My Right Ear Is Ringing And It Will Not Stop

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Do you hear that? That ringing? I do.

Do you hear that? That ringing? I do.

By Brian Allen

 Something truly annoying is happening right now and it's beginning to really bother me.

 I suffer from a genetic condition called Tinnitus. It involves a constant or near-constant ringing in the ears. I have had if for years. My Grandfather had it and so I am blaming him for this (he and I also share an allergy to Penicillin, and NO ONE ELSE in the family has it).

 Usually it sounds like a low level high pitched tone but for the last couple of days it has been a heightened squeal in my ear. Almost round the clock and only in my right ear, not both ears. So I threw it out to my friends on Twitter, saying I had this rining in my ear. Some suggested an over-the-counter remedy, a doctor friend asked me if it was accompanied by and loss of balance or pain (the answer is no).

 While I know this condition is genetic, I also known I have almost certainly made it worse by years of wearing headphones while working in radio. I can already tell (and don't tell my wife Mandy I told you this), but I have experienced a certain level of hearing loss as a result. I say not to tell Mandy because there are times when she says something and I don't understand her and she always credits it to hearing loss. Some of the time she mumbles (my argument) and I can't clearly hear her. I would tell her to speak up but then it would feed her "hearing loss" theory, so I don't say anything.

 As I'm sitting here writing this blog, I hear the high pitched tone and I know no one else hears it. Just me. It's kind of a weird feeling. I just checked a site called "MedicineNet.Com" and it says there really is no treatment for Tinnitus. The article I'm reading says it may go away on it's own (which it sometimes does, always to return). It also says some sufferers may just have to "live with it". It also suggests taking Vitamin B3 but adds a skin rash could result in some people. It would be my luck that I would take the stuff and end up looking like Carrot Top and still have the ringing in my ears.

 So I guess for the time being I will live with it, suffer through and hope it subsides at some point.

 Quote Of The Day: "Most of the basic truths of life sound absurd at first hearing." Elizabeth Goudge

 This Day In History: Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet" became the first British film to win an Oscar on this date, March 24th, 1949.

 Something You Should Check Out: I did some digging around and actually found a Public Service Announcement campaign talking about Tinnitus. Watch and understand!

 Thanks for stopping by. As always, I like to see you comments. Feel free to leave one below or send me an e-mail by clicking here.

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