Freaking Tinnitus!

[austinite]

If you recall a while back I posted asking anyone if they knew anything about "Brain Zaps". I've been getting these for over a month. To keep it short, when I'm about to fall asleep, I hear a ringing/hissing sound that gets increasingly louder until a ridiculous shock zaps my head and neck. Keeps me awake and been getting very little sleep.

So now, for the past week, my ears have been ringing nonstop. 24/7. That's Tinnitus. The assumption over the years is that it is an issue at the ears. Recently (I think) it was suggested that it is an issue with some cluster in the brain.

The crappy part about all this, is that there is no cure. Nothing at all. You have it forever in most cases. Rare that it goes away. Everything and everyone suggests that I sleep with music on or a TV to mask the hissing sound. The brain shocks/zaps only happen if I can hear/focus on the sound. But when I wear headphones and listen to podcasts, I can fall asleep. But it's uncomfortable and keeps me up a while. Even then, I got a light zap last night.

The cause is exposure to loud noises. So it's common in folks who have served in the military, construction workers, etc... I have absolutely not been exposed to anything loud. I don't get it. I didn't think about posting about it again until I read that 50 million people in the US have Tinnitus! 50 million!

Anyone experience this at all? A constant ringing in your ear(s)? It's driving me insane and I'm sure my recent headaches are related.

[Euroholic]

Yea i was in the army and construction so im double fu**** i have what they call industrial deafness. I can hear but when i do one of those hearing tests with the headphones in those boxes i cant hear the high peach frequency.

No army or construction? Are you a muscian? Or been to alot of raves/concerts etc? If not its just luck of the draw ay.

[FRDave]

I have constant ringing in the ears, just assumed it was normal lol. Been like that as long as I can remember. I don't get loud zaps as you mentioned, just sounds like faint white noise. Or is it pink noice?

As a teenager I had a very loud sound systems in all my vehicles, so this could have been the cause I my case.

[austinite]

I have constant ringing in the ears, just assumed it was normal lol. Been like that as long as I can remember. I don't get loud zaps as you mentioned, just sounds like faint white noise. Or is it pink noice?

As a teenager I had a very loud sound systems in all my vehicles, so this could have been the cause I my case.

Yeah it's a super high frequency. Sometimes it pulses and sometimes constant. I don't notice it much at work because I'm busy and doing things. Mostly when I'm at home and especially when I try and sleep.

[Igifuno]

Once and a while a get a high pitched ringing that won't go away but no zaps..

I just looked it up though and read a study that said high amounts of masterbation is the leading cause of Tinnitus, and not loud noises.. Hmmm.

[Euroholic]

^^^^^^^^ how does batting off do that???

[ironbeck]

I have a app downloaded called lightining bug, it's basically a rain sound simulator but with lots of options. I have found listening to this as I fall asleep the best. It cancels out the ringing but there's no music or words to focus on just the soothing sound of rain and lighting the way you set it up.

[almostgone]

I had a similar problem with my left ear and my ENT doc said it was a Eustachian tube problem. It doesn't cause problems on my right ear due to a combo of scar tissue and a hole in my right eardrum. ENT gave me some freebie antihistamine nasal spray and it seemed to alleviate the issue. Guessing it's a seasonal thing for me.

[noon]

I have a app downloaded called lightining bug, it's basically a rain sound simulator but with lots of options. I have found listening to this as I fall asleep the best. It cancels out the ringing but there's no music or words to focus on just the soothing sound of rain and lighting the way you set it up.

I concur can't sleep with out it.

[derekkpapa1]

Dr austinite we have faith you will find a cure

[Times Roman]

Mate,

Tinnitus is very common. I've had mine since an early teenager. Coincidently, that's right around the time i began going to rock concerts all the time and playing in a big band.

Having tinitus is like living near the rail road tracks. When you stop and notice, it's always ringing, never stops. But over time, just like living near the rail road tracks, you get used to the loud noise.

This is no cure as best as I am aware......

If you recall a while back I posted asking anyone if they knew anything about "Brain Zaps". I've been getting these for over a month. To keep it short, when I'm about to fall asleep, I hear a ringing/hissing sound that gets increasingly louder until a ridiculous shock zaps my head and neck. Keeps me awake and been getting very little sleep.

So now, for the past week, my ears have been ringing nonstop. 24/7. That's Tinnitus. The assumption over the years is that it is an issue at the ears. Recently (I think) it was suggested that it is an issue with some cluster in the brain.

