TMSHelp Forum

TMSHelp Forum

All Forums

TMSHelp

TMSHelp General Forum

Swollen Knee->Prostatitis->Tinnitus: TMS?

Note: You must be registered in order to post a reply.
To register, click here. Registration is FREE!

Screensize:

UserName:

Password:

Format Mode:

Format:

Message:

* HTML is OFF
* Forum Code is ON

Smilies

[quote][i]Originally posted by Kyle M.[/i]
[br]Hi, everyone.  I'm hoping some people here can help me, either to believe that I do have TMS or that perhaps I'm just unlucky and to just accept my lot in life already.  Hoping for the former.[:D]

To start, I'm a 29-year-old man who's been having a bit of bad luck for the past year.  Some quick history that I feel may be relevant: I've had moderate obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for about ten years, as well as having a history of suffering from urinary tract infections (UTI) on occasion (around one to two a year) for most of my adult life, which is extremely rare for a male, especially one as sexually inactive as I am.  The week before any of this started I was to go on a trip with my mother that I really didn't want to go on, but felt I owed it to her, having recently having to move back in with my parents.  My father also retired around this same time, further complicating my situation.

Now, for the more pertinent information in regards to this post: Some time around late July or early August, I somehow injured my knee (the week I was to leave on the trip with my mother).  I'm a frequent exerciser and [i]was[/i] an occasional jogger back then, who had experienced some aches and pains before, but nothing as ever debilitating as this.  After a thirty-minute run, my right knee became swollen and stiff, and somewhat warm to the touch.  Not much pain, though.  I saw a couple of general physicians, but none of them thought it was anything serious.  I became pretty worried about it, however, because it was noticeably larger than my left knee, and I also would occasionally experience tingling in my right foot, for which I feared was due to a lack of circulation.

In the midst of this, I developed at UTI.  I wasn't too worried at first, as a week of Ciprofloxocin would usually clear it up.  Did the normal course, and felt okay.  Then it came back a couple of days later.  Went through another course of antibiotics, still felt the symptoms were with me and getting worse, and ended up in the hospital.  I was told that all tests came back negative, but that I should see a urologist, not only because of my current symptoms, but also because UTIs were extremely rare in men, especially one my age (my primary care physician had never thought to share this relatively common knowledge with me).

At this point, my knee became of secondary importance to me, as the burning sensation and frequent urge to urinate began to consume my life.  Still no improvement in the knee's symptoms, however.

Long story short, I saw a urologist, was diagnosed with prostatitis, put on long doses on some of the most potent antibiotics known to man (1000mg of Cipro for two months; 500mg of Doxycycline for two months; etc.) with no clear results, along with a plethora of smooth muscle relaxants and weak bladder medications, all with no effect on my symptoms.  I was given a CT scan with nothing abnormal showing, along with two cystoscopies (they put a scope where no scope should be put), one awake (fun!) and one under anesthesia, both coming back showing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.  I was also given more prostate checks than a seventy-year-old man at high risk for cancer.  Nothing.

At this point, I decided to redirect my attention to my knee, thinking that maybe the prostititis was related to weakening stomach muscle, having read several books by this point suggesting as much.  I'd been as active as I could during this time, but my nightly walks and three-times-a-week runs had, of course, been cut out of my exercise routine due to the knee injury.  So I switched from seeing urologists on a weekly basis to orthopedic surgeons.

Pretty much more of the same here.  I think I saw about four orthopedics (as compared to five urologists), all of whom, after countless x-rays and MRIs, told me they could find nothing wrong.  All I was really given were some exercise and stretching instructional sheets for rehabilitation at home and an acknowledgment that if I didn't improve they could offer me a script for physical therapy.

The last orthopedic surgeon I saw, however, said that although the MRI didn't show any tears, it could nevertheless be a hidden tear of my meniscus.  Wanting to try something less invasive than surgery first, however, he gave me a cortisone injection (despite my lack of pain; only swelling and stiffness were present) and a script for PT.

I endured about two months of PT, all the while still dealing with my prostatitis symptoms, to no avail.  The orthopedic surgeon, to his credit, really didn't want to perform surgery, but I was sick of suffering from two things at once, and I insisted.

On December 12, 2010, I underwent arthroscopic surgery of my right knee, and a minor tear was indeed found.  I was at first overjoyed, thinking that finally I could be on the mend, and that, if nothing else, I could at least start running again in a few months.  I went through PT again, diligently doing all the exercises I was instructed to do, both at the center and at home, and within a few weeks, I was cut loose, told I would soon be as good as new.

I didn't really seem to be healing, however, and I quickly became that much more depressed.  On January 12, 2011, I decided to listen to some music on my Bose sound system.  This, as it turns out, would be the biggest mistake I've perhaps ever made in my short life.

Letting my emotions get the better of me, I clearly had the volume turned up too loudly.  For 49:10 (I know because I haven't touched the track list since) I listened to tracks ranging from classical to hard rock (I finally stopped it after listening to Smashing Pumpkins' "Disarm").  Now, I don't recall the music ever [i]hurting[/i] my ears, but after turning it off I do remember thinking to myself, [i]Yeah, that was too loud.  I'm never going to do that again.[/i]  For the rest of the night, however, I was very paranoid about whether I may have damaged my hearing or not, especially that of my left ear, it being the closer to my speakers the way I have them set up.

The next morning, still paranoid and practically searching for something amiss, I noticed the slight tone or hiss in my ear, and it's been there ever since.  Once again, the battery of tests began anew, exchanging urolgists and orthopedists this time for ear, nose, and throat doctors and otologists.  A few days after the incident, I passed a hearing test up to 12KHz, told my hearing was better than most, and to ignore the ringing, and it should go away soon.  In addition to the ringing, though, I've also had to endure this horrible fullness sensation, one that I can sometimes get to "pop" by flexing muscles I didn't even know I had, but this "popping" only leaves me with temporary relief (a few seconds to a few minutes at best).

As I said before, these symptoms have really ruined my life.  I long to go back to the days of knee stiffness and prostititis now, like they were some sort of nostalgic, halcyon days from my youth.  Practially overnight, I turned from being chronically annoyed by old symptoms into a manically depressed, weeping mess for about a month straight, unable to eat or sleep, and becoming increasingly paranoid of sound.  And while I've improved a bit over the past six months in terms of demeanor, I'm still an overall hopeless wreck.  However, it is interesting to note that about two weeks after the onset of my new ear symptoms, my prostititis symptoms all but completely vanished, and I consider myself cured of them today, and my OCD tendencies have dropped considerably.

