Detecting a pattern

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David Emerling - 06 Jul 2004 18:32 GMT

My tinnitus is constant. Unlike others - it never completely goes away.
But it does sometimes seem to be more intense. I've been trying to detect
what seems to trigger the more intense episodes. I've considered alcohol,
caffeine, and other common substances that are known to be intensifiers. I
could detect no correlation.

Recently I noticed that REST seems to be the triggering mechanism for me. I
am kind of a nightowl and I frequently get not much more than 6 hours sleep.
Those times when I *do* get a good night's rest ... especially several in a
row ... my tinnitus is noticeably less intense.

Has anybody else noticed this? Also, I would be interested in knowing how
many of you are either insomniacs (which I'm not), or simply are the type of
people that don't require (or get) much sleep.

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David Emerling - Memphis, TN
demerlin@HATESPAMmidsouth.rr.com
If you want to email me - remove HATESPAM from the above address.

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Susan - 06 Jul 2004 18:44 GMT

>My tinnitus is constant. Unlike others - it never completely goes away.
>But it does sometimes seem to be more intense. I've been trying to detect
>what seems to trigger the more intense episodes. I've considered alcohol,
>caffeine, and other common substances that are known to be intensifiers. I
>could detect no correlation.

Me neither, except for high salicylate foods and high carb eating. Those set
it off for me.

>Recently I noticed that REST seems to be the triggering mechanism for me. I
>am kind of a nightowl and I frequently get not much more than 6 hours sleep.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>many of you are either insomniacs (which I'm not), or simply are the type of
>people that don't require (or get) much sleep.

Many folks have reported this phenomenon particularly after naps. OTOH, most
folks report worse tinnitus if they *don't* get a good night's sleep. Mine
gets worse when I'm very fatigued.

Susan

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Glynne Gilmore - 06 Jul 2004 20:30 GMT

> Many folks have reported this phenomenon particularly after naps. OTOH, most
> folks report worse tinnitus if they *don't* get a good night's sleep. Mine
> gets worse when I'm very fatigued.

Same here, and also when I'm under a lot of stress and just before I get
sick. Since my tinnitus was caused by clenching my teeth over a long
period of time, I know that when I'm not under stress, don't clench, and
get enough rest, the severity of my tinnitus lessens. Also, at the end
of every day -- whether I'm under stress or not -- my tinnitus is worse.

I recently went through a particulary difficult period, and I'm in the
process of making some lifestyle changes -- mainly trying to get off
prescription medications. Right now I'm taking Valium to sleep -- not
Xanax anymore -- but eventually I would like to get off Valium, too.

As anyone heard of Serenitol? It's a natural product. The Web site
<http://serenitol.com/> claims it is recommended for tinnitus. A friend
of mine suggested that I try it because he says it works for him, but I
was wondering if anyone here has tried it with any success.

Thanks,
Glynne

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Elly Byrne - 06 Jul 2004 21:01 GMT

>Same here, and also when I'm under a lot of stress and just before I get
>sick. Since my tinnitus was caused by clenching my teeth over a long
>period of time, I know that when I'm not under stress, don't clench, and
>get enough rest, the severity of my tinnitus lessens. Also, at the end
>of every day -- whether I'm under stress or not -- my tinnitus is worse.

That sounds like a lot of tension in the neck and shoulder muscles,
and probably in other areas as well.
Stress causes the body to tense up.

Do you wear a bite splint for teeth grinding?

Have a look at this page.
http://eebee.net/TinnitusIsaPainintheNeck.shtml

Tinnitus is a pain in the neck
Elly's Tinnitus Resources
http://eebee.net/

For email: elly at eebee.cjb.net

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Glynne Gilmore - 06 Jul 2004 23:55 GMT

> That sounds like a lot of tension in the neck and shoulder muscles,
> and probably in other areas as well.
> Stress causes the body to tense up.

I don't feel a lot of tension in the neck and shoulder muscles. Just in
the jaw area -- mostly the right side. Then headaches on the right side
of my head from clenching.

> Do you wear a bite splint for teeth grinding?

Yes. My dentist fitted me with one. I've used it religiously for 6 years
since my tinnitus first started up. The bite splint saves your teeth,
but it doesn't keep you from clenching. Well, it doesn't keep me from
clenching. I just clench on the bite splint when I'm really stressed
out. I thought Valium would relax the jaw muscle, and it does, and I'm
not clenching as much. I still feel soreness in my right jaw area.