The crappy part about all this, is that there is no cure. Nothing at all. You have it forever in most cases. Rare that it goes away. Everything and everyone suggests that I sleep with music on or a TV to mask the hissing sound. The brain shocks/zaps only happen if I can hear/focus on the sound. But when I wear headphones and listen to podcasts, I can fall asleep. But it's uncomfortable and keeps me up a while. Even then, I got a light zap last night.

The cause is exposure to loud noises. So it's common in folks who have served in the military, construction workers, etc... I have absolutely not been exposed to anything loud. I don't get it. I didn't think about posting about it again until I read that 50 million people in the US have Tinnitus! 50 million!

Anyone experience this at all? A constant ringing in your ear(s)? It's driving me insane and I'm sure my recent headaches are related.

[Rusty11]

This must be driving you crazy. Look, you're the resident supp. guru, so I'm sure you've already ruled out cialis or one of the other supps you're taking. Any chance you'd stop all supps for a bit and see what happens? Anyway,"good luck,"buddy.

[Biff_Tannen]

I have it all the time from not wearing ear protection driving with sirens. My doctor says there's really not much to be done about it other than to protect against chronic loud noise and hope it resolves itself.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum

[kelkel]

I have a app downloaded called lightining bug, it's basically a rain sound simulator but with lots of options. I have found listening to this as I fall asleep the best. It cancels out the ringing but there's no music or words to focus on just the soothing sound of rain and lighting the way you set it up.

I'd simply pee myself.


Austin sorry to hear this.

[BG]

When you train do you listen to music with an IPod? Maybe lower the volume might help?

[lovbyts]

Its caused my alien implants. ...

I use a air purifier in my room when I sleep for whilst noise.

[capetown]

There has got to be lots of info out there on this. A guy down the street from me took his own life a few years back because of ringing that wouldn't stop. I think i remember someone saying that suicide is very common. This being said, I would imagine there is support somewhere. Good luck.

[ickythump]

As cape said it's dangerous if it's bad, some people do not handle it well...but I read something about it, and I believe they're making serious ground, it was on a health news feed on my pulse app, I'll try to find it but it was a bit ago

[ickythump]

I think Beethoven had it but he was also deaf

[diesel101]

Once and a while a get a high pitched ringing that won't go away but no zaps..

I just looked it up though and read a study that said high amounts of masterbation is the leading cause of Tinnitus, and not loud noises.. Hmmm.

That must be the reason it sounds like a train horn going off in my ears all time!

[--->>405<<---]

i know it all too well.. IMO mine started a couple months after i started my TRT and i associate it with it for some reason i cant explain. for awhile i thought i was not gonna be able to deal with it but i got used to it and now never think about it.

our brain is capable of determining noises it deems "important" and "unimportant" and can actually filter out or reduce some of the unimportant noise.

check this out:
http://forums.steroid.com/hormone-re...ging-ears.html

[Angel of death]

benzo addiction can cause it

[joebailey1271]

Antivert or meclizine hydrochloride as it is also known can be quite helpful for some in the treatment of tinnitus as well as dizziness or vertigo. Although numerous people have claimed that antivert works rather well for the treatment of tinnitus, that is not the case for everyone. One of the things that make tinnitus so difficult to treat is the fact that there are so many different causes of it.

[austinite]

benzo addiction can cause it

Yes, lots of things can cause it. The only thing I take that I've seen could cause this is Hydrocodone. But my intake is far between.

Anyway, I developed severe headaches and the night zaps were unbearable. I couldn't sleep. I had a CT scan done and nothing out of the ordinary. No infection. It's just tinnitus.

As for the Zaps, there is some sort of imbalance when I am transitioning to full sleep. I'm still researching but it may be caused by drinking coffee really late (which I do). I've cut back on coffee after 3pm (switched to decaf) in hopes that it will help. Yesterday the ringing was bad but no zaps.

Started taking a diuretic too in case there's excess water somewhere.

Blood Pressure is through the roof. 162/98 and it elevated suddenly, because a week ago it was normal. So now I'm taking Clonidine until I figure this crap out.

[Igifuno]

Jeez aust.. You're still taking arginine/citrulline throughout all of this as well? What did your doc say about the elevated BP? Did you tell him/her about it?