Regardless, desperate for a solution to the tinnitus and other ear symptoms, I began looking into all manner of things.  I discovered tinnitus retraining therapy (for which I absolutely do not have the money, unfortunately) and the the website www.tinnitus.org, maintained by otologist Dr. Johnathan Hazell.  Reading his site, I became intrigued and Googled the terms "Tinnitus" and "Psychosomatic."  And that's how I discovered Dr. Sarno and the book [i]The Divided Mind.[/i]

I've now read [i]TDM[/i] twice, back-to-back, and I sincerely do [i]want[/i] to believe what he has to say in there applies to my tinnitus and other ear symptoms.  I pray to God that it does.  But it's hard.

For one thing, there's a lot misinformation out there about tinnitus.  I've essentially reached the conclusion that no one really knows what the heck causes it.  Unfortunately, though, a lot of doctors and other folks firmly believe that it's always due to damage of a sort.  Indeed, I can safely say now that one of my biggest mistakes early on was joining a supposed tinnitus "support" message board, to which I would later find Dr. Hazell refers to as "moaning clubs."  I'm inclined to agree with him now, but I fear the damage of reading so much suffering in the name of supposed "support" has already done a long-term number on my psyche.

For another, though, I've becoming extremely aware of my hearing now, still paranoid about loud, or perhaps merely [i]perceived[/i] as loud sounds, such as closing doors and clanging dishes.  So much so, in fact, that I haven't ventured outside of my parents' home for the six months I've been suffering from my tinnitus outside of doctor opponents.  It's a nightmare; I've literally become a prisoner in my own room.

Anyway, during all of this, my knee did seem to be improving, so I decided to test out Dr. Sarno's theory directly and began running again a couple of weeks ago.  And in regards to my tinnitus, I hoped the exposure to the outdoors would help me to get over my fear of sounds a bit.  No dice, as unfortunately my knee has again swelled up and become stiff, and I can now safely say with absolute certainty that the surgery I had was of no benefit whatsoever; my knee is no better than it was before the surgery.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I'm really desperate and depressed these days, guys.  One of my favorite pastimes used to be running while listening to music, and I fear that I'll never be able to do either again comfortably, even independently of one another (and I cry as I type those words).  I used to be this athletic, invincible guy, and now I limp to my room at 3AM and cry myself to sleep with this stupid hiss in my ear/head and feeling of pressure in my ear.

I guess I'm looking for encouragement more than anything else, but I have a few questions to ask, too, before I go:[list]1. I've searched the boards and realize that tinnitus is a pretty common symptom among the group, but how many of you have had it pop up out of virtually nowhere as opposed to after a round of loud noise?  The thing that's throwing me off is that, being so obsessed with my hearing now, I realize that my left ear isn't as good as my right ear.  At first I thought this had to be due to the loud music, but then I discovered that my mother has the same dip (we both can't hear a certain frequency of crickets) in her left ear.  And since I didn't notice the difference until after two months into my "bout" with my tinnitus, I'm thinking there is a very good chance that this difference has always been here.  But it's hard to believe this is a benign phenomenon that I may have always had, given my exposure to the loud music predating my noticing of it.

2. Anyone with tinnitus have it in there head, too, or just in there ear?  Mine seems to jump back and forth, and is usually worse in the head after exercising.  Also, the fact that it's only in my one ear seems to maybe confirm that something is damaged, or could that just be because it's the ear I'm more worried about being damaged?  My right ear does sometimes ring, too, but not nearly as chronically.

3. Has anyone successfully managed to overcome their tinnitus through TMS practice?  Did you have a hearing loss?  I've read the member "Fox's" experiences, and they're inspiring, but I'm hoping for more.

4. What about ear fullness/tightness/clogged sensation and mild pain?  Has anyone ever overcome this through the belief of TMS?  My current otologist says I might have what he calls "hydrops" and has given me two diuretics now to treat it.  The first one, after three weeks, did nothing.  I just started this newest one last night, though, after giving Dr. Sarno's method a couple of moths first (and Dr. Hazell, too, suggested in an e-mail to me that it could be something called "tensor tympani syndrome," which will usually go away on its own once one relaxes.  Sound familiar?).

5. As for my knee, I also happen to know there are a fair number of runners on the board, so perhaps someone has an alternate idea of what could be wrong with it.  Like I said, I have virtually no pain, except when I run on it, but it's swollen (it's almost like a muscle is bulging on the outside, next to the knee cap) and extremely stiff.  I looked into iliotibial band syndrome, and it sounds plausible, but then I found that Dr. Sarno chalks this one up to TMS, too.  That kind of got me down, because I honestly wasn't worried about my knee at all while running, but it swelled up and became stiff again anyway, so I thought the knee must not be TMS after all.  Now I'm just more confused over the whole situation.[/list]I really [i]want[/i] to believe the TMS diagnosis applies to all my ailments.  In retrospect, clearly it applied to my prostatitis, but I know Dr. Sarno says in [i]TDM[/i] that sometimes symptoms of real problems can serve as a distraction as well, and believe me, nothing has ruined my life more over the past year than this tinnitus has.  I really do feel absolutely hopeless, and at times, suicidal over it.  It's not just the loss of silence, but the loss of so many things I used to enjoy without worry, like eating out at a noisy restaurant, listening to music, and going to the movies.  I can't even talk on the phone anymore without being paranoid.  I've never had much luck in love, but now I think, [i]How could anyone want someone like this?[/i]

Anyway, if anyone bothered to read all of this, I appreciate it, as well as any response you can give me.  Again, I desperately [i]want[/i] to believe the TMS diagnosis, but it's difficult.  I've got my mother reading the book now, but she's an absolute skeptic over the whole, instead dead-set on wanting me to try a bunch of supplements to treat the tinnitus (ie, snake-oil).  Meanwhile, my father, who I've merely told about the book, believes it wholeheartedly, having been of the belief for some time now that I'm too temperamental and always in my head over-thinking things.  I don't know who to listen to, I guess.

If it is TMS, though, it's just stupid.  I was depressed before, given my having to move back in with my parents due to unemployment, but now how am I supposed to dig myself out of this hole, brain?  I mean, now I'm downright suicidal and a shut-in.  And that's a protective measure, supposedly?  Ugh.
[/quote]

Check here to include your profile signature.

