Take Heart with your Tinnitus Experience

I am a witness. Tinnitus is designed to drive us mad. But with a few blessings, we can manage it. Today I have almost complete silence!! Praise God. It is possible, so hang in there.

It is a brain disorder where the brain picks up phantom sounds. After lots of study on my part and by scientists, no one really knows the cause. 

Don't believe everything you read online. So many push it is hearing related. I'm sure there may be some forms related to hearing disorders but not mine. 

The last two times this week that I have had mostly silence I had slept as long as I wanted. Mostly uninterrupted sleep. But sleeping doesn't always fix it for me.

I daily take Lexapro to keep anxiety at bay. My dentist said reduce anxiety and you'll reduce teeth grinding while you sleep. Plus, in 2018 I had panic attacks over the loud tinnitus. I needed help. I was prescribed Lexapro. And this spring, I needed it for depression. So Lexapro it is for me. 

I also keep praying for God to heal the disorder not just for myself, but for all who suffer with it. 

Of course, when it is present, habituation is the answer. For me, habituation is what some people call 'ignoring' the noise. But at times it is annoying and hard to ignore. We can't force habituation. But when we find ourselves going about our day not tuning into the tinnitus, we have been successfully habituated.  

So I wanted to pop in and write this because I know at its peak we read all kinds of stuff that says it will not go away. All I craved at that time was for quiet to return. And lately, that has been happening. Take heart with your tinnitus experience. 

Tinnitus Update April 15, 2022

Update April 15, 2022

I added a post April 9 saying my head was quiet. The tinnitus was gone. It was a blessing. I awoke with it quiet the 8th and again on the 9th. 

The next four days, however, the tinnitus was back--even if I slept later. I tolerated it. I followed my protocols whether they're connected or not.  

Yesterday and today, I have quiet again--almost nonexistent buzz. Probably what it was before mine ever spiked. A little chime but practically nothing. I am thankful. Again, I slept as long as I wanted and awoke with a calm head. 

The type of tinnitus I have is not hearing-related. It is something my brain is picking up. I discuss possible connections in my online Kindle book. 

Tinnitus, God, and You: Walk Through Tinnitus with Faith 

Wishing you all the best on your own tinnitus journey. 

Let Me Encourge you on Your Tinnitus Journey

I am here to encourage you. My head is quiet. 

My tinnitus is nearly non-existent. 

It disappears every few days. 

It does return. 

Sometimes it is louder than it is on other days. But on days like this when it is quiet, I am thankful. 

So if you are in the midst of dealing with new tinnitus, I want to encourage you.

I want to encourage because when I first had it at screaming levels, it brought on general anxiety disorder. I was frustrated to learn there didn't seem to be anything I could do to get rid of it. Worse, idiots TOLD ME that I was stuck with it. Doomsdayers gave me the low-down that I might as well accept it. 

For the most part, I do accept it, but that doesn't mean that I don't look after myself, hope for a cure, and pray it heals.  

WHY IS IT QUIET?

You probably want me to get to the point of the magic cure I'm using. I cannot say there is a magic cure. The biggest factor seems to be related to sleep. I have no clue what is going on while I sleep that is affecting it but today, for example, I awoke at a normal wakeup time for most people, but because I had no job to get to, had the opportunity to sleep more if I chose to. And I did choose to go back to sleep partly because I enjoy sleep once I'm able to and because there was tinnitus at the first waking. I know from experience, that sometimes when I sleep longer, I awake with a quieter head. 

So today I fell back asleep for almost 4 more hours and awoke with a quiet head. I did sleep for around 10 hours. 

WHAT IS MY PROTOCOL?

I take vitamins and supplements like many of you for multiple reasons.  

I take 3 magnesium with taurine supplements before bed. I also take GABA at bedtime if my mind won't stop thinking. 

I sometimes sleep with a humidifier in the bedroom, an air cleaner, and gave a fan running as these help me cope with tinnitus sounds. I keep the room  dark. 

I take a Escitalopram, sold under the brand names Cipralex and Lexapro as a treatment for anxiety & depression.  This was prescribed when tinnitus peaked and threw me into general anxiety disorder.

I also take a multivitamin, Vitamin D and a few other supplements. These supplements I hope reduce inflammation, balance cortisol and help my body deal with stress. It is hard to prove if supplements do anything, so you either take them or you don't. 

The type of tinnitus I have is not hearing-related as far as I'm concerned. It is something my brain is picking up. I discuss possible connections in my online Kindle book. 

Tinnitus, God, and You: Walk Through Tinnitus with Faith 

Update December 2018 - Tinnitus is a Brain Issue

I am not healed yet, but I am coping as well as I can. I had cupping done again and had 2.5 days with no tinnitus before it returned. I had quiet on Christmas Eve and Day, but it is back now, Boxing Day.

I just read this article which I wanted to post part of. I don't have the reference as it was on a Facebook post. 

"US scientists strongly believe that the tinnitus is caused by the brain, not by the ear. They have been able to treat ear ringing by stimulating certain areas responsible for tinnitus in the brain.

The researchers put their small electrical current on the areas responsible for tinnitus in the brain by stimulating nerves in the neck or head directly. The double-stimulation method reduced the activity of the tinnitus-emitting regions in the brain, thereby reducing the noise.

The report showed that tinnitus is caused when some areas of the brain, which primarily act as a filter of nascent sounds, do not function normally and turn into a constant source of buzzing. The researchers said that electrical stimulation returned these brain neurons to function normally."

