In article z,
Yeasty Cock-Slimmer wrote:

I'm not joking about this. Two days ago, I developed a very loud
ringing noise in my ear. I've experienced a similar effect after
concerts or very loud music, but the ringing has always faded away
within a couple of hours.

But this time, it isn't going, and it came on suddenly and for no
apparent reason. I was listening to background music very quietly and
suddenly, when the track ended, there was the sound. Over the last two
days, it seems to have gotten worse, not better.

I am not overly sensitive to the 'background noise' of the ear's
workings, which may well be the cause of tinnitus in some people--the
mind zooming in on a naturally occurring tone within the ear. When a
room is totally silent, I have always heard a faint high-pitched sound
in both ears. I have asked friends about this and they too experience
the same thing. But this is not the same: it is *very* loud.

Suspecting an infection, I visited my doctor and he informed that my
ear canal is completely clear, but with a little reddening. He's given
me some ear medication that contains a steroid and an antibiotic.
Although my ear *feels* slightly blocked up, I can hear through it
perfectly. I downloaded some tone generation software and, using the
Etymotics, tested both ears. I heard tones equally loud in left/right
comparisons, and to my astonishment, I discovered I can clearly hear
up to 16.8K in my left ear and 16.9K in my right. For a guy the wrong
side of fifty and who likes music loud, I consider this to be a
miracle. And I guess it sort of rules out hearing damage, at least
caused by loud sounds, as the cause of the tinnitus.

As I said, this came on suddenly, without any apparently reason, and
has not stopped in two days. I was wondering if anyone else has ever
had anything similar happen to them, and what the outcome was. Ideas?
Any genuine thoughts are honestly appreciated.

Ask your doctor about a decongestant. Avoid aspirin, caffeine, red wine,
etc.

Gotta go,

Stephen