T O P I C R E V I E W
Kyle M.	Posted - 07/18/2011 : 01:55:50 Hi, everyone. I'm hoping some people here can help me, either to believe that I do have TMS or that perhaps I'm just unlucky and to just accept my lot in life already. Hoping for the former. To start, I'm a 29-year-old man who's been having a bit of bad luck for the past year. Some quick history that I feel may be relevant: I've had moderate obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for about ten years, as well as having a history of suffering from urinary tract infections (UTI) on occasion (around one to two a year) for most of my adult life, which is extremely rare for a male, especially one as sexually inactive as I am. The week before any of this started I was to go on a trip with my mother that I really didn't want to go on, but felt I owed it to her, having recently having to move back in with my parents. My father also retired around this same time, further complicating my situation. Now, for the more pertinent information in regards to this post: Some time around late July or early August, I somehow injured my knee (the week I was to leave on the trip with my mother). I'm a frequent exerciser and was an occasional jogger back then, who had experienced some aches and pains before, but nothing as ever debilitating as this. After a thirty-minute run, my right knee became swollen and stiff, and somewhat warm to the touch. Not much pain, though. I saw a couple of general physicians, but none of them thought it was anything serious. I became pretty worried about it, however, because it was noticeably larger than my left knee, and I also would occasionally experience tingling in my right foot, for which I feared was due to a lack of circulation. In the midst of this, I developed at UTI. I wasn't too worried at first, as a week of Ciprofloxocin would usually clear it up. Did the normal course, and felt okay. Then it came back a couple of days later. Went through another course of antibiotics, still felt the symptoms were with me and getting worse, and ended up in the hospital. I was told that all tests came back negative, but that I should see a urologist, not only because of my current symptoms, but also because UTIs were extremely rare in men, especially one my age (my primary care physician had never thought to share this relatively common knowledge with me). At this point, my knee became of secondary importance to me, as the burning sensation and frequent urge to urinate began to consume my life. Still no improvement in the knee's symptoms, however. Long story short, I saw a urologist, was diagnosed with prostatitis, put on long doses on some of the most potent antibiotics known to man (1000mg of Cipro for two months; 500mg of Doxycycline for two months; etc.) with no clear results, along with a plethora of smooth muscle relaxants and weak bladder medications, all with no effect on my symptoms. I was given a CT scan with nothing abnormal showing, along with two cystoscopies (they put a scope where no scope should be put), one awake (fun!) and one under anesthesia, both coming back showing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. I was also given more prostate checks than a seventy-year-old man at high risk for cancer. Nothing. At this point, I decided to redirect my attention to my knee, thinking that maybe the prostititis was related to weakening stomach muscle, having read several books by this point suggesting as much. I'd been as active as I could during this time, but my nightly walks and three-times-a-week runs had, of course, been cut out of my exercise routine due to the knee injury. So I switched from seeing urologists on a weekly basis to orthopedic surgeons. Pretty much more of the same here. I think I saw about four orthopedics (as compared to five urologists), all of whom, after countless x-rays and MRIs, told me they could find nothing wrong. All I was really given were some exercise and stretching instructional sheets for rehabilitation at home and an acknowledgment that if I didn't improve they could offer me a script for physical therapy. The last orthopedic surgeon I saw, however, said that although the MRI didn't show any tears, it could nevertheless be a hidden tear of my meniscus. Wanting to try something less invasive than surgery first, however, he gave me a cortisone injection (despite my lack of pain; only swelling and stiffness were present) and a script for PT. I endured about two months of PT, all the while still dealing with my prostatitis symptoms, to no avail. The orthopedic surgeon, to his credit, really didn't want to perform surgery, but I was sick of suffering from two things at once, and I insisted. On December 12, 2010, I underwent arthroscopic surgery of my right knee, and a minor tear was indeed found. I was at first overjoyed, thinking that finally I could be on the mend, and that, if nothing else, I could at least start running again in a few months. I went through PT again, diligently doing all the exercises I was instructed to do, both at the center and at home, and within a few weeks, I was cut loose, told I would soon be as good as new. I didn't really seem to be healing, however, and I quickly became that much more depressed. On January 12, 2011, I decided to listen to some music on my Bose sound system. This, as it turns out, would be the biggest mistake I've perhaps ever made in my short life. Letting my emotions get the better of me, I clearly had the volume turned up too loudly. For 49:10 (I know because I haven't touched the track list since) I listened to tracks ranging from classical to hard rock (I finally stopped it after listening to Smashing Pumpkins' "Disarm"). Now, I don't recall the music ever hurting my ears, but after turning it off I do remember thinking to myself, Yeah, that was too loud. I'm never going to do that again. For the rest of the night, however, I was very paranoid about whether I may have damaged my hearing or not, especially that of my left ear, it being the closer to my speakers the way I have them set up. The next morning, still paranoid and practically searching for something amiss, I noticed the slight tone or hiss in my ear, and it's been there ever since. Once again, the battery of tests began anew, exchanging urolgists and orthopedists this time for ear, nose, and throat doctors and otologists. A few days after the incident, I passed a hearing test up to 12KHz, told my hearing was better than most, and to ignore the ringing, and it should go away soon. In addition to the ringing, though, I've also had to endure this horrible fullness sensation, one that I can sometimes get to "pop" by flexing muscles I didn't even know I had, but this "popping" only leaves me with temporary relief (a few seconds to a few minutes at best). As I said before, these symptoms have really ruined my life. I long to go back to the days of knee stiffness and prostititis now, like they were some sort of nostalgic, halcyon days from my youth. Practially overnight, I turned from being chronically annoyed by old symptoms into a manically depressed, weeping mess for about a month straight, unable to eat or sleep, and becoming increasingly paranoid of sound. And while I've improved a bit over the past six months in terms of demeanor, I'm still an overall hopeless wreck. However, it is interesting to note that about two weeks after the onset of my new ear symptoms, my prostititis symptoms all but completely vanished, and I consider myself cured of them today, and my OCD tendencies have dropped considerably. Regardless, desperate for a solution to the tinnitus and other ear symptoms, I began looking into all manner of things. I discovered tinnitus retraining therapy (for which I absolutely do not have the money, unfortunately) and the the website www.tinnitus.org, maintained by otologist Dr. Johnathan Hazell. Reading his site, I became intrigued and Googled the terms "Tinnitus" and "Psychosomatic." And that's how I discovered Dr. Sarno and the book The Divided Mind. I've now read TDM twice, back-to-back, and I sincerely do want to believe what he has to say in there applies to my tinnitus and other ear symptoms. I pray to God that it does. But it's hard. For one thing, there's a lot misinformation out there about tinnitus. I've essentially reached the conclusion that no one really knows what the heck causes it. Unfortunately, though, a lot of doctors and other folks firmly believe that it's always due to damage of a sort. Indeed, I can safely say now that one of