My live is over!!!
 

I have Tinnitus. It is the worst thing I could ever imagine happening to me in my retirement. I am sobbing as I write this....My wife doesn't understand....like I should expect her too. I was just sitting in my chair one morning, and the "t" sound began....I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.:(

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Does Tinnitus connected to neuropathy? Is there any thing to do about it?

I didn't know what tinnitus was, so I looked it up. It says it is not a disease, but a symptom. I am not sure if this is where you meant to post or not--this is the board for peripheral neuropathy. Is the tinnitus a side effect/symptom of neuropathy or the medications for neuropathy?

Regardless of if this is the right place to post or not, I truly sympathize with you. While I don't have that specific symptom, I do understand how one symptom can take over your life and change everything. For me, one symptom has taken me from a mostly healthy 24 year old college student to someone who is stuck in bed 24/7 with no end (of being bedridden) in sight. One thing can change so much...

It is really hard for those people around us to understand, when they haven't experienced it themselves. Even people have have tinnitus may not be able to fully understand, as they may have a less severe or more severe case than you do. It's hard--nobody on this earth can truly understand, as your symptoms are specific to your individual circumstances--your life.

Have you seen a doctor about this? If not, I would suggest that you do so.

There are a lot of things you can do (in terms of medicine, and eliminating stressors in your life, such as caffeine, loud noises, etc) that can help reduce your symptoms. If you haven't already, I would recommend that you do some searches and see what you can find out about tinnitus and what can be done to treat it. There are many options. Nothing may make it completely go away (though there is a possibility that it could totally disappear), but in most cases, there should be several things that may reduce the symptoms and make it a little easier to live with.

Contrary to how you may feel, your life is not over. You are still a capable, funtioning human being. I understand the annoyance of the symptom... I understand you hate it, and that you feel that it is taking over your life. But, you can do things to treat it... and it will not control your life unless you just "give up" and let it. You can do research and find ways to make it better... and try every option you can find. By the little research I have done, it seems as if it would take years to get to that point, where you have tried every single thing and nothing has worked... and if that is the case, it may just be something that you have to try to live with until more research is done and more options have found.

Do research, get to know ways to make things better, and try anything you are able to to see if your symptoms ease up. Don't give up--no matter how you feel, your life is not over. You are still alive--and that is something to be thankful for.

It may seem like life is over and everything is hopeless, but I can assure you that that is not the case. Keep fighting and trying new things... don't give up and let this symptom "win".

There are a lot of wonderful people on this website that are dealing with all sorts of problems. We are all here to help support you in whatever way we can. If you need any help finding information or doctors in your area, just let us know.

Take care, and know that this is not the end of your life--things will get better someday.

I am really sorry to know you suffer from tinnitus. Sarah Mae is right in her advice. I have SFN and the autonomic part of the neuropathy - it is the worse for me, much more so than the sensory and weakness part... I do have tinnitus when I am having a bad flare. My neurologist says it is part of the SFN in an autonomic (or dysautonomic) sense... When I have a flare it is not the worse of my symptoms. I would say that the fluctuating heart rate, BP, fatigue, gastroparesis and lightheadedness is the worse... but the tinnitus is there and it is definitely unpleasant. I do have it all of the time to some degree but during the flares it becomes worse.

Any one else suffer from this?

Hi. I am so sorry you are going through this. I too just read a little on it. Have you had dx testing to see where this may be coming from? They suggest tests like CT etc. Also it says that it may go away on its own. I know it is so hard and I wish I could do more to help. I can relate to how loved ones do not understand sometimes. If you want a email buddy I am here to listen along with others I am sure. I agree with everyone to call your doctor too.

I have tinnitus, and have dealt with it for years now. My head sounds like a field of cicadas/kadydids all the time, sometimes louder. After a time, I learned to deal with it..it doesn't keep me awake, and generally, it doesn't interfere in my everyday life other than often I do have to ask people to repeat what they say. Sometimes I have difficulty understanding what someone is saying to me on the phone too, I have to ask them to talk slower.

I saw an ENT doc, was tested for all sorts of hearing tests and such...very mild hearing loss, and no reason he could find for the tinnitus. For some, it just goes away as quickly as it comes on, for some, it's with you for life.

