For as long as I can remember, my ears have been ringing.  I first
became aware of it when I was still in the first half of single-digit
age.  We were supposed to go hiking with some family friends -- their
daughter was my age.  They cancelled the trip because the girl had an
ear ache -- my parents explained to me that her ears were ringing.

I mentioned that mine were too, there was a steady tone in my ears I'd
just became aware of.  Naturally, they laughed and dismissed it as
copy-cat behavior.  I shrugged it off figuring ringing was just a
natural side-effect of hearing, like that hum speakers give off if you
listen (But more obnoxious!).

Years later, when I joined the Navy, I was pulled aside and informed
that I had to have a waver to get in since I'd failed the hearing test.
I'd completely missed a number of tones.  The word Tinnitus was
briefly mentioned when I described the constant ringing--but this was
boot camp.  I didn't have the time or energy to learn new words and
spent a few more years in the dark before I caught wind of it again.
This time, I learned the word and learned it well.  After a few
temporary changes in pitch/volume in my right ear, I ran a few internet
searches.  This was a few years ago, still, and there wasn't all that
much information available.  All I got was noise, psychology, unknown .
. . few more keywords . . . but the gist was 'suck it up'.  What's new?

A week ago, I experienced a dramatic change in tone in my right ear.
Along with it came dizziness.  After a few days, I caved and went to
the ER where I was given motion sickness pills and referred to an ENT.
The prognosis by the ER staff was that it was labyrinthitis.  The ENT
ruled that out and told me keep taking the meclizine, avoid steak and
salad and take Tylenol for the pain in my jaw.  (Pain that
wasn't/isn't/hasn't been there!).  He seemed to think the problem was
my jaw, though I've never had any trouble with it and he offered no
solutions.  He wouldn't give me any answers one way or another about
the ringing I've had in my ears my entire life and the new, and more
bothersome than ever, pitch/volume in my right ear.  I've come away
from the appointment more disheartened than ever . . . should I press
the issue with him, get a second opinion or just throw in the towel and
enjoy the lousy whistling I'm constantly serenaded with?

Ungh.