ccole

I'm a normal, happy, well-adjusted husband and father of three who developed tinnitus the night of 11/20/14, with no known cause.

This has been a life-changing event. I am surprised at the amount of energy I must put into coping with this every hour. I'm just two weeks into it, and I have no idea how I'll cope through the next several days. My time is filled with bouts of panic and fear; occasionally, I get short breaks when I get focused on a task and briefly stop noticing the sound. But most of the time, there is no ignoring or suppressing the constant, pervasive squealing/hissing sound. It seems to originate in my head between my ears, and it is manifested in both ears more or less equally. Nothing lessens it, nothing dulls it. So far I am able to get to sleep at night, but I am not sleeping, eating, or interacting normally.

I have been to my GP twice, and I have audiologist and ENT appointments next week. I have learned nothing from my Doctor, and I do not anticipate learning much from these specialist appointments. I understand I must learn to cope with this, by learning to react to and deal with this condition appropriately.

I try to look down the road, and assure myself I will adapt and learn. But it seems a distant, distant goal, and I really don't know if I have the strength. For my family's sake, I will do my best.

I know it is early in my experience with T, and I expect many of you have gone through similar experiences. In all my years, I have never really needed or asked for help, but I am bordering on desperation.