Hi, guys. I'm having a difficult week, and I'm asking for support from you guys because I know you'll understand.

I have allergies, which I believe are related to my tinnitus (ringing in the ears). I usually hear it when I'm going to sleep. Last Sunday, though, the ringing was higher pitched that usual and louder. I notice it during the day, too. It has gone on all week. I've been to the doctor, and she didn't see any sinus or ear infection. She gave me a prescription for an antihistamine and told me to come back in two weeks if it isn't better.

I've been what-ifing. What if I go deaf? What if the noise gets so loud and high-pitched that I go insane? What if I never get to hear quiet again? What if I go deaf, and no one in my family will be able to talk to me.

I've been focusing on the ringing, but then I will use my skills and distract myself, and that usually helps. I just feel depressed, and I want it to go away! That's the childish part of me, but it is how I feel.

I know that I can handle any this problem. But I can feel myself catastrophizing about it and going to the most negative places. I'm finding it hard to stay in the present moment.

I'm mostly looking for support and understanding. I feel sad about having to deal with it. I feel like I make one step forward and then take two (or three) steps back.

Thanks for reading this.

I have the ringing in the ears, too. Years ago, I went to an "ear doctor". He told me (get THIS) to get a radio. What a jerk.

Last year, I went again, but to a different doctor. He was more helpful, in that he told me that if you clench your jaws (or grind your teeth), you can inflame the nerve along the side of your face. There's an auditory (hearing) nerve that runs across that vertical nerve. If one nerve is inflamed from the clenching, the other nerve "picks up" on it and that's why you hear the ringing.

Makes total sense to me, because I'm a jaw clencher. So much, in fact, that I gave myself two abscessed teeth. No dental decay, just inflamed because I jammed my jaws together so bad (especially while sleeping).

Now I wear a tooth guard at night. I still have the ringing, but it's not as bad. I work on the breathing exercise, thinking of good things and my progress, and get busy doing something that requires my full attention. Seems to help.

Does this help you at all?

I have the same problem. Its usually my right ear that rings. I had a bad ear infection years ago, so I've lost a bit of hearing in that ear. Sometimes it gets worse, especially with stress. Sometimes I think it might be from repeated long car trips, due to the pressure changes in the car. Just an idea. Sometimes its so loud and fuzzy that I can barely hear. It usually lets up in a day or two. And then only comes 2 or 3 times a year if that. I also used to have dizzy spells, and vomiting, but that hasn't happened for years. Its curious, that happened when I was driving around in an old car to school every day, and there was a problem with the exhaust system. After I got rid of the car, most of the dizzy spells left.
I have also been to a specialist, who said I just have peripheral auditory nerve damage. No brain tumor. If anyone gets the dizzy spells, what I found works is focusing on one thing in the room. Like a word on a sheet of paper. If you close your eyes, it just gets worse.
My Dad also has dizzy spells, and hearing loss in his right ear. And one of my uncles has "menieres disease" (not sure of spelling) but he has trouble with balance. So probably a genetic link there.
No one has mentioned progressive hearing loss to me. So try not to worry. It is aggravating sometimes to have what sounds like a loud horn sounding in your head while trying to work or talk to people. If you let it be background, its just more of an annoyance like a light headache, and you can work through it.
If you or others with this problem can come up with reasons for this, or better yet, ways of coping or getting rid of this problem, please let me know!

Thanks for posting,

Deb

well you spelled Meneires great and I have had the same issue since a kid

Thanks, guys. I know that I am making the problem worse by focusing on it. It helps to hear how you have dealt with it. I think I might clench my jaw at night. I will talk to my dentist about it. I am trying to distract myself and focus on other things instead of it. I do think it's getting better with the antihistamine, so I'm hoping that it will improve.

Thank you for responding. It's good to know you're there.