Tinnitus Treatment

[connda]

Just a suggestion. If you're a meditator and you have tinnitus, try using the sound as your primary object of meditation. If you concentrate on the sound, if does not stay the same. frequencies varies, volume varies, intensity varies. Don't try to change it, just watch it (listen to it) and watch the mind as it reacts. It's just another form of Vipassana. I generally find that after awhile, I just go back to my primary object of meditation and you don't notice the tinnitus. If you do, just be with it. Choiceless awareness.

[culicine]

I find relief using Merislon, which contains betahistine, it's a cheap over the counter anti vertigo drug, it improves

blood circulation in the inner-ear.

Good luck

That sounds like it's worth a try:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21860977

This shows a statistically significant reduction in tinnitus using betahistine.

[sunshine51]

I've had it since the Southeast Asian War Games...saw many "specialists"

in the past, bunch of stuff was tried, nothing worked....just living with it

these days. Kinda used to it nowadays. Good luck with your ears &

Merry Christmas.

[pacovl46]

I've had it since the mid 90s. It was extremely annoying in the beginning, but eventually I got used to it and only hear it when I focus on it. The only thing that really helps is a "hearing aid" that cancels the frequency similar to noise cancelling headphones.

[crazydrummerpauly]

Treatment ? As other posters have said, you will probably have to resort to distraction, habituation, and giving up silence for now. I've been 'treated' by a world-renowned Audiologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, a man who has written textbooks on the condition and done clinical trials, and in the end all he could do was give me calm words and a pair of those 'white noise' masking devices. He has been involved in trials using Lignocaine - the dentists' anesthetic ? - and they discovered that at the quantity needed to remove the tinnitus, the patient was in a shallow coma ! Personally, i don't bother much about dietary controls, but then i don't eat or drink anything to excess. I've found that the one thing that really ratchets up the volume and/or the awareness of the condition, is STRESS - really should be avoided. Years ago, sufferers had their ear-drums removed - the worst possible action - horrible mistake - but that happened because as now, it is often thought to be a 'hearing' or 'ear' problem, which when it involves the cochlea/inner ear does make sense, but i usually describe it to anyone who knows nothing about tinnitus, as 'brain damage' - partly to get their attention to how serious it can feel. This is not so crazy a phrase, given that it is the firing of the aural nerve into the brain that causes the problem. If there WAS a readily-available 'cure' you can be sure that first in the queue would be the celebs with plenty of cash who suffer - Pete Townshend and Peter Stringfellow for example, and probably thousands of musicians. To be positive - it usually gets better or more bearable - but in my experience - and this is important - don't panic if it takes 2 to 5 years to get back to something like normal life. Good luck!

[crazydrummerpauly]

Forgot to mention something very important - in the 9 years i've had tinnitus, i have never slept without a noise-generator or 'sound-ball' in the room, set to make a noise that's supposed to be 'birds in the woods' or something like that - it warbles away at a similar frequency to the tinnitus and helps me a lot. A couple of drinks helps as well ! - but drink too much and you'll regret it next day when the noise is louder. Above all, Accepting it as a new fact of life that might never go away is vital.

[crazydrummerpauly]

Mitsubishi, the same thing happened to me just six months after arriving in Thailand for retirement. I've since discovered that if I take NSAIDS for pain (Ibuprophen, Diclofenac Sodium and Naproxen in particular) then the tinnitus ratchets up substantially. About the same time I developed an intolerance for caffeine of all types. I used to drink 6-8 cups a day as well as caffeinated soft drinks and caffeinated tea. I have had to give caffeine up completely. From time to time I will try to sneak in a cup of coffee to see in the allergy is still there, and the tinnitus will come back immediately. Excess stress and a lack of deep rem sleep can bring on a bout of the tinnitus. The final thing, at least in my case, is the MSG that is put in most of the food here in Thailand. If you eat out you must tell the waitress to tell the cook "no MSG in my food...I will have an allergic reaction and I may die in your restaurant". Most of them will still put it in the food, but at least you are trying your best to limit your intake. MSG is also found in most of the sauces that are used in Thai cooking, so if you are eating a lot of home cooking then make sure your cook is checking the labels on the sauces from the grocery and buy the ones with no MSG.

Good point, and one of the first-ever anti-inflammatories, Aspirin, has been linked to tinnitus-onset for a long time, so there's definitely something about that group of meds to watch out for.

[Wordworx]

Six years ago descending in aircraft with congested head, could not clear ears, *crickets* in ears ever since. Sucks. I believe Mayo Clinic states on their website that Xanax may help in some cases. BUT, if so, cure would be worse than the ailment. You likely know, regular use of Xanax is bad news. Relaxing and a *feel good*, but an easy addiction and a brutal withdrawal. Maybe on occasion if you are going mad would be worth it to have around, drop 1/2 - 1 milligram.

No cure, but as others said, checking with a specialist would be worthwhile. Could be some minor sorts of treatment, like maybe even just cleaning or drops, might lessen *noise*.

