Hello all, just a quick update. I experienced acoustic trauma at the Def Leppard concert at Fenway (upwards of 105 dB-110 dB) on August 5th, which immediately resulted in the onset of tinnitus in my left ear.
I had a hearing test on August 9th, which showed mild hearing loss in the left ear: 25 dB at 750 Hz, 35 dB at 1000 Hz, 30 dB at 2000-4000 Hz, and 45 dB at 6000-8000 Hz. My right ear was basically normal, so this hearing loss is definitely related to the acoustic trauma.
I received an inner ear dexamethasone shot on August 15th. I'm not sure if it helped, but it definitely made my ear feel stuffy for a few days. It also caused a scratchy sensation when I swallowed (or hiccuped, etc.). Unfortunately, I don't think it had any significant effect. My ENT, who has known me for a long time, suggested it because she knew I'd regret not trying anything that might help. But it was only one shot, somewhat painful, and I don't think I want to do it again. I have another hearing test scheduled for August 30th to see if there's been any improvement.
Interestingly, even before the shot, one of the two tones in my ear had already gone away. I don't think I'm as sensitive to sound as I was before, or maybe I'm just starting to habituate. I find it strange that by midday, the tinnitus doesn't bother me much—it's still there, but I can somewhat function. However, I'm extremely stressed and hyper-focused in the morning. Despite this, I fall asleep just fine, and last night, I even slept with the air conditioner off for the first time. I tried to hear the tinnitus while falling asleep but couldn't detect it. Although I have trouble staying asleep, I just started taking 5 mg of slow-release Melatonin, and I managed to get a solid six hours last night in silence.
I've also started taking Ginkgo biloba and the "SoundBites" supplement called ACEmG. After a couple of hours of taking them, my anxiety about the tinnitus decreases.
To recap: I need to figure out why the tinnitus is at its worst in the morning. Maybe it's getting better overall, but I'm not sure. I'm continuing to explore supplements and treatments. I also came across a treatment called SPI-1005 that looks promising for reducing tinnitus, and I'm praying for good results.