Noise out there in the air

[cherylann]

I don't even know how to describe this, but starting around the time that what I now know was the onset of the apnea, I started hearing this noise in the background. It's not a ringing or chiming - I just can't really describe it - it's just there. And not all the time, just sometime. At first I didn't really think anything about it....in fact, I just assumed it was normal and had always been there but now it's becoming more persistent and annoying.

Y'all must be beginning to think I am crazy. In fact, I'm beginnning to think I'm crazy.

[ems]

From a distance... or some type of ringing in your ears?

[cherylann]

From a distance... or some type of ringing in your ears?

Definitely from a distance. At first, I didn't really think about it - I probably vaguely thought it was crickets, but the more persistent it became, the more I realized it wasn't.

[ems]

Maybe there is really something out there?? Did you check it out during the day time? Are you sure it isn't from inside your head... serious... not joking... like Tinnitis perhaps?

[Lizistired]

Sounds like tinnitus to me too. I kept thinking it was something electrical, like the sound a bad halogen lamp switch makes, but I had thrown out the lamp. Finally, one night I went to the breaker box and turned off all the breakers, and put my hands over my ears. The noise was still there. Sometimes it's worse than others.

[JDS74]

I don't even know how to describe this, but starting around the time that what I now know was the onset of the apnea, I started hearing this noise in the background. It's not a ringing or chiming - I just can't really describe it - it's just there. And not all the time, just sometime. At first I didn't really think anything about it....in fact, I just assumed it was normal and had always been there but now it's becoming more persistent and annoying.

Y'all must be beginning to think I am crazy. In fact, I'm beginnning to think I'm crazy.

Cherylann:

The noise is likely a condition called tinnitus. It is an auditory defect that produces various sounds depending on the person. Sometimes it is perceived as a ringing, somtimes a buzzing, and others a sound that is hard to describe. Only the sufferer can 'hear' the sound so you can't get someone else's opinion of what it sounds like. For some variations of tinnitus, you doctor can listen closely and can hear the noise. This is a medical condition and needs to be addressed right away. In any event, you should drop by an audiologist ( specialist physician ) and get it checked out. Mostly, tinnitis is benign but sometimes (rarely) not.

So .. one thing to try before going in for a checkup is to get to a very quiet place and relax. Is the noise louder in these circumstances?
Then, turn on a fan or your CPAP machine so there is some 'white' noise that is not very loud. Does it seem to diminish then?
Finally, turn on the TV fairly loud and see if the noise seems to go completely away. It that is true, then it almost certainly tinnitus.

There are some advertised supplements that claim to 'cure' it but my wife's audiologist says all those just don't work except to separate you from some of your money. There doesn't seem to be any really good treatment for the common type of tinnitus.

The best bet is to find a device to run at night that produces a 'white' background noise that results in the perceived noise diminishing. We run humidifiers at night and the fans make a low noise that seems to suppress the tinnitus. I did mention i suffer from this as well, didn't I.

Hope all goes well in your CPAP treatment and the tinnitus doesn't progress to something really annoying.

Here is a reference to a Mayo Clinic web page that discusses the condition.

http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo ... +treatment

[cherylann]

Thanks, everybody. I did mention it to my ENT doctor and he just dismissed it saying it probably is tinnitus but "everyone has it and it's nothing to worry about". It is getting much worse and there is no pattern to it - I don't think about it when it is not happening. I'll try all your suggestions.


It doesn't seem like it is coming from within me and my hearing is fine, but I think I will find an audiologist.

You know, prior to July 2008, I never had any significant health issuess - never even met my deductible on my insurance. And I am 61 years old so we're talking a long time. But, it's been one thing after another since 2008 and I've had virtually NO good advice from doctors. I basically am just dismissed out of hand. And I'll tell you why, too. Doctors don't take you seriously if you are overweight.

But, it's like looking for Mr. Right, you just have to keep going back because what else can you do?

[Bobby269]

If it sounds like crickets and can get worse when you take headache medication. It can be tinnitous. My Va Doctor gave me a 10% disability for mine.
They seem to think to much excedrin, tylenol when you are younger can cause it. Plus in my case Jet Aircraft noise.
This type of noise leaves no doubt where it coming from. You hear it in your ears. The worst part is that there is no cure yet.

[ems]

That's all the more reason a doctor should take you seriously. I have to lose 15-20 pounds, and am almost afraid to go to my doctor because she hounds me so! You shouldn't be seeing a physician who doesn't take you seriously. There must be lots of doctors where you live. Surely, you can find one who gives a s**t!

About the Tinnitus... try a white noise machine. I have Tinnitus also and it's surprising how much the wnm helps. It's also really soothing. I think I bought mine on Amazon.

[archangle]

Maybe you need to go to the doctor referred to in this article in The Onion.

Warning: Off color humor.

[cherylann]

Does the white noise machine just mask the noise? I might get one for my house and give it a try.

As far as doctors not taking overweight people seriously, I guess in a way you can't blame them. We don't take ourselves seriously, so why should they?

I have been to so many doctors in the last three years - they are not all bad like the one who left me blind in one eye. I think some of them are just stupid or just focused on making money and they can do that by basically running an assembly line type practice. They don't want to bother with anything out of the ordinary. I've had two neurologists and a pulmonolgist in the last 3 years and not a single one of them ever suggested that I might have apnea - it took an aide in the recovery room at the hospital to suggest it. And then, when I couldn't tolerate the nasal masks, neither the RT or the pulmonologist even thought to suggest I see an ENT to see if I had any kind of nasal blockage. That was my sister's idea.

And the truth is, of the three health issues I have, epilepsy is the only one that won't go away if I lose weight. So, ultimately, I have nobody to blame but myself for being in this mess.

[archangle]

White noise is just the kind of noise you get from a fan. It tends to drown other things out and may be somewhat soothing in and of itself.

You can just put a fan somewhere nearby and see what that does. There are also electronic noise generators that may be somewhat more pleasant to listen to. They may also have a number of soothing noises like wave noises, etc.

[cherylann]

White noise is just the kind of noise you get from a fan. It tends to drown other things out and may be somewhat soothing in and of itself.

You can just put a fan somewhere nearby and see what that does. There are also electronic noise generators that may be somewhat more pleasant to listen to. They may also have a number of soothing noises like wave noises, etc.

Actually, now that I think about it, my beside radio/clock/alarm has an option for waves and rain and stuff. I've never used it.

I can't really say that this noise is that annoying, but it is getting more frequent so I think I need to have it checked out.

[ems]

It doesn't really "mask" the noise... it's more like you can allow your mind to drift away from the noise... even dogs barking outside, etc. You can always buy one, and return it if it doesn't work for you. It's really hard to describe. Some machines make different sounds, like water running, birds, rain, etc. Mine just has a low hum, which I personally like better.

Yes, you may be responsible for your weight issues, but that doesn't give a physician the right to not take you seriously. I would think a doctor would take what you say even more seriously.

[Guest]

I don't even know how to describe this, but starting around the time that what I now know was the onset of the apnea, I started hearing this noise in the background. It's not a ringing or chiming - I just can't really describe it - it's just there. And not all the time, just sometime. At first I didn't really think anything about it....in fact, I just assumed it was normal and had always been there but now it's becoming more persistent and annoying.

Y'all must be beginning to think I am crazy. In fact, I'm beginnning to think I'm crazy.

Do you mean it is a continuous noise, or does it seem like a single noise and then it's gone?