Gastines Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Has anyone had any help with the relief of Tinnitus? I have had this quite badly for many years and am getting at my wits end. I wondered if the French health system has any alternatives to offer? I am in the system here but thought perhaps someone might have had some joy with this problem, before I go and quiz my Doctor. The research I've done only comes up with self help groups,not for me thankyou.The only other treatment used in Austria and Russia is by use of a decompression chamber,as in treatment for divers suffering from the Bends. I would be interested to know if this route has been tried by anyone?Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I would have a word with the doctor. There doesn't seem to be any standardised way of dealing with non-mainstream, but still common, conditions. A lot depends on the individual doctor - how broad (or narrow) minded is the approach to various treatments and the attitude to conditions. If you don't get anywhere with one doctor, you are of course free to consult another (though the refund is less of course). My own experience is that rural French doctors are very conservative - fine and caring with things they understand, but rather unwilling to open their minds to other conditions and treatments. I got nowhere with treatment for a condition diagnosed in England before going to France; the doctors just would not accept its existence, despite my finding literature about it in French to show them. And I had to take advantage of a return to the NHS in order to get the necessary re-test and have the equipment updated. Yet I have read that the same thing is well known in the more southern region of France, and anybody showing possible signs may be immediately tested for it.On the other hand, you may have a progressive, open-minded GP, or one who understands tinnitus - in which case I am certain you will be able to get something done. If you are likely to get a range of treatments anywhere, then it could well be in France. Though I suspect this stops short of decompression chambers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Gastines I have a book years old "Tinnitus and Catarrhal Deafness by Arthur White ...its a USA publication in a self help series mainly about diet to avoid excessive build up of cattarrha etc ...If you PM your address I will post it to you if you want to read it ..its so old doubt if you would find one today ...I have had the same problem for years but came to the conclusion I had to live with it and my problem I believe was damage caused by years too close to jet engines ....health and safety and issued of ear defenders was not so common then ....I have to live with the sound like a radio when its not on a station a high pitched hum .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicandJo Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 There is a 'hearing aid' type device I know of (one of my former colleagues had one) for tinnitis. Whilst it is not a cure it greatly reduces the problem, to a wholly bearable level. Tinnitis is quite common in my line of work - working around higher pitch turbine engines and stuff - though I have not had any problems, I think mainly due to my religious wearing of ear defenders!I'll see if I can find anything out - all I can remember is that it wasn't covered by NHS and he had to buy it himself at a cost of something like £600. Changed his life though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicandJo Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Google 'Tinnitis masking devices' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-cat Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I have problems with tinnitus amongst other things as a result of having M.E. and have read some information lately that suggests that (subjective) tinnitus can be caused by over-exitation of one the parts of the brain (the amygdala) that deals with stress. Effectively the nervous system indentifies the normal background noise as a danger signal and from then on 'pays attention to it'. One chemical treatment is benzodiazepines which are anti-anxiety drugs that filter out a lot of the background 'noise' common in anxiety states. Not to suggest that you have anxiety - the treatment just moderates the same neurotransmitters.There may also be potential to 'retrain' the nervous system to ignore tinnitus withiut the use if drugs. This guy is obviously selling a product but there is plenty of quality research on the subject. http://www.kevinhogan.com/understand-tinnitus.htmNot the sort of thing that your GP will help you with but it may be worth looking into.RegardsMr Cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 My husband suffers from Tinnitus due to his work, he went to see a doctor in switzerland about 3 years ago who ordered some earplugs/ aids they apperntly do some thing to help, and I know he uses them alot so they must work, you can get the same things in england made for you but at 3 times the cost,Wow Ali cat what you just said makes a lot of sence , he does stress alot about work, and has the most amazing hearing , he can hear a fly land , I have often seen him look around in annoyance at one as it lands as if he has been sitting there banging a drum....[8-)] some times when we are on long car journeys he will say look in the glove appartment and stop that clicking , banging ect... I cant hear any thing, but it will be driving him nuts, and hes always right , they will be a pen knocking against a cd case , or some thing. we even had to take the original light system out of the bath room as it hummed to loudly and disturbed his relaxed moment in there [Www] I will mention your post to him it could be playing a large part in his problem. But just to say its a problem I have read about now for a while and its cause can be for many different reasons , you are best to get it checked properly, the nhs hospitals now do a private clinic and offer a treatment , but you have to pay for it. but its better to go to the specialist first , than to a GP who wont have much knowledge, he will just pass you on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 The original question was specifically about the French system. I am afraid I cannot help you with any specialist tinnitus clinics in France, though if you do find one there is nothing to stop you going to the specialist direct. However that will mean you get a smaller refund through the system, so, particularly if expensive treatment or equipment might be needed, you need to get referred through your medicin traitant (GP). This incidentally was one of the points behind my earlier post - for my unrelated condition the local medicin was happy to prescribe oxygen, which is not a cure, but could not refer me to a specialist clinic, a prescription from which I needed even if I was to purchase the necessary equipment privately, at a cost (in UK) of about £400-£700.I hope you get it sorted out, I know the condition because my mother suffered from it for many years, and the medical profession could do nothing. This was a long time ago though. Her partial solution was to plug in a Walkman if it got too obtrusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gastines Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Many thanks for your input and advice.I intend to visit my G.P. next week and will keep posters advised if anything useful transpires. Fortunately we have a G.P. and Dentist about 1km away, specialist services 3kms away in St.Malo and a nice clean/modern clinic just up the road. An advantage of not living too far from services.Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzy Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Check these sites out, Gastines, from the RNID websitehttp://www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/factsheets/tinnitus/factsheets_leaflets/Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I noticed on the 'shop' part of the RNID site there was an option for different languages - including French. Unfortunately that didn't seem to be working when I tried it, but it did remind me that I have found it helpful when dealing with French doctors if you can print out something in French that describes the condition and possible treatments or therapies. So if you google "acouphènes" you will probably find some useful material, maybe starting here: http://www.france-acouphenes.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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