You think you have time?

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Folks:

Long story short, I am 65 years old and retired. I've had a great life; the best wife ever, two fantastic sons, good friends, and a successful career. About a year ago I experienced a sudden onset of severe tinnitus (ringing in the ears). I suffer from that sound every single second of my life. Look up 6800hz on Youtube. That's what I hear, and it's the loudest sound I hear even when driving down the highway at 75mph into a headwind on coarse pavement. Imagine trying to sleep with that. In short, it's torture.

I've seen a half dozen medical specialists; audiologists, neurologists, etc. Tinnitus doesn't originate in your auditory system, it originates in your brain stem. There is no cure for tinnitus.

As a consequence, I have been seeing both a therapist and psychiatrist, just to keep my sanity. Learning CBT techniques has become a big part of my life - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT is a way to alter your mindset and not react to things in a manner that makes them worse. When tinnitus is ripping my psyche and spirit, I can either give it power and let it gain control....or not. It's an "upper" brain (good) versus "lower" brain (bad) thing. That's a huge simplification, but you get the idea.

I came across this video as part of my CBT studies. The woman is the "upper" brain, the man the "lower" brain. The video illustrates the battle all of us have with our conflicting thoughts, emotions, and reactions.

I think the video may have value to many of you, and for a variety of reasons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=vPaS85IA6oY

Cheers,

Scott
 
Have you tried the tinnitus therapies that are found in apps and such? I too suffer from tinnitus, mainly in my right ear which has lost most of its hearing ability. I have not tried these apps yet. They seem to counteract tinnitus with white noise which may be the better effect.
 
Originally Posted By: PimTac
Have you tried the tinnitus therapies that are found in apps and such? I too suffer from tinnitus, mainly in my right ear which has lost most of its hearing ability. I have not tried these apps yet. They seem to counteract tinnitus with white noise which may be the better effect.


Masking noises, hearing aids, major dietary changes (near elimination of salt and caffeine, greatly reduced alcohol, etc.), lipo flavinoids....nothing has helped.

My situation is made worse because of two issues; 1) my tinnitus is severe, 2) my hearing is far better than most men my age. This is why hearing aids don't help.

Scott
 
There was something on a local news station just this morning about how magnesium helps with tinnitus. And it was usually those in the categories of medium to severe tinnitus.
 
That would be [censored]. I lost much of my hearing as a kid from measles. I wear 2 hearing aids and naturally wish that I could have normal hearing. What you are dealing with is far worse IMHO. I really hope as they gain more knowledge of how the brain works, these kinds of problems can be corrected or managed better.
 
I totally get the struggle you have on a daily basis. I'm 35 and around 32 I all of the sudden developed IBS-C (Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation). It really wrecked my life. Constant gnawing intense lower abdominal pain. It makes it hard to focus on or enjoy anything.

I wasted a ton of time at GI docs etc that only wanted to medicate instead of trying to get to the root. I took matters into my own hands last year and through diet experimentation, relaxation techniques and certain pre and probiotics, I am much better. Not 100% but like 85%.

There are still days I am "off" but I am in a much better place than I was a year ago. I do still struggle coming to terms that I will have to live with this the rest of my life but hey, things could be worse!

Anyways, I understand and best of luck in managing the tinnitus!
 
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Have had Tinnitus all my life. It's not severe, I suppose, as I can stand it but it's always there. I find that quiet rooms or still air outside to be the worst, I basically never will not have music or the radio on at any time, it doesn't have to be loud but that gives me something else to concentrate on. Especially helpful falling asleep with the radio or similar on.
 
Originally Posted By: Huie83
I totally get the struggle you have on a daily basis. I'm 35 and around 32 I all of the sudden developed IBS-C (Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation). It really wrecked my life. Constant gnawing intense lower abdominal pain. It makes it hard to focus on or enjoy anything.

I wasted a ton of time at GI docs etc that only wanted to medicate instead of trying to get to the root. I took matters into my own hands last year and through diet experimentation, relaxation techniques and certain pre and probiotics, I am much better. Not 100% but like 85%.

There are still days I am "off" but I am in a much better place than I was a year ago. I do still struggle coming to terms that I will have to live with this the rest of my life but hey, things could be worse!

Anyways, I understand and best of luck in managing the tinnitus!
Try to eliminate 100% of the Glutin from your diet. Oats tear up my gut.
 
