A few years ago, AS Roma destroyed Barcelona in a thrilling 3-0 in Champions League quarter finals. Around that time, I started hearing a whistling sound in my ear. The two things are unrelated, but that’s why I remember the year.
I went to see my doctor about it, the day Roma was going to play the return leg against Liverpool, she asked me if I had any sort of stress, and I blamed work, cause I didn’t feel like blaming football.
Turned out, I had very high blood pressure, and I needed to make some lifestyle changes and get some pills. I did, and my blood pressure is under control now.
But the whistle didn’t go away, and after many tests, doctors, hacks etc.. I had to accept the fact I have tinnitus (acufene), and I am going to live with it for the rest of my life.
It felt horrible at first. You can’t turn it off, ever. I no longer know how silence sounds. It’s like being unable to close your eyes.
But I am lucky, mine is not too strong, and I can barely notice it if I’m in a room with other people talking, or watching TV, or driving.
Today I was asked about, as someone else started suffering from it, and they’re going crazy. I feel genuinely sorry for them.
But also, this was a good reminder: my problem is not too bad. It sucks, but it could have been so much worse.
I’m very lucky.