my biggest mistakes early on was joining a supposed tinnitus "support" message board, to which I would later find Dr. Hazell refers to as "moaning clubs." I'm inclined to agree with him now, but I fear the damage of reading so much suffering in the name of supposed "support" has already done a long-term number on my psyche. For another, though, I've becoming extremely aware of my hearing now, still paranoid about loud, or perhaps merely perceived as loud sounds, such as closing doors and clanging dishes. So much so, in fact, that I haven't ventured outside of my parents' home for the six months I've been suffering from my tinnitus outside of doctor opponents. It's a nightmare; I've literally become a prisoner in my own room. Anyway, during all of this, my knee did seem to be improving, so I decided to test out Dr. Sarno's theory directly and began running again a couple of weeks ago. And in regards to my tinnitus, I hoped the exposure to the outdoors would help me to get over my fear of sounds a bit. No dice, as unfortunately my knee has again swelled up and become stiff, and I can now safely say with absolute certainty that the surgery I had was of no benefit whatsoever; my knee is no better than it was before the surgery. Anyway, to make a long story short, I'm really desperate and depressed these days, guys. One of my favorite pastimes used to be running while listening to music, and I fear that I'll never be able to do either again comfortably, even independently of one another (and I cry as I type those words). I used to be this athletic, invincible guy, and now I limp to my room at 3AM and cry myself to sleep with this stupid hiss in my ear/head and feeling of pressure in my ear. I guess I'm looking for encouragement more than anything else, but I have a few questions to ask, too, before I go: 1. I've searched the boards and realize that tinnitus is a pretty common symptom among the group, but how many of you have had it pop up out of virtually nowhere as opposed to after a round of loud noise? The thing that's throwing me off is that, being so obsessed with my hearing now, I realize that my left ear isn't as good as my right ear. At first I thought this had to be due to the loud music, but then I discovered that my mother has the same dip (we both can't hear a certain frequency of crickets) in her left ear. And since I didn't notice the difference until after two months into my "bout" with my tinnitus, I'm thinking there is a very good chance that this difference has always been here. But it's hard to believe this is a benign phenomenon that I may have always had, given my exposure to the loud music predating my noticing of it. 2. Anyone with tinnitus have it in there head, too, or just in there ear? Mine seems to jump back and forth, and is usually worse in the head after exercising. Also, the fact that it's only in my one ear seems to maybe confirm that something is damaged, or could that just be because it's the ear I'm more worried about being damaged? My right ear does sometimes ring, too, but not nearly as chronically. 3. Has anyone successfully managed to overcome their tinnitus through TMS practice? Did you have a hearing loss? I've read the member "Fox's" experiences, and they're inspiring, but I'm hoping for more. 4. What about ear fullness/tightness/clogged sensation and mild pain? Has anyone ever overcome this through the belief of TMS? My current otologist says I might have what he calls "hydrops" and has given me two diuretics now to treat it. The first one, after three weeks, did nothing. I just started this newest one last night, though, after giving Dr. Sarno's method a couple of moths first (and Dr. Hazell, too, suggested in an e-mail to me that it could be something called "tensor tympani syndrome," which will usually go away on its own once one relaxes. Sound familiar?). 5. As for my knee, I also happen to know there are a fair number of runners on the board, so perhaps someone has an alternate idea of what could be wrong with it. Like I said, I have virtually no pain, except when I run on it, but it's swollen (it's almost like a muscle is bulging on the outside, next to the knee cap) and extremely stiff. I looked into iliotibial band syndrome, and it sounds plausible, but then I found that Dr. Sarno chalks this one up to TMS, too. That kind of got me down, because I honestly wasn't worried about my knee at all while running, but it swelled up and became stiff again anyway, so I thought the knee must not be TMS after all. Now I'm just more confused over the whole situation. I really want to believe the TMS diagnosis applies to all my ailments. In retrospect, clearly it applied to my prostatitis, but I know Dr. Sarno says in TDM that sometimes symptoms of real problems can serve as a distraction as well, and believe me, nothing has ruined my life more over the past year than this tinnitus has. I really do feel absolutely hopeless, and at times, suicidal over it. It's not just the loss of silence, but the loss of so many things I used to enjoy without worry, like eating out at a noisy restaurant, listening to music, and going to the movies. I can't even talk on the phone anymore without being paranoid. I've never had much luck in love, but now I think, How could anyone want someone like this? Anyway, if anyone bothered to read all of this, I appreciate it, as well as any response you can give me. Again, I desperately want to believe the TMS diagnosis, but it's difficult. I've got my mother reading the book now, but she's an absolute skeptic over the whole, instead dead-set on wanting me to try a bunch of supplements to treat the tinnitus (ie, snake-oil). Meanwhile, my father, who I've merely told about the book, believes it wholeheartedly, having been of the belief for some time now that I'm too temperamental and always in my head over-thinking things. I don't know who to listen to, I guess. If it is TMS, though, it's just stupid. I was depressed before, given my having to move back in with my parents due to unemployment, but now how am I supposed to dig myself out of this hole, brain? I mean, now I'm downright suicidal and a shut-in. And that's a protective measure, supposedly? Ugh.
20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
tennis tom	Posted - 11/05/2011 : 08:47:00 quote: Originally posted by MarkD I cannot walk because of my pain in my leg. Jogging in a pool with a flotation belt like an Aquajogger may be a good alternative. When all else fails return to the water. Good Luck ================================================== DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dKBFwGR0g TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ : http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605 ================================================== "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti "Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." Author Unknown "Happy People Are Happy Putters." Frank Nobilo, Golf Analyst ====================================================== TMS PRACTITIONERS: Here's the TMS practitioners list from the TMS Help Forum: http://www.tmshelp.com/links.htm Here's a list of TMS practitioners from the TMS Wiki: http://tmswiki.org/page/Find+a+TMS+Doctor+or+Therapist Here's a map of TMS practitioners from the old Tarpit Yoga site: http://www.tarpityoga.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
Kyle M.	Posted - 11/04/2011 : 20:43:52 Just wanted to say thanks for the pep-talk, Golden Girl. Everything you said makes a lot of sense, and I'll take it to heart. I'm also always up for reading anything that might be of help to me, so thanks, too, for the recommendation. Mark, I'm sorry to hear about your own situation, and I know you're right about needing to try and go out. Every weekend I tell myself that I'm going to go see my brother, but I always chicken out in the end. I try to walk sometimes in the evening, just to get out of the house, but even though we live in a fairly closed off neighborhood, we still get traffic every now and again, and the road noise frightens me. Despite the fact that I used to jog and walk around here all the time without any problems, now I'm afraid of it, and I need to get over that, I know. Matthew, thank you for the invitation. If I'm around my computer at 4PM tomorrow, I'll try to drop in, but I'm usually practicing my Kenpo at that time on Saturdays. Thanks for the invitation all the same, however. Thanks again, everyone. This really is a great message board, and I'm glad that I found you all.
