Nicotines Contribution to Tinnitus?

[snusjus]

Have you talked to your doctor about hearing aids? I don't know if they would help alleviate the symptoms of Tinnitus. Today, you can get hearing aids that are completely invisible to the naked eye, since they can be implanted or you can get ultra small ones.

[Premium Parrots]

We just got my mother in law new hearing aids. She has hearing loss but not tinnitus. They do have a device like a hearing aid that produces a white noise to kind of equal out the feedback. There are also white noise machines to use in the bedroom or wherever. I want to do more research and see how I handle this before I do anything else. As I stated in my last post the last 2 times I cranked my stereos I noticed a definate increase in the ringing. I'll change as much of my meds, use ear protection in my parrot breeding facilities, cut out nasal snuff and cigars completely, and do anything else I can. For the time being I'll only slightly cut back on snus........maybe. I don't think normal snusing would have too much effect at taming the feedback. I was doing alot of nicotine at night for the last year or so. I think a normal snusing habit would be ok. It certainly won't make the tinnitus worse than it is. I will say that I haven't had an urge to have my favorite menthol Camel or Kool cig for several years. But today I'm really ready for one. I mean if I had one I would smoke it. And I know if I smoke one I would be back to smoking. Even though snus has been the best deterrant to smoking, this is all too much for me.

One thing I don't think I mentioned. This is so loud I get these terrible headaches at night which are due either to the ringing or maybe stress. I'm going to start taking a valium every night to combat the stress. I'll see what happens.

Please don't get me wrong guys. I'm not looking for sympathy here or anything else. I'm trying to offer a little warning to you all and I am pissed at myself for ****ing up my own hearing.

Thanks to you all for listening and for your input. Sorry this thread is getting long.
PP

[Xobeloot]

I've had this for many years. The hardest thing about it is finding the perfect balance of ambient noise in your bedroom to drown out the ringing, but not so much that it keeps you awake.

I cannot sleep in dead silence without feeling like I need to crawl out of my own skin to make the ringing stop.

[lxskllr]

I'm sorry to hear that PP. I've had temporary ringing, but it'll go away very quickly. I consciously use crappy stereo equipment to limit the volume. If I had nice speakers and amps, I'd use them, and my hearing would be worse than it is. I hope it gets better for you one way or another. Snuff might not be a bad idea due to the reduced nicotine. It'll give you enough to keep from being miserable, but not so much that it'll affect your hearing too bad.

[Jason]

I've had this for many years. The hardest thing about it is finding the perfect balance of ambient noise in your bedroom to drown out the ringing, but not so much that it keeps you awake.

I cannot sleep in dead silence without feeling like I need to crawl out of my own skin to make the ringing stop.

This is truth. I have mild ringing in my ears from the various bands I was in when I was younger, and also from aircraft taxiing and taking off near me when I was in the military. I run a fan at night to fall asleep, even during the winter. It really does help.

[---Nicotinic Acid---]

PP I have had moderate-severe tinnitus since I was 8yrs old. That's 21 yrs of tinnitus for me. Just wanted you to know you're not alone.

Keeping my salt intake very low helps.

[airwoodstock]

You're not alone Mr. Parrots! I've had this damn ringing in my ears for about 7 months and I thought I was the only one with it. I thought it had something to do with the allergies so, I quit drinking (it would get louder the more I drank) still had the ringing. I went to the doctor because people were saying that High Blood pressure causes it. He checked, 121 over 79. He said it was the combination of smoking and drinking that was making it worse. He told me that Nicotine, Alchohol and Stress, for me, was the cause. (My previous job was extremely stressful) Now, I don't smoke or drink and my stress levels have gone down but, I still have it and always will. Albiet not as bad or as loud. All depends on where I'm at and how much I pay attention to it. Rest assured PP, It took me about 2 months to get used to it but, you will.

In the beginning I would phase it out with one of those Calming Sounds radios. I'd play it so I could barely hear it. It would take my mind off the ringing so I could sleep. After a couple of weeks, I got back to the way I used to sleep. 7 months later, I only hear it when I wonder where it went. Kinda like now! It wasn't loud and now, it's kinda louder or I'm focusing on it because I'm posting about it. (if that makes any sence?) :? Don't let it get to you or, get you down. You'll adjust!

[Premium Parrots]

WOH! Thats great you are able to keep the noise down. I'm hoping I can too. I know I will always have it but lately its been so loud and the headaches are horrible. All those thiings you mentioned are contributors. I forgot to mention I can't seem to get my blood pressure down so thats part of it too.

You give me some hope with your success. My doctor said I have to live with it. The websites give me some hope too. I know there are about 5 million people with this so I ain't gonna cry too much about it. But I have to try to lessen the noise. Thanks

I have a good diversion tho..............If I can get my wife to help me out. lol

Airwoodstock....I live in Long Grove. Just south east of you. We're close.

