Whose that ringing me?
By danjenkins
@danjenkins (646)
United States
7 responses
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
1 Feb 07
A lot of people over about 50-55 suffer from tinnitus and it can be "heard" in one or both ears or in the head. We have friends who will tell you that it is a ringing noise, one who says it is a buzzing noise, one who hears a hissing noise. In my case it is a sort of whooshing sound, and quite annoying too.
It comes and goes with me and is more pronounced when I am stressed, tired or my blood pressure is higher than normal. I am told that if I can keep them all under control then the chances are that the tinnitus will be less pronounced too. :)
Tinntus is not a disease but an unwelcome symptom from other things and in my case the initial cause was from an ear infection plus at some time when I was younger I suffered hearing loss from ear infections.
Most people are lucky that it doesn't stay around all the time, although one friend says that if anyone mentions the word, then he immediately gets an "attack of tinnitus". As I said, with me it does come and go, depending on the general state of my health.
It is not pleasant at all but generally people do learn to cope with, although of course it can be extremly annoying, particularly when I am trying to get to sleep.
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
2 Feb 07
It is annoying, but usually it is manageable. Because it comes and goes, I wonder how much is due to tiredness, stress, diet, etc. I'm going to try some different things and see if I can find a way to minimize the effects.
1 person likes this
@greener82 (2)
• United States
4 Dec 07
I have had tinnitus since I was a teenager. It followed a serious ear infection which was treated with what are now known to be oto-toxic medicines. I learned how to live with it. It runs 365 days and nights a year. I could probably write a book about its variations but that would take too much concentration. AND concentration and the loss of ability to sustain focus are two things that impair my function today after years of INTENSE tinnitus.
It is in both ears with multiple sounds. On a good day they are in the same key!
Yes, stress makes it worse,some dietary things do too. There is no cure. It is not really a disease, more of a process. Most cures focus on helping people learn to cope with the sounds or on helping to minimize the sounds. Most "cures" are effective in the early stages of tinnitus before your brain has "rewired" to accomodate the intrusion.
Sometimes my head is loud enough I am sure YOU can hear it. Perhaps the best source of information on this topic is the American Tinnitus Association at http://www.ata.org
Dan, I hope you are "tuned" in to what sounds mask your Tinnitus by now and have begun some course of treatment that may be able to help you out.
There are 3 research centers of good repute... one in Oregon, one in Georgia and one in Tennessee.
Peace to you. As Thomas Merton has said " the bells call us to prayer" . . . so I have been called to perpetual prayer and it has been a blessing as much as it has been a curse in my life.
@jennybeans (912)
• United States
4 Feb 07
I grew up in the great rock and roll concert era, so even though I'm only in my early thirties, I tend to get ringing in my ears every once in awhile. Usually there isn't much I can do to alleviate it when it comes, but it only lasts for a few minutes.
2 people like this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
4 Feb 07
Yes, loud music can be a cause of tinnitus. Pete Townsend, the mega-ego of the Who has painful tinnitus from playing music so loud when he was younger.
1 person likes this
@AndreaM76 (1164)
• United States
1 Feb 07
Guess what? This discussion made me notice my ears ringing. I'm just 30 but a few months back around Thanksgiving I had A bad upper Resepitory Infection and I coughed and coughed. I coughed so hard my ear popped and filled imediately with fluid. As it was healing I started noticing ringing. If I aly on my right ear I hear it really loud. I read about something that can help but I will have to get back with you.
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
3 Feb 07
Interesting. I didn't notice my hears ringing at all most of yesterday. But, had a super stress situation last night and my ears are ringing obnoxiously now. grrrrrrrrr.
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
1 Feb 07
It might be blood pressure or hearing damage. I think I have some, however, I am never is a quiet room. Radio, television, outdoor critters and wind all contribute to the sounds that surround me. Not sure what to do for it since no one around me has this problem. Hope you find out what can be done though!
2 people like this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I sure hope it hasn't anything to do with blood pressure .. and I've not noticed any correlation of the ringing being more obnoxious when my pressure is up vs being less noticable when my pressure is down. I have a slight hearing loss in one of my ears in the upper range, but I don't think that has anything to do with this.
1 person likes this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
2 Feb 07
No, I doubt that it is air. It is more likely stress related .. or some nutritional deficiency.
1 person likes this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
1 Feb 07
I don't, but my husband does. His tinnitis (ringing in the ears) is caused by age and damage to his hearing - he works in a noisy factory. His tinnitis is permanent.
Another cause which I have not seen mentioned here, is MSG and other glutamate products - http://www.msgtruth.com/tinnitis.com
This is a common cause many people are not aware of and it will fluctuate in severity. A lot of people don't even realize how much Glutamate they eat because it is labelled under a lot of other names. http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.htm If this is the cause, removing these items from your diet for just 24 - 48 hours will bring relief. Some people can eat limited amounts and are only affected if they eat too much, while others can't eat any without the problem coming back. As we get older some of us get more sensitive to this seasoning/ingrediant and amounts that didn't affect us before suddenly become a problem.
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
2 Feb 07
Excellent information and great resources. Thank-you.
1 person likes this
@Lydia1901 (16351)
• United States
22 Mar 07
I do not have any ringing in my ears, so I do not know exactly how it feels to have one. But, my husband has it and he tells me sometimes that it's just terrible. So, I feel sorry for you and I hope you find a cure for it.
1 person likes this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
7 May 07
I've heard from some people that it can be related to high blood pressure. I think it may have some relationship to stress. I've noticed that when I am stressed, it shows up stronger.
