Same here, was 39 when it happened, 41 now.

It was very troubling at first but you adapt.

I no longer doubt anybody suffering from long-covid. I used to be very skeptical, like “chronic fatigue” and “fibromyalgia”, but when a cold does permanent damage to your hearing you realize how different COVID really was

100%! Thankfully, I am doing better mentally. I have accepted that I may always have it, and that, honestly, has been the best "cure" so far.

I hope you’ve changed your mind about chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia as well. They’re also post-viral diseases.

I never got diagnosed with COVID, but I was almost certainly exposed. Mine developed suddenly during one of the early peaks in 2020. Unfortunately I was also producing music at the time with headphones, which I've considered the likely cause. But who knows -- maybe it was a combo of things. My stress was through the roof, I wasn't sleeping much, I put on a lot of weight, and I was exposing my ears to moderately loud sounds. Suddenly my brain just decided to keep looping a tone indefinitely.

At least treatments are starting to come out. It's nice to know that there is relief if I ever need it.

I've always had it somewhat but COVID late last year definitely kicked it up a notch for a while, it did fade back to essentially being unnoticeable after a couple of months though. Hope yours fades too, it's a nuisance for sure.

Same. I also ended up getting dry/itchy inner ear and was given a steroid oil to put in my ear and to my surprise it also helps out my tinnitus for a day or 2 after using it.

If steroids do help, maybe you could try to address inflammation?

Do you use cotton swabs to clean your ears?

Would you mind sending me a link to the oil? Or is it prescribed?

It's prescribed...fluocinolone acetonide oil