I was in the military and worked on aircrafts. At the time, using hearing protection just seemed silly. Now, I regret it. I have had tinnitus for about five years now. When I first was introduced to it, I let it consume my life, losing sleep, having anxiety attacks, and becoming depressed over it. It was because it was all I thought about for months on end. I will say this, thinking about it and dwelling on it does in some strange way seem to intensify it. After my first encounter, I struggled to cope with it. Then, one day, I came across an article where the author provided helpful tips to live with tinnitus. He said, “If you're concerned with the volume of your tinnitus, then try a simple test. Go to your bathroom or kitchen and turn on the faucet. If when the water is running you can't hear the ringing, your condition is weak in regard to someone who experiences dangerous volumes of tinnitus.” So I tried it. Much to my amazement, the water masked the ringing. That was my “light at the end of the tunnel.” I knew then that it wasn't something that would control my life. After that, it only got easier for me to live with it. And much to my surprise, for years after that, I noticed my self-awareness of it was minimal. I only heard it if I stopped and “listened” for it, and even then, sometimes I did not hear anything. But four years later, I have picked it back up and find myself lost in its trance. I'll get past this again because it's what we victims of tinnitus have to do to live. If you're new to the condition and find yourself lost, try the water test to see if it works for you. The water test won't cure your tinnitus, but it might just be what you need to get past the shock and learn to live with it.

I've suffered from tinnitus for many years and it has gotten progressively worse as I've aged. A couple of weeks ago, the high pitched sound grew worse in my right ear. By chance, I arrived at this web site and read one of the comments about the individual who was taking vitamin E and how it worsened his tinnitus. I have been taking 400 I.U. of vitamin E for years (makes me look younger), so I didn't believe my increased problem might be due to my vitamin E intake. Coincidentally, I ran out of the 400 I.U. soft gells and by accident bought the 200 I.U. kind. A day or two after I took my first dose of the 200 I.U., the ringing stopped. Coincidence? I don't know, but I'll find out later when I increase my dosage again to 400 I.U. I bought a bottle of it the other day not knowing that it could possibly be my problem. So, if you're taking vitamin E and you suffer from tinnitus, you might want to consider reducing or eliminating your dosage. It might help. By the way, I still have my original tinnitus, it hasn't gone away. But the much increased ringing that occurred in my right ear is gone.

About 4 months ago, I started getting extreme noise/ringing in my ears. I went to the doctor and he said that I was clenching my jaw at night because of stress which may be a factor in the tinnitus. I also thought I would go crazy. I started wearing a mouth guard to ease the clenching which has helped my jaws feel better, but didn't do a thing for the tinnitus. Time has helped me to get used to it. I am also in the throes of menopause and wonder if hormones may have something to do with it. I am going to try the multi vitamin that someone else suggested. Good luck to all of us, and if anyone finds a "cure", please share it with us!

I had an attack of vertigo 6-8 months ago, the doctor prescribed me some medicine, the room was spinning, I felt sick it was terrible, the high pitched noise in my ears has got worse in the last few weeks, in the day I don't notice the noise because of the radio, TV set, and everyday noises mask it, but at night when its quiet that's the worst, it does not keep me awake at the moment I sleep OK, listening to the birds singing in the morning, and the wind, is peaceful, I eat as much fresh veggies and fruit as I can, I don't smoke, I drink a glass of Perry occasionally.

In the Navy I worked around aircraft and flew six years on a flight crew, this was long ago and we didn't use ear/hearing protection. I have had loud noise for 10-15 years. A couple of years ago I started to "hear" noise on top of noise ie. a high pitched ring with clocks ticking on top of that (it wakes me up). I read somewhere that gabapentin (Neurotin) would help and it does take care of the top level of noise ie. the clock ticking sound. I take 300mg twice a day, check with your doctor.