BOURNEMOUTH & DISTRICT TINNITUS GROUP
www.bournemouthtinnitus.co.uk
Affiliated to the British Tinnitus Association
www.tinnitus.org.uk
Chairman: Keeley Salmon
01202 511386
Treasurer: Sandra Barling
01202 297902
Secretary: Ed Maeer
01202 518647
Dear Member,
Autumn Newsletter 2015
It is a Saturday morning and we are experiencing strong winds and very heavy rain and so, not
being gardening weather, I am working on the autumn newsletter. Yes, adverts for Xmas events
etc., are appearing everywhere. Another year almost over! "Tempus Fugit" as the Romans would
have said.
Tinnitus Awareness Week - 8th to 14th February 2016
You may well have seen details of this event in the recent edition of Quiet magazine. As last year,
our group will have a display at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital for two days i.e. Tuesday and
Wednesday 9th & 10th February. If you are able to help out it would be greatly appreciated. The
event is always interesting and visitors to our stand are grateful for any information that we are able
to hand out. We find it interesting to converse with members of the public and hospital staff.
Programme for 2016
Enclosed with this newsletter are details of planned meetings etc for next year. I have to say that it
does take some time in its compilation but this year I have received much appreciated help from
Keeley, our chairperson. Fortunately, the committee at its meeting on the 26th November approved
the details which hopefully you will find interesting and acceptable (What a relief)! If you are able
to make it to any of our get-togethers it would be good to see you.
Christmas party 2015
Perhaps you would care to underline Wednesday 9th December as the date for this year's
party is not far off. Last year's was well attended and everyone joined in the various activities
and appeared to enjoy themselves. The party consists of a picture quiz, games of bingo, a
Christmas tea followed by a raffle of seasonal goodies. During the afternoon background
music is presented by Colin, our regular pianist, followed by some lively and quite good, if I
may say so, carol singing. If you are able to join us I am sure you will find it most enjoyable
and very sociable.
HELPFUL HINTS
Sleep
Aim for a regular bedtime, with the last hour of the day spent quietly. Radio, taped music or a
relaxation tape may help. Small under-pillow speakers are available if you share a room. Herbal
pillows have also been recommended. A warm bath may help you to relax. Avoid tea, coffee and
heavy meals near bedtime although a light snack or warm milk can prevent night starvation and
promote sleep. Experiment with a glucose drink if you wake in the night
Can you relax?
Ordinarily, this just implies 'knocking off for a while' - a cup of tea, a nap, the TV.... but bodily and
mental relaxation, as required, is the nearest thing to a tonic for tinnitus. Instructive CD's , as
available from the BTA can prove very beneficial. I found "Deep Relaxation - A Journey" by
Eileen Hewitson very effective. Complete 'letting' go does not come naturally to us humans perhaps the best example is the domestic cat. Breathing exercises, learning where our tensions are,
spending a while in an imagined holiday situation, are enjoyable ways of achieving positive
refreshment. Some people avoid relaxing because their tinnitus then becomes more noticeable.
Alright, keep busy - but not frantically busy - try to do it in a relaxed easy going way.
Here are some interesting points
The more relaxed the body, the more relaxed the mind.
The more relaxed the body, the easier the symptoms get.
The more relaxed you are, the more you can allow life to come to you, without worrying about it.
By learning to relax, you can find your way into a state of inner peacefulness.
By learning to relax you can recognise when you are becoming tense and stop this happening.
Plug'em - Article by Dave Carr - Volunteering & Engagement Officer BTA
Plug'em is a new tinnitus prevention campaign run by the British Tinnitus Association. It is aimed
at raising awareness in younger people of the need to wear ear plugs at clubs, gigs and festivals and
is raising awareness of tinnitus and the damage to hearing which can be caused when sounds are
over 85dB. Plug'em aims to promote the use of ear plugs in loud social environments and we
inform about levels of sound. What is and isn't safe and importantly about exposure times. The
website www.plug'em.co.uk gives information about the different sorts of ear plugs available and
which are best for what purpose and importantly it highlights other people's experiences of tinnitus
and the need to prevent it.
