tell you that. but I know it is used for many different indications as for example long term pain without any exact reason.
I take it for many years now and it definately helps me to relax in the evening to sleep and it lasts during the day as well. keeps anxiety at a tolerate level.

be careful with xanax, it's a benzodiazepine and the body gets addictive after a short period of taking it (could be after only 14 days.) so it's nothing for long term, only for acute crisis/ for responsible people who can deal with this sort of medication.

Katy89

sorry, just saw/read in your first post that you knew about amitryptyline is an antidepressant..

Gosh

mars bar wrote: »

What I do is turn on the radio on my alarm and find the noise between the radio frequencies, you know that tuning in sound?! I sleep with that when I'm at home and when I'm in my college accommodation, I have an application on my phone that makes thunder and rain sounds and basically, it sounds like you're living in a city. It's got car horns in the background and all! I use that. I'd be lost without it.

If I ever won the euromillions, I'd put millions of euro into researching and finding a cure for tinnitus. It's a bitch to live with.

It is being actively researched here in Ireland, see www.mutebutton.ie for further information.

marti8

Katy89 wrote: »

hey marti8,

sorry to hear about your trouble.
just to let you know, amitryptyline IS an antidepressant, surprised your doctor didn't tell you that. but I know it is used for many different indications as for example long term pain without any exact reason.
I take it for many years now and it definately helps me to relax in the evening to sleep and it lasts during the day as well. keeps anxiety at a tolerate level.

be careful with xanax, it's a benzodiazepine and the body gets addictive after a short period of taking it (could be after only 14 days.) so it's nothing for long term, only for acute crisis/ for responsible people who can deal with this sort of medication.

Thanks, yeah it is an anti-d but with so-called "off label" uses, really don't know if it does anything to help however. I don't think so. Oh well. Was at an ENT specialist the other day and mentioned the tinnitus to him, I was then seen by an audiologist who did some tests etc and he told me I have below normal hearing or something or slight deafness or something like that, can't really recall (I've a really bad short term memory)

They sent me for an MRI to see what is going on in my inner ear (all this in the same day which as a public med card patient which I thought was pretty good) Audiologist also mentioned the fact that I have two colours in one eye and said this is often related to deafness and hearing problems, very odd...news to me! Anyway, have to head back to the ENT guy in about 2 weeks time and see what's what from there. They also put me on some other tablets but that's for a gastric condition.

I found out the hard way not to drink while taking Amitriptyline, feck, seriously messes with you. Not sure whether I'll continue taking Amitriptyline, will see. The audiologist said they don't recommend medication for tinnitus. But then the GP said she does.........two professionals, two different opinions. Will probably stick with it, for now.

Mars Bar

Gosh wrote: »

It is being actively researched here in Ireland, see www.mutebutton.ie for further information.

The language on that site is a bit heavy. I'll have to listen to the video tomorrow.

I have read some of the articles that interview the Dr. over it as it's an easier read. One sentence that stood out to me was, "One treatment approach is to push more information in through the ear using hearing aids, but it hasn’t been hugely successful, according to O’Neill." I've tried the hearing aid and I certainly didn't find it helpful.

I'd be willing to be a trialist in the hope it would work!

marti8

mars bar wrote: »

What I do is turn on the radio on my alarm and find the noise between the radio frequencies, you know that tuning in sound?! I sleep with that when I'm at home and when I'm in my college accommodation, I have an application on my phone that makes thunder and rain sounds and basically, it sounds like you're living in a city. It's got car horns in the background and all! I use that. I'd be lost without it.

If I ever won the euromillions, I'd put millions of euro into researching and finding a cure for tinnitus. It's a bitch to live with.

We keep checking our Prize Bonds every Friday but never win, lol. Yeah, I might look into getting a sound box or having a radio on or something like that but usually I can sleep, I just, well, ignore it the best I can, try to put it to the back of my mind but it is a fecker. Can never just close my eyes and sleep however. Sometimes can be really kinda loud and almost rotating or something. Sometimes it seems that if I turn my head in say a different direction the noise will decrease for a while, strange I know.