God of all Creation knows what is going on in your brain. God of all Healing can touch your brain and set it right at any time. Keep praying for healing. Pray for others who suffer. Ask God for help in managing the issue until he brings healing. 

My Tinnitus Healing Journey Update - November 2018

Hang on, tinnitus sufferers. At any time, God can remove it. Have faith.

My research of a million tinnitus related things has led me to conclude it is a brain issue. Apparently, the brain is hyperactive in one region for some people who have had brain scans. Similarly, those with chronic pain have a similar brain scan result. 

I have had a lot of chronic pain so perhaps the combination of the two make my brain pop and fizz, so to speak.

So many writers on tinnitus point to the need to calm the brain. Apparently, those with tinnitus are low on grey matter too. Doing activities that increase brain matter might help.

UPDATE

The last two days I have had almost complete quiet and the same two other days this week. That means 4 quiet days within a week. That is an improvement. 

I awoke in the night recently and enjoyed complete and utter quiet for the first time in a long time too. Those who live in quiet have no idea what a blessing it is.

TREATMENT 

Because I am health-focused, I can't tell you what is having a positive effect. Maybe it is an accumulation of things. 

I take Emergen-C vitamin drink. I am also taking L-Glutimine which I feel has some connection as it heals the gut and builds gaba in the brain. 

I have recently taken cranberry juice. I have also taken my usual supplements that work at healing the adrenals. 

I take magnesium nightly at bedtime. I sometimes take GABA to quiet my brain. 

Last week, I had a full body massage. I also had cupping done on my left trapezius area. The quiet days ensued after that, but the tinnitus was back for one day in between. I will have my massage therapist do that again. I have felt something "STUCK" in that area for a while. Nevertheless, massage helps the lymph system which is important to keep moving. 

My blood tests were all excellent apart from my blood sugar being a little high. I'm doing intermittent fasting four times minimum a week by allowing 10 to 12 hours between eating at night.  This is supposed to reverse insulin resistance I may have. 

The doctor suggested having more fats in my evening meal so that I can do the fast. I have added coconut oil to my morning coffee again, but not quite diligent about my evening fats yet. 

Anyhow, I can't tell you what to do. Listen for what God directs you to do. Trust he is healing you. 

September 15, 2018 How am I Doing?

I thought it was time for an update. some people who have dealt with tinnitus for a long time have mentioned something called habituation. 

Habituation is the process of adjusting to a health issue to a point that it diminishes its impact. With tinnitus, we learn to cope rather than respond with anxiety. I still take half an anti-anxiety pill daily though to make sure I don't become anxious. 

The piercing is still here right now as I type. A horrible high pitched sound. But as my mind becomes immersed in other thoughts, the sound diminishes. sometimes it depends on the angle of my head too. 

I'm pretty sure something is pinched in my neck or trap muscle. I can feel it. Since the tinnitus began, I've developed a habit of trying to de-stress my neck. 

It does still dominate my life as I think about it daily. Some days are quiet. I am so happy to have two days in a row with barely no noise. I can't put together why that happens.

I've been sleeping on a travel pillow for neck stability. I think that has helped the neck pain. I still take a load of supplements. I just went through an adrenal health program. Exercise is good. I also just did another parasite cleanse as I have pets that I'm pretty sure carry such. 

I sometimes notice a connection when I eat something sweet. Like immediately! I'm as sugar free as I seem to be able to manage. I'm taking berberine to help with my blood sugar. I have no clue if it is involved in my quiet days. I take so many things I doubt I'll know what really helps. 

I wish I had a cure for you but I don't. I will say it is no where as loud and anxiety-causing as in this story.  I still ask God to remove it. 

Frustration of Random Tinnitus

It's been a full year since my tinnitus peaked sending me into anxiety and a year of it dominating my life!

It got worse after a cold last year added to a neck injury and a stressful family issue. I wondered if one was a contributor or if they all were. Indeed, it is possible each issue can lead to tinnitus. Or, none are leading to it, they are just happening simultaneously.

I recently had another cold. I had LESS days with tinnitus with it. Why is that? I don't know.

Share your story. Have you had a neck injury? Have you had a mild concussion? Have you found any connection to something you have going on in life and the tinnitus being problematic? Let me know.

Also, check out my book 

New Kindle Book Tinnitus,God, and You

Like most tinnitus sufferers, I went on a journey to find a cause and solution when it peaked last year. 

I've discovered it's an anomaly. While it's been studied since the 1800s, no one has found one sure reason for it or one sure cure. 

Tinnitus can be linked as a side effect to over 200 different diseases. 

Anecdotal evidence suggests tinnitus has varied causes.

While most look sufferers for symptom relief, underlying causes can be addressed if a person has even a clue what may be contributing. 

When I was on an online forum, some tinnitus sufferers questioned if God was punishing them. Like them, I wanted to hear from God too. It's so hard to be who we want to be for God while fighting such a horrible condition. It's equally difficult to hear from God when suffering with constant hissing in our head.

One thing I'm sure of, we have to believe things are going to get better. We have to.

So, as I gathered, information, I put it into eBook form with the motive to encourage sufferers to turn to God for healing and comfort. Together, we can become a conduit to find the cure. Together, we can pray for each other. 

It is available on Amazon now as a digital book which can be downloaded onto any electronic device. 

Please pray mine will subside while I pray for all who read my book. 

I've had many days with it barely there. God grants me reprieve from it every few days. 

I'm asking God to heal the tinnitus I suffer with just as he healed Job and so many others in the Bible. 

Pray for good research, pray for those afflicted, and pray we each find the root of ours and the proper pathway to healing,