Tinnitus

For the past two days I have been suffering -- yes, literally suffering -- from an intensely loud, low-pitched ringing in my ears. Tonight it has gotten so bad that everything I hear sounds as though it were being fed through a synthesizer to give it a metallic edge.

I went to CVS and asked the pharmacist if there was anything over-the-counter that she could recommend, and she showed me a box with some sort of supplement to increase the circulation in my ears, but it was nearly thirty dollars for a box of 100 --and-- I'd have to take it three times a day. Hmmm... if it really worked, it would be worth it, but I have a hard time justifying spending thirty bucks on some herbal something-or-other.

And in the meantime, I can barely hear over the thunderous din. It was miserable today at school because I had quite a time trying to understand my students when they spoke to me! It does seem to increase when there's more ambient sound; perhaps I should find my earplugs and try to block out some noise and see if that gives me some relief...

Any suggestions you might have (based on actual experience) are welcome.