Tenacious Tinnitus Club – Ear Pressure, Noise and Hyperacusis

[[gu...]]

HI Birdman, I did a long hold myself a couple of years ago on 10mg diazepam and that's when my tinnitus began. So in contrast to the other poster my long hold actually brought more sxs about. I think I held for about 3 years on that dose. Not that I wanted to, I just postponed it, but that's another story.

I think most of what happens on benzo use and w/d and is so random that it's almost impossible to categorise, it makes it impossible to predict.

 

My tinnitus got a lot softer for a couple of weeks and thought it was about to go away. Well, it's back, and with a bit of a vengeance...

I just try to reassure myself that it'll get lower again, but we all know how annoying it can get.

 

Good thread btw.

[[Ne...]]

Dear Birdman, I sent a PM at first but realized that many other members of the TENACIOUS TINNITUS SUPPORT GROUP might have a similar question for you and let me thank you in advance. I said I read everything but post infrequently as anything I might POST has already been said somewhere.

Please tell me what BONE CONDUCTION EARPHONES you bought for yourself or currently recommend for those of us with unrelenting tinnitus. I researched BOSE.....AMAZON.COM {really confusing} and a site called Aftershotz. When I read your post about the relief you got I went from severely depressed to hopeful. Thank you for all your brilliant research. Of course anyone with experience with the Bone Conduction Earphones please share as well for the benefit of all.

[[Ne...]]

Got the help I needed....changing BIRDMAN to FANTASTIC LADY.....she's sensational, bright, loving and caring. A real Blessing to the TENACIOUS TINNITUS CLUB

Dear Birdman, I sent a PM at first but realized that many other members of the TENACIOUS TINNITUS SUPPORT GROUP might have a similar question for you and let me thank you in advance. I said I read everything but post infrequently as anything I might POST has already been said somewhere.

Please tell me what BONE CONDUCTION EARPHONES you bought for yourself or currently recommend for those of us with unrelenting tinnitus. I researched BOSE.....AMAZON.COM {really confusing} and a site called Aftershotz. When I read your post about the relief you got I went from severely depressed to hopeful. Thank you for all your brilliant research. Of course anyone with experience with the Bone Conduction Earphones please share as well for the benefit of all.

[[Bi...]]

 

Got the help I needed....changing BIRDMAN to FANTASTIC LADY.....she's sensational, bright, loving and caring. A real Blessing to the TENACIOUS TINNITUS CLUB

 

;D ??? : :-*

[[sn...]]

Got the help I needed....changing BIRDMAN to FANTASTIC LADY.....she's sensational, bright, loving and caring. A real Blessing to the TENACIOUS TINNITUS CLUB

Dear Birdman, I sent a PM at first but realized that many other members of the TENACIOUS TINNITUS SUPPORT GROUP might have a similar question for you and let me thank you in advance. I said I read everything but post infrequently as anything I might POST has already been said somewhere.

Please tell me what BONE CONDUCTION EARPHONES you bought for yourself or currently recommend for those of us with unrelenting tinnitus. I researched BOSE.....AMAZON.COM {really confusing} and a site called Aftershotz. When I read your post about the relief you got I went from severely depressed to hopeful. Thank you for all your brilliant research. Of course anyone with experience with the Bone Conduction Earphones please share as well for the benefit of all.

She sure is. I think most would agree with that.

[[Ne...]]

I really must thank BIRDMAN.....for starting this thread. The group got allot of posts in the beginning but it has slowed down somewhat. In my opinion what ever anyone's symptoms are none aregood but TINNITUS has very little in the way we can cope. For pain, insomnia, muscle spasm...yes there are medications to temporarily combat this symptoms......The psychological group too has few helpers.

The Involuntary Nervous system has two parts, The sympathetic "FLIGHT OR FRIGHT" is in overdrive as there is too little GABA and too much Glutamate. GABA is a sedating neurotransmitter which everyone hears about right away but an abundance of glutamate with no off setting GABA lead to the cluster of unbearable at times called benzodiazepine withdrawal SYNDROME. The stories and experiences of people "going through this" is more than well documented but for the purpose of my post I want to address tinnitus only.

