University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics is doing research on tinnitus. Here's a survey. Lots of questions are asked, so it takes awhile. They don't ask for you name or any other personal information. https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6hCvBVX4DTUfhnC
I just took it. I hope it helps. They never asked any questions like how do you adapt to situations where Tinnitus is a pain in the ass! I've learned to adapt and not be disabled by tinnitus and I don't let tinnitus keep me from doing things I like to do. I don't let it get me down. I don't let it met me anxious or depressed. Sure it's frustrating and I would love to not have it. But, I do have it. But, I am a positive person and life goes on. I sing with a lot of people every day that have a lot worse conditions than I do and they are survivors and keep a positive attitude. Mostly by putting in an ear plug and cut the amount of decibels by 30 when I am in a noisy room or playing in my band or listening to other bands.
I've had tinnitus for so long, I guess I'm just used to it. It's annoying at times, especially the pulsating kind. It's difficult to get to sleep when that is going on. But, other than that, we share the same attitude, Santa. I don't get anxious, depressed or scared over it. If I live to be 90, I might be willing to give up one day at the end of my life to be rid of right now.
Cheryl, I am new to this forum. I am still trying to understand all of ear problems. Can you tell me more about the different types of tinnitus you experience. I have 3 kinds and the ENT looked at me like I was crazy. I have a high pitched sound that stays with me all the time. I have occasionally what feels like my ear is covered up and has a lower pitched sound I hear. Finally, mostly at night time I have a "clicking" for lack of a better word, that I actually feel the clicks. I wonder if this is what you are calling the pulsing tinnitus, and how do you stop it?
First of all, welcome to the forum, vet399. I'm glad that you found us, but sorry to hear you are having ear problems. Over the years I have had all kinds of tinnitus. It's quite common and I'm not sure why your ENT would be surprised to hear that you have three different sounds. You are not crazy! I have a soft, jingling sound in my left ear that is pretty constant. I hardly notice it anymore unless I listen for it. Since I have bilateral MM, I sometimes have one sound in one ear and another sound in the other ear, both at the same time. I have had clicking, chirping, siren-like, fog horn and buzzing. I've had a flapping noise like a flag makes when it's flapping in the wind. I went through a period where I heard knocking and I was always thinking someone was knocking at the door. There's high pitched, low pitched and everything in between. Sometimes I get a tinnitus where it sounds like there's a big truck with its engine running right outside my door. Don't ever be surprised by what kind of tinnitus you will hear! Pulsing or pulsatile tinnitus is a type of ear noise that is rhythmic pulsing that seems to be in time to your heartbeat. It can be either low or high pitched. Sometimes I hear mine as a high pitched ping in time to my heartbeat and other times it's a lower pitched thumping sound. There is no known cure for tinnitus. One member here who has been so helpful to many, John of Ohio, suggests the use of vinpocetine to reduce or eliminate tinnitus. I'm going to ask him to reply here and explain how it should be taken. Cheryl
Vinpocetine can be useful in reducing (sometimes) eliminating tinnitus. Information in my Meniere's regimen write-up, here: http://www.zoominternet.net/~kcshop/JOH.pdf Vitamin B12 may be helpful, too. Info here: http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=2040.0 No matter. Tinnitus is very hard to subdue or control. It can take months. --John of Ohio
I can relate to everything said here. For me, tinnitus has become my new normal. I think it stopped for 5 minutes in the last 11 years When it did I freaked out. LOL. I wondered what was going on. Then it came back and things were back to normal. It is amazing how we adapt.
Lol, this happened to me once too. I've had it for so long now that it barely bothers me, but one day it suddenly stopped for about half an hour. I was walking around feeling very odd and that something was very 'wrong' with the world around me. It took about ten minutes to realise that the 'wrong' thing was that the ringing had stopped. Freaky ;D