MarkD	Posted - 11/04/2011 : 09:32:55 Kyle, You have to get out and go to restaurant (or somewhere else besides . You can't stay inside. It will only get worse. Go with a friend who understands your situation. I cannot walk because of my pain in my leg. My wife forces me every day to get up and walk even if its too the end of the driveway. I hate it and it hurts but I know one day soon, it won't. good luck and you are not alone.
golden_girl	Posted - 11/02/2011 : 18:01:54 Kyle, I spent 3 months not leaving the house because of anxiety-related bladder issues/TMS (I'd literally walk into my front garden and have to run back in case I needed the toilet - it was that bad!) I'm a lot better than that now, sure I'm not perfect, but it took me 29 years to get here, and it won't take me that long to get back, I'm sure! :) I could stay in my house, and I could say "Well, ** it, I hate anxiety, and I hate needing the toilet, and I hate *** everything and why do I have to feel this way" (have said all this many times!) or I CAN say "Well, I know it's anxiety, and I know it can't kill me. Really I'd rather be deaf/dumb/blind/excruciatingly embarrassed in front of the whole world, rather than live my life in these four walls so that, I'm off!" It really is about a change of mindset. I don't know how up you are for reading other books, but 'What To Say When You Talk To Yourself' by Shad Helmstetter (http://www.amazon.com/What-Say-When-Talk-Yourself/dp/0671708821/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1) is a great one - the day to day dialogue we have going on can be the very destroyer of us. I'm 100% convinced that the prostititis was psychosomatic, and that's why I'm so upset over the tinnitus. I feel like, because I got upset over something that wasn't actually real, I played my music too loudly one night, and now I'm stuck with something that is for the rest of my life. How do you mean?! You recovered from something that was TMS - let this be the incentive, the guide, and the realisation to recover from another form of TMS! I had IBS, now have IB[ladder]S - it comes back, if we're still doing the same old **! Do you really believe that you did something one day, something you'd done tons of times, something you love - and you broke yourself? Something that can't even be broken, like a bone can? I went shopping one day, had a panic attack, mentally redirected it to my bladder, and sure, I haven't been the same since - but I ain't permanently broken! Learned behaviours, repeated patterns, negative thoughts - all can be reversed. I wish you all the luck in the world! "F.E.A.R. Forgive Everyone And Remember For Everything A Reason" Ian Brown
Kyle M.	Posted - 10/28/2011 : 21:08:34 quote: Originally posted by MarkD Chronic prostatitis is almost always TMS. SARNO told me so and I believe him. See, I wish I knew this ten months ago. I'm 100% convinced that the prostititis was psychosomatic, and that's why I'm so upset over the tinnitus. I feel like, because I got upset over something that wasn't actually real, I played my music too loudly one night, and now I'm stuck with something that is for the rest of my life. It's just awful, too. I haven't been out to eat at a restaurant for nine months now. Or shopping. Same goes for listening to music. I basically won't leave my house for anything short of a doctor's appointment. I hate sound now; I fear it, and I used to love listening to music. It was the one thing I had while dealing with the prostititis that made me feel a little bit better, but I don't even have that much with the tinnitus. Adnd the more time that passes, all the while my ear continues to bother me and the sound refuses to dissipate, I become more and more convinced that I screwed myself over, permanently. And that's what's so depressing for me.
golden_girl	Posted - 10/24/2011 : 16:20:13 I also believe 'interstitial cystitis' (one for the women!) is almost always TMS too (just putting it out there in case anyone comes to the forum and searches for it). I've read Kevin's book too by the way, and it was interesting, but I found it perhaps more relevant to men (not that that's a bad thing obviously!) My version of it, which I always knew was 'TMS' or just really anxiety, is very slowly improving at the moment - just simply by ignoring it, and trying my best to not give it any time in my day. A very important point, that's oft been discussed but I'm finally putting it into practice :) "F.E.A.R. Forgive Everyone And Remember For Everything A Reason" Ian Brown
MarkD	Posted - 10/24/2011 : 11:52:41 Chronic prostatitis is almost always TMS. SARNO told me so and I believe him. Also has anyone recommended the book by Kevin Jarvis to you. Its called Personal Underworld http:// stores. lulu. com / kjarvis I read and re-read it and it really helped me. I haven't had a flare up since Now, if I could have the same results with this nasty "sciatic" nerve pain otherwise know as TMS in my leg...
Kyle M.	Posted - 10/07/2011 : 17:49:12 Eliuri, I contacted Dr. Hazell through his website. He stresses that you read the material he has presented on it first, though, before contacting him, so make sure to do that. As far as doing TRT on your own, go for it. Dr. Hazell does have some tips on the website in varying sections on how to go about doing this, even. Be sure to read the other readers' e-mails on his site, too. There is a lot of good information in many of those, and I think it helps to read that a lot people are suffering from the exact same symptoms as we are. He also stresses in one of them that if you're attempting to do self-administered TRT, to do it for both ears, even if the tinnitus is only present in one. In regards to popping my ears: I really don't know how to describe it. It's as if I'm stretching or tensing a muscle in the back of my throat or something. I'm not quite sure how I do it, but I can tell you that the nature of it does suggest to me that my problem of "stuffiness," for lack of a better term, could very well be due to musculature. Getting back to how your tinnitus started: if you're asking me if I think your raising your voice could have somehow caused it physically, then I severely doubt it. I'm sometimes paranoid about the volume of my own voice (again, I'm pretty phonophobic now), but I simply remind myself that if everyone who raised their voice damaged their hearing, then every professional athlete on the planet would be deaf by the time they retired. If, however, you're asking if the tinnitus may have started from that instance with your son thanks to TMS, then in my limited knowledge of the disorder, I would say the answer is absolutely. I can see that exchange between you and your son bringing back some pretty bad memories, and rather than your subconscious allowing you to dwell on those painful thoughts, it created your awareness of the tinnitus signal in order to distract you from the supposedly far more dangerous psychological scars of your past. Again, I consider myself a novice at all this TMS stuff still, but that would be my whole take on the matter. Hope that can maybe somehow reassure you a little bit with regards to the nature of your tinnitus. Anyway, I hope you feel better soon. Also, if nothing else, if you're worried about your hearing, I would recommend getting a hearing test. My insurance is pretty lousy at the moment, but it nevertheless covered all but $15 of the bill, so if by knowing that you're hearing isn't at all abnormal for your age might give you some reassurance, I would say it's definitely worth the cost and time. Best of luck to you, though, in whatever you decide to do about it.
