Tinnitus

The day after Christmas I woke up with a ringing in my ear. Cold/flu, everyone is sick, hopefully it will go away soon. I called the doctor--couldn't get an appointment for two weeks. Are you crazy, I'll be better by then. Well, I should have kept the appointment because it didn't go away.

I have tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a term for acoustical perceptions heard in the ear(s) or head that are not produced by external sound. It can be experienced as a ringing, buzzing, whooshing, or hissing sound.

I saw a great Physicians Assistant named Jamie on Friday. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about the ear, ear canal, ear drum, etc. First I had to take a hearing test--I have good hearing.

All people have ringing in the ears but some perceive it more and louder than others. This happens when a person is sick, stressed, etc. The funny thing is patients often get stressed out that this ringing is occurring, which exacerbates the ringing. She said most patients say to her, "what, I'm not imagining this and I'm not crazy!" After about 10 minutes of this, I wanted to run from the chair. She gave me three articles to read and and recommended some herbal remedies to try to reduce the symptoms (ginkgo biloba, zinc, garlic - a formula developed by a doctor who also suffers from tinnitus). She said I could join a support group and go through behavioural training. Listen to "sound waves" or other artificial sounds to mask it.

I bought a different brand of Tinnitus remedy at GNC, so let's see if it works. I'm more relaxed now that I know its not a sinus infection or ear infection.