The descriptions and worrisome thought we all have was superbly encapsulated by BIRDMAN { a fantastic lady} in her introduction to the TENACIOUS TINNITUS CLUB which also has folks suffering hyperacusis as well. There are the lab rat folks who research and try various medication or supplements ; and the researchle who type in TINNITIS on a google seach and spend days if not weeks reading everything ever written on the subject. It will take you to allopathic medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, vitamins and supplements, you tube MIRACLE CURES, charalatins, recognized ENT specialist....the diversity is astounding with NO REAL ANSWERS for relief or cure.

 

I believe those still tapering who experienced TINNITUS in withdrawal will have finish their tapers; experience some acute withdrawal post taper and allow for the rebalancing of GABA and glutamate. ASHTON said it was the last symptom to go and of all the symptoms was the most PROTRACTIVE f all. I do not say to depress anyone especially myself but it's a realistic approach to know that recovery while possible may take a long time.

Some here have read BLISS JOHNS book BENZO-WISE...and in her 2 years of PAWS..{acute withdrawal post taper} she confronted everything including UNRELENTING TINNITUS.

What I did was read every post and my own research which I will list in no order of importance.

LET ME SAY THAT I HAVE NOT TRIED ANY OF THIS NOR DO I ENDORSE ANYTHING I LIST.

I am waiting for the delivery from EBAY of my BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES which I read about in a post by Birdman, She was kind enough to suggest the AFTERSHOTZ brand and you can find allot of information right here from her posts on the TENACIOUS TINNITIS CLUB.

When I get them I will share my experience with all of you that follow this thread.  So here goes my list: all on the club

1. Jarrow Brand of NAC  n-acetylcysteine

2. Lipo flavonoids  LIPOFLAVOIND PLUS 

3 Aftershok2 -Bone Conduction Headphones

4. " Natures Sound 15  The MOST RELAXING SOUNDS  you tube

5. WHITE NOISE and PINK NOISE MASKERS....You Tube

6. Meditation, Medical hypnosis, Relaxation CD's  a host....Jon Kabat Zinn, Andrew Weil, Martin Rossman all on CD'S

7. The useof the I pod...and ear bud whenever you can.

8. Magnesium  Beware  and due your due diligence. There are many forms of Magnesium

9 Acetyl-L-Carnitine

10. Melatonin    they suggest 1 mg/day  for tinnitus relief 3mgs/day  again due your due diligence

11. CO Q10

12.B12 1000 mg's a day

13 TRANS REVERATROL ....mops up excess glutamate

13 Tumeric

14. Taurine 500 mg Q.I. D

 

My own opinion on supplements. I will not take anything until my taper and post healing occurs. STRESS , Quiet rooms, and Vitamins all rev up my Central Nervous System period. I have seen discussions on Magnesium from PROS to CONS....so let me in conclusion say "WE ARE NOT TEST TUBES" and everyone reacts differently to everything and everything has side effects. THERE IS NO FREEE LUNCH IN BEZO w/d...whether you use a Gemeni Scale, microtaper, Liquid Valium or dry cut and hold. Ashton never said there would be no symptoms, she said there would be. Some more manageable than others. For me TINNITUS has been the most unmanageable.

 

Thank you Lisa for starting this thread and please every one weigh in with your thoughts, hopes, criticisms, and additional ideas. There are Unfixable TYPO'S but you will all get the gest of my post.

[[...]]

Hello BB,

 

  Just want to update everyone on the Lipo-Flavonoids that I have been taking for 60 days. There as been no change for my Tinnitus at all. And I followed the Manufactures instructions to the tee.  But will take them for another 30 days just in case I might have to have them in my system a little longer.

 

 

 

Godspeed to you all, and keep moving forward.     

 

 

 

Rocket

[[Bi...]]

Hi Needsomehelp, Oi81 and snoball,

 

I struggle with tinnitus daily and the only thing to helps is sound therapy.  For the people that still have hyperacusis and tinnitus together sound therapy can be a mixed bag so be careful.  But at the stage of healing I am at the hyperacusis is gone now and then sound therapy really works good

 

In desperation I have popped a few xanax to find relief but the tinnitus does not stop so I suspect there are more players than just gaba and glutamate at work in the brain in withdrawal.  From what I have read the inner ear has been in OXIDATION STRESS for so long its filled with extra fluid trying to keep things settled down and taking a pill will not reduce swelling.  This has to run its coarse.  I reinstated with the hopes it would settle my tinnitus and it did after about two weeks but it never went away.  I am glad I reinstated? YES, it helped and I am also glad I tapered down too.  My tinnitus is the best its been in the last 20 months so also time has a lot to do with it.