> Have a look at this page.
> http://eebee.net/TinnitusIsaPainintheNeck.shtml

I have looked at this page before. Thanks, Elly.

Glynne

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Elly Byrne - 07 Jul 2004 21:49 GMT

>I don't feel a lot of tension in the neck and shoulder muscles.

You don't have to feel it. I never felt mine but it was there just the
same.

Would you consider going to a physical therapist for a massage?
This person would tell you if there tension or not. The massage would
relieve it. Then you can go on for there.

Doctors never look at this.

Tinnitus is a pain in the neck
Elly's Tinnitus Resources
http://eebee.net/

For email: elly at eebee.cjb.net

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Glynne Gilmore - 08 Jul 2004 20:00 GMT

> Would you consider going to a physical therapist for a massage?
> This person would tell you if there tension or not. The massage would
> relieve it. Then you can go on for there.

I have had several therapeutic massages, and no tension was found in my
neck and shoulders muscles -- which is unusual because the neck and
shoulders muscles are a prime source for tension in a lot of people.

The massages relieved tension in the "hot spot" areas, but I didn't
notice any difference in my tinnitus. (I actually didn't have the
massages to relieve tinnitus; I had them to help with osteoarthritis.)

> Doctors never look at this.

I agree.

Yesterday I talked with someone knowledgeable about my physical
conditions -- tinnitus included -- and she suggested that my tinnitus
was caused by inflammation. As I've mentioned before, the jaw clenching
started six years ago during a particularly stressful time, and an
extended period of clenching caused tinnitus.

I'm not sure that inflammation of my jaw caused tinnitus because I have
not clenched my jaw on a continual basis during the six years that I've
had tinnitus. You would think that the tinnitus would just go away if I
stopped clenching. It didn't. Do you think a cause of tinnitus can be
inflammation of the jaw area?

Glynne

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francispoon - 08 Jul 2004 05:20 GMT

> >Same here, and also when I'm under a lot of stress and just before I get
> >sick. Since my tinnitus was caused by clenching my teeth over a long
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> and probably in other areas as well.
> Stress causes the body to tense up.

I once read on a website that our tensed neck affects the secretion of
inner ear fluid.

FP
============

> Do you wear a bite splint for teeth grinding?
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> For email: elly at eebee.cjb.net

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Smarty pants - 06 Jul 2004 18:53 GMT

> My tinnitus is constant. Unlike others - it never completely goes away.
> But it does sometimes seem to be more intense. I've been trying to detect
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> many of you are either insomniacs (which I'm not), or simply are the type of
> people that don't require (or get) much sleep.

Before habituating my tinnitus, it behaved as you describe; loudest when
under stress with insufficient sleep, softest when relaxed and well rested.

Bill

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snap_crackle_pop - 06 Jul 2004 19:28 GMT

>>My tinnitus is constant. Unlike others - it never completely goes away.
>>But it does sometimes seem to be more intense. I've been trying to detect
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> Bill

Exactly my story. Loud when tired and short on sleep. Very loud after
naps, for some reason, but quiet after a longer rest. Anxiety forces
you to pay attention to the noise, so resolve any anxiety-related
problems you may have. I'm not being flippant here, but speaking from
experience. Both things may be true, tinnitus causes anxiety and
anxiety allows you to be bothered by the noise. As Bill says, work on
being relaxed. Everyone is different, but habituation comes to us all,
sooner or later, and it comes after you've resolved other conflicting
issues. If you live an anxious and/or depressed life, you'll never
habituate to the noise. Xanax, IMHO, FWIW, occasionally lowers
perceived tinnitus level, but I think any such result comes from the
proven and real lessening of anxiety Xanax provides. The less anxiety,
the less perceived noise, that's habituation. When I listen to my
tinnitus, it is louder than ever, but, you know, I almost never hear it.
How about that?

Food and drink have nothing to do with tinnitus levels. While you're at
it, get some exercise. :-)

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Marktvalu - 11 Jul 2004 02:45 GMT

>Those times when I *do* get a good night's rest ..

> my tinnitus is noticeably less intense.

...............................

There is absolutly no doubt that lack of sleep causes tinnitus exascerbation,

- jean

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