Loud ringing in ears

A few days after my father passed I heard a loud ringing in my right ear when I was lying in bed at night. Similar to tinnitus but much louder and in only one ear. I wondered at the time if someone was trying to "talk" to me. I didn't do anything and went to sleep. Few days later, I was at my desk and heard a similar loud ringing but this time in my left ear. I should have said something, tried to speak. But I would have felt silly talking to thin air. Anyone have similar experiences?