Thank you for writing about this! Mine is currently screaming and has been since about 2019 - I think estrogen levels affect it? I’ve also got a new musical sound in my left ear which sounds like a digital alarm clock, so that’s nice. That’ll teach me not to put my ear up to Kurt Cobain’s amp while he was smashing his guitar on stage 🙄
Mine is just a hiss that comes and goes in volume, it gets quite close to quiet sometimes, and so far I can get to sleep without much trouble. I put it down to singing in a noisy pub band back in the last century and generally getting too close to the PA in London nightclubs and at concerts (or something). No idea what to do but I'll keep checking in here in the hope you find a solution, other than putting up with it!
Have you investigated TMJ - tinnitus is one of the side effects of the jaw muscle being over tight. I had surgery recently (was told ages ago there was nothing you can do for tmj) and it has helped my symptoms massively. I didn’t have tinnitus but I know another person who went to the same surgeon for tmj and it really helped her tinnitus. Good luck!!!
Jo, I offer my sympathy to you. I can't relate to the tinnitus, but I did experience something so massively damaging to my spirit, that I needed to call a trusted elderly aunt for counsel and support. She instantly said in amazement, "The same thing happened to me!". We were both amazed that this uniquely damaging emotional experience could have happened to both of us. She offered genuine sympathy (which helped) and then stated strongly and affirmatively, "Well, I can tell you that you WILL get used to it.". Bingo - the magic words I and my soul needed to hear. And you know the rest.....I DID get used to it. Jo, pls take my aunt's words to heart and believe and know that you will get used to it. 🌸🩷
It’s caused by the ebv virus. You can buy a blood test kit online. It may show previous infection not current but it still lurks and at times of stress reactivates. I had a dangerously high thyroid long boring story but had ebv test at doctor it was over 100 such bad tinnitus couldn’t sleep - went on Brooke goldner protocol i found online after months of expensive professors and cured myself of the whole damn lot wish there had been a ‘me’ to tell me how to do it back then so I’m being that person now!! Do it xxxx
I've had it pretty badly since having Covid and BPV - which is another mental ear thing...basically normally tiny crystals float about in your ear cavern but sometimes they venture up a channel where they should not be. Then you get CRAZY dizzy - like being on a roundabout, your eyes rolling rolling rolling....but the way to get rid of it is to literally turn into the spin! So lie on a bed and roll in the direction of travel. It goes! Anyway, the tinnitus hasn't, but like others have said, it's definitely yet another thing that is affected by hormones and, I definitely know, stress - for me it's an overwhelming screaming when I get anxious, but just a lovely constant low level whine at other times :-)
Horrible benign positional vertigo I was told I have too for 40 years. It comes and goes but arrives if I’m stressed, have a cold. The tinnitus the same amount of time. Low level but always there - I also bought an inexpensive device recommended by an ENT London specialist to pop my ears safely- saw it on YouTube. Called Otovent and it safely clears your estachian tubes.. I just like the unblocked feeling it gives me.
Very interesting and informative, Jo. My tinnitus just started within the past 2 years. I’m 68 so I have been lucky not to endure it for very long. My inner noise sounds like a home’s smoke alarm 😂
I get it too - ringing ears after nights out in my youth and now I have a ringing noise all the time. I find the white noise from having a fan on in the bedroom helps distract me enough from it to get to sleep. My Mum has it too. Her GP said acupuncture helps some people. It didn't help her but I must get around to trying it myself.
Although I don’t have tinnitus I do also have ear canals which are ‘stupid tiny’ (the audiologist giving me a hearing test once said calmly ‘I’ll just get the children’s kit …’) and so were getting blocked regularly, but last time they were cleared I was given a repeat prescription for steroid ear drops which I use every week and yaaay that works to prevent recurrence. Maybe worth a try when all the gunk is gone.
I’ve had it for coming on 40 years. It’s horrid and I too miss listening to quiet. Please consider finding not just an ent, but a neurootolaryngolgist. It’s a rare specialty but they are far more equipped to work with, and possibly dramatically reduce, tinnitus.
My lord, was just discussing this with a friend who does brain based training (for 50yo+ athletes) and so little is known about it. Mine came while menopause was setting in. 6 years later, I have adapted, but today, because I've been talking/reading about it, it is bugging the shit out of me right now!
That’s a long time! Sorry you’ve been experiencing this for so long. I’ve been plagued with chronic tinnitus for about four years now, along with other vestibular issues. Not really sure why it started. In that time, I’ve had an initial potential diagnosis of Ménière’s. None of the meds seemed to work, so a second opinion was sought. Along came a new diagnosis of PPPD (the catchily-titled Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness). I’m thinking now that the tinnitus and the vestibular issues are coexisting conditions rather than the same. The tinnitus does seem to be getting worse this year, for some reason. At times, I can detect up to four different tones. Anyway, I find that violet noise or the Rain Rain app helps when the house is silent and I’m struggling to get to sleep (who knew there were so many types of rain?!).
