Hello all. I just discovered this newsgroup.

I am starting to have worsening problems with my tinnitus. Four years
ago I had an acoustic neuroma removed on the left side, which left that
side completely deaf. SInce then, but mostly recently, the tinnitus has
been getting worse and worse on that side, and am now developing it on
the other side. The worst thing about the left side is that it is ALL
THAT I CAN HEAR on the left. It's not covered up by ambient noises.
Even on the right side, with noises from driving the car down the
turnpike at 80 MPH, those ambient sounds are not enough to cover the
tinnitus on the 'good' side.

Recently went to the neurologist that performed the AN removal who did
an MRI to check for a recurring or developing tumor, which it is NOT
(so that's good news). I told him about the increasing tinnitus on the
left and newly developing tinnitus on the right. He sent me to the ENT
(who teamed with the neurologist in the brain surgery). He too said the
MRI looked 'acceptionally well' ... (don't mean to ramble, sorry) ...
so ...

They did a couple of hearing tests, and I was told "You have
considerable hearing loss in the good ear. Much more than I prefer to
see in a man of 49..." and are now talking about doing a 'BAHA
implant'. Looks like an interesting procedure but I am going to have to
think about it.

He tried to explain what tinnitus is, however offered no explanation as
to where it is coming from or why  it is increasing and developing on
the other side.

[Side story - he kind of shrugged his shoulders as he equated tinnitus
to 'phantom pains', thinking I migh understand that analogy as I also
had a leg amputated in 2001 due to a cancerous tumor. THat was the
response I would usually get from doctors when I asked about phantom
pains after that surgery - a shrugging of the shoulders and "we really
don't know how to treat phantom pains effectively"]

I will be going to a local doctor for a physical (last physical was
fine), but in the mean time, the ENT suggested melatonin. From what I
am reading, that seems to be the thing to try if/when I am having
trouble sleeping - which I am not. My problem is that it is getting
very distracting and beginning to effect both my personal and
professional life. The ENT also said that "if the tinnitus gets bad
enough, what we usually do is send you to a psychologist" then made
some mention about drugs (which I would assume meant anti-depressants)
which at this point in the game I would prefer to NOT do as well. I
have absolutely NO issues taking drugs, I just don't like taking drugs
that effect my thinking. My biggest fear about the AN surgery was that
something would happen to my ability to think logically (yes I am a bit
of a nerd).

[right now the ringing is so bad on both sides that I am using some  
creative cursing in my mind]

So I am presently in a state of WHAT THE F***, at a crossroads AGAIN in
my life it seems, and don't quite know which way to turn.

If I do get the BAHA Implant I am going to be calling my self 'The Bionic Man'.

Thanks for listening (reading).

-John