eliuri	Posted - 10/06/2011 : 06:19:47 Thanks so much, Kyle. I'm reading Dr Jasterboff's book: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, as well as some research on the somatosensory aspects of this. As I read this book, I'm seeing it increasingly along the TMS model. I can readily alter the level/pitch of the tinnitus by gently pressing almost anywhere on that side of my face. (Thats what is meant by "somatosensory", I guess) Generally this makes it louder, so that merely putting my head on pillow makes me vulnerable. I do have many sore muscle points along that side of the face where the tinnitus is. Much of that chalked up to the TMJ/TMD syndrome. Even gentle pressure on the other side makes it a bit louder as well, while that's going on. So it will get more noticeable as my head presses on the pillow. This does interfere with sleep, especially if I worry about things like impending hearing loss. Much less troublesome during the day. My hunch is that if I get through some period of time feeling reassured I'm not about to "lose much in the way of hearing", this might begin to fade somewhat. As I said, I only have any difficulty hearing when the tinnitus is annoying, and much of that is from that stuffy feeling in the ear which accompanies it. I'm not quite sure what you're doing to make it go away even temporarily. Is there any way you can describe that "technique" better? It's quite an annoying sensation, and makes it hard to focus on what someone is saying to me. At this point, I cannot at all afford the Tinnitus Retraining Therapy recommended in Jasterboff's book. Certainly can't afford being fitted for those sound generators worn in the ear recommended as part of TRT. So, I'm afraid I'll have to improvise some of this on my own. I'm wondering if simply getting certain kinds of tapes and a good CD/MP3 player or something might help with this. And also question whether to to use headphone only on the affected ear. Do you think Dr Hazell from that center might be willing to suggest something imporvisational along those lines? Did you email him directly or via that tinnitus.org website? From what you write, it seems he might be amenable to giving such guidance. There's been way too much silence and isolation in my life lately, rather than too much noise. This became clearer to me while reading Jasterboff's book. This tinnitus thing is still a new intruder with me . Been with me for only three weeks now. Possibly, its been around longer, and I never really noticed it. So I'd like to nip it in the bud, before it gets to be a chronic disruptive thing. That's why I'm thinking to get those tapes. I would like to know the optimal way to do this. I recall something similar in the way of tinnitus from when I was a child. It came on during a period my father was yelling a lot, and kept losing his temper. His rage attacks were scary and dangerous. So I thought the howling and buzzing in my ears--around age 10-- was replicating his screaming and the cryings of my siblings in reaction, as the volume kept getting louder and louder. It was much more unbearable then than the tinnitus I have now. Much of all that is coming back to me now. I have this irrational fear of raising my voice at my kids even when I'm supposed to be assertive with them, because of my own childhood trauma. Three weeks ago, I did raise my voice in anger at my son while misbehaving. I felt so horrid about it,since he so recently had lost his mom. He himself was actually in a better mood the next day. Its highly possible that I hadn't raised my voice as loud as I had thought. I did agonize over it. Could well be that I only heard it as too loud. This does happen to me. But within a day or so after this episode with my son, the tinnitus arrived in my ear as an unwelcome visitor...Wonder if all this is really connected or just coincidence.. Anyhow, thanks for your kind words. How would you suggest to best contact Dr Hazell about a question or two on this? -Eliuri
Kyle M.	Posted - 10/04/2011 : 17:53:12 Hey, Eliuri. Sorry to hear about your troubles, particularly the loss of your loved one. Your tinnitus and ear problems sound eerily similar to mind, even in terms of the tone of your tinnitus. For what it's worth, I'm very slowly buying into the Jastreboff model of tinnitus, as I do now notice times where I don't hear the tinnitus, even when I do go "looking" for it, so to speak, which would imply to me that it is indeed a normal signal that most people just aren't aware of. Once you key into it, though, it seems to become the proverbial genie let out of the bottle. It's hard to forget about it completely after you become aware of it. Also still dealing with the feelings of discomfort in my ear, similar to yours, I imagine. I don't know about you, but with me, I can do this thing where it almost feels like I'm separating something in my ear. I'll get a popping sensation in there sometimes, while other times it almost feels like there's Velcro in my ear getting pulled apart. After that, I'll experience some mild relief from the fullness feeling, but it's extremely temporary. I'm actually thinking about scheduling another appointment with the otologist I saw earlier in the year, just to verify that there really isn't anything structurally wrong in there. I was put on a three-month dose of a diuretic early in the onset of my symptoms by this same doctor, but it didn't do a thing for either the fullness or the tinnitus. For me, though, I'm extremely phonophobic now. I mean, I don't even like to take a shower anymore (Don't worry, though, because I still do, guys) due to the noise, and I tend to watch television with the closed captioning on, as an explosion, gunshot, or even someone raising their voice, even with the volume low, is liable to send me into a fit of paranoia about my hearing. It's ridiculous now how one moderately loud noise can ruin my entire day, and I have to wonder if that paranoia isn't perpetuating my symptoms, both the ear discomfort and the tinnitus. Obviously, when I'm worried about my hearing all the time, I have to think that at the very least I'm checking on my hearing on some subconscious level, which my be tensing up muscles in my ear and also forcing me to "find" the tinnitus signal without even trying. Anyway, Eliuri, hang in there. I would definitely recommend contacting Dr. Hazell after you've read all of the material on his website. Be warned that he was pretty blunt with me, but I actually appreciated that. He's almost of the attitude of, "Snap out of it! There's nothing wrong with you!" in his correspondents, but I think that tough-love approach is probably the right one. His turn-around time was great, too. I'm in the U.S., and he's in England, and I'd say he got back to me in about two days after I e-mailed him. So give it a shot if you want. It certainly can't hurt. Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon. And thanks for your kind words to me, as well.
Sarah Jacoba	Posted - 10/04/2011 : 00:09:56 I never had tinnitus but I'm a professional musician and I had a round of hyperacusis that was severely scary....until I realized it was TMS and it gradually faded. I've also had the urinary problem, so I guess the fact we both have had both complaints would bolster the TMS argument --Sarah Hyacinth Jacoba "When dream and day unite"
eliuri	Posted - 10/02/2011 : 06:06:44 Hi Kyle: Was going to post my own experience with recent onset of tinnitus, but saw your write up here. Tinnitus--unilateral only- came on in my case about two weeks ago after a very stressful few months following loss of my spouse and overwhelmed with difficulty coping with my son who is going through bereavement, anger, etc. There's also a sense of fullness in that affected ear, and it's hard to fully hear what's being said while the hissing or buzzing sounds are going on. I'm too distracted by those sounds in that ear I guess. So it's hard to really say for sure if there is or is not real hearing loss here. Seems not to be when the tinnitus lets up, but harder to hear on that side when it is going on. I'll probably send a post to this group about this, since the one book by Dr Sarno I have (Mind-Body Prescription) says little about this. Does he say more about Tinnitus in his other works, by any chance? I've had a long history of TMJ on that very side with the tinnitus-with history of teeth clenching, muscle pains, headaches and "tooth aches" not related to the teeth themselves. The TMJ--as well as severe tension headaches--had acted up around time of onset of the Tinnitus, about two weeks ago. Like yourself, I have this tendency to over-research medical issues, in part because I cant afford most treatment, so I have to be my own diagnostician, but mostly because this brings focus to the symptoms and in a sense empowers them. Perhaps helps me evade real life issues... I did order the Tinnitus Retraining Book from the group you speak of based on the Jastreboff model. They seem somewhat oriented along "Sarno lines" I know I cannot now afford Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, But I was thinking I might get a better handle on it just from reading the book. I'm wondering if Dr Hazell there might be willing to communicate with me via email as he did with you, until I get some grip on this and before it gets out of control. I have read about the: "tensor tympani syndrome" and