Hi Jenny i will send you an e mail  regards  John

Hi Jennifer,

You are NOT alone.  I am fairly new here too.  I have had tinnitus for
probably 15 years. At first, it was just occasional and I would think.."What
the hell is this *dripping water sound* in my ear?" Then, it would go away
for a while only to return again.  I have seen ENT's in several different
states. First in Virginia, then Tennessee..where I had a rhinoplasty for a
deviated septum (resulted from a fall as a child). I discussed my tinnitus
with that particular ENT/surgeon and he told me the same thing all the
others have told me...Unilateral Tinnitus with no apparent cause, except
perhaps the loud noise associated with being a chair side dental assistant.
My ENT here in SC offered nothing different as far as TRT. This past year it
became much worse and is very loud (to me anyway).  I found this newsgroup
after a desperate search for *answers* as to how to 'learn to live' with the
buzzzz.  There are some very nice people on here that will share with you
their experience with tinnitus, what works for them AND what hasn't.  It was
only after *talking* to one particular individual on the phone that I
realized I COULD and WILL get used to it. I'm not to that stage YET, but I'm
working on it.  I also learned I am fortunate to have it in only one ear and
at a constant high pitched buzz.  I can't imagine what it would sound like
to hear crickets or the sound of a train's brakes screeching. So, I am
slowly accepting my challenge.  It isn't easy and I still have days where it
seems unbearable.

All the things you are experiencing are normal for tinnitus sufferers.  You
WILL get used to it if you don't let it control you.  How you react to the
sounds you are hearing can have a effect on not only you but those around
you. My son can attest to that! If there is background sound (tv, radio, a
restaurant) and he is talking to me, I sometimes have to ask him to repeat
what he said. Until I told him about my tinnitus, he would just look at me
with the that 'DUH!' look and say..."Why don't you get a hearing aid?"...and
I would retort with..."Why don't you open your mouth and speak clearly
enough for me to hear you?" Now, he understands what *my* problem is and how
devastating it can be for me, if I let it. I was able to find a 'sound' on
my computer that was similar to what I hear, asked him to put the headphones
on with the sound coming through only the left ear and listen to it for a
few minutes....he only lasted about 20 seconds with it!  I told him that is
what I hear 24/7 and ever since, he has been a little more understanding.

After my mom passed away 3 years ago, my minister told me there are 5 stages
to grief.  He used the acronym DABDA and I share this with you because I
believe the same could be said about dealing with tinnitus...since all of us
here have lost something...our silence.  It stands for:
D - Denial
A - Anger
B - Blame
D - Depression
A - Acceptance *** this is the most important because if you don't ever get
to this point you will just keep bouncing around the other four.  I know,
I've been there.

Can it take over?  Only if you let it. I had let it stop me from getting out
and running, something I love to do. Now, I'm back to running my 8-10 miles
every other day. I actually find that it is a lot less *noticeable* after a
good aerobic and cardiovascular work out!

I hope all of this helps you in some way.  I'll tell you like I was
told....Hang tough, you can do it!!

Best of Luck to you...and have a peaceful day.
~Patty~

Hi Jennifer,

When you keep your diary would you consider keeping track of what you
DID with your body (not just what you ate).

In most people the problem is muscular - to do with tension in the
neck and shoulder muscles. That is why the Bowen therapy is working.

http://www.yts.se/english/index.htm
http://eebee.net/TinnitusIsaPainintheNeck.shtml

Tinnitus is a pain in the neck
Elly's Tinnitus Resources
http://eebee.net/

For email: elly at eebee.cjb.net