Tinnitus and high altitude train trip on CZ

[pianocat]

In the last year, I've developed a case of tinnitus - most likely due to my many years of playing the piano and listening to kids bang away on my Yamaha U3 on a daily basis. The 'ringing in my ears' really only started early fall, 2013 and then only gradually became noticeable. I took the SWC to California in December and discovered that I didn't 'hear' the high pitched sound during that trip, but it returned with a vengeance once I got back. I'll be taking the CZ from SAC to CHI this summer, and wondering if anyone else with this issue might have ever noticed a negative effect, since the altitude is pretty high. Taking SWC again, to RIV but don't expect any problems with that....but the CZ return is a little more of a concern. And for the record...I've consulted with several medical people who say this is very common and there is little available to treat it. I'm starting to get used to it...but I don't want to complicate things by the high altitude of the CZ if I don't have to. I'm thinking I'll probably be just fine...but wanted to see if anyone else has ever dealt with this malady.

 

[tomfuller]

Try instrumental music (not piano) that you like on a CD player or your laptop through earphones. You might want to start chewing gum to help your inner ear to adjust to the lowering air pressure.

The guy I described in the "seatmates" thread also had a problem adjusting to elevation. It was not very nice for him after he talked about Denver as the "Mile High city" and how he was going to adjust.

He was taken off by the police in Granby (elevation 9600) for opening the window downstairs to smoke his e-cigarette.

 

[pianocat]

I like to think I'm not like your seatmate that you experienced!!! [non-smoker for 8 years here!] But i'll try the chewing gum and attempting to equilibriate the ear pressure as much as i can. Since we don't go much above 8,000 feet I'm thinking I'll be ok. Just wondered if anyone else with this ailment has ever experienced negative effects. MANY celebrities suffer from this issue, as well as the average person on the street. I'm finding that i'm so totally NOT alone in all this....it's awesome to know I'm not the only one. Gum is a good idea! thanks for that.

PS earphones are a GREAT idea! the more 'noise' that blocks the crap, the better. I have tons of music on my iphone and ipad to provide that . Who knows... I might even try singing with the tunes [i'll be in a roomette, so that shouldn't offend anyone!]

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I have tinnitus. Luckily I rarely notice it, except when I take my hearing aids off. I don't recall any problems with it when I was on the CZ in 2011.

As suggested, maybe have some soft music playing through earphones to mask it.

Have you seen an ENT and/or audiologist?

 

[pianocat]

No, Betty - haven't seen a specialist but my GP says hey, sorry...it's your profession and there's very little to be done about it. My research has resulted in same. I have no hearing loss. [YET!]... If that were to happen, you can bet I'd be looking for an aid or something to help out. It's more an annoyance than anything. Just wondering if altitude affects this condition . I definitely will take the advice of earplugs and music!!! Thanks!

 

[AmtrakBlue]

No, Betty - haven't seen a specialist but my GP says hey, sorry...it's your profession and there's very little to be done about it. My research has resulted in same. I have no hearing loss. [YET!]... If that were to happen, you can bet I'd be looking for an aid or something to help out. It's more an annoyance than anything. Just wondering if altitude affects this condition . I definitely will take the advice of earplugs and music!!! Thanks!

I wouldn't trust your GPs opinion on this. There are new things out there, I believe, for people who don't wear hearing aids, that can mask the tinnitus. I don't know off hand what they are, but it might be worth it to see a specialist.

Maybe this link can help your research http://hearingloss.org/search/node/tinnitus

Yes, there are some with untreatable tinnitus, but I wouldn't give up just yet.

 

[pianocat]

Thanks for the info., Betty. I see my GP in July and will ask him about a woman who is local and claims to be able to help tinnitus patients. She's way over qualified [Phd etc.] But I want to ask my GP about her method first. [she recommends a device that is VERY expensive, listening for 2 hrs. per day, and even then might not work for all] It's based on a company called Neuromonics. Not sure I really need this .... yet. But we'll see. Like i said - i have no hearing loss yet. But sounds and pitches are definitely more clear to me now...I know to the absolute mghz how out of tune my piano is The only difference between me and a 20 year old is I hear a ringing that simply doesn't go away.

 

[pianocat]

But in my defense...I have learned to psychologically mask the high pitched noise. I choose to listen to "other" sounds vs.the ever-present ringing. In a silent room though, it's deafening...the roar of the tinnitus.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I understand. Mine is going pretty good right now (since I took my HAs off). I get both high & low freqs since I have hearing loss in both ranges.

