Tinnitus

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  • NiteflyNitefly Frets: 4902
    Grunfeld said:
    @Emp_Fab - I want to give your post more than 1 wis. 
    Nice one.

     :o 

    Words I never thought I'd ever read!

    (Just funning, Emp!)

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  • i_b_tullochi_b_tulloch Frets: 105
    edited January 2020
    This is an interesting read. I have been having problems for 18 months or so now with my left ear. Had some sinus issues that I had surgery for about 7 years ago and it hasn’t been 100% since. Always felt like there was water in it. Anyway 18 months ago I was at a gig, and I woke up the next day with the left side ringing, but right side not so bad. not long after I was very sensitive to noise on that side, and a good few months later, I noticed a slight ring in that ear. 

    Since then I have had had procedures associated with ETD, etc, as the ENT specialist was certain it was that.

    During the festive break I had a bad cold and the pain was bad again. Since then I have been reading a lot about Tinnitus and Hyperacusis, and am currently making an appointment with another ENT who has close links with the Tinnitus centre UK. I have seen a couple of different ENT specialists, and really nothing was mentioned about Hyperacusis and what could be done with it. I can handle the tinnitus more than the pain.

    So last week I was in a poor place when it hit me the impact this could have. I am just about finished my home recording studio, and at a time in my life where I can finally start playing more guitar and having a better balance of work/life. I was feeling pretty low and was actually convinced that I should completely give up the studio and playing music - I have even posted some pretty awesome recording gear on the classifieds!! I used to think I would play until I was deaf rather than stop, but I’m not sure the risk of it getting worse with exposure to music long term would be worth it for me.

    The cold is gone since, but I still have sensitivity in the ear. Ultimately, I have to follow up with the new ENT and see where it goes. However, I am feeling much more positive again now, and been playing again at very low levels.

    One thing I do understand is that when music
    is your life, and something like this happens, it is pretty devastating. Finding the Andy Timmons video where he talks about his difficulties with this was actually both very comforting, and inspiring.

    I have decided that I will keep playing guitar no matter what, but the studio is on hold until my head is in a better place.

    Good to find this thread though, as I had thought about starting another.

    My Trading Feedback Link is here i_b_tulloch

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  • SnapSnap Frets: 6256
    Emp_Fab said:
    Dude... I remember waaay back warning you about protecting your ears because you complained about the occasional bout of it after gigs etc.  I remember you saying something about being on the bus and having your earphones too loud?  It was a very long time ago,  Anyway...  as you may recall, I have it in both ears 24/7.  It drove me crazy initially and I went to some very dark places mentally.  However, as there is no real cure, the only way to alleviate it is to ignore it.  As impossible as it sounds, it’s the only thing I’ve found that works.

    Every time you pay attention to it, listen to it, talk about it, think about it, your brain focuses on it and it becomes something your subconscious then considers important, so it will keep alerting you to its presence - a rather vicious circle.

    In order for it to go away, you have to convince your subconscious that this noise is of no consequence at all.  You do this by just accepting and then ignoring it.  Over time, it will then alert you less frequently to it’s presence - which is the only time you “hear” it anyway.  When you are not thinking, writing, talking about or listening for it, your brain doesn’t pay any attention to it - which is exactly the same as it not being there.  For example, I can hear mine clearly right now, but I know that in half an hour when I’m engrossed in something else, I simply won’t notice it AT ALL.  It effectively vanishes.  I’m only noticing mine now because I’m writing about it so my brain gives it attention.

    Much like, I imagine, people with other disabilities - say a missing limb, don’t spend every minute thinking “I’ve only got one arm!, I’ve only got one arm!” - they just get on with their lives and aren’t focused on its absence.

    Be aware, as ‘lightly’ as possible (i.e. don’t stimulate your subconscious by worrying ‘this is vital’) of the things that make it worse and quietly avoid those.  It becomes harder for your subconscious mind to not alert the conscious mind if the tinnitus is louder than usual, as your subconscious is going “ooh, ooh, that noise you told me wasn’t important is louder now...  this might be important...  I’ll tell the boss”.

    It’s all about convincing your nervous, alert, subconscious that this noise isn’t a danger, can’t harm you and can safely be ignored.  




    Spot on sir. I have the same thing. It's there, but doesn't figure in my awareness 99% of the time. I love loud music, I really do.
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  • ewalewal Frets: 2558
    @Emp_Fab 's mindful approach to tinnitus. Nice.
    The Scrambler-EE Walk soundcloud experience
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  • HaychHaych Frets: 5596
    edited January 2020
    Had tinnitus for over 20 years.  For ages it was just a high pitched scream in both ears and I quickly adjusted to it.  More recently I've developed a low humming predominantly in my right ear, sounds like a twin engined aircraft passing over with the engines going slightly out of phase with one another.

    Funnily enough, in my first band I used to stand stage left (from my perspective) so the drum kit would always be on my right - I wonder if that has anything to do with my right ear being more duff than my left.  I've always been particularly sensitive to loud drums.  

    It was seeing a mate's band play a gig that gave me permanent tinnitus though.  I went with a load of people from work and we were pretty much stood right next to the drum kit all night.  It took three days for my hearing to recover to anywhere near normal after that night and it never truly has.

    I also have it on good authority that alcohol is a major contributing factor to people developing tinnitus as it apparently reduces the ability that the ear has to protect itself from loud noise - something to do with thinning some fluid somewhere.

    I've also noticed more recently that my ears are more sensitive to loud noises now.  I used to be able to listen to and enjoy loud music (not gig level loud, just stereo in the house type loud) but seem to enjoy listening to music at much lower volumes now and if it gets loud I find it quite painful.


    There is no 'H' in Aych, you know that don't you? ~ Wife

    Turns out there is an H in Haych! ~ Sporky

    Bit of trading feedback here.

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