h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hiya,
I was at a conference two weeks ago and at dinner the first evening there was a live band playing way, way too loud. I think this is the reason I've felt as though I'm on a sailing ship for the past two weeks. Went to the doc today and he's prescribed Serc-8. Whilst researching Serc-8 on the web I found your page and since you wanted comments I've decided to leave you this message.

I've had tinnitus ever since I can remember. I also have extremely, excellent hearing - up to 25kHz. I've never been able to tolerate loud noises and very rarely listen to music (save a fortune on CDs etc.)although I do play a few musical instruments.

When I was a teenager (into Sci-fi big time) I thought that I was hearing the radio communications of ailens, since no one else could hear what I was hearing! I can also hear dog whistles So where ever I am, the world is a noisy place and even when it's quiet, the white noise in my ears is prominent enough to disturb the peace.

Over the years the noise has been unbearable at times and almost unnoticable at others. It's something I've learnt to live with. It does drive me to distraction on occasion but, I've managed to survive.

About ten years ago I had tremendous pain in my ears and my eyes. Felt as though I'd been kicked by a mule in the eyes. Doc said I had dry eyes and prescribed Lacrilube eye ointment which relived the pain immediately and made me more or less normal. Along with the pain was sensitivity to bright lights. I still don't like bright lights but can cope with them now.

As I write, after having had one Serc-8 tablet almost 7 hours ago and soon to have another, the room is still but inside my head the room is swaying I think you know what I mean.

During the past two weeks, the swaying has been constant regardless of my positiion; I could be lying down, sitting, standing or walking and the feeling of swaying and feeling unbalanced is constant. Hopefully the tabs will help. I'll let you know how I get on if you're interested.

ps. my tinnitus gets a lot worse if I take aspirins.

Take care.
Juliesm

Hi, sorry I have only just seen your reply as although my name looks the same, I had to change account due to technical problems! I just happend to check this old name tonight, strangely I was just thinking how bad the Tinnitus is tonight.
I too can't stand loud noise, hearing tests show I have hearing damage particularly in my left ear. Aspirin is indeed a cause of tinnitus, I read somewhere, can't remember where.
So how is the room rolling? I am ok on that front at moment, but when it was bad it was a rotation at a diagonal sometimes, sometimes a sideways rolling. I remember being in bed and the room turning around as if drunk!
When I get a mild ear ache the hypersensitivity to noise can start again, the noise of plates touching seems to be the worst as it is a sharp sound anyway.