https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/tinnitus-was-making-my-life-a-misery/
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Passion for cycling helps tinnitus sufferer live with condition"
(11 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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You have no idea how bizarre it is for me to see you posting this right now. I am off to see a specialist at the tinnitus clinic on Thursday, having had tinnitus problems for 10 years that have just blown up to unbearable levels in the past 2 months. Mrs Dr Nobrakes thinks I have a damaged nerve in the ear which is stopping sound from being damped down in the normal way, so on top of bad tinnitus I have a very unpleasant distortion generated in my head whenever I hear loud sounds. Anything much above normal speech levels is causing pain and distortion. The tinnitus means I spend most nights lying in bed unable to sleep properly.
"I felt like I was going to explode and every day became a struggle" - this is exactly where I am at right now. And the one thing that helps is - you guessed it - getting out into the wild on the bike and filling my ears with the natural sounds of the world away from artificial sound. Cycling has kept me sane!
Warning to any musicians starting out - get custom ear plugs made now before its too late. I didn't and 2 decades of playing in loud bands and rehearsing at too high a volume in cramped practice rooms has destroyed my ears. My son is starting to perform at a high level in the classical world and I am currently unable to even go along to listen to him play as it's too painful. This hurts more than anything, I want to be there to support him. He is actually performing tonight and I'll be at home wishing I was there.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Warning to any musicians starting out - get custom ear plugs made now before its too late.
For gigs and concerts, I always wear hearing protection. I use these:
https://www.alpinehearingprotection.com/earplugs/musicsafe-pro/
For the motorbike, I wear these:
http://www.ultimateear.com/products/squidgy.php
If anyone is interested, the Scottish Motorbike Show is on the 11th and 12th of March. Ultimate will be there, along with Hearing ReSolutions and Plugzz.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Tinnitus is terrible, was only talking about my sort of uncle the other day (granny's cousin's son but ages worked out that made him my uncle). He riveted boilers together for Babcox. Tinnitus big occupational hazard there.
Anyone know of earplugs thst keep water out properly to enable me to go back to the swimming?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Gembo, most of the custom ear plug manufacturers do versions for swimming. Once you have your moulds made up, you can order ear plugs for all kinds of disciplines.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Arellcat they are very similar to the ones I get my kids to wear when practicing. I have a similar set too although I find they don't damp the noise down enough any more, so pending the results of the experts on Thursday I will probably go to House of Hearing and get some custom silicone ones made. I had a set of 'pipe band' earplugs from them some years ago that were really good. Probably too extreme for most people.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@nobrakes
That sounds awful. Glad cycling makes it better. But then, what doesn't cycling make better?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Have had 2 sets of earplugs out of HoH over the years (music and swimming) and quite happy with both. Music ones lasted years before I lost a filter.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Proud dad moment - Nobrakes junior aged 14 took the chopin class trophy at the Edinburgh Competition Festival last night, seeing off some stiff competition including final year pianists from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The lad done good! As said above, gutted I couldn't be there due to the state of my ears.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Oh, well done nobrakes junior! Having played instruments myself (very badly) when I was younger, I know the hours of practice that go into that sort of thing. And how awful to not be able to go and hear him play... I do hope your appointment with the specialist is able to give you some help.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Thanks fimm. Hoping for some kind of resolution, whatever it may be.
Posted 8 years ago #
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