 

When people read this they maybe think we are overly upset about a little buzzing sound in our ears.  Let me tell you its WAY more than that. Its like sound and pain all wrapped up in a package. Also the frequency of the tinnitus is Taylor made to upset you.  The frequency really gets on your nerves, that's what it does, its a warning signal that something is wrong and your mind responds with extreme stress.

 

1.  Masking the sound is a big help as it let's the brain relax avoiding a feed back loop!

 

2. Try to get sleep what ever it takes. I have found remeron at 4 to 7.5mg very helpful and 15 mg way too much

 

What I do is take 4mg (3.75) at bed time and keep another 4mg piece on the night stand.  If I wake up I'll give it 30 minutes and then I'll take the other 4mg remeron.

 

So far I only need the other dose 1 or 2 nights a week and that's been going on for 9 months so it keeps working at this level / style of dosing.

 

I went to the house clinic in Californian in 2013 and talked to John House and he has tinnitus too. His recommendation was to try tricyclic antidepressants to get sleep. That's not what I wanted to hear but this is the top hearing specialist on the planet talking and he can't even help his own tinnitus.  So what John told me I did.  He did say that he knew hundreds of people with benzo induced tinnitus and that 99% of them did heal but it took many years for the worst cases. 

 

I'd say sound therapy and remeron at bed time have been my saviors thus far.  One day I hope to abandon them both

[[Ne...]]

oi81, snoball, Birdman,

 

oi81...guess I should remove LIPO-FLAVOIDS from my list....but I will check back in 30 days to See what you report

 

snoball...we should start the BIRDMAN fan club thread...I just love that woman. Want to change her BB name to FANTASTIC LADY......her intelligence is only exceeded by her caring.

 

BIRDMAN....change your name to Guardian Angel ...guess its to late for that.

 

Praying for everyone's healing.

 

[[Bi...]]

Some good info  http://vestibular.org/tinnitus

[[sn...]]

oi81, snoball, Birdman,

 

oi81...guess I should remove LIPO-FLAVOIDS from my list....but I will check back in 30 days to See what you report

 

snoball...we should start the BIRDMAN fan club thread...I just love that woman. Want to change her BB name to FANTASTIC LADY......her intelligence is only exceeded by her caring.

 

BIRDMAN....change your name to Guardian Angel ...guess its to late for that.

 

Praying for everyone's healing.

Yeah Needsomehelp...Good OL Birdie is a nice addition to the forum. We gotta be careful...Dont want her to get a swollen head. She's already been through enough. :laugh: :D :laugh:

[[Is...]]

Birdman,

 

My symptoms are so severe in physical & mental that I am not sure what is happening.  My ears were hit very hard.  So much pain in ears and other symptoms in the ears that I cannot even say what is exactly happening in them.  But I would like some more help if possible:

 

Who is the best Doctor to see for this ear stuff we are experiencing? (I saw ENT and he said everything OK, Had hearing test and hearing OK except real low sounds but who could hear low sounds over the tinnitus) ENT said go see a TMJ specialist haven't done that yet.

 

I didn't have any of these problems with my ears before my c/t.  Now so much problems with my ears and hearing.  I feel like I cannot hear out of my right ear but hearing test said it was fine.

 

Thanks so much, IslandGirl

 

 

[[Bi...]]

Birdman,

 

My symptoms are so severe in physical & mental that I am not sure what is happening.  My ears were hit very hard.  So much pain in ears and other symptoms in the ears that I cannot even say what is exactly happening in them.  But I would like some more help if possible:

 

Who is the best Doctor to see for this ear stuff we are experiencing? (I saw ENT and he said everything OK, Had hearing test and hearing OK except real low sounds but who could hear low sounds over the tinnitus) ENT said go see a TMJ specialist haven't done that yet.

 

I didn't have any of these problems with my ears before my c/t.  Now so much problems with my ears and hearing.  I feel like I cannot hear out of my right ear but hearing test said it was fine.

 

Thanks so much, IslandGirl

 

Hi Island girl, I went through everything you went through (Still am but I'm much better).  The ear pain is vestibular pressure in the vestibule.  The unchecked glutamate is very hard on the inner ear and makes it swell. 

 

http://i.imgur.com/ExLFNoC.jpg

 

My Dr. friend said if I jumped and did not want to be on benzo's he would put me on Baclofen, Gabapentin or Topamax for a year or so.  But they are all addictive too but can be slow tapered just like a benzo.