Re the ear wax, have you tried ear candling? Relaxing, and gross, yet satisfying 😂
Hello from someone who is genetically disposed to the gunk issue. I see an ENT nurse every few months to have my ears vacuumed out and I also use drops to counteract the dermatitis in my ears (thanks, parents! :) ), to which the wax sticks and then forms the giant clumps that block my hearing. It's gross to think about but also it's so incredibly satisfying (and a relief!) to see it come out. My MIL also suffers from Tinnitus and probably the same timeline as you (though she is 80 now). Not sure how she got it (she didn't grow up with Walkmans or massive speakers and wasn't really a concert goer) but she manages. I am going to mention the ear cleaning to her though.
And I tossed all our cotton buds two years ago so I'm not tempted :)
Amazing and a fascinating topic - my mother (now in her late 80s) had to get her “ears done” on a regular basis all through my growing up - an ongoing massive build up of wax that luckily I haven’t inherited!!! I can’t imagine the tinnitus though …. Like all of life’s challenges I guess we have to work through them and adapt …. I lost my ability to smell after Covid and tho it’s kinda back … ish… I still miss how things used to taste …
I got my tinnitus twenty years ago from going to Pump classes. The teacher had the music turned up way too loud, and for about an hour or so after each class, my ears would ring. I complained to her about the music being too loud, but in response, she just turned it up louder. I continued going to class for a while as I really wanted to lose weight and build strength, but when I finally quit, I realised that the ringing noise was still there and hadn't resolved. I have heard that tuning forks might work, but I am quite skeptical and haven't yet succumbed to buying a set.
Thank you for writing about this! Mine is currently screaming and has been since about 2019 - I think estrogen levels affect it? I’ve also got a new musical sound in my left ear which sounds like a digital alarm clock, so that’s nice. That’ll teach me not to put my ear up to Kurt Cobain’s amp while he was smashing his guitar on stage 🙄
Oh but you have the best tinnitus origin story in the history of the world! ❤️
Hahaha it’s soooo 90s
Mine is just a hiss that comes and goes in volume, it gets quite close to quiet sometimes, and so far I can get to sleep without much trouble. I put it down to singing in a noisy pub band back in the last century and generally getting too close to the PA in London nightclubs and at concerts (or something). No idea what to do but I'll keep checking in here in the hope you find a solution, other than putting up with it!
I will keep us all posted!
Have you investigated TMJ - tinnitus is one of the side effects of the jaw muscle being over tight. I had surgery recently (was told ages ago there was nothing you can do for tmj) and it has helped my symptoms massively. I didn’t have tinnitus but I know another person who went to the same surgeon for tmj and it really helped her tinnitus. Good luck!!!
I’ve had treatment for that before yes, I don’t think that’s an issue for me at the moment but worth a thought yes ❤️
This is the guy I saw - mad but very good - https://drluisgavin.com/say-goodbye-to-tinnitus-effective-relief-through-tmj-therapy/
Jo, I offer my sympathy to you. I can't relate to the tinnitus, but I did experience something so massively damaging to my spirit, that I needed to call a trusted elderly aunt for counsel and support. She instantly said in amazement, "The same thing happened to me!". We were both amazed that this uniquely damaging emotional experience could have happened to both of us. She offered genuine sympathy (which helped) and then stated strongly and affirmatively, "Well, I can tell you that you WILL get used to it.". Bingo - the magic words I and my soul needed to hear. And you know the rest.....I DID get used to it. Jo, pls take my aunt's words to heart and believe and know that you will get used to it. 🌸🩷
I have this problem too. I've tried all the supplements and botox on the jaw and a relaxant and nothing helps.
I just try to ignore it.
It’s caused by the ebv virus. You can buy a blood test kit online. It may show previous infection not current but it still lurks and at times of stress reactivates. I had a dangerously high thyroid long boring story but had ebv test at doctor it was over 100 such bad tinnitus couldn’t sleep - went on Brooke goldner protocol i found online after months of expensive professors and cured myself of the whole damn lot wish there had been a ‘me’ to tell me how to do it back then so I’m being that person now!! Do it xxxx
Admittedly mine wasn’t as severe as yours, but I had TCM acupuncture… and it cleared it up.
Worth trying, for the meditative effects alone!
