Tinnitus

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.

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 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!

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 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!

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

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.

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 started it about 8 years ago, no reason found and was told my ears looked fine.

I have suffered with tinnitus for quite a few years now. Recently it has become noticeably worse. A friend told me that her GP suggested ways of blocking out the sounds, and I have found that with time I have actually “trained” myself to do this with some success. I have music playing in the background at home which helps tremendously. I have definitely learned to live with it.

As a tinnitus sufferer I have found that hearing aids are a great help. As you get older your hearing deteriorates and the tinnitus becomes more noticeable. When I wear the aids the constant hiss that I hear becomes less noticeable as it is drowned out by all the other sounds around me. You don’t need to buy expensive ones, the NHS aids are almost identical, just as good and are invisible under my hair.

Thanks so much everyone - I really appreciate your taking the time to post and for sharing your stories - it’s obviously a hugely frustrating condition but it’s good to know that there are things that can help. I’m going to make an appointment to see another GP to see about an audiology referral and I’ll look into the ear plugs. I tried the tinnitus app last night and listened to waves and rain which really helped so I’ll keep going with that. Hopefully I’ll get used to it in time, it’s just not very nice and the moment and it’s quite hard being in full time work and having a 12 year old when you haven’t slept properly for 3 weeks.

Thank you for saying it sounds like the radio was on!!!! I, and my husband, thought I was crazy haha! It comes and goes but I kept walking through the house looking for the music ?

My GP told me to mistune the radio so you get that "white noise" as it will be just enough to disguise the tinnitus. My friends was so bad it was making her depressed so they referred her to our local hospital who fitted her with a "white noise" hearing aid. She only wore it for a year as it retrained her brain into ignoring the tinnitus. I always find mine is worse if I am over tired, stressed or have an infection so I have a great deal of sympathy for anyone suffering from it.x

For the last 10 years I’ve had a form of tinnitus (I think) which means I can hear the blood whooshing in my ears in time with my heartbeat. It’s very loud some nights and drives me nuts.

Mine sounds a bit like the radio has been mistuned - so I get that white noise!! The wave sounds I listened to were great as it gave me a nice pattern of sounds to listen to. I’m in the conservatory at the moment listening to the rain battering down and that’s a welcome relief from it too.

I have tinnitus its a swishing noise like the wind it comes now and again also a loud drum beat. It never bothers me at night. I deal with it by having the telly on or the radio which blocks it out.

I have a friend with tinnitus who was prescribed Prozac for it! It didn’t help...

I developed tinnitus in my left ear. Went to GP who said Welll there's nothing that can be done with tinnitus in both ears. I told her it was in one ear and I had been advised I should have a ct scan as it could be a benign tumour. I had my ct scan and it was clear. I use Pink noise on YouTube it helps.

i am partially deaf . was born like it and always had tinnitus which i have coped with. however it now sounds like i am in avery and it drives me potty chitping birds. funny thing is i cant hear them outside lol

Hmm...that’s interesting about having a CT scan if it’s in one ear. I’m deaf in one ear so I can’t tell I it’s in both ears or not I think I really need to go back to the GP and have another chat

My friend gave up all processed foods and sugar. It worked.

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned zinc supplements. I've had tinnitus (the "tuning signal" variety) for many years and have found that a zinc supplement daily helps settle it down. Worth a try?

I take a multivitamin which contains zinc - is this something over and above that?

Just read the British Tinnitus Association info sheet on it - no definitive evidence from the Cochran’s it works but I’ll give it a go - thanks