[almostgone]

Yes, lots of things can cause it. The only thing I take ;that I've seen could cause this is Hydrocodone. But my intake is far between.

Anyway, I developed severe headaches and the night zaps were unbearable. I couldn't sleep. I had a CT scan done and nothing out of the ordinary. No infection. It's just tinnituss.

As for the Zaps, there is some sort of imbalance when I am transitioning to full sleep. I'm still researching but it may be caused by drinking coffee really late (which I do). I've cut back on coffee after 3pm (switched to decaf) in hopes that it will help. Yesterday the ringing was bad but
o zaps.

Started taking a diuretic too in case there's excess water somewhere.

Blood Pressure is through the roof. 162/98 and it elevated suddenly, because a week ago it was normal. So now I'm taking Clonidine until I figure this crap out.

Hope you get the issue squared away soon. Catapres/clonodine was very effective for me.

[austinite]

Been almost 4 years since I created this thread and I still have these brain zaps. It's actually called EXPLODING HEAD SYNDROME. Pretty cool name but not very fun. Several times a week I still get shocked in the brain and the kicks my butt right out of bed as I am transitioning to sleep.

Anyone have this? If so, do you also have tinnitus? I've had a brain scan and nothing unusual there.

[hammerheart]

Been almost 4 years since I created this thread and I still have these brain zaps. It's actually called EXPLODING HEAD SYNDROME. Pretty cool name but not very fun. Several times a week I still get shocked in the brain and the kicks my butt right out of bed as I am transitioning to sleep.

Anyone have this? If so, do you also have tinnitus? I've had a brain scan and nothing unusual there.

I have tinnitus at times since I got on TRT and today I know it's triggered by hormones imbalance, especially low/high E2.

Brain zaps I've experienced them when supplementing with tryptophan, can't imagine what's like living with those.

[MuscleScience]

I don't know what brain zaps are but I got tinnitus in my right ear pretty bad.
Sometimes it feels like an ear ache almost. If I'm sick or on certain mess it gets really loud. Over time it has decreased to some extent or I have learned to live with it.

[hammerheart]

I don't know what brain zaps are but I got tinnitus in my right ear pretty bad.
Sometimes it feels like an ear ache almost. If I'm sick or on certain mess it gets really loud. Over time it has decreased to some extent or I have learned to live with it.

Imagine the power goes away suddenly to resume one instant later, enough to make an old TV zap yet not long enough to turn off... that's what it feels like, but in your brain lol

[hammerheart]

Zap!

[TRA]

Been almost 4 years since I created this thread and I still have these brain zaps. It's actually called EXPLODING HEAD SYNDROME. Pretty cool name but not very fun. Several times a week I still get shocked in the brain and the kicks my butt right out of bed as I am transitioning to sleep.

Anyone have this? If so, do you also have tinnitus? I've had a brain scan and nothing unusual there.

Exploding head syndrome is associated with a sleep "dysfunction" and can be related to hypnagogic hallucinations, periodic restless limb movement, etc. I had something similar years ago under severe stress.

Imho it would not be related to unrelenting tinnitus which is a sign of hearing loss. The brain "makes up" for the missing sound. This should be checked out by an audiologist so it can be classified and anything that requires intervention can be ruled out. I had progressive tinnitus in my R ear much worse than left and profound R sided hearing loss in that two years. Ended up with a rare condition called otosclerosis and had surgery - completely normal now. Just would help to get it classified if you haven't already.

As far as the exploding head syndrome you can read up on hypnagogic hallucinations and eliminate some of the more common causes if any apply. That isn't a fun thing to have.

[BG]

Been almost 4 years since I created this thread and I still have these brain zaps. It's actually called EXPLODING HEAD SYNDROME. Pretty cool name but not very fun. Several times a week I still get shocked in the brain and the kicks my butt right out of bed as I am transitioning to sleep.

Anyone have this? If so, do you also have tinnitus? I've had a brain scan and nothing unusual there.

I have it very bad in my right ear. It started one night, woke me out of my sleep, just like you all the doctors say theres nothing that can be done. I tried many of the "voodoo" remedies which were waste of money. I have to sleep with a fan and noise maker going. I was getting very bad anxiety attacks in the middle of the night, it would wake me up and I would start thinking things like I have a tumor. I was put on trazadon but it was making me stupid, cant have that at work. It sucks really bad, sorry you have to deal with it also. Mine gets worst when I eat "bad" food, has to be affected by my bp. Does yours change pitch according to certain things?

