Tinnitus

skidog
skidog Member Posts: 74 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

hello, any advice on dealing with Tinnitus? I dont think its radiation related. Had it for years but seems to be worse now. both ears. I dont drink alcohol anymore (heard reducing that might help). Can be quite annoying at times.

 

thanks!

Comments

  • Logan51
    Logan51 Member Posts: 468 Member
    edited January 2020 #2
    skidog

    I Googled it and got this: https://www.healthline.com/health/tinnitus-remedies#tinnitus-remedies.

    Say there is no cure, but a number of things that might help. My one Grandma had it real bad. I did not notice it until some 6-7 years after C-tx, and now is a constant, but distant, high-pitched buzzing. And I did ask my PCP about it. Said there's nothing he can do to help. An ENT or Audiologist would be the Dr. to see.

    Hope it gets less annoying.

     

     

     

  • skidog
    skidog Member Posts: 74 Member
    #3
    ERomanO said:

    I've had tinnitus for close

    I've had tinnitus for close to 25 years.  It bumped up in intensity once early on but has remained steady ever since.  I've just learned to ignore it (even though I can't totally) and not let it bother me. I've not heard of anything that's proven to help.

    thanks guys...

    I figured as much. the finger flicking on the back of the head technique on youtube oddly does help for a few minutes. :)

  • ERomanO
    ERomanO Member Posts: 323 Member
    #4
    I've had tinnitus for close

    I've had tinnitus for close to 25 years.  It bumped up in intensity once early on but has remained steady ever since.  I've just learned to ignore it (even though I can't totally) and not let it bother me. I've not heard of anything that's proven to help.

  • tbret
    tbret Member Posts: 76 Member
    #5
    Tinnitis changes

    I can't help you treat the tinnitis you have, I have no idea how to help and I am listening to some right now.  It doesn't bother me too badly.  I think Aerosmith was the beginning of the end ("Toys in the Attic" tour) and seven years of playing a field snare drum in high school and college couldn't have helped.

     

    BUT ---

     

    Mine was FRIGHTENINGLY worse after Cisplatin and radiation - I'd say about a month into treatment, maybe six weeks, I thought "I cannot live like this."    I had serious high frequency loss in my right ear, but shrieking whistles in both ears, anyway.

     

    The only reason I'm making a comment is to give some hope.  Mine subsided back to the background where it has been since I was a teenager and my high frequency hearing improved a lot, like almost back to pre-treatment frequency range, within about a year of my treatments ending.

     

    This, for me, was an especially welcome blessing because listening to music is almost exclusively what I do for entertainment.  I was told it was probably permanent.

     

    I hope yours follows suit and either goes away or at least stops being annoying to you.

  • deblives5
    deblives5 Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2020 #6
    thank you

    I am so glad I found this discussion. I thought I was along in dealing with tinnitus. I hope it gets better soon...

  • OhNoItsMe
    OhNoItsMe Member Posts: 21 Member
    #7
    deblives5 said:

    thank you

    I am so glad I found this discussion. I thought I was along in dealing with tinnitus. I hope it gets better soon...

    Tinnitus

    I just finished treatment and I have it as well. Hoping it goes away. Ive heard acupuncture helps sometimes and I've hear bioflavonoids help. I have not tried either. 

  • hlrowe
    hlrowe Member Posts: 80
    #8
    Mine got a little worse after

    Mine got a little worse after treatment. Mainly in left ear. Sounds like an oscillating high frequency. I ignore it most of the time. It hasn't gotten any worse in 8.5 years post TX.

  • Soldier of Love
    Soldier of Love Member Posts: 12 Member
    edited January 2021 #9
    OhNoItsMe said:

    Tinnitus

    I just finished treatment and I have it as well. Hoping it goes away. Ive heard acupuncture helps sometimes and I've hear bioflavonoids help. I have not tried either. 

    Tinnitus Before and After Treatment

    I've been living with a ringing in both ears for over 5 years now.  I had it before my treatment and still have after.  For me I notice it can change depending on my diet.  Sometimes it can be very distracting and hard to listen to others talking to me as to the point where the ringing inhibits me from understanding what they are saying. I don't think it will get any better as we grow older and that was confirmed by my doctor who also has it.  My first two years were the worst because it causes more challenges than you think. I have learned to deal with it especially after having cancer that was the least of my worries.  I wish there was a cure and that your goes away.  Perhaps yours will settle down considering it was caused by the treatment. Stay away from caffeine if you can or limit the amout you consume. Try to stay away from proccessed foods or any type of toxic like smoking...etc.  I wish you all the best on your recovery.   

  • Mattie65
    Mattie65 Member Posts: 82 Member
    edited February 2021 #10
    I've been dealing with

    I've been dealing with Tinnitus for about 10 years now. It's not cancer related. Just started one day and didn't stop since then. I just learned to ignore it. I get aware of it now and then, then I ignore it again. It gets worse on some days, specially when I'm not well. I guess it's here to stay but there's worse in life.

  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member
    edited February 2021 #11
    Tinnitus

    Before treatment I was a truck driver and like tbret I listened to Aerosmith at high volume so I had some ringing in my left ear. It got a lot worse after radiation and a few doctors told me it is what it is and had no suggestions. I did try to move my jaw in different positions thinking maybe I could get different pitches so I could play my own music in my head. (Maybe the voices in my nead could sing along) Didn't work. I've come to the conclusion I was married before and learned to drum out unwanted noises so I can do it with the ringing as well. I've seen advertisements in magazines and Fakebook on how to get rid of it but figured they just wanted money. You know the typical Introductory price of $39.95 plus $5.95 shipping for a 30 day supply. After 20 days you cal and say their product did nothing and their response is you need to try it for 90 days.

     

    Enjoy your day everyone. I'll go back to my corner now.

    Jeff

     

  • Kenny-
    Kenny- Member Posts: 99 Member
    edited February 2021 #12
    Mine was prevalent in the

    Mine was prevalent in the first 2 years. Now it comes and goes. It was associated to the amount of cisplatin I had during TX. 

  • Swoosh13
    Swoosh13 Member Posts: 82 Member
    #13

    Hi All, Hubbie and I were down at NW today so I will be writing more on that later (Proton therapy for his Stage I SCC BOT HPV+ 16).

    Just wanted to chime in here I have had tinnitus only in my right ear for the past 6 years. Caused by an antibiotic I took back then for a staph infection I had (Minicycline). It’s really only annoying when it’s very quiet. I’ve learned to tune it out so it doesn’t affect my sleep. Oddly I lay that ear onto my pillow and somehow it helps. My ENT also told me not much to do but try to ignore it. I now have that med in my chart to say I’m allergic to it.

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