Hello everyone,

I took a leave of absence for a few months caring for my elderly mother, sadly she passed away two weeks ago.

I would like to update you on the status of my tinnitus, which for you that don't recall, I have had tinnitus for the most part of my life, low key, but a severe onset out of the blue awoke me last March 2011.

During the first two months of the onset, I had great fears and anxiety and my thoughts were focused on my t day and night.

I contribute the obsessing about my T, to the newness of the disorder, the fears of the cause, and then the obvious, the noise which caused me to fee, well for the lack of better words, ICKY and off.

I sought out several doctors inputs, neuro, ENT, and my general doctor. All of them came to the same conclusion that my T, was due to???? And all more than less said, don't worry, get used to it, well most of you probably heard he same.

I eliminated almost "all" salt from my diet, after investigating some triggers that induce T, since the sudden T., came on after I ate a salty meal.

Although its not like it was the first salty meal I ever ate, it was corn beef, if any of you are wondering.

Did eliminating salt reduce my T.? Well I am not certain, however it did lower my BP, and I lost 50 lbs from reducing my salt, sugar as well, and all in all eating better.

As far as my tinnitus though, well the improved diet might of helped reduce my T some.

I am more inclined to think that my mind just got used to the ringing, allowing me to carry on with it with out daily fretting about it.

On occasion I will notice louder days, then become aware of the distracting disorder, but fortunately I am relieved with better days.

To date I still wake up with a loud hiss in my right ear, just as the first sudden onset last March. However, after I am up and about that subsides, and even in the morning I am not fretting about it as much.

My diet slightly crept back to a touch more salt and sweets over the holidays.

Then while my mother became very ill the past few months, in and out of the hospital several time, then rehabs and I was under great stress and sadness, not sleeping good either, I ate what ever comforted me, and on the run too, so I think my T., might have increased a bit.

With that sad, presently my T appears noticeable, and I find myself thinking about it again, some worries again of "what the cause is."

That could be since my focus is off my mother and back on myself possibly? Or else my T., is worse from eating poorly again? I do not know. Possibly a combination of both.

At any rate, even though discouraged that I have this disorder, I am thankful that my brain appears to adapt to it. In addition my T has not got worse.

I hope all of you that have T, and come to this site find some ideas for treatments that work for you, as well as take comfort in the compassion and empathy from others here that share this annoying and for some debilitating disorder.

Patty