April 19, 2005, Tuesday
For no apparent reason I wake up at about 1a.m. with a strong headache and a very loud noise in my right ear. Do not feel well all day long and notice a ringing in both ears and in between in my head during the day.
April 20 - 28, 2005
Suffer from constant ear and head noise. The right ear seems to be more effected. The nights are tough. The noise is louder and sleep is very much reduced. Read a lot on tinnitus on the internet. Getting more frustrated and depressed. Wear earplugs when surrounded by noise.
April 29, 2005, Friday - First brake
Talk to two physician friends in Germany and get a prescription for Katadolon with the active ingredient Flurpitin, not available in the U.S. See my general practitioner, does not have much advice but says that use of vitamin B-Complex has anecdotal benefits, get referral to ENT.
Get my first brake for about 5 hours from 5 to 10 p.m. As I fall asleep I feel a change and the noise returns instantly like being switched on. Starting with the right ear and taking over as before. I try to stay awake and the noise fades. As I feel asleep it starts again.
April 30, 2005, Saturday
Go on a shopping spree in Laguna for remedies I read about. Vitamin B complex, Niacin, Ginkgo Biloba, Venpocetine (order, find later at Costco), Magnesium, Zinc, Lecithin. Pay a premium. A few days later I find it all at Costco for a fraction of what I paid for. Take first dose of goodies on my way to the Desert. Niacin kicks in strong with a prickly sunburn feel in my face. Ringing never stops. Take a muscle relaxant to get some sleep.
May 1, 2005, Sunday - Second brake
Feel better and motivated. Go on motorcycle ride to Idyllwild (wear earplugs) and feel increasingly more at ease. When returning home the noise is gone. My second brake. There is hope. 5p.m. till about 10p.m.
Just as I fall asleep the ringing starts strong again in my right ear. I try to stay awake and propped up in bed. The ringing fades and is almost gone. At 12.30 I cannot stay awake anymore and the ringing starts again. Thought I might have took too much Ginkgo Biloba as a feel somewhat restless in the evening. These 'remedies' are not to be underestimatedin their potency.
May 2, 2005, Monday
All night, all day noise. Not such a great day.
May 3, 2005, Tuesday - Third brake
Wake up puffy. There had been a lot of wind here in the desert. I drink very much water and feel better. The noise slowly diminishes and this is my best day yet. The weather is great. I swim quite a bit and feel good. The noise returns twice during the day but only very slightly. The afternoon is clear. This is my third and most extensive brake so far.
May 4, 2005
Noise all night. Early return to Laguna and work. Noise getting better in the afternoon.
May 5, 2005, Thursday
Noise all night. Seem to get somewhat used to sleeping with it.
August 17, 2005, Wednesday
Talking to my tax accountant today about some business related subject, he asked me about my tinnitus.
He must be one of the few who actually read my website! (Thanks Bob!)
This reminded me that an update is due. Also I received an e-mail from Rickmer who writes:
"Paul, I saw your diary on Tinnitus on your website but it stops in May. What happened then? I woke up last night by loud hissing on both ears and the day after it’s still there but weaker. Did you find a remedy? Thanks Rickmer"
This is my answer:
Rickmer,
thanks for your e-mail.
My tinnitus is much better now, but not completely gone. However I do not hear it most of the time.
Initially I was very upset about it and seeked medical attention and consulted the internet. A hearing test showed that
my hearing is good for my age (46). This was quite a relief and helped me to cope with the problem.
I started taking Vitamin B complex and Ginkgo Biloba quite regularly. I cannot tell you if it really helps but I think it cannot hurt you.
In the beginning (panic state) of the tinnitus I was totally focused on the problem and it was very hard to relax. That has changed.
My recommendation:
Get informed, get your ears checked out for hearing loss, wear ear plugs whenever in noisy environment.
Try to relax. See if you have tinnitus free moments. According to my experience this is the best indication that things will get better.
Do not panic!
If you have a tough time dealing with it feel free to write me any time! I will respond.
Good luck!
Paul
Rickmer responded:
"Thank you very much for your kind reply!
Mine has gotten better over two days. Stuff like this freaks me out, but your Douglas Adams-esque “Don’t Panic” has done a good thing for me. I did not panic and recalled that I was having a similar problem before. The doc thought that it was some clogging of my hearing tubes and prescribed Nasonex. That seemed to help but this time just waiting it out helped, too.
I'll try the Gingko and Vit B. I also started sleeping with ear plugs (silicone) which let’s me sleep much more soundly. Seems my sleep has gotten from Meteorite-proof to super-light and this certainly helps.
Thanks again"
With this I will end my tinnitus report for now and will only add to the subject in case I learn of some new and promising remedy or in case I experience a drastic change for the worse.
February 4, 2006
The tinnitus has not gotten any worse. Most of the time I am not aware of it at all. I still do a lot of motorcycle riding and my ears are subject to a good amount of noise. I am still taking Ginkgo Biloba.
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