This blog began with me experiencing progressively worsening tinnitus (ringing in both ears) and then noticing average sounds (e.g. lawn equipment) that amplify louder inside of my ears but no one else's (this is called hyperacusis). Not knowing exactly what was going on with my ears was perplexing, vexing, confusing, and frustrating.
Discovering the Tinnitus Rip-Off Industry
I was trying to find real information about tinnitus and instead I kept finding advertisements claiming to cure tinnitus. I was told by a few audiologists that those so-called cures are a rip-off and that there is no cure for tinnitus only temporary relief through treatment (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy and pain management, medications for sleep, and hearing aids with maskers).
The Drive to Post
As my tinnitus grew louder so did my desire to find out the scope of what I was dealing with and I wanted answers. I realized that other people may want to read about the answers that I discover. I also have access to a team of medical providers who look at the tinnitus from different perspectives. I often post insights from my medical team.
The Gap
I noticed a huge gap between what the providers do know about tinnitus and what tinnitus patients don't know about tinnitus. The goal of this blog is to be a proverbial bridge and also to provide my thoughts and theories based on current research that may lead researchers to a cure.
Helping Others
At first I was reserved about writing this blog because I was concerned about my medical privacy but then I realized that if I could help one person who is misinformed or perhaps help researchers and medical providers to understand things from a different perspective then it was worth laying my privacy aside.
Then and Now
I began the blog in 2007, I wish that I could say that my tinnitus is cured or better since then, but it isn't. I have learned to better manage my life to minimize what triggers the tinnitus and to use good practices for temporary relief (e.g. a healthy diet, light exercise, scuba diving, hearing aids with maskers, moving to a quiet neighborhood and using noise cancelation headphones while at the movie theater, and catching sleep when I can.). Since 2009 about 18,000 viewers from all over the world have reviewed my posts.
Copy-Cat Blogs
Other Tinnitus123 websites and blogs have been created trying to mimmic my blog with one distinct difference, the copy-cats are trying to sell "cure" pills and gadgets. I'm committed to not selling tinnitus cure pill products or gadgets on this blog. I believe that it is unethical and somewhat inhumane to sell placebos and to fill people with false hope. If I provide a link to a product that I use it is simply me raising awareness. I receive no profit from the products that I mention.
Some people with severe chronic tinnitus lose everything including their jobs, houses, cars, friends and family relationships suffer, and marriages can end as a result of the debilitating effects of tinnitus. The last thing that people with tinnitus need is a hyper-marketed fake cure from a seemingly credible source. There is no cure that I can sell to you. Check back in five to ten years and I'm confident that there will be a cure. Synthetic and stem cell research seems to be the most promising.
The Name
What led me choose tinnitus123 as the name? I tried all kinds of names and they were all taken so I simply added 123 at the end of the word tinnitus. At the time the 123 didn't mean anything. Now, I'd say that it means the three step process to understanding tinnitus.
Steps 1-3:
1. Identify the source of your tinnitus (e.g. auditory nerve, cochlear trauma, brain injury, blood disease, etc.)
2. Minimize or eliminate what triggers your tinnitus (e.g. alcohol, caffeine, smoking, eye strain, industrial noise, bananas, avocado, tomato, walnuts).
3. Do everything that you can to keep your tinnitus from getting permanently worse. Assemble a medical team to help you to create a tinnitus management plan and ask questions.