it would explain a lot,especially its association with tension headaches and the TMJ. Except that the buzzing /ringing in my case is of a high frequency or a hissing like sound and is pretty much there most of the time. The "tensor tympani syndrome is believed to be completely psychosomatic and self-limiting as you say. So I'd be interested to know if that's what might be going on here. If it is, maybe I can just give this one a rest, and deal with the overwhelming emotional and parental matters. I was struck by several things in your post. I too had a long bout with "prostatitis" years ago. It essentially crippled me for years and was treated with many rounds of antibiotics for an apparently non-existent infection. The prostatitis resolved once assured by an acupuncturist that it was stress caused, which was almost impossible for me to accept at first. Tai Chi and acupuncture did dramatically help with that as well. It took only about three or four weeks to resolve a malady which had disabled me for years. Was mostly the reassurance, I think. I suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, TMJ disorder, tension headaches, tendonitis in my legs (not sure if this one's physical) as well as generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks. I'm deeply hoping that this new appearance of tinnitus in my case is just one more TMS manifestation and not a sign of imminent hearing loss. So like you Kyle, I'm hoping for some guidance here with this newly emergent Tinnitus. I would be curious if this: "tensor tympani syndrome" turns out to be behind all this though. Let us know how it goes... -Eliuri
Kyle M.	Posted - 08/01/2011 : 00:21:45 quote: Originally posted by wrldtrv Kyle, everyone has some difference in hearing between left and right. The same with vision. I notice the same thing. It would be unusual if that were not the case. Your post actually helps a lot, wrldtrv. I know that's true, but it's reassuring to hear someone say it, I guess. I'm glad to hear you got past your tinnitus, too, by the way. quote: Originally posted by oneorbit Just a few questions to add: 1.Had you any recurring physical problems as a child? Were you pretty much tip-top until this all started? As a matter of fact, I had a conversation with my father a couple of nights ago, recounting all of the physical ailments I've had through the years, thinking in retrospect they were probably all TMS or at least partially TMS-related. I did have periodic back pain when I was in elementary school, to the point where I started going to a chiropractor. The doctors and my parents just chalked it up to growing pains, though. A little later--around middle school, I'd say--I began having problems with heel pain, to the point where I couldn't run in phys ed class for a few weeks. I saw a podiatrist, got special gel heel insuls for my shoes, and that was the end of that. Then I started having teeth pain, and was going to the dentist once a month, thinking I had a cavity. Everything would check out fine, though, and the pain would soon go away, only to crop up in another tooth a few weeks later. I've never had a cavity in my life but in one baby tooth, by the way. Finally, the year before graduating high school, I had an allergic reaction to a muscle relaxant (which I was taking for unexplained back pain, now that I think about it) that caused my throat to swell up, and I had to be rushed to the hospital. For about six months following that traumatic incident I became extremely paranoid about my throat: I'd think it were swelling up for no reason or that something that I ate had gotten caught in it. So I guess I've always had TMS and hypochondriac tendencies, but I never really sat down ant thought about it before. To answer your question in a different way, though, I've always been very active and never really had any troubles staying that way. I did have the above back and heel problems periodically, but I was never that kid who was constantly sitting on the bench during gym class or anything. Far from it, in fact, and I even commented to my brother a few months ago that all this recent stuff suddenly popped up all at once following the initial knee injury, adding that it was as if a switch went off in my brain telling me, "Hey, you! You're mortal, after all!" quote: Originally posted by oneorbit 2.Why did you give up on girls after the failed relationship? With the internet it seems even easier to meet people these days. I just have low self-esteem in this department, unfortunately. In high school, I wasn't really anything special looks-wise, and I had a hard time getting a date because of that. Girls liked me, but they didn't like me, you know? I was always the male friend that you see in those John Hughes movies, basically. By the time I got into college, however, I like to think I managed to actually blossom into a pretty presentable fella, but I was so used to being rejected throughout those formative years, I guess, that I've never really gotten past my self-esteem issues. After college, it just became so much harder for me to meet people in general, let alone women, and I became more focused on my career, that I decided I'd put the whole relationship thing on hold for a while. Internet dating has never really appealed to me, either. And then all of these symptoms started, and that's basically where I am now. quote: Originally posted by oneorbit 3. You've read the book twice but have you actually gave yourself a solid month of just believing in the diagnosis of TMS? Not really, no. I'd say I last about a week at best before I start thinking, Nope. It must have been the loud music. I damaged my hearing permanently, and I'm going to have to live with this noise and pain for the rest of my life. And I really, really don't think I can do that, either, so I don't know why I can't manage to at least give the TMS diagnosis more time to sink in. If nothing else, it's far more productive than the "permanent damage; no chance of healing" diagnosis, anyway. quote: Originally posted by oneorbit Do you feel like your unappreciated. I bet you do. But I bet your not. I bet you have friends and family that truly care about you but because of this pain you might be avoiding true feelings. Exactly the intent of your brain putting you in this pain. Probably. My brother is going through his own career problems right now, and it seems like the only time he ever calls me (not that I can really talk on the phone right now, though) is to complain about his own troubles. I'm usually thinking the whole time, At least you have a job and an apartment. Not to mention your health! But my bro's my best friend, and I know he cares. His attitude toward this whole situation is not unlike my father's, though: he takes this hard stance of, "If you want to get better, then get better. Sitting their moaning all the time isn't going to fix anything!" And I appreciate it, because I know sometimes tough love is what I need. But I also can't help but feel that that's easy for them to say; they're not the ones living with this constant pain and screeching in their ear! quote: Originally posted by oneorbit I am offended by the Dr. that called this a 'moaning group'. Just becasue the are not taught about nutrition or psychoanalysis they immediately right people of as batty and complainers. Well, he wasn't really talking about this board. He refers specifically to tinnitus "support" groups as "moaning clubs," and I have to admit that after joining and participating in a couple before finding out about TMS and this board, I'm inclined to agree with him. The doctor who said that (Dr. Hazell) is one of the co-founders of tinnitus retraining therapy, the crux of which is based upon teaching the patient that tinnitus is a benign phenomenon that isn't due to irreversible or permanent damage. It's close resemblance to the way one overcomes TMS symptoms is actually how I found out about TMS through Google. Most of the tinnitus support message board I joined, however, had people on there saying how they've had tinnitus for this many decades, how it's only gotten worse in that span of time, and that you basically just "learn to live with it." I didn't really find any of that information particularly helpful, and, in fact, Dr. Hazell is of the belief that reading such things actually perpetuates and can even worsen one's own tinnitus. Just to be clear, though: everyone here has been absolutely great! I'm very much encouraged rather than discouraged every time I come here and read a new response. So thank you all! quote: Originally posted by art Understand that there are ALWAYS counter-arguments and doubts as to whether something's TMS or not. In the end, it's a leap of faith. I know. And I'm having a really hard time making that leap, unfortunately. But I really appreciate all of the encouragement you've all offered me in the meantime. It's helped me several times already, in times of doubt, to come here and read through these responses again. So thanks again.
