Tinnitus....Anyone Else Have This Too ?

[Truth_Be_Known]

Hi All: Still kinda new here and looking for anyone who would be willing to share. Recently (aug 07) dxed as having ptsd and of course the related depression and off the scale anxiety. Among the other physical and emotional symptoms present, I have this constant and unabating ringing / wooshing type of noise in my ears. Hearing tests were inconclusive and I don't believe that they can detect this as it is internally manifested and not due to external stimuli. The reseach I have done on the internut*, states chronic or abnormal amounts of stress and an immune system malfunction of some sort is responsible and the condition is usually chronic in nature. any information from you folks on treatment and coping stategies would be most welcomed. Peace and thank you in advance TBK

 

[madjon]

sometimes it is caused by a physical condition, if youve been cheked out that should be ok, sometimes it is a temporary effect of noise, not just loud noise but sometimes certain types or pitches of noise, sometimes its a brain thing, theres a lot of opinions on it, i have bit of trouble with hearing in my right ear due to playing with bang too much over the years, sometimes out of the blue it just shuts down for no reason, or zzz buzzs for a while, sometimes putting a finger in the ear and thinking about it going away and being replaced with quiet helps, sometimes also helps you to tune out and stop paying attention to it, dont know if it will help but hope things get better for you.

 

[Deleted member 541]

I have this too, but try not to let it bother me. Sometimes the ringing, humming, buzzing noise is louder than other times. Mostly I just forget that I have it, probably because I have had it for so long.

 

[grace5555]

Yep - got it here and have had no success in treating it other then ignoring it and trying the normal things to lessen the stress. Another wonderful by product of PTSD. Sorry I am not more help. =\

Grace

 

[Lisa]

I was diagnosed with Tinnitus 4 months ago, but had had it a while before. They said it most likely is caused by the fact that I have hearing loss in both ears, as tinnitus is common with hearing loss, and they say stress worsens it.

I struggle sleeping at night... being hypervigilant and having tinnitus does no miracles for sleep or lowering stress levels! Relaxation is what I use to help me at night, and soft music if I can stand it. A lot of remembering that these noises are the same noises I always have with tinnitus and are not anything to feel endangered by. In the day, most of the time it doesn't bother me as I'm never in a very quiet environment. One of the treatments for tinnitus is hearing aids. I already wear hearing aids in the day, so that helps. Treatment wise, I guess it would depend on what has caused your tinnitus, there might be some other reason, and as others suggest, it can be temporary too.

In the meantime, try distraction techniques (like music to mask the tinnitus)... relaxation techniques to focus your mind on other stimuli... it's one of things that it helps to distract from it (similar to pain management) as attention to the noise will only make you notice it more. It's hard to achieve if you're getting particularly loud tinnitus but it can be done. I am sort of getting used to mine now... sometimes it's really bad, but sometimes it's quieter.

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

I have this too. I have partial hearing loss in my right ear from a ruptured ear drum, so it's worse in that ear. I've had this ringing and buzzing noise for so long I don't even give it much notice (until I read this LOL) I believe in time you will get used to it just like all of the other changes our bodies go through. We acknowledge them, and accept, then move on.

Take care
Tammy

 

[Truth_Be_Known]

...Thank You

Hi all and thank you folks that kindly replied to my quest for information. It (Titinnitus) is no doubt a manifestation of my PTSD and in my case is most definatively worsened by stress levels. I first noticed this in 2001, which was the time of the onset of the full blown PTSD I now struggle with. The worse time for my daily fight with it is when I try to shut down for the day and attempt to fall asleep. I stay busy enough during my day to hold this annoyance in check and not focus on it much, but when attempting to slumber, it seems to rear its head. Some research I uncovered points to that old friend, our Adrenalin glands, being over-active in production of Cortisol and other substances that also keep the indelible disorder of PTSD intact. Thus I have accepted this as I have the other unpleasant things that come with having this disorder. I am coping with this the same way I have made improvements on dealing with the hyper-vigilance and my startle response , which is not giving it anymore life than I have to. Yes its a part of me now, but will not let it win. I reckon we have to give the devil his due, but its a personal choice to give him any extra. Peace and please do your part to help save the Planet.............its the only one we have. TBK

 

[strawberryburns]

I deal with this too but I also have severe enough hearing loss in both ears that I wear hearing aids. It is a dominant genetic trait in my family. I am hard pressed to identify anyone with the blood line from my Mother's Father's side that is not hearing impaired and dealing with tinnitus. It does seem to get worse with the rise of my stress levels as well.

 

[philostam]

I'm abnormal.

At the times when I thought I was crazy, my tinnitus (developed with my depression) almost drove me really crazy, because it always reminded me that I'm crazy. - Now: I kinda like it. It always reminds me that my brain is overloaded and I need to relax. It teaches me thinking in long-term about my anxiety "situation": that I have to change my whole way of life, step by step, not going crazy about not reaching normalcy in days.

 

[ams]

I get a high pitch ringing noise in my ears all the time. One or the other ear. I'll hear a quiet high pitch ring and it'll get louder as everything else around me seems to get quieter in that ear. I started to really notice it after I had a car accident, and I don't remember if I had it prior to the accident. Been over a year and a half now. I try to just shake it off. I also get vertigo often. Might be related.

 

[Michel]

I just had the strangest experience. I heard a ringing in my right ear, then immediately after saw this thread. I hope this won't become a chronic problem. I have enough of those.

 

[a3a2]

My husband does not have PTSD but suffers terrible from this. It is a symptom of a rare and severe unilateral (one sided) migraine disorder for him. It is treated at times with an anti-seizure medication (gabapentine) and a rhumetoid (sp!) arthritus medication (indocin). Also Lyrica, a fibro myalgia medication (the most effective).

This can also be a symptom of a life threatening blood clot behind the ear, so I would encourage you to really push for a thorough examination.

My apologies to the editors! Don't know why I can't spell tonight!!!!