@Blujay You are right. My tinnitus became so low I hardly ever heard it and let my guard down. I completely forgot I had tinnitus. One evening I was listening to some music on the hifi and turned up the volume too loud, although It didn't seem loud to me. The next day the tinnitus came back with a vengence which lasted for weeks.
Michael,
Your statement, "....although it didn't seem loud to me..."
is significant.
There is an element to TRT and hyperacusis recovery that are not discussed: It is possible to make a stellar recovery, and to improve sound comfort levels to such a great degree that it can become dangerous.
I think the only positive thing I can say about hyperacusis is that it usually prevents one from unwitting overexposure. However, once the hyperacusis warning mechanism is gone, it can leave behind a weakened hearing system that is then a sitting duck.
I know of people who recovered beautifully from hyperacusis, and then later tore up their hearing with an extended exposure that they had absolutely no idea was too loud for them.
I once saw a poll on a forum that asked, "Over time, did your hyperacusis get better or worse? Did your tinnitus get better or worse?" Other than a couple of positive replies to both, the majority responded, "Hyperacusis better, tinnitus worse."
There should be a prominent warning, from the beginning, to anyone undergoing sound desensitization: "You could lose your perception of what is dangerously loud to you."
I am sorry, Michael, that you lost such a hard-won victory. The fact that you are still able to give such calm and level-headed advice to others is amazing, and you have my respect.