PCS and tinnitus
 

I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that my sleep issues are related to my tinnitus since my concussion. It arrived about a week after my concussion and although it's quietened down in the 3 months or so it's still intrusive, especially at night when the house is silent. When I go to bed it's a soft high pitch distorted sound but when I wake in the night, which I always do, it's a single continuous tone making it nearly impossible to get off to sleep again. I'm not sure what is causing it, I'm guessing it's cranial nerve damage, which I've read does repair over time. I wondered if I can expect it to eventually subside in the next few months?

Ironically the tinnitus is more of an issue as I become more alert and back to 'normal'. Anyway, I've tried using my MP3 player with sounds of the ocean which is relaxing but I end up rolling over and getting tangled up with the wires lol. Also, is it true that tinnitus can wake you up? I don't understand this if it is true.

White background noise can help. You will probably need to experiment to find the pitch that best distracts you from the annoying ringing.

What seems best for me, is something that doesn't provoke thought. If I was listening to whale song, I'd be focused on whales, not sleep. At night, I find having our dehumidifier and air purifier going, on lower settings, seems to help.

I really miss being able to sit in serene, contemplative silence.

I know what you mean, it can be frustrating. I'm putting together a track on www.gomix.it to use as a background for tonight, road traffic and rain. I know lots of people use fans as background but the only one I have is too big! My tinnitus is like being really tired and coming out of a loud room, I guess that and my fractured sleep tell me I still have PCS :( ...more time needed.

Have you checked out a set of speakers for your MP3 player ? Or, there are clock radios that have MP3 inputs. There are also pillow speakers you can connect to your MP3 player. Learning to ignore the tinnitus is the best solution, other than using background sounds. Becoming anxious or frustrated only makes the sound appear louder. I have had tinnitus for years. Sometimes, it gets very loud.

I've heard about the pillow speakers they sound good but I have a very flat feather pillow so not sure they would work. I have some mini speakers I've tried but still prefer my MP3 player. To be honest I really want to just filter the sound out with my brain which I can sometimes do if I think about abstract things like building a VW beetle engine or such like - weird I guess. What makes your tinnitus louder, I'm sure driving in traffic cranks mine up.

Mine can get very loud after drinking a glass of cold water. Some food will trigger it. Sounds do not usually make it worse.

I think you hit it on the back that tinnitus could be linked to insomnia for those with normal hearing post concussion.

How is it going for you?

At the moment I'm just trying to get into some sort of regular sleep pattern. If I could find something to take that would extend my time sleeping rather than get me off to sleep I'd take it!

I am in the exact situation ! It's a distorted sound when I go to sleep but it's always a loud continuous tone when I wake up in the middle of night. My sleep is also fractured and I wake up 3 4 times at night. Also the sound has moved inside the head in 3 months and not coming from ears like in the first 2 months. I don't know what to make out of it. How's your hearing? What do docs have to say ? Do they suspect something or a cause ? My ENT said it should go in time

Here is the reason I get ANY sleep with my tinnitus or even peace of mind during the day...

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Meet FAN. I've never liked a fan like this while sleeping and my hubby grew up with one next to his head (no air conditioning growing up). It's been running since sometime after my accident and drowns out the ringing.

I use it all year nearly all the time. The sound has an even tone. No fluctuations or high pitched sound. It's a medium to low ton. It's a Cyclone by Lasko. I think you can get it at all the home fix stores and of course online.

Fan helps me not gouge out my ears.

Jenna