You know what the continuity test sound on a Fluke meter sounds like? I've been living with that for about 20 yrs. Far as I know, there is no cure. Sometimes it just screams. Despite wishing it was fatal, it isn't. I just turned 67 . Suck it up, buttercup. Life goes on. Make the best of it. Engagement in something, pushes it into the background for me. Pot doesn't affect it one way or another.
grin2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: CT8
Originally Posted By: Huie83
I totally get the struggle you have on a daily basis. I'm 35 and around 32 I all of the sudden developed IBS-C (Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation). It really wrecked my life. Constant gnawing intense lower abdominal pain. It makes it hard to focus on or enjoy anything.

I wasted a ton of time at GI docs etc that only wanted to medicate instead of trying to get to the root. I took matters into my own hands last year and through diet experimentation, relaxation techniques and certain pre and probiotics, I am much better. Not 100% but like 85%.

There are still days I am "off" but I am in a much better place than I was a year ago. I do still struggle coming to terms that I will have to live with this the rest of my life but hey, things could be worse!

Anyways, I understand and best of luck in managing the tinnitus!
Try to eliminate 100% of the Glutin from your diet. Oats tear up my gut.

Gluten, hidden Gluten, artificial sugars, anything Corn, the Dairy products.
Good luck!
 
I've had it all my life, really severe. I find that I can just tune it out. Now you've posted something about it and it's back in my conscious thoughts. Gee, thanks.
 
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
I've had it all my life, really severe. I find that I can just tune it out. Now you've posted something about it and it's back in my conscious thoughts. Gee, thanks.

You haven't posted about the Xbox in a while...
Noisy?
Also you did not tell us how long is your beard now?
Go take a caliper and measure it scientifically.
3 samples please.
Inquiring minds want to know....

(How's that for distraction?)
 
Originally Posted By: andyd
You know what the continuity test sound on a Fluke meter sounds like? I've been living with that for about 20 yrs. Far as I know, there is no cure. Sometimes it just screams. Despite wishing it was fatal, it isn't. I just turned 67 . Suck it up, buttercup. Life goes on. Make the best of it. Engagement in something, pushes it into the background for me. Pot doesn't affect it one way or another.
grin2.gif



Yep, I have thought the same thing at times.

Scott
 
Originally Posted By: Reddy45
You're in Cali. Did you try weed?


Yes I have and as a young buck decades ago I used to smoke it. I didn't smoke it for the better part of 35+ years but I tried it again recently. The only type I think might help, but only slightly, is a hybrid Indica from Prism Farms; something they call "Unwind". Indica is the mellow weed, Sativa is the upper weed. I tried a Sativa along the way and ended up having to take an Adivan, one of my prescription anti-anxiety meds (prescribed to help with my tinnitus, I've never needed medication like this until now).

Scott
 
Originally Posted By: Toy4x4
There was something on a local news station just this morning about how magnesium helps with tinnitus. And it was usually those in the categories of medium to severe tinnitus.


I've tried that too. No help. But thanks for the suggestion.

Scott
 
I just saw Mr Shatner at the Trekconderoga.

A local guy got the original plans for some of the scenery used in the original TV show.

Last week they had a big fest. It's actually real cool.

It's in Ticonderoga, NY. Fort Ticonderoga is where we "began to win" the Revolutionary War by taking it from the British.
 
Originally Posted By: SLO_Town
Originally Posted By: Reddy45
You're in Cali. Did you try weed?


Yes I have and as a young buck decades ago I used to smoke it. I didn't smoke it for the better part of 35+ years but I tried it again recently. The only type I think might help, but only slightly, is a hybrid Indica from Prism Farms; something they call "Unwind". Indica is the mellow weed, Sativa is the upper weed. I tried a Sativa along the way and ended up having to take an Adivan, one of my prescription anti-anxiety meds (prescribed to help with my tinnitus, I've never needed medication like this until now).

Scott


Does the benzodiazepine actually help reduce the tinnitus? My tinnitus took a permanent quantum leap jump with the course of chemotherapy I had last year. There are worse possible side effects from my chemo regimen, like neurpathy syndrome so bad it's nicknamed "Red Man" so overall I didn't come out too bad and I knew the potential side effects up front, and I wouldn't change my choice.

I was on Xanax for a while years ago, long before my chemo, and I don't recall noticing a reduction in the tinnitus level I had at that time.
 
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