 

He said he had fantastic luck with baclofen to stop the benzo induced tinnitus!!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baclofen

 

Now the rub is it's as addictive as benzo's are but can be tapered too.  It depends on how desperate you feel, only you can know.  I wish I could take your pain away from you but all I have is knowledge to offer.  Eventually the pain will go away but it may take a while.

 

You will heal but there are med options if your really going nuts.  I was in so much pain I reinstated, I was getting suicidal, had no choice.  I know now the best way out is a very super slow taper on what ever drug you are on,  Baclofen, gabapentin, topamax, benzo etc.

 

I hope you start feeling better soon  :'(  I now how bad this is, this really sucks! :'(

 

 

[[Ne...]]

About 11 years ago I went through Benzo w/d after 5 years on Ativan for INSOMNIA. Tinnitus was my first symptom to notify me that I was in withdrawal. It felt like a pipe burst in the house or an A/C duct had uncoupled until I realized it was tinnitus. Yes I had a whole slew of symptoms but the TINNITUS was the last to go. I have lost the upper range of hearing so that's a weak spot and w/d hits us all in our weakest areas. Anyway I saw several things on the Internet today that may be of interest.....

1, UNIVERSAL SOUND THERAPY....CD DISK  47 dollars  16 CUSTOM 5 STAR REVIEWS    218 833 2325

              90 DAY MONEY BACK GUARENTEE 

2. PAXX100...expensive 650.00  Canadian Company based in Quebec or Montreal

            sophisticated listening device....google it  for more information

 

Dear Island Girl , I hope you find some help. I share your feeling of desperation as I await my BONE CONDITION HEADPHONES that Birdman told me about. Every wake up during the night for me and I average 5 is punctuated by LOUD UNRELENTING TINNITUS...to the point that I put my ear buds in ...and at max volume listen to an ANTI-ANXIETY CD which focuses on the breath, mind body relaxation and guided imagery.

Bacolofen is a muscle relaxant but works successfully against ALCOHOLISM...might have an effect on GABA.....Neurontin  might require HIGH doses for any effect...like 1300 Mg's/day

Don't know what TOPOMAX would do.....

I am waiting to finish my taper from Valium before trying any medications or supplements. ASHTON says tinnitus is the hardest symptom resolve in her MANUEL.

 

We are all frustrated and fearful to be sure.

Praying for some relief for you.

NSH

[[Is...]]

Birdman- Thank you so much for the information. This is so terrible. I am afraid of any drugs right now. I found one thing that seems to help at night. I put a sound machines on each side of my bed. 1 machine has white noise and the other sound machine has rain noise. It has helped the last 2 nights. Not sure why but who cares as long as it keeps working.

 

NSH - Thank you for responding.  I am so scared to use any meds. I am currently trying a herb recommended by PD on this thread. It is called Kanna. I finally got it in the mail yesterday and took it last night for the first time. It seemed to help calm me down so I dont focus on the tinnitus. I actually was able to lay for 3 hours. That is alot for me.

 

Heal safely and quickly... Love  IslandGirl

[[Bi...]]

as I await my BONE CONDITION HEADPHONES that Birdman told me about. Every wake up during the night for me and I average 5 is punctuated by LOUD

 

The nice part is you crank them up and it can't damage your hearing

 

                        Great head massage too

 

Some tips I learned:

1. The charge lasts 4 hours so turn them off when ever not in use.  They take 4 hours to recharge   (so I got two sets, one to use and one to recharge )

2. DO NOT plug them into the recharger with them turned on!  Make sure the little blue light is turned off when you plug them back into the USB charger or you will blow the conduction coils in the left head piece eventually. I broke mine but they did warranty it

 

The only way I can comfortably talk to people on the iphone is with bone conduction headphones.  I also have 4000 songs and 600 movies on my iphone and I have become very attached to my iphone as a tinnitus relief tool. Thanks Steve Jobs

[[Ne...]]

Thanks BIRDMAN for the headsup on the BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES. If I find they help me as they have helped you I will order a second one immediately as 4 hours is a long time to wait for recharging.

Love ya,

NSH

[[pr...]]

Birdy,

 

what re the bone conduction headphones and do they work or help with the hyperacusis symptom?

 

thanks, pretty

[[No...]]

