The question of diet: Does ones diet affect those with tinnitus or hyperacusis

As a sufferer of tinnitus and hyperacusis one is always looking for ways to cope with the symptoms and ways to lessen the symptoms. One of the things I have found interesting is talks about how what we eat and drink can possibly affect both, tinnitus and hyperacusis like, caffeine, salt, dairy products. 

For myself, I have never seen an increase or decrease in my tinnitus or hyperacusis do to my dairy intake. I don't find milk products to have any effect, milk products are a daily thing for me. I was just diagnosed with in April 2013, which was caused by severe pressure in my head from an infection. Had my surgery been done sooner instead of them waiting I might not be in this condition. It is my belief that the doctors waited too long to do the surgery. However, it is also my belief that during the surgery some type of nerve damage was done which left me with hyperacusis. My tinnitus occurred two days before my surgery and I woke up with the hyperacusis.

The only thing I notice changing things in my condition is my strict routine of no phone, and staying away from sounds that cause me discomfort and severe pain. These past 2 months I have seen improvement and major setbacks as soon as I am around anything causing me pain. 

After 10 months, and in these last two 2 months I have gotten one full night of sleep. It was heavenly! Most nights are 2 to 3 hours. I have to sleep with some sort of sound in the background to help settle me with the tinnitus being 24/7.

 However I am seeing improvement with how I am using a strict routine and set of rules to cope with my condition. Everything is documented proving that tossing me back out in the world without restrict accommodations causes me severe setbacks which flared up my condition and this happens even when I am wearing my earplugs and protective earmuffs. Symptoms can be inflamed from anywhere between 1-2 days or two weeks before my condition settles back down. At which time I have severe vertigo, extreme nausea, pressure in my head, pain, disorientation, and migraine even vomiting. All to the point that I cannot work or go throughout my normal day activities. I have had to switch from plates to paper plates, from metal silverware to plastic silverware and even at these times, those sounds can to cause me discomfort.

I'm hoping this information will be helpful for my next doctor’s appointment. That is not to stay I keep myself away from all noises. I listen to things like movies or a tv show on a volume comfortable for me. One day it might only be on a volume of 5 where another day it might jump to a volume of 10. I do not seem to be able to handle anything louder than a volume of 10 without it causes my symptoms to flare up. However, I believe and doctors agree that with increasing the volume at a comfort rate may help make me or tolerable to everyday sounds. The downside to this is, if introduced to loud to soon it causes everything to flare right back up. And we have to start back at square one again.

So while some who suffer may find removing dairy from their diet as helpful, it has never had an effect on my condition or symptoms. I can go without dairy and my tinnitus and hyperacusis would remain flared up. That is what makes it so difficult for doctors young or older, work related or not, music lover, head injury, anyone at any time can come down with tinnitus or hyperacusis. There is no cure!