I've had it pretty badly since having Covid and BPV - which is another mental ear thing...basically normally tiny crystals float about in your ear cavern but sometimes they venture up a channel where they should not be. Then you get CRAZY dizzy - like being on a roundabout, your eyes rolling rolling rolling....but the way to get rid of it is to literally turn into the spin! So lie on a bed and roll in the direction of travel. It goes! Anyway, the tinnitus hasn't, but like others have said, it's definitely yet another thing that is affected by hormones and, I definitely know, stress - for me it's an overwhelming screaming when I get anxious, but just a lovely constant low level whine at other times :-)
Horrible benign positional vertigo I was told I have too for 40 years. It comes and goes but arrives if I’m stressed, have a cold. The tinnitus the same amount of time. Low level but always there - I also bought an inexpensive device recommended by an ENT London specialist to pop my ears safely- saw it on YouTube. Called Otovent and it safely clears your estachian tubes.. I just like the unblocked feeling it gives me.
Very interesting and informative, Jo. My tinnitus just started within the past 2 years. I’m 68 so I have been lucky not to endure it for very long. My inner noise sounds like a home’s smoke alarm 😂
I get it too - ringing ears after nights out in my youth and now I have a ringing noise all the time. I find the white noise from having a fan on in the bedroom helps distract me enough from it to get to sleep. My Mum has it too. Her GP said acupuncture helps some people. It didn't help her but I must get around to trying it myself.
Although I don’t have tinnitus I do also have ear canals which are ‘stupid tiny’ (the audiologist giving me a hearing test once said calmly ‘I’ll just get the children’s kit …’) and so were getting blocked regularly, but last time they were cleared I was given a repeat prescription for steroid ear drops which I use every week and yaaay that works to prevent recurrence. Maybe worth a try when all the gunk is gone.
Ooh great tip!
I’ve had it for coming on 40 years. It’s horrid and I too miss listening to quiet. Please consider finding not just an ent, but a neurootolaryngolgist. It’s a rare specialty but they are far more equipped to work with, and possibly dramatically reduce, tinnitus.
Thank you will do! I mean it’s not the worst thing in the world, but geez… right?! ❤️
My lord, was just discussing this with a friend who does brain based training (for 50yo+ athletes) and so little is known about it. Mine came while menopause was setting in. 6 years later, I have adapted, but today, because I've been talking/reading about it, it is bugging the shit out of me right now!
Point is-I feel your pain!!!!!
That’s a long time! Sorry you’ve been experiencing this for so long. I’ve been plagued with chronic tinnitus for about four years now, along with other vestibular issues. Not really sure why it started. In that time, I’ve had an initial potential diagnosis of Ménière’s. None of the meds seemed to work, so a second opinion was sought. Along came a new diagnosis of PPPD (the catchily-titled Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness). I’m thinking now that the tinnitus and the vestibular issues are coexisting conditions rather than the same. The tinnitus does seem to be getting worse this year, for some reason. At times, I can detect up to four different tones. Anyway, I find that violet noise or the Rain Rain app helps when the house is silent and I’m struggling to get to sleep (who knew there were so many types of rain?!).
Re the ear wax, have you tried ear candling? Relaxing, and gross, yet satisfying 😂
Hello from someone who is genetically disposed to the gunk issue. I see an ENT nurse every few months to have my ears vacuumed out and I also use drops to counteract the dermatitis in my ears (thanks, parents! :) ), to which the wax sticks and then forms the giant clumps that block my hearing. It's gross to think about but also it's so incredibly satisfying (and a relief!) to see it come out. My MIL also suffers from Tinnitus and probably the same timeline as you (though she is 80 now). Not sure how she got it (she didn't grow up with Walkmans or massive speakers and wasn't really a concert goer) but she manages. I am going to mention the ear cleaning to her though.
And I tossed all our cotton buds two years ago so I'm not tempted :)
Amazing and a fascinating topic - my mother (now in her late 80s) had to get her “ears done” on a regular basis all through my growing up - an ongoing massive build up of wax that luckily I haven’t inherited!!! I can’t imagine the tinnitus though …. Like all of life’s challenges I guess we have to work through them and adapt …. I lost my ability to smell after Covid and tho it’s kinda back … ish… I still miss how things used to taste …
I got my tinnitus twenty years ago from going to Pump classes. The teacher had the music turned up way too loud, and for about an hour or so after each class, my ears would ring. I complained to her about the music being too loud, but in response, she just turned it up louder. I continued going to class for a while as I really wanted to lose weight and build strength, but when I finally quit, I realised that the ringing noise was still there and hadn't resolved. I have heard that tuning forks might work, but I am quite skeptical and haven't yet succumbed to buying a set.