Mars Bar

marti8 wrote: »

We keep checking our Prize Bonds every Friday but never win, lol. Yeah, I might look into getting a sound box or having a radio on or something like that but usually I can sleep, I just, well, ignore it the best I can, try to put it to the back of my mind but it is a fecker. Can never just close my eyes and sleep however. Sometimes can be really kinda loud and almost rotating or something. Sometimes it seems that if I turn my head in say a different direction the noise will decrease for a while, strange I know.

No not strange at all, I do the same. Actually, when I went for hearing tests about 8 years ago, the doctors asked if I tilted my head? I was 13 so obviously my first reaction was "What the fudge are you on about?!". My Mam said that I did in fact tend to tilt my head to the left when watching TV as it was my right ear that was hard of hearing! I had never noticed it before but I have been conscious of it since then.

Do you ever have those moments when the ringing increases like mad and your hearing drops out for a few seconds and then it gradually goes back to normal? I find that really uncomfortable.

marti8

mars bar wrote: »

No not strange at all, I do the same. Actually, when I went for hearing tests about 8 years ago, the doctors asked if I tilted my head? I was 13 so obviously my first reaction was "What the fudge are you on about?!". My Mam said that I did in fact tend to tilt my head to the left when watching TV as it was my right ear that was hard of hearing! I had never noticed it before but I have been conscious of it since then.

Do you ever have those moments when the ringing increases like mad and your hearing drops out for a few seconds and then it gradually goes back to normal? I find that really uncomfortable.

I've never noticed I've had a hearing issue or below par hearing or whatever - always thought it was fine. According to the audiologist that's not the case though, especially in my left ear. Wonder if he could have made a mistake, possible I guess but unlikely. I don't tilt my head but if I do I do simply turn it from left to right or vice versa I can notice a change, it doesn't go away but maybe kinda reduces for a moment or changes "frequency" or whatever but not all the time, only sometimes. Tinnitus seems to be complicated. My actual hearing never drops out though. Asked the audiologist if my hearing could degrade or whatever and he said unlikely. Time will tell I guess. I never realised there was a connection between tinnitus and hearing loss/deafness, I mean I never knew impaired hearing could cause tinnitus - according to the audiologist the below normal hearing caused the tinnitus I have. Thing is I hear fine?!

Mars Bar

marti8 wrote: »

I've never noticed I've had a hearing issue or below par hearing or whatever - always thought it was fine. According to the audiologist that's not the case though, especially in my left ear. Wonder if he could have made a mistake, possible I guess but unlikely. I don't tilt my head but if I do I do simply turn it from left to right or vice versa I can notice a change, it doesn't go away but maybe kinda reduces for a moment or changes "frequency" or whatever but not all the time, only sometimes. Tinnitus seems to be complicated. My actual hearing never drops out though. Asked the audiologist if my hearing could degrade or whatever and he said unlikely. Time will tell I guess. I never realised there was a connection between tinnitus and hearing loss/deafness, I mean I never knew impaired hearing could cause tinnitus - according to the audiologist the below normal hearing caused the tinnitus I have. Thing is I hear fine?!

Maybe you think you hear fine because you are accustomed to it? I mean, at the age of 13 I had lost 30% hearing in my right ear. That's quite a considerable amount for a young lass! No one had noticed though, including myself. The only way it was noticed was that the primary school I was in did eye and hearing tests before I moved to secondary school and that's when it was spotted. I got the hearing aid that summer and wore it on and off for about a week and said it was useless, I was used to my ears and it will stay that way.

As time went on, I started going to concerts without ear protection and playing drums and that's when the tinnitus became really pronounced. Pure stupidity on my behalf.

I can't see the connection between below par hearing causing tinnitus though.

marti8

mars bar wrote: »

Maybe you think you hear fine because you are accustomed to it? I mean, at the age of 13 I had lost 30% hearing in my right ear. That's quite a considerable amount for a young lass! No one had noticed though, including myself. The only way it was noticed was that the primary school I was in did eye and hearing tests before I moved to secondary school and that's when it was spotted. I got the hearing aid that summer and wore it on and off for about a week and said it was useless, I was used to my ears and it will stay that way.