To be honest, there are much worse things we could deal with than tinnitus. Try not to concentrate on it. Do not fall for any of those fake cures out there, they don't work, and don't try to wear ear plugs as others have told me do wonders, all they do is make the noise louder.;)

First things first.....check the side effects of your meds, and the drug interactions.

I get this intermittently, it comes and goes.

I get it internittently, as well.
With me it is a high pitched whine similar to electronic feedback.
It becomes intense for short periods (minutes to hours) and then doesn't occur for long periods (weeks to months). It comes & goes. Don't know if it is PN or meds related.

Tinnitus on a regular basis must be really nasty, but as somebody posted here, she's been able to adjust and it doesn't interfere with the activities of daily living.

Please try to do as much as you can to alleviate this by avoiding whenever possible the things that aggravate it, and that includes stress.

When my small fiber neuropathy first started, had it several times a day, but only for seconds at a time. Now ten months later, it happens only rarely.

Maybe a doctor can help, if not with meds then with techiques you can use to try and distract from it as much as possible.

Please research tinnitus on-line, but remember there are always some exaggerated, baseless claims by those who want to make money by selling bogus "cures."

Good luck,

Sheltiemom

Yes!
 

As quickly as it came on....I woke up this morning....gone! It's 11 at night, and still no high pitched sound. The only thing different today was the elimination of the standard morning "pot" of coffee...to 2 cups. I don't know if that was it or what. I don't know if the Lyrica or Tramadol are a cause. But, I can appreciate today's quiet. I pray on my hands and knees for anyone with this affliction! My PN doesn't hold a candle to a noise that is in your head, and you cannot turn it off. Thanks for all the support on this great forum.

"Told you so!"
 

Well, since caffeine is one of the things that irritates it and makes it worse, that wouldn't surprise me if that was all it took to make it stop. Doesn't mean it won't start again someday.. there are a lot of triggers for it.. but finding them and eliminating them is the best thing you can do.

See, your life isn't over now, is it? I understand being so frustrated and just wanting to kick and scream and the feeling that it is all over.. but it's not. It was just a rough speed bump! Keep driving.. there will be smooth roads, speed bumps, and potholes.. but you just have to keep on going and do the very best you can. Can't be so quick to give up or think your life is over.. that will send you (almost always) on a downward spiral that will lead to nothing good.. and probably depression. Keep your chin up, and I am glad that today has been a good one for you. :)

Thank you. Your post was uplifiting and full of hope. For the situation you're in that's admirable.

Best of luck to all of us!:hug:

I haven't had caffeine for over 3 yrs...I wish mine would go away, but like I said, I have just learned to deal with it, just like we have to learn to deal with so many other things. I try to focus on the good things, and try to leave the others behind me.
:hug:

I just read tonight, that ginger is good for tinnitus...I have been looking for a good source of ginger because I read it is good for headaches...now I have 2 reasons to try it!:D

It's very good for nausea/upset stomach! That's 3! (Okay, so I know most people don't deal with nausea every day--but it's a good thing to have on hand for when that happens!)

jakatak, are you there? You haven't written today and I am curious if your symptoms are still better.. let me know! I hope things are still going well. :)

I read that ginger is good for so much, CHinese have been using it for healing for years.

http://www.nutritional-supplements-h...of-ginger.html

I rarely have nausea anymore, but I do still have other tummy issues, along with candida issues, headache, and such...I'm thining this may help, hoep it does any ways, and if it helps the tinnitus, WONDERFUL!!!

It's back
 

I guess, as many have discovered, this affliction comes and goes....sometimes never goes, whenever it wants. I understand this isn't the proper place to talk about this.....Trust me, I understand the PN issues on this site do not this babble. I appreciate those that have responding to me and I thank you. I will probably go to a Tinnitus forum to continue my conversation. Thanks again to all and best of luck to you. One last thing.....I just find it peculiar, that after I retired, and have adjusted to the quietness of my home, this little disorder decides to pop into my brain. Just strange.

I think when one is not busy and distracted by other things, one notices the misbehavior of one's body more. It behooves us to distract ourselves rather than to listen to every whisper or even shout that our bodies do.

I for one, am not sure that my tinnitus isn't a part of my neuropathy, it very well could be.

This is from the American Tinnitus Association:

Yes
 

I read the same thing. That is also why I posted on this site. We always assume that PN tends to creep up the limbs....but there is some documentation on Tinnitus and neuropathy.

