Does anyone in our group have Tinnitus?

Just curious if anyone in the group has tinnitus or ringing in the ears?  Do we know why if this is a type of parethesias that Quix wrote about in an earlier post?  Is there any relation between MS and tinnitus?  I had it start in one ear about 3 years ago and then it started in the other ear about one year later.  I brought it up with my ENT once, but she said there's not much we can do about it except mask the sound, so I haven't pursued it.   Its not the worst thing to have to live with, but if there is an explanation, then that would be good to know as it would make living with it understandable.  Thanks.

[georgejackson]

Not sure if i have this or not.

I have a buzzing sound in my right ear as as soon as i turn the volume of my music up.

best describe it as a bee in a biscuit tine sound.

[Amyloo]

I have it big time.  I have to sleep with "white noise".  I can hear it above T.V., etc.  It bugs.  Amy

[LATW]

I have it. I also need white noise in order to sleep. I keep a fan running and my husband uses a c-pap machine and they both help a lot.

LA

[MrsMunier]

Hello!

I have it too.

MM

[Quixotic1]

Well, I rarely claim to be the all and be all, but I have to be the Queen of Tinnitus!  I have had tinnitus 24/7 while awake for the last 25 years after a bad concussion in 1983.  Until the vertigo hit in 1999, the tinnitus was fairly low level and I only heard it when I paid attention.  It sounded like a waterfall in my head - a "roaring" sound.  Since '99, it has been a constant and life-altering companion.  When I am fatigued it is so loud it drowns out conversation and TV.  At its worst it is actually painful and takes me to tears.  

A few years ago it was so bad that I didn't think I could live with it.  My vertigo doc operated and cut the Jacob's Nerve on the right side.  I knew wehn he did it that this would also cut the nerve to a major salivary gland on that side and that my mouth would be a lot drier and it is.  But, it worked enough to keep from going looney tunes and blowing my brains out.

What I discovered then is that I have two sources of tinnitus.  The main one is now more on the left and, when I am fatigued, I have another, higher pitched white noise, sound that is global. (means I hear it equally in both ears.)  So, when I am at my worst I hear both and can't concentrate or do anything, but drug myself.

Is tinnitus a paresthesia?  I have been thinking about it and I think it is.  It is a sensory input with no known cause.  On the other hand, pulsatile tinnitus, often (always???) has a mechanical reason for the pulse or fluttering sound, so it would not be a paresthesia or "sick nerve."

I also use fans and white noise machines to mask my tinnitus when I sleep.

Quix

[aiMelissa]

I also have this.  It is a constant hight pitched sound.  I also sleep with white noise on.  It's annoying, been there for a few years, wish it would go away, lol, but it's not the worse thing I deal with.  =)

[Wobbly]

I have this as well, mine sounds like a shower is in my head, almost 24/7...when it does stop for a day or so...it feel so good.

but, then it's back.  It seems to get worst when I try to listen to the TV or something...guess that's normal...trying to listen and hearing it more...

take care
andie