For temporary relief, you might use the iPod with soothing sound / voice audio.

[normac44]

I have had Tinnitus for years .One normally only lets it affect you when you are in a quiet room. Keep a radio going and you will soon stop you thinking about it. My Dr. recently requested a

brain scan to see if a tumour was causing the problem but it proved negative.

Best advice from me...learn to live with it..it won't go away any time soon. I have been told by all of the experts that there is no cure. Hope someone can prove me wrong.

[Sheryl]

Not all tinnitus is the same. Causes vary and in some cases -- a minority, unfortunately - there is a treatable cause.

It is therefore worth getting it evaluated initially.

If no treatable cause is found then indeed, just have to find ways to live with it.

If there is also some gearing loss, hearing aid may be helpful.

[Nickthegreek]

I will not go into what caused mine as it was lifestyle of my twenties and thirties, however, I have found watching the telly and listening to music now using headphones helps me at least get a break from it,as they drown out the noise whilst I watch or listen..

[crazydrummerpauly]

Indeed most of the time medicine doesn't have much to offer for this condition. See these threads - you have lost of company!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/246357-tinnitus/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/116180-tinnitus-treatment/

Also this is a good overview

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tinnitus/DS00365/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

While more often than not, no cause is found, sometimes there are treatable causes so if you have never had it worked up may be worth trying. Suggest this doctor:

http://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Saowaros-Patarapak

"lots of company" - well said Sheryl - i don't know if it helps sufferers to know it, but this condition is borne by Millions of people around the world, and the fact that there is little research being done by the pharma companies who would make $zillions if they could find a cure, in itself demonstrates what a tough condition it is to treat at all.

[mitsubishi]

Bangkok Hospital has an excellent hearing center that I strongly recommend, Had tests there for tinnitus as requested by the U,S, Veterans Administration,

If it's recent, then a good idea to get it checked out, as it can be treatable in some cases e.g. ear wax removal.

I tried the ear wax removal before. While it cleaned out my lugs the tinnitus got worse!

[mitsubishi]

Thanks for all your posts!

I'm going to try the anti-vertigo method of the betahistine drug, if the pharmacies out here sell it that is...

[Wordworx]

Bangkok Hospital has an excellent hearing center that I strongly recommend, Had tests there for tinnitus as requested by the U,S, Veterans Administration,

If it's recent, then a good idea to get it checked out, as it can be treatable in some cases e.g. ear wax removal.

I tried the ear wax removal before. While it cleaned out my lugs the tinnitus got worse!

It sucks, believe me, I know, but you likely need to stick it out for a few weeks, see if it improves. And this may sound a little stupid, but the traditional ear wash of 1/2 alcohol (of the medical variety) and 1/2 vinegar (of the Western variety) daily for maybe a week, could not hurt.

[culicine]

Thanks for all your posts!

I'm going to try the anti-vertigo method of the betahistine drug, if the pharmacies out here sell it that is...

I'd like to hear how that works out, but you may need to use it for 2-3 months continuously to see any effect, if any at all. It's worth a try.

When it becomes bothersome, put on some headphones and listen to this... or something similar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lasWefVUCsI

[DGIE]

EENT doctor can tell you the best to do

[Mikey5311]

It depends on how much it affects you. An entire can rule of physical pathology and after that very few know what to do. In my case it almost destroyed me 13 years ago. For some people it is a mild annoyance. You can't compare your suffering g to others. I'm from the USA. Of great help was the. American Tinnitus Association. They are on the net. I did a treatment called tinnitus retraining therapy which helped immensely. Best wishes my friend.

Sent from my Lenovo S920_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[connda]

Six years ago descending in aircraft with congested head, could not clear ears, *crickets* in ears ever since. Sucks. I believe Mayo Clinic states on their website that Xanax may help in some cases. BUT, if so, cure would be worse than the ailment. You likely know, regular use of Xanax is bad news. Relaxing and a *feel good*, but an easy addiction and a brutal withdrawal. Maybe on occasion if you are going mad would be worth it to have around, drop 1/2 - 1 milligram.

No cure, but as others said, checking with a specialist would be worthwhile. Could be some minor sorts of treatment, like maybe even just cleaning or drops, might lessen *noise*.

For temporary relief, you might use the iPod with soothing sound / voice audio.

I've used Xanax before for sleep issues. I really couldn't see a difference, or if there was, it was a minor improvement. And you really don't want to use benzodiazapines, like Xanax, long-term. Google benzodiazapine withdrawal and you'll understand why. Interesting about the betahistine dihydrochloride. Hadn't heard of that before.

[connda]

Thanks for all your posts!

I'm going to try the anti-vertigo method of the betahistine drug, if the pharmacies out here sell it that is...

mitsubishi,

After you try it, can you post a follow-up and give us an update on how effective you found betahistine.

Thanks!

[ThaiPauly]

I've had it for three years now......it does not bother me too much except whenever anybody says "How are your ears these days?" or I read a thread like this one...then it gets ten times worse until I forget about it again