You know since I was dx with PN and RSD I have had other health conditions with the skin,eyes,ear. I have been tested for everything under the sun. I always wonder what the PN and RSD caused. It is too odd to me that before all this I had none of these and now I do. Finding a doctor though that connects all health problems is very hard as many here know.
Jak I hope that this will go for you completly and not come back. Feel better

I think that a doc who connects the relationship of one thing to another is a 'physiologist' (or something similar), but they usually are connected to sports medicine and treat pro athletes. finding one who knows neurology as well, is like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. :eek:
It seems that most docs have tunnel vision and are unable to connect the dots to be a medical detective in diagnosing :cool:- even diagnosticians hardly look beyond the tip of their noses. :mad:

I hear ya
 

After the feet, came a whole host of issues. I have never had so many problems in the past as I have now.

I am sorry you both can relate. I agree that many doctors don't like to look out of their speciality. If they did they would help so many more people. Many I have seen say nothing is connected and a fluke. I don't buy it cause it is too many problems, never happened before,and I am too young.
Nide I saw a physiologist and maybe I just saw one who was not good but he was less helpful then neurologists I saw.

I think what you both meant--
 

--is a physiatrist--a doctor who is trained in orthopedic and neuromuscular relationships.

There are both good an bad physiatrists--I've seen a few, for my leg length discrepancy and lumbosacral issues over the years--at least most are trained to try to see the biomechanical connections amongst different organ systems.

Yeah ! Dat's da right name.
I couldn't think of it.
Thanks Glenn
From what I gather, they're not so easy to find.
Don't think the Yellow Pages have it as a classification

I think Holistic doctors also consider the whole person, but they can be hard to find, unless you are near a teaching hospital.

More here:
http://www.holisticmedicine.org/

Yes that is what I meant I saw a physiatrist actually before my neurologists. I also have seen a holistic family medicine doctor. It is true so much depends on the doctor and the care one gets

Try this site?
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus
Be sure to seek out all the 'references' at the bottom. AND be FAMILIAR with all the terminologies [which I believe you are by now].

It should be easy for you to go yay or nay to many diagnostic aspects .. knowing the lingo and go from there.

Good luck! I've had it [tinnitus] since age 10, so, I can't be an expert vis-a-vis neuropathy only. Do check out allergic and vascular possibilities tho. They come into play significantly at times. And then? There can be the complications or aggravations by combining different meds for different problems... Do your homework and LOOK at all your med's side-effects! I've stopped MANY meds because of the s/e's and I'll state it out loud when necessary.

Good luck.... I'm going back under my hi-tension wires now. - j

HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Yup
 

It amazes me, how many people that actually have this disorder. They talk about 1 in 5 over the age of 50. How do they get that little stat? I can't tell you, when on Facebook, how many friends and friends of friends have Tinnitus.

I forgot about mine , until i read this thread, damn it..
have had it for 30 years i guess sticking my head into to the box speakers at Ac Dc concerts wasn't to bright. Meds make it worse but over time , for me it took about 5 years for it to settle. having background noise like a loud fan etc helped for sleeping

An oldie but goodie...

Q: What's the difference between a General Practitioner and a Specialist?

A: A GP treats what you've got; a specialist thinks you've got what s/he treats. :wink:
_

Wow!
 

amazing!!!!! Here I am on my favorite PN site, talking about the nasty "t", and much to my surprise....I find a hold slug of people with the crummy buzz. I did my share of concerts and also played in a band...and still bang my guitar...but who'd a thunk it!

I usually notice a whining in my ear at night when in bed and it is really quite.

To be honest I just ignore it and it doesn't bother me.

Well, I didn't do concerts, didn't play music loud, lived in the quiet country, etc. I listen to my music loud now, I don't see that it will make any difference anymore!;)

During an allergy attack, the ringing (cicadas) are louder, like yesterday. For 2 days we have had wind advisories here, and that wind is blowing all the dead leaves and such around, I was miserable last night, and the ringing was bad, still is this morning.

As I have said though, I have adapted to it. It is very bothersome at times, yet it never keeps me from doing things I want to do, nor never keeps me awake. I guess I have accepted it the same as all my other ailments...I do what I can and move on!:wink:

I just wish
 

They would do more research to determine whether it is in the ear or in the head. I know there is research to say that it is in the head. So, if it is in the head.....what the heck is the cause and what part of the brain does it come from.