Ask HN: Any tinnitus success stories?

[discardity]

I've had tinnitus for 3 weeks and it's starting to drive me mad. Reading online is one of the worst things I can do, what with all the talk of suicidal ideation, which is starting to be suggestive to me. I've seen a couple of ENTs - one has prescribed cortisone, the other has said that's nonsense. She also said the only way to deal with it is to distract myself, and that sleeping pills will not help my brain learn to do that. The problem is that I've had 7 hours sleep in the last 2 days and I'm at the end of my tether. So I'm looking for any encouragement here to keep me going. I'm aware there's no cure, but simply stories that suggest it becomes more tolerable could be helpful. Thanks.

[dinofizzotti]

I’ve had tinnitus for about 9 months now after getting a viral infection. My advice is stop reading too much about it on the internet, there are too many severe and scary stories. Yours may go away, or it may not. If it sticks, I guarantee you will find it easier to live with over time.

The first 3 months of my experience was terrible. It was constantly on my mind. I was convinced I could not live with this damn ringing in my head. However, just as others have said, you get used to it, and I don’t really think too much about it anymore. It’s definitely there, and it’s loud at some times and other times days go by before I think about it. For me being tired and lack of sleep definitely makes it worse.

I’m definitely more concerned about my hearing now, and take my Etymotic ear plugs wherever I go. I’ve also stopped listening to music with headphones. I’m ok with background office noise so my work is unaffected.

Hang in there. It seems horrible and life changing right now, but I bet if you wait it out a few more weeks/months you will be fine :)

[discardity]

Thank you. Yes reading about it is so incredibly tempting and 99% of the time a terrible idea, not only because so many of the stories are the worst-case scenarios, but also because as you say it's better not to think of it. For me now sleep is the main problem...

But every word of encouragement that it is possible to adapt to it is super helpful. Thank you.

[kwaldman]

I have had it for ten years. Eventually you don't hear it until you think about it. Mine is very loud at the moment. Just another sign of aging. Nature's own memento mori.

[discardity]

Yes I notice if I'm distracted it seems to go away. But unfortunately this only happens if I happen to be outside, surrounded by traffic. As soon as I'm indoors (esp. at home, in the evenings) it comes back & it's hard to think about anything else.

[architect]

Make sure your ears get rest!

If you are lucky this problem can be fixed, but unfortunately most of the "advise" you'll get is the opposite of what you should be doing. For example some "doctors" recommend to have some white noise, background music or other distractions playing while you are trying to fall asleep. Absolutely do NOT do this!

The following observation can be made when it comes to hearing damage/loss: - Constant low-level noise is much more damaging than short exposure to loud noises. Driving by a construction site is less bad than falling asleep with headphones playing. - Ears need recovery like every other body part, depriving them of recovery can lead to long term hearing problems. - As long as there is still some sensation the damage is not yet complete, as long as you still hear something there is a hope for recovery.

Order of damaging, most > least: Loud over long period > quiet over long period > loud in short burst > short, quiet noise

concert/construction > aircon/fan in bedroom > airplane flyby > phone ringing/insect flyby

If there is only one suggestion I can make, it would be to make sure the room you sleep in is absolutely dead silent!! Even if the ringing drives you crazy at night, make sure you can hear it! Do not cover it up!!!

Also try to avoid any kind of constant exposure to noise in your daily life - fans, cars, aircon etc. should all be avoided/switched off until your hearing has recovered sufficiently so that you don't notice the ringing any more. This can take months, your ears don't recover nearly as fast as an injury to your skin for example. Consider wearing earplugs even in you everyday life, when you are out in the street, at work, etc. It might look stupid but who cares? It's about your ears/sanity!!! Do whatever you can to protect them!! As a second option try taking vitaming B12 in high dosage together with vinpocetine (google: vinpocetine tinnitus). Attn: this will only work if you follow the advise above, make sure you live in a quite place, vinpocetine could make things even worse because your ears will be MORE sensitive!

And as always: Disclaimer: This is just a suggestion from personal experience, not medical advise, always consult a health professional if a medical condition persists!

[discardity]

Thank you. According to the doctors I've been to I don't actually have any hearing loss or damage, so I'm not sure if we have the same problems.

BUT I have spent most of the time trying to mask the sound - mostly by being outside among traffic most of the day, though it always comes back in the evenings / mornings. Then last night I decided to try to stop avoiding it, since without actually confronting it I'm not sure how my brain can get used to it. It was maddening, it does drive me crazy still, but somehow it's less exhausting than the constant fight against it. So I think your advice could still be valid in my case. We'll see. Thanks again for your response.

[meri_dian]

I don't have tinnitus but I do know that not getting enough sleep can make you feel emotionally distraught and incredibly negative about everything.

So I'd say focus on getting a good sleep before anything else.

[humbleMouse]

Honestly just stay away from loud noises as much as you can. It makes it much worse. In my experience the tinnitus lessens the more you stay away from loud noises.

I have just embraced it. I like listening to music and that won't change anytime soon.

[LinuxBender]

Mine increases to the point of "hard to ignore" if I take L-Glutamine, or have foods with MSG. Eventually it goes back to a state where I can ignore it.

[justherefortart]

Try ear plugs but the tapping on the back of the head trick works temporarily (shorter based on how bad your tinnitus is).

Take your hands and put them facing backward on the back of your head covering your ears completely, tap your fingers on the back of your skull (while keeping your ears covered) like you're playing drums.

Do this for I dunno, 30 seconds or so. It temporarily takes away the issue.

I use white noise (or brown noise) to help with it. I sleep with a fan, but have since I was a kid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuJ9L5aBvio

I prefer the above (brown). Helps me ignore outside noises and covers (at low volume) my tinnitus.