[austinite]

I have it very bad in my right ear. It started one night, woke me out of my sleep, just like you all the doctors say theres nothing that can be done. I tried many of the "voodoo" remedies which were waste of money. I have to sleep with a fan and noise maker going. I was getting very bad anxiety attacks in the middle of the night, it would wake me up and I would start thinking things like I have a tumor. I was put on trazadon but it was making me stupid, cant have that at work. It sucks really bad, sorry you have to deal with it also. Mine gets worst when I eat "bad" food, has to be affected by my bp. Does yours change pitch according to certain things?

Mine increases in volume if I take anything caffeinated in the afternoon or later. I think It's a combination of my brain clock trying to sleep but the body fighting it. That's the only thing I noticed that impacts it.

[BG]

Mine increases in volume if I take anything caffeinated in the afternoon or later. I think It's a combination of my brain clock trying to sleep but the body fighting it. That's the only thing I noticed that impacts it.

Same here, I can tell how much I took according to the pitch. It really had me messed up in the head, it would wake me up in the middle of the night and my mind would go to bad places, the worst thing was I was still half asleep so I couldn't control it.

[elastica]

Tinnitus here, and multiple types at that. Had it my whole life, however I have extraordinary hearing rather than loss.

Look into melatonin and tinnitus. There is research on it. I didn't realize how much it was helping mine until I stopped taking it, makes a big difference for me.

Head zaps for me usually related to lowering intake of something that affects serotonin levels, like SSRI's or certain supplements.

Impingement or inflammation of cranial nerves can affect ears. Some types of tinnitus can be a type of myclonus. I have it where my eardrum will crack repeatedly in response to sounds like water running, silverware or dishes touching, children speaking, among other things. Musical tinnitus at night. Ringing and whooshing all other times. It's truly maddening at times. For the myclonus type I sometimes get a little relief by dabbing straight lavendar essential oil around my ear.

Anything that causes inflammation can create a condition of ototoxicity. Someone mentioned foods, which can very likely be culpable when all other things have been ruled out.

Look for sources of histamine, oxalates, and salicylates in the diet (all three categories will encompass the majority of healthy foods). Sensitivity to any or all of these types of food can cause ringing in the ears. Tinnitus-causing inflammation can come from other sources as well, like an otherwise unnoticeable sensitivity to casein or gluten. Also check all supplements for possible ototoxicity.

[BG]

Tinnitus here, and multiple types at that. Had it my whole life, however I have extraordinary hearing rather than loss.

Look into melatonin and tinnitus. There is research on it. I didn't realize how much it was helping mine until I stopped taking it, makes a big difference for me.

Head zaps for me usually related to lowering intake of something that affects serotonin levels, like SSRI's or certain supplements.

Impingement or inflammation of cranial nerves can affect ears. Some types of tinnitus can be a type of myclonus. I have it where my eardrum will crack repeatedly in response to sounds like water running, silverware or dishes touching, children speaking, among other things. Musical tinnitus at night. Ringing and whooshing all other times. It's truly maddening at times. For the myclonus type I sometimes get a little relief by dabbing straight lavendar essential oil around my ear.

Anything that causes inflammation can create a condition of ototoxicity. Someone mentioned foods, which can very likely be culpable when all other things have been ruled out.

Look for sources of histamine, oxalates, and salicylates in the diet (all three categories will encompass the majority of healthy foods). Sensitivity to any or all of these types of food can cause ringing in the ears. Tinnitus-causing inflammation can come from other sources as well, like an otherwise unnoticeable sensitivity to casein or gluten. Also check all supplements for possible ototoxicity.

Great post. I had to stop eating gluten, I knew it was one of the things that affected it mostly. Also the dishes, kills me, goes right through me like a electrical shock. Low volume music in the car drives me nuts, just low enough that you dont understand the lyrics, but you can still just hear the music, I have been driving mostly in the quite now. Do you have any links to this information, Ive looked myself but it just the basic things Ive come up with......thanks

[kelkel]

my brain clock

[TRA]

Alarming!

[wolves42]

I've been experiencing ringing in my ears the last 3 years, especially in my left ear. At times I also get some pain way down in my left ear. I also deal with vertigo and unbalance issues which all started 3 years ago too. Brain MRIs and everything came out fine.