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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,102
Top 25 Poster
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OP
Top 25 Poster
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,102 |
As most of you regular JPF's know, I have been trying to deal with Tinnitus. First, I had to cut back on the band playing, then to regretfully end all band playing. I also had to limit the piano tunings I could do. Not good for the income.
So, with wanting to play, (of course!), and to have to make money doing "something", I learned about TRT, (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy). It was headed by a noted doctor out of Baltimore, Maryland. Many have been helped with his very comprehensive therapy, which involves audio path retraining with machines used at the clinic and at home. And, counseling to try to learn how to ignore the Tinnitus sounds. (ha! Ignore the siren in your ears!) Also, to combat over sensitivity to all sounds, (hyperacousis), which I had developed.
Since I found out it costs thousands to have all that done, and still with no claim of being a cure, I figured I would do the things I could do by myself. (I just don't have the money to pay for such a thing, being insurance doesn't cover any of it). No insurance does. Not just mine, in other words.
So, once I learned more about TRT by asking two local clinics who were trained by the head inventor of TRT to send me their material, "I've been doing the work"! "I'm taking those baby steps"! And with my unyielding competitive nature to claim what Charlie Sheen has been claiming lately, "Winning"!, I am finding success with my own TRT! I don't have any machines for the audio pathway treatment. BUT, what I do have, is the focus, acceptance, and work ethic that my own efforts WILL improve all areas of my two conditions. (Tinnitus, and Hyperacousis).
What I have been finding out is:
1. No need to turn on the masking sounds I used to put on to help not hear Tinnitus when trying to sleep. Why? Because with remapping the thoughts that once were constant, ("how to get relief"?), those thoughts are now replaced with, "I don't need relief". Surprising how fast this simple remapping of thoughts has been to actually relieve my Tinnitus. I just lay down, and think of things we all usually think about, or try not to think about, without thought or noticing Tinnitus. If it's there, fine. I just refuse to hear it as being dominate over anything now. Not my thoughts, TV, Cindy talking, whatever! It's been put on the back burner. And day after day, I turn down the flame, lower and lower.
2. Hyperacousis, that terrible reaction of the hearing center from sudden louder noises especially, has also been reduced to the point that I consider myself not having it anymore. So, I also simply block that out. Even if feeling a certain feeling in the ears when something loud happens, (or as it had been, just a regular playing of a note on the piano), I don't feel it as much, and especially don't and WON'T pay it any attention now. All the info I read about just made sense in a basic way. I thought, "I don't need to find thousands of dollars to do what they do for their end result. I, or anyone with conviction to do the work of the mind can do it!
I have hopes of playing as before. May not be in the band at first, (with Marnie, (drums) in Florida. But play I will, and have been a little of late. I am just refusing to have Tinnitus stay the same, never mind get worse!
I hope Bill Robinson and others with Tinnitus take the time to get all the TRT info they can. And see if they can follow my lead and get REAL relief. I think the mind can fix itself a lot of times. This is one that I now have my own proof that taking on Tinnitus and Hyperacousis can be done with success! And, without the 2 to 12 thousand dollar price-tags! And buying gear to have to use 2 hours a day or more. So far, I have no need for any of that, finding great success in just a few weeks. (Not months to a year as with the doctor's ways).
I am not saying you will not need the doctor way. But I am saying I would try my, (your own) way first.
Thanks to all who sent me positive thoughts! Many were convinced there would be some way of getting better. How right you were!
No more thinking about Tinnitus other than this thread. No more thinking how I can't play or tune pianos like I did. No more needing anything to mask any sounds. They are disappearing and becoming a non-factor faster than I could ever dream about in such an attempt.
Know that there is relief. Have that hope and conviction to do what it takes to get there. Learn as much as you can about TRT. Then, FORGETABOUTIT! Forget about having Tinntus and Hyperacousis too! THIS is a giant step to have all the other efforts and results follow. It's rather simple actually.
Now,,,what did I have?......hmmmm...Oh well, back to doing most of the things I used to and "can do" again.
To quote Albert Finny in "Network", "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!! That means you will now DO something about it!
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,831
Top 30 Poster
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Top 30 Poster
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,831 |
Hi John:
Please keep us posted regarding your progress. I appreciate your taking all the time to provide background information. I had Tinnitus for awhile after a bike tire exploded near my ear during inflation. Low Dose Steroid shots and time finally took it away. I still tend to get dizzy from time to time and attribute it to inner ear problems but certainly don't have the dibilitating troubles that others here experience daily.
Best of luck with your TRT regimin.
Dave
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 289
Top 500 Poster
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Top 500 Poster
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 289 |
I have rather severe tinnitus and hearing loss, particularly in the upper ranges, and particularly in my left ear, although I am noticing some in my right today, for about the last 15-20 years. Suffice it to say, I have been dealing with the drawbacks of directionalizing sound, understanding accented speech of any kind, and other matters, for that entire time. My sister has recently developed a the condition due to some neurological issues (mine is due to nerve destruction in my inner ears), so I am now passing out advice within the family on the matter.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,343
Top 30 Poster
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Top 30 Poster
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,343 |
Good to "hear" this new development John. I will check into it. Fortunately my ears don't earn my living. But the Tinnitus can really be a "Pain". I have actually started noticing a little pain with it. Might just be my imagination. Some days it isn't bad. I noticed I didn't hear it yesterday morning. I actually had to listen for it. It was very faint. Today however it is SCREAMING. Both ears. left is slightly pitchy today. No harmony at all. I will took into this TRT. Maybe it will help. But I have had tinnitus so long I can ignore it most of the time. What little hearing loss I have in my left ear is negligible on the very high end and doesn't seem to bother me. Thanks for the info.
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