Hi -
This is my first post to this group mostly because the tinnitus I've had
for years has become worse in the last month or so. The sound I
experience is ( and I know I'm aging myself with this comparison } what
you used to hear on the old TV test patterns before the station went on
the air. Its a constant single tone - fairly high pitched, and it
recently took a step up in volume.

I've had tinnitus for at least 10 years, but it has always been in the
background and I only noticed it when I listened for it. Two things have
occurred in the past month may or may not be related.

My mother who also suffers from tinnitus, was told by a friend that they
had heard of success with a herbal supplement called "LIPO-FLAVONOID".
It claims to be "recommended by ear doctors" and promotes better
circulation to the ear  A pharmacist told her that some customers had
reported some success to him. We both decided to try this stuff and we
both are experiencing increased volume of the "ringing". It's fairly
expensive stuff and it says for best results, use for 6 months. I can
report a dramatic change in my tinnitus - unfortunately it's for the
worse. Has anyone else tried this stuff - if they can report it gets
worse before it gets better then maybe I'll continue.

The other thing that has occurred in the past couple of months is a
little bit of increased stress. I have a son headed for college and the
financial stress of future college costs has had me tossing and turning
with some anxiety...that along with having to pay a few thousand dollars
to the IRS in income tax and some other bills on the horizen - its put
me in a little more stressful state than normal. In fact I tend to live
a pretty stress free life.

Any words of advise or encouragement are encouraged.

Thanks,
Steve