Five months benzo free. I continue to feel better and better. The tinnitus was almost gone, until I caught a bad head cold a week ago. It came back with a vengeance, but now that I am no longer sick it is gone again. I continue to take the lipoflavinoids.

[[Dr...]]

Has anybody noticed that if you put the palm of your hand on your forhead with you fingers touching near the temples and stretch the skin just a bit the tinnitus gets louder in one ear or the other. Mine gets louder in the left ear if I pull from the right. If I pull from the left the high pitch goes away completely but is replaced with a low hum and a buzz. I'm going to start doing a lot of head and neck massage to see if anything can take away the tension that just might be a contributing factor.

[[Bi...]]

Birdy,

 

what re the bone conduction headphones and do they work or help with the hyperacusis symptom?

 

thanks, pretty

 

Hi Pretty, for hyperacusis I think they are too loud.  As you heal the hyperacusis fades away first and the tinnitus remains.  Only at that point in your healing should you consider any type of sound therapy.

 

Hugs Bird

[[Bi...]]

Five months benzo free. I continue to feel better and better. The tinnitus was almost gone, until I caught a bad head cold a week ago. It came back with a vengeance, but now that I am no longer sick it is gone again. I continue to take the lipoflavinoids.

 

That's great news.  The vitamin B6 in the lipoflavinoids are actually part of the synthesis process for extra GABA in the brain.

[[Bi...]]

Has anybody noticed that if you put the palm of your hand on your forhead with you fingers touching near the temples and stretch the skin just a bit the tinnitus gets louder in one ear or the other. Mine gets louder in the left ear if I pull from the right. If I pull from the left the high pitch goes away completely but is replaced with a low hum and a buzz. I'm going to start doing a lot of head and neck massage to see if anything can take away the tension that just might be a contributing factor.

 

This is called Modulating Tinnitus

 

REF; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2633109/

 

This is because tinnitus has so many triggers in the body not just the cochlea.  Remember tinnitus is the ALARM of the body that something is wrong.  If you push your forehead really hard with the palm of your hand and then push forward with your neck your tinnitus may get screaming loud.  Your body interprets this as a threat and warns you that your neck is under attack.  That's what makes tinnitus so unnerving since by design your body reacts to it with a great stress.

 

 

[[Ne...]]

Really interesting article BIRDMAN and I am still by the door awaiting the BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES that tracking said should be here by today. There are many scientific papers that can be found on the net by typing in "tinnitus and benzodiazepine withdrawal". Many quote Ashton and her queries as to whether there are permanent changes to the Brain after BENZODIAPINE use both long and short term. We know that she said TINNITUS was one of the last symptoms to leave and of course all of us on this thread worry about permanency. But it seems not only to me that one must finish the taper , be BENZO FREE for a long time and hope that the tinnitus fades. So that's my mind set...get off the poison and allow for up regulation of GABAa . In the mean time quiet rooms; wake ups from deep sleep and stress are the major triggers for me.

Out and about helps sublimate the tinnitus with back round noise and business. I think people who have manageable symptoms and are working are actually at an advantage over home and quiet rooms.

 

YIPEEE .......the AFTERSHOKZ BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES JUST ARRIVED. Hope they help, praying they help. :thumbsup:

[[Bi...]]

Really interesting article BIRDMAN and I am still by the door awaiting the BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES that tracking said should be here by today. There are many scientific papers that can be found on the net by typing in "tinnitus and benzodiazepine withdrawal". Many quote Ashton and her queries as to whether there are permanent changes to the Brain after BENZODIAPINE use both long and short term. We know that she said TINNITUS was one of the last symptoms to leave and of course all of us on this thread worry about permanency. But it seems not only to me that one must finish the taper , be BENZO FREE for a long time and hope that the tinnitus fades. So that's my mind set...get off the poison and allow for up regulation of GABAa . In the mean time quiet rooms; wake ups from deep sleep and stress are the major triggers for me.

Out and about helps sublimate the tinnitus with back round noise and business. I think people who have manageable symptoms and are working are actually at an advantage over home and quiet rooms.

 

YIPEEE .......the AFTERSHOKZ BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES JUST ARRIVED. Hope they help, praying they help. :thumbsup:

 

My tinnitus is so bad I can hear it in loud rooms too.  Even with a 150 watt radio up to full blast the tinnitus is so loud it makes the inside of my ear itch.

 

In C/T it gave me crippling ear aches.