2 Year Anniversary with Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

It's that moment, I can sit working and listen to music at the same time. While that seems like nothing to most people in the world, to a person with tinnitus and hyperacusis it's like winning the lottery.

I can't do it for a long time yet nor at a normal volume most listen to the radio, but it's a GREAT feeling. For me, many different sounds all at once can be over welcoming, discomforting, painful and cause confusion.

This is the best two year anniversary I could ask for because it tells me what myself and my doctors are doing for my condition is working and in a HUGE WAY!

I don't take a specific medication for my tinnitus or hyperacusis. However, I do take medications from time to time when needed for symptoms brought on by these conditions like my severe vertigo which causes nausea. Therefore, I have been known to use medication to help subside the nausea.

At this point, I am not any medication other than that for the migraines I get due to the tinnitus and hyperacusis and even then I take only Extra Strength Tylenol.

It was April of 2013, I was diagnosed with severe tinnitus and hyperacusis with directional hearing issues. I have seen several doctors and most of our focus had to be on my vertigo symptoms from the tinnitus and hyperacusis as it is set off by specific sounds.

My neurologist first tried me on a migraine medicine but I was completely unable to work. The medication even on the lowest of doses was too much for me. I couldn't think, I felt zoned out, unable to comprehend anything or able to concentrate. All it did was make me sleep so, after three days of not being able to work, I was taken off the medication. As a single parent, I had to be able to work, to provide for my family.

From that point on we knew something had to be done. I couldn't keep having the issues I was having. It was difficult for me to go into the store without my tinnitus and hyperacusis flaring up, work, travel, watch a movie, go out to eat etc..

We already had a list of things that seemed to set my condition off but there was no way of knowing every sound that could possibly affect my condition. One thing that seemed to be working in my favor were my walks. My doctors made it very clear that my ears had to adjust to sounds again. TRT Training was something I just couldn't handle considering as just one more sound in my head would be too much, it was already too much.

To learn more about TRT Training a video has been provided.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6do_oGjzYNU

When I first started my walks it was more so I could determine my range of hearing and if my directional hearing issue was getting better or worst. These walks first started out with earmuffs as sounds were not only discomforting but painful.

After a year went by I was able to go out with just earplugs. However, it was highly recommended not to where them for long periods of time as in a full eight hour day at work. My walks usually lasted anywhere from half an hour to an hour or two at most.

In that time I went out 3 times that whole year without any protection at all. This was great news! However, my condition was not stable it fluctuated a lot and continued to be unmanageable.

Imagine for a moment not being able to walk, hear or see. For me, being able to listen to the radio and work at the same time is just as big a moment as when I got my hearing back after my surgery in April 2013 and I heard the rain, birds, wind again.

After a year of therapeutic walking I have gained back much of my independence, I'm working in a controlled environment as a multimedia journalist, able to do things with my children and have the best work/life balance to date. As my schedule allows me to work and continue my managed care with my doctors.

My goal, to be cured by this time next year. Here's to being one step closer to a normal life again. WOOHOO