You can help us raise awareness of Plug'em by telling the young people you know about the
campaign. We want to get the message out to as many people as possible and what better way than
through word of mouth via the Bournemouth & District Tinnitus Group? Or you can join in with
social streams. We are using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and if you are able to follow, retweet and share Plug'em's posts, that would be brilliant. You can find out more at:
Twitter@Plug_em
Instagram Plug_em Facebook fb.com/plugemuk
Visit the website
www.plugem.co.uk and tell more people about the campaign. See recent Quiet magazine for
further information.
The A.B.C of Tinnitus
You will probably recall that details from A to M were set out in the spring newsletter.
Herewith N to Z
N is for Noise. Here are some of the noises you may hear in your ears - clinking tinkling swishing
murmuring ringing rattling whistling droning.
O is for Optimism. All around the world ideas are being put forward and tested. One day there
will be a breakthrough and a treatment will be found. Fingers crossed.
P is for Perseverance. Change of diet, change your way of life, even change your doctor but
whatever you decide to do persevere at it until you know you have won the battle.
P is also for Pressure. Many people find that barometric pressure affects their tinnitus. Some find
that higher altitudes help. A holiday in the mountains has been found to be really beneficial.
Resolving problems as quickly as possible can help.
Q is for Questions. Ask as many as are needed to put your mind at rest. It is the unanswered
question that troubles and torments. Tinnitus can be explained plainly and simply and sometimes
this is all that is needed to put everything in perspective.
R is for Relaxation. To combat any stress you are experiencing. R is also for Radio. This can be
helpful since music, a talk or an interesting play can absorb you for a short while and take your
mind off tinnitus.
S is for Sleep. The most difficult problem of all for some. Help can be found by using the many
tapes, CD's that are now on the market. Also masking equipment that overcomes the noises you
hear.
T is for Tell. Tell your family and friends how you feel. They cannot help you unless you explain.
U is for Unfair. You will feel that it is unfair that you have tinnitus but there are worse things in
life. Write down your blessings and this will help to put it in the right perspective.
V is for Vow. Vow to yourself that you will overcome and defeat tinnitus.
W is for Walking. Outside in the fresh air all ills seem to lessen. Tinnitus is no exception. A daily
walk brings great relief.
X is for X-ray. Most people worry that tinnitus is covering a more sinister illness. Put you mind at
rest by asking for an x-ray if you are at all worried.
Y is for YOU. The most important person and the only one that can overcome these difficulties.
You can do it and with the help that is to hand you will succeed.
Z is for Zeal. You must have a willingness and a determination to regain the foot-hold you have
lost in life. Courage, all the way, my friend, and you will find you can face the future with renewed
Zest and energy.
Beryl Lambert
September meeting - discussion session
At this meeting, because the speaker was unable to attend, I held a session whereby we talked
about our own personal experiences of tinnitus. We discussed some of the following:




our tinnitus sounds
if known, what caused our tinnitus
what methods we used to manage our tinnitus
and how our tinnitus makes us feel.
Those who attended the meeting found it both interesting and beneficial. It is something that I will
follow up at a future meeting.
There are now 61 British Tinnitus Support Groups across the UK. The BTA recently carried out a
small survey on the effectiveness of tinnitus support groups and produced a booklet with the results,
copies of which were handed out to those attending the October meeting. Although a small survey,
it highlighted the importance of support groups and that for some attending a support group was
seen to be of considerable benefit. These attendees saw improvements in emotional health and well
being, a greater understanding of the condition and how to manage their tinnitus on a day to day
basis.
Keeley Salmon
Group Chairperson
If you are unable to make it to the party we hope that you will have a peaceful and relaxing
Christmas. You would be most welcome at any of next year's meetings.
Best wishes to you all for 2016.
Regards
Ed Maeer
Secretary
Contact: Local Tinnitus Group contact: Jean Lakins 01202 468480
British Tinnitus Association
Helpline: Free phone 0800 018 0527
Email: info@tinnitus.org.uk
Website: www.tinnitus.org.uk
RNID
Freephone - 0808 808 0123
Website: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk
Email: informationonline@hearingloss.org.uk
Are you receiving the Quiet Magazine 4 times per year? Let me know if not.
30th November 2015