Hi Barry,
I have been suffering with tinnitus in my left ear for approximately five months now. I have started watching my salt and sugar intake and am also beginning my third of four bottles of your Tinnitus Formula. I have yet to show much improvement, but I do have some good days. I do have plans to start taking Omega-3 because my left ear seems to be irritated quite a bit.
Do you think there will come a point in time when I will be able to block the tinnitus out of my mind, or is this something that will be there when I go to bed and when I wake up, as it is now? I have an awful time at night because I can’t sleep due to the noise. Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Joyce R.
Dear Joyce,
Thanks for your question. Since you are currently starting the third bottle of Arches Tinnitus Formula, typically it is a little early to see results. ENT doctors tell their patients to use it for at least 100 days (4 bottles) before determining how effective it will be. You have been using it for approximately 50-60 days. Given you have early onset tinnitus, you should notice a difference in the next month. Clinical trials show that early onset tinnitus, within one year of beginning, often have a better outcome than long-standing tinnitus. I hope you get significant relief in the next month or so.
Omega-3 is always a good idea. The typical American diet is way out of balance with the majority of Omega fatty acids consumed being Omega-6. Omega-3 should help reduce any inflammation you may have and hopefully will help the irritation in your ear. You need to take a significant amount and many researchers suggest a minimum of 3 grams per day of combined Omega 3 up to 10 grams per day. Be careful not to take this much if you are using Cod Liver Oil as the Omega 3 source. This has a high amount of Vitamin A on which you can overdose.
Everything you do that improves health will also help reduce tinnitus. Diet is very important, and we have an important article on how diet affects tinnitus. And I totally empathize with your difficulty getting to sleep, but there are certain things you can do that will help. Please read our article on Tinnitus-Induced Insomnia.
“Blocking the tinnitus” is not a term I feel comfortable with. It implies that recovery is a matter of will power, which it’s not, although meditation and mindfulness can be helpful. The ideal situation is where the tinnitus subsides enough that it doesn’t bother you any more. I go to bed and wake up with tinnitus every day but I rarely pay attention to it because it is now greatly reduced. Hopefully you will have the same experience.
Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate
Hi Barry
Hope your Christmas holidays were cheerful, wholesome and rewarding. Question: My family (excluding me because of my tinnitus) are flying to Florida in January from New York to Disney World. They excluded me because of my tinnitus. I know you’ve dealt with this issue before from readers and from personal experience. Does the jet cabin air pressure play havoc with our tinnitus? If it does, is it a temporary condition that reverts to the tinnitus condition(s) prior to the flight? I’d like to go next year but if it means that air travel aggravates tinnitus, then I’ll forego the idea!
Thanks,
Ken
Hi Ken,
I wouldn’t forego a trip to Disney World because of your tinnitus. In the first place, the noise of large airplanes is a low roar. Most people have high frequency tinnitus and a low roar doesn’t affect it. To be safe, purchase some foam rubber ear plugs in a supermarket or online. The noise is loudest during takeoff so this is the time to use them. You can use them throughout the flight if the noise continues to bother you.
The bigger problem is pressure changes in the cabin. I usually take a decongestant or antihistamine before flying so my ears will pop easily. It’s also a good idea to take along some chewing gum. This helps ears pop and adjust to the pressure changes. You don’t want to fly if you have a severe cold unless you can make sure your ears will pop easily. You can learn more about your options in our article Flying with Tinnitus.
I fly frequently and don’t have any problems. I’m sure you’ll be fine also.
Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate
Dear Barry,
Thank you for taking my question. I think it is great what you are doing for those of us with tinnitus – offering a sense of hope and community.
My question has to with the connection between tinnitus and anesthesia. I am going into surgery in January, and I was told I would be put under general anesthesia, “out cold!” I already suffer from tinnitus, and I am curious if anesthesia exacerbates tinnitus or if it is a side effect. If so, what precautions can I take beforehand? I also read about the connection between tinnitus and antibiotics. I will surely be receiving high doses of antibiotics. Is there something I can do for this, to?
Thank you,
Luana
Hi Luana,
Thanks for submitting this question. You didn’t mention which drug you were given but a few can cause an increase. I had an endoscopy last year and the doctor used propofol, which is very popular. My tinnitus increased for a few months and it was very scary. However it eventually returned to its lower level after I used N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and Arches Tinnitus Formula. Other anesthetics will not cause this.
There is a very rare occurrence of a certain low frequency tinnitus that can occur after spinal anesthesia but it does not occur with general anesthesia.
You will need to discontinue the Arches Tinnitus Formula (ATF) for at least a week before the surgery to minimize the possibility of excess bleeding. You can resume ATF shortly after surgical bleeding stops.
Antibiotics can present a problem. Some antibiotics are more ototoxic than others and you should discuss with your doctor which medication you will be using and the occurrence of tinnitus with the specific antibiotic. Several years back, I had an injection of an extremely potent antibiotic in response to a skin infection I developed. I discussed this with my doctor and he told me the specific antibiotic used did not cause or increase tinnitus. He seemed pretty knowledgeable about it and I had no increase. If your doctor is not knowledgeable about this, ask him to look it up in his Physicians Desk Reference (PDR).
To be on the safe side, you should begin taking antioxidants along with the antibiotic. You can begin the ATF again at the same time. It is a powerful antioxidant and should greatly reduce the chances of any damage to your hearing.
You can also take N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), which has been shown to reduce effects from ototoxic medications and sound trauma provided it is taken simultaneously. Popularly known as NAC, it is very inexpensive.
In July of 2022, the FDA had announced that NAC should not be sold without a prescription from a doctor, although it has been sold over-the-counter and used safely for more than 30 years. While Amazon has taken it off their site, it can still be found at many reputable online stores and many health food stores.The Natural Products Association has sued the FDA to repeal their edict calling it “a reckless misuse of government resources and will do nothing to protect public health.”
I have taken NAC for decades and recommend 500 mg, taken two or three times daily. Continue using it for two weeks after the antibiotic is stopped. I’m certain that with these precautions you will be fine.
Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate
Luana’s responds:
Oh, my, you are a plethora of info! I didn’t even think about asking the doctor about any ototoxic antibiotics. I will, indeed! Thanks for the info on the NAC. Would you mind posting your response to my question in your next newsletter for others to read? I think it may be helpful.
Thank you so very very very much…. Arches–and you–rock!!
Luana