About 3 days ago I noticed that my hearing was a little off. I picked up my desk phone at work to dial a number and noticed that in my left ear, the dial tone sounded wrong... muffled and about two octaves lower that normal. Also, when I punched the different numbers, I couldn't hear the different tones. So, I went to my ENT (otolaryngologist) whom I've had since about the age of 3 (I had a TON of ear infections as a little one). I was SURE that he would look in my ear and say "Yep, you've got a bunch of wax or water in there, let me clean it out and you'll be fine." Nope, he said there was nothing there, and didn't look infected.
"Um.... okay...." After about two hours of testing with an audiologist... I have apparently lost about 60 decibles worth of hearing in my left ear alone (I'm now WAY below normal). The research and the Dr. said that this condition (Sudden Onset Hearing Loss), about half the time, goes away on its own in a few weeks while taking steroids. Some people have something pushing on their nerve, so he ordered an MRI. I've never had one of those... I have one at 3:00 today... kinda scared...
Anyway, The for the other half of patients.... THE HEARING NEVER COMES BACK AND NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY! So... I'm now partially deaf and it may never come back!?!?!?! I know I shouldn't FREAK out until the prednisone has had time to work, but... seriously? NEVER? NO EXPLAINATION?
Okay... perspective... I can still hear quite well in my right ear, I'm not totally deaf and can function.... There's billions of people in the world with worse problems than this......
My problems aren't so bad... it's livable, annoying and depressing, but livable....
Sorry, had to vent some anxiety, fear, paranoia, fear, more paranoia and some depression...
Thanks!
3 comments:
YIKES! I hope it's the temporary kind. Scary!
Oh goodness! this isn't good. I'm sorry to read that you are going through this. I'll give you a call when I'm off work. We'll say prayers for you that it is a temporary scary!
Oh, that is scary, Melinda! I'm so sorry you have to go through this. We will all pray that your hearing goes back to normal soon. Keep us posted!
P.S. How did the MRI go?
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