Over Twenty Years of Tinnitus — It's Getting Worse

Hi all.

I first had tinnitus in my right ear after getting an ear infection in 1994, the sound was a low vibration which I could also feel. Noise or an earplug would mask it and it eventually disappeared after 6 years.

Around this time I started noticing a hissing noise in my head on the left side. It wasn't too bad. Nothing masks it as it is always above any external noise. This has gradually got louder over the years.

Up to about 2 years ago I could wake in the night and it would be almost non existent but always return on wakening. Alcohol would also quieten it but of course it would be worse the next day.

In the past few weeks things have ramped up, it's the loudest it's been and there is no respite because it is always above any other noise. Nothing masks it; like a severe head cold.

 

@BarryJ, sorry to read you're having problems. But welcome to the forum. I found that tinnitus has a mind of its own. Over the years I've had many spikes. I pray for better treatments or cure. Be hopeful and ride it out.

 

BarryJ sorry to hear about your struggles. I wish we both could have so called regular maskable tinnitus. If possible, on YouTube experiment with different color noises from white noise to brown noise and see if any of them can mask them.

I hope it weakens like your first bout.