As time went on, I started going to concerts without ear protection and playing drums and that's when the tinnitus became really pronounced. Pure stupidity on my behalf.

I can't see the connection between below par hearing causing tinnitus though.

According to the audiologist there is a connection between hearing loss and tinnitus, in that tinnitus can be the result of some hearing loss. I never knew that and can't exactly see the connection but that's what he said.

I guess maybe I'm used to below par hearing, stil find it hard to believe I have slight deafness or below par hearing or impaired hearing or whatever the hell he said it was. The tests he did on me included introducing a vacum or pressure into my ears drums or something. And also gave me a thingie to click and put headphones on me, click when ya hear the beep......beep, lol. Then put ssome cooper or stell thingie, kinda like headphones but not, on the side of my head and the other on my lower jaw line or somewhere and again with the beepie thingie. Then he calculated the whatever and then showed me his little "chart" and explained thhat I had a hearing issue, in both ears but especially the left. Oh well. He also was interested in the fact that I have two colours in one eye, so-called Heterochromia

He said this was sometimes indicative of hearing loss, another thing I never knew, lol. In my case it was hereditary as my granny had the same thing and I think my sister may have the same thing but not as pronounced. I don't think this affected my hearing in my case but maybe it did, confusing, lol.

Mars Bar

marti8 wrote: »

According to the audiologist there is a connection between hearing loss and tinnitus, in that tinnitus can be the result of some hearing loss. I never knew that and can't exactly see the connection but that's what he said.

I guess maybe I'm used to below par hearing, stil find it hard to believe I have slight deafness or below par hearing or impaired hearing or whatever the hell he said it was. The tests he did on me included introducing a vacum or pressure into my ears drums or something. And also gave me a thingie to click and put headphones on me, click when ya hear the beep......beep, lol. Then put ssome cooper or stell thingie, kinda like headphones but not, on the side of my head and the other on my lower jaw line or somewhere and again with the beepie thingie. Then he calculated the whatever and then showed me his little "chart" and explained thhat I had a hearing issue, in both ears but especially the left. Oh well. He also was interested in the fact that I have two colours in one eye, so-called Heterochromia

He said this was sometimes indicative of hearing loss, another thing I never knew, lol. In my case it was hereditary as my granny had the same thing and I think my sister may have the same thing but not as pronounced. I don't think this affected my hearing in my case but maybe it did, confusing, lol.

I hate those tests, the moment you put on the headphones and all ya hear is the ringing. It's so unsettling isn't it?! Sometimes it can be caused by jaw misalignment or something like that...

marti8

mars bar wrote: »

I hate those tests, the moment you put on the headphones and all ya hear is the ringing. It's so unsettling isn't it?! Sometimes it can be caused by jaw misalignment or something like that...

Funny you should say that, jaw misalignment that is because according to a dentist I saw last October I have something called TMJD To look at me you wouldn't think so, not at all, but he said my jaws aaren't properly alligned or something like that. Then another dentist I saw said he doesn't think I have that.....I'm seeing a specialist about it in about 2 weeks time anyway. I'm falling to pieces, lol.

Just reread some of that wiki article, seems TMJD can cause tinnitus and it can also cause hearing loss.

Mars Bar

marti8 wrote: »

Funny you should say that, jaw misalignment that is because according to a dentist I saw last October I have something called TMJD To look at me you wouldn't think so, not at all, but he said my jaws aaren't properly alligned or something like that. Then another dentist I saw said he doesn't think I have that.....I'm seeing a specialist about it in about 2 weeks time anyway. I'm falling to pieces, lol.

Just reread some of that wiki article, seems TMJD can cause tinnitus and it can also cause hearing loss.

I was thinking there was a connection. I have done a quite a bit reading around it and we have touched on it in college as your ears are your primary tool in sound engineering so we've been thought to look after them.