art	Posted - 07/29/2011 : 08:53:20 quote: Originally posted by wrldtrv Kyle, everyone has some difference in hearing between left and right. The same with vision. I notice the same thing. It would be unusual if that were not the case. True. Even more important it seems to me is that the very act of going around trying to discern what are no doubt subtle differences between the two ears is classic TMS fear/worry/hypochondria. Until you get a handle on worrying and obsessing about your body there will be no peace. Understand that there are ALWAYS counter-arguments and doubts as to whether something's TMS or not. In the end, it's a leap of faith.
oneorbit	Posted - 07/29/2011 : 05:05:56 Just a few questions to add: 1.Had you any recurring physical problems as a child? Were you pretty much tip-top until this all started? 2.Why did you give up on girls after the failed relationship? With the internet it seems even easier to meet people these days. 3. You've read the book twice but have you actually gave yourself a solid month of just believing in the diagnosis of TMS? I think I have been unhappy (quietly) for about 8 years, I've been at the same job and long outgrown my responsibilities. The owners of the company seem to only promote and give the big titles to sons and son-and-laws that marry into the family. Meawhile I'm directly responsible for the company earning 100 of 1000's dollars yet they don't recognize me for my talents and ideas they simply take the ideas and leave me out and then act like they are entitled. I just want recognition. Do you feel like your unappreciated. I bet you do. But I bet your not. I bet you have friends and family that truly care about you but because of this pain you might be avoiding true feelings. Exactly the intent of your brain putting you in this pain. This might be why a psychotherapist could help. But start by believing and then keep opening up. I am offended by the Dr. that called this a 'moaning group'. Just becasue the are not taught about nutrition or psychoanalysis they immediately right people of as batty and complainers. Good news is your 29! How awesome is that. I'm 39 in two months and I htought I was going to have to give up my job and I just wrote this letter to a stranger and felt know carpal tunnel syndromes I had felt for 10 months up until a few days ago. Just Relax
wrldtrv	Posted - 07/28/2011 : 19:46:36 Kyle, everyone has some difference in hearing between left and right. The same with vision. I notice the same thing. It would be unusual if that were not the case.
Kyle M.	Posted - 07/26/2011 : 00:56:19 Hey, guys. Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate all of your thoughtful replies. I also wanted to add that I went to one of my old haunts on Saturday and had a decent time with some friends, although my ear bothered me throughout the day. Trying to ignore it and stay positive, though. Wrldtrv, thanks a lot for your story. The thing that throws me off, though, is, like I said, since the onset of the tinnitus, I've noticed a very slight hearing discrepancy between my right ear and my left ear. It's nothing major, otherwise I'm sure the hearing test would have picked it up, and for all I know, it's always been there, and I simply never noticed it before. But because of it, it's hard for me to not think that there's something mechanical that's causing the tinnitus. Balto, I appreciate your own experience, and I know you have a point. I remember not long ago seeing some guys on television in one of the war-torn Middle Eastern countries shooting some guns off into the air in celebration for one reason or another. I commented to my dad, "Now why don't they have tinnitus?" He replied, "Probably because they have other things on their mind besides their hearing." Thanks again for the encouragement, everyone.
balto	Posted - 07/23/2011 : 13:45:56 I just saw on the news about million of refugees from Somalia coming to the largest refugee camp in the world in Kenya. Severe Drought, famine, ans war drove them there. They are all hungry, tired, waiting in line for UN foods. Those poor people look tired and sad and malnourished but I don't see any of them bent over or massage their back while waiting in line. Obviously they have plenty to worry and things to stress out about than we do, but I could see no sign of TMS. �Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain�. Ralph Waldo Emerson
tennis tom	Posted - 07/23/2011 : 13:26:49 quote: Originally posted by Javizy The differences between cultures are reflected in our physical form, as well. A book I'm reading about posture includes lots of pictures of people from less developed countries like Burkina Faso, Brazil and India, and the people, despite their tough lifestyle and gruelling workload, have absolutely amazing bodily alignment. The pictures of Americans with their sway backs and rounded shoulders seem comical in comparison, although that certainly wasn't the case at the turn of the 20th century. We have just about everything we need and people to turn to when things go wrong, yet we look like absolute crap compared to people who struggle to make it from one day to the next. A formal study into the reasons behind these differences would make for fascinating reading. We don't need a study to show why people in developing countries have better postures than us. They don't sit in front of computers all day, twitter and facebook on the way home and sit on a couch once they get there. At the turn of the century the majority of Americans lived on farms, today it's a tiny percentage. Fursina Bako?, never heard of it but it sounds like a nice place to visit. People in third world countries may have "better postures" because their survival demands it. They are not going to get TMS because they don't have the time for it, nor do they have governmental and societal networks providing stuff like insurance and the dole to enable it. DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dKBFwGR0g TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ : http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti
Back2-It	Posted - 07/23/2011 : 10:39:13 quote: Originally posted by Javizy I'm a fan of balto's posts too. The differences between cultures are reflected in our physical form, as well. A book I'm reading about posture includes lots of pictures of people from less developed countries like Burkina Faso, Brazil and India, and the people, despite their tough lifestyle and gruelling workload, have absolutely amazing bodily alignment. The pictures of Americans with their sway backs and rounded shoulders seem comical in comparison, although that certainly wasn't the case at the turn of the 20th century. So true! Just look at the old b/w movies of the 1930s and 1940s. The men were generally shorter but more well defined and stood straight; the women too. And not just stars, but all the "extras" of the time, too. quote: We have just about everything we need and people to turn to when things go wrong, yet we look like absolute crap compared to people who struggle to make it from one day to the next. A formal study into the reasons behind these differences would make for fascinating reading. I disagree about having people to turn to when things go wrong. I feel I can only ask my family for so much, and that isn't much. In fact, my older sister told me early on that "there are people much worse than you", and that was that. I wasn't asking her for anything but someone to talk to when the pain was at its worst -- a distraction. She couldn't even give me that. And the prevailing thought today is that you must not bother people with your problems. You must suck it up and deal with it. I guess there is a truth to that, but it can be a lonely journey. Some don't make it. That said, when you face a struggle each day you have to remain sharp -- especially when your life depends on it, so, yes, the way we look physically probably does reflect a soft and degraded society. "Bridges Freeze Before Roads"

TMSHelp Forum

Snitz Forums 2000