[airwoodstock]

I have a good diversion tho..............If I can get my wife to help me out. lol
Airwoodstock....I live in Long Grove. Just south east of you. We're close.

If you do.....Let me know the secret!!! :lol: All I get from my wife is "doing THAT :shock: is NOT going to help your hearing!" :lol: :lol: :lol:

We have a friend that works weekends (I think he still does, haven't heard from him in a while. He goes back and forth to Ireland a couple times a year) at the Irish shop there. Do they still have that Apple festival in the fall? I haven't been there in a while so I could be thinking about something else. I just remember going there and seeing them make apple cider.

[Premium Parrots]

yep. Apple fest, Strawberry fest, Chocolate fest, Greek fest, Irish fest. Its just an antique tourist trap. If you know where the covered bridge is in town? Well my property starts about 400 feet south of the bridge. My place is hiding in the trees tho. If you get out this way contact me first and we can get together...........at a freakin fest. I HAVE PARKING LOL

[chainsnuser]

Damn, PP, I hope this passes again for you, even if the doctor says otherwise!

Cheers!

[snusjus]

Maybe I should stop going to punk shows....... oh wait, that isn't possible!

[Coffey]

Hi PP, another tinnitus sufferer here. I too have had it since I can remember. I remember docs thinking there was something mentally wrong with me, because tinnitus has not been well known for very long. The best advice I can give, as hard as it sounds, is just to ignore it. Even after 20+ years of living with it, the ringing can still be intolerable if I focus on it. Most of the time, I almost don't notice it, but as soon as I read this thread, and started to think about it, there it was, loud as ever. With time, you will learn to live with it, that's about all the comfort I can give. Best of luck to all who suffer with this pain in the ass condition.

[TropicalBob]

PP, you have my empathy. I've have tinnitus for maybe a decade now. The posters here are correct that, for the most part, you learn to ignore it. Focus on it -- and the ringing becomes quite loud.

Noise did the damage, and nicotine assisted. The bass-boom loving present generation will be tortured from their mid-40s on. I don't even feel sorry for them as their thump-thump cars roll through my neighborhood.

A big help to me is anything (not loud) that avoids silence. I have natural sound noisemakers in every room, particularly the bedroom. They emit "white noise" and help mask the ringing sounds. I've bought about 10 at thrift stores in the past five years. I never pass one up!

You might want to play with a computer program like "Atmosphere" or "Tinnitus Masker". I have both. They create custom sounds of every kind that can be recorded as MP3s or loaded into an iPod. Google the name and you'll find the same company makes both products. I enjoy playing with them.

Noise cancellation is the goal. If you can match the frequency of your ringing to an external sound, that external sound will cancel your ringing. In theory. Easier said than done, but experimentation with these programs is fun. My favorite sound on the programs: Airplane cabin. I find the drone very relaxing.

You never "heal" from this, since it has resulted from permanent damage done to the hairs in your inner ear. Loud noise has flattened these little tuning forks and, like the old woman, they can't get up again. They were blasted into submission as surely as hurricane winds would flatten a wheat field. Now you live with the damage from excess.

I, too, hope science can "cure" this before long. We need Rogaine for inner ear hairs!

One more thought: You have recently become annoyed with women reporters on TV. You can't understand what they're saying some of the time. It's the high pitch of their voices. It seems fake to you and you become as irritated as you are listening to a foreign accent while trying to understand the flawed English being spoken. The women you like on TV have more masculine voices. Those you hear. This is because the damage you did earlier has cost you your hearing in high frequency ranges. You can even test specific frequencies on the Internet.

I wish you well in control efforts. NO MORE LOUD SOUNDS, music or otherwise. You can't make tinnitus better, but you can make it worse.

[Premium Parrots]

Thanks everyone. Mr. TBob you said it all in a nutshell. I've understood about hearing loss all my life but I didn't know squat about tinnitus or the causes. My Doctor explained all of it to me. Yea, I was severly bummed out when I learned I had this. I was under great stress in the past month and it seemed to get louder and louder and it was starting to scare me. Then I learned that my high blood pressure caused it to be louder than normal. I have recently removed the stress and Its not too bad now.

If you go to the link I posted [the link from australia] you can click on several links to different sounds that others with tinnitus hear. Some are just awfull so I feel that I was spared somewhat. Mine is simply a continous high pitch that does vary in volume that varies with my blood pressure. Theres a whole list of things that contribute to this. My main reason I even mention this here is to warn the younger fellas here to keep the music down. They won't know they have damaged the lil hairs untill they are older and then its too late. And yes nicotine does contribute.

My big speakers are for sale. Can't listen to them anymore. I have to wear ear protectors in my parrots breeding facilities also. And their squaking has recently started to bother me alot. Its funny[?] that you mention about womens voices. Lord, lately my wifes voice REALLY gets to me when she is close [within 18" of my ear] and speaking directly into my ear even at a low volume. The frequency is so annoying I have to ask her to back off.
PP





huh? what?