Monkbird

I've been aware of a low level of tinnitus since I was in my late teens. I played in bands for a few years then and saw many shows and concerts, and only rarely did I wear ear protection. The ringing never bothered me, and I was only aware of it in very quiet environments. For the next 25 years, I was occasionally exposed to high volumes from concerts or power tools, but I don't think there was an appreciable increase in my tinnitus.
Then, in February of 2020, I joined a band, and despite ordering musicians' ear plugs and wearing them the whole time, after the third practice, I realized my ears were ringing.. Over the next week or so, it seemed to increase in volume, primarily affecting my left ear (the side facing the drum kit). I have a 7.4 khz tone in both ears, but I only notice that at night. I have a 14.8 khz tone in my left, and it cuts through just about everything. On bad days, I can even hear it in the shower.
My problematic tinnitus arrived about the same time as the COVID shutdowns, so I still haven't seen an ENT or audiologist, but having researched extensively, I'm pretty certain what I will hear. A virtual appointement with my primary care doctor went nowhere other than an unnecessary round of anitbiotics. I will see an ENT in July, but the primary goal there is just to establish myself as a patient so I will have quicker access to treatments once they are realized. I invested my stimulus check in Frequency Therapeutics.
I sleep with a recording of rain, crickets, and chimes every night, and I listen to it much of the day in headphones. Otherwise, the thing that helps the most is running on the treadmill. I used to prefer running outside, but the noise of the treadmill, along with running in general, helps me to ignore it.