I tell people that silence is deafening even without the tinnitus.

 

[John Bobinyec]

In order to prevent the piano from aggravating the condition further, can you wear earplugs while you're playing the piano?

jb

 

[the_traveler]

I'm not average (maybe I'll reach that high someday :giggle: ) and I'm not a celebrity but I've had tinnitus since 1984. During that period, I've been on the CZ many times. I have never had any adverse problems.

 

[pianocat]

Unfortunately, no - John. I have to be 100% alert during lessons and can't employ earplugs. It's a slippery slope....my profession requires that i HEAR... and like i said, I have not suffered any hearing loss...YET. But this tinnitus is definitely something i notice as i talk during a lesson, and listen to their responses. Sometimes I put in earplugs for listening to TV, but I can't afford to this during lessons. I guess you'd say I suffer through it There's no pain at all...just the noise.

Good news, Traveler!

 

[GG-1]

And for the record...I've consulted with several medical people who say this is very common and there is little available to treat it

Aloha PC

I would no trust a GP when he said it was your Piano. I have worked in the Live Entertainment Industry over 50 years and thankfully only very minor change in my hearing. On a regular bases I get mine checked by an audiologist. Tinnitus is a form of reflections in the auditory nerves and more related to aging, so if Your GP says other go to someone that knows. True not much can be done but see someone that knows.

 

[chakk]

Mayo Clinic webpage discusses many, many causes of tinnitus, including loud noise. Hopefully, your audiologist can refer you to a specialist who will be able to diagnose the causes of yours, or at least confirm it is due to the piano playing, if that be the case.

 

[andersone]

I am almost totally deaf now,, and when I hear things I have the tinnitus whine as well as a regular dose of my pulse in varying volumes,,, mine was is a result of chemo and rad ,,, and I have seen the best that the Ohio State University has to offer and they can do no more than put some tubes in my ears,, which gave me back about 15% but absolutely no quality,,, so my 90 gig of music is but a memory,,, often I have to wear NC headphones in the car to kill the roar of the tires on the road,,, and I can get enough out of my NC ear buds to remember how good Little Wing sounds,,, it's sad to lose this part of my life, but I am still very grateful to be alive,,,,,

 

[Railroad Bill]

I was having serious hearing problems last summer when I was ill. After seeing an audiologist and other hearing specialists, it was determined that there was no major physical problem but that some medications, including antibiotics can have a negative effect and result in tinnitus. I still have occasional bouts with the ringing in the ears, but has been better after being off the meds. Most of the doctors attributed tinnitus to aging process, early exposure to loud music (oh those days listening to rock music) and they offered very little relief other than masking it with soft sounds and keeping busy with life (so you don't think about it as much ) Wishing you the best.

 

[nemaihne]

I have slight tinnitus and I love the train because the rail noise masks the ringing.

 

[George Harris]

I have a more or less low volume ringing since a minor stroke a few years ago. Generally I can ignore it. But reading this made me think of it. It is approximately 1 to 1.5 octaves above middle C. If I had a piano handy, I could probably get closer than that. So far as I can tell altitude makes no difference. We took the CZ Emeryville to Reno and back early in the year for the wife to see snow and mountains. Being a Florida girl she has never lost her fascination with both of these, and nothing beats putting them together.

Another thought while I'm here: Due to some other issues I had a brain scan and was told I had had a stroke. I did not know it. He said from the condition all he could say was that it had been over a year. If it had been less, they could have given a closer approximation. I was told that something like 10% of first strokes happen without the victim being aware of it, and only find out about it when other issues arise or another stroke occurs. This little bit of news encouraged me to shed 50 pounds, and keep it off though going down some more would be a good idea.

 

[Ziv]

I have mid-frequency hearing loss (mild) as well as tinnitus and I have found that though background noise masks the ringing, it also makes it hard to carry on a conversation. As long as the person you are traveling with understands that, I find that the background noise of train travel is soothing because it masks the ringing of tinnitus.

I have never noticed any change in the noise level with regards to changing altitude, but I imagine everyones ears react differently. I have spent a couple days recuperating at Tengpoche in Nepal, which is 12,600 feet high, and the ringing was disappointingly normal at that altitude. Everything was silent as the sun came up, except for my ears... LOL!