PointBreeze
Recycles dryer sheets
This has had a very large impact on my quality of life and I wanted all of you to know about it, as PCPs often don't understand the urgency.
I woke up on the morning of 12/23 with a significant loss of hearing in one ear - all the lower frequencies were just about gone. In addition, I had a constant loud whooshing static noise in that ear (tinnitus) and my head on that side felt full in a very disconcerting way.
I knew I wasn't sick/didn't have a sinus infection (and I took an at home Covid test to be sure it wasn't that), so I did a bit of research, realized that this was an emergency requiring immediate treatment (steroids). I called my PCP's office, and it took them all day to get back to me (last day open before holiday and COVID is surging here, like everywhere else). They told me to come in on Monday. I didn't go to an UrgiCare or an ER because the Covid numbers are super high here causing those locations to be overwhelmed (super long wait times and superspreading places).
On Monday (12/27) PCP confirmed I didn't have an infection and told me that if hearing didn't improve within a week to call an ENT. I told them this was an emergency and needed immediate treatment, but they didn't agree. I went ahead and got the first ENT appt I could get, which was on 12/29.
ENT had an audiologist do a hearing test and confirmed that I had classic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). Put me on prednisone, 60mg titrating down to 10mg over the course of 12 days. I will then have another hearing test. If no improvement, steroid shots through the ear drum, once/week for up to 3 weeks.
This has had a huge impact on my life. I have a very hard time echolocating (figuring out where a sound is coming from) now. For example, when my cell phone rings, I have a hard time finding it. I constantly think there is water running/dishwasher going/washing machine going. The loud whoosing static noise is incredibly distracting and fatiguing. It is very hard to concentrate. Watching TV or participating in a Zoom quickly becomes fatiguing and annoying.
I am fortunate that I didn't loss the upper frequencies, so I can still hear most conversation. But I am concerned about not being able to hear traffic noises when walking outside, hearing people and wildlife approaching when walking in nature, working with power tools (hearing the RPMs change when a tool is struggling is key for safety), etc.
After 6 days of steroids, I have had no improvement, which from what I read does not bode well for any type of meaningful recovery.
I know there are many people on this forum that have severe hearing loss, and I have a new appreciation and empathy with all of you.
I am having to work hard to not get depressed. Waking up one morning with such a large change in ability has been a challenge to take in. The steroids are causing insomnia, so that is contributing to my lack of resiliency, I'm sure.
Anyway, I wanted you all to know about this, so if it happens to you, you call an ENT doc ASAP.
I woke up on the morning of 12/23 with a significant loss of hearing in one ear - all the lower frequencies were just about gone. In addition, I had a constant loud whooshing static noise in that ear (tinnitus) and my head on that side felt full in a very disconcerting way.
I knew I wasn't sick/didn't have a sinus infection (and I took an at home Covid test to be sure it wasn't that), so I did a bit of research, realized that this was an emergency requiring immediate treatment (steroids). I called my PCP's office, and it took them all day to get back to me (last day open before holiday and COVID is surging here, like everywhere else). They told me to come in on Monday. I didn't go to an UrgiCare or an ER because the Covid numbers are super high here causing those locations to be overwhelmed (super long wait times and superspreading places).
On Monday (12/27) PCP confirmed I didn't have an infection and told me that if hearing didn't improve within a week to call an ENT. I told them this was an emergency and needed immediate treatment, but they didn't agree. I went ahead and got the first ENT appt I could get, which was on 12/29.
ENT had an audiologist do a hearing test and confirmed that I had classic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). Put me on prednisone, 60mg titrating down to 10mg over the course of 12 days. I will then have another hearing test. If no improvement, steroid shots through the ear drum, once/week for up to 3 weeks.
This has had a huge impact on my life. I have a very hard time echolocating (figuring out where a sound is coming from) now. For example, when my cell phone rings, I have a hard time finding it. I constantly think there is water running/dishwasher going/washing machine going. The loud whoosing static noise is incredibly distracting and fatiguing. It is very hard to concentrate. Watching TV or participating in a Zoom quickly becomes fatiguing and annoying.
I am fortunate that I didn't loss the upper frequencies, so I can still hear most conversation. But I am concerned about not being able to hear traffic noises when walking outside, hearing people and wildlife approaching when walking in nature, working with power tools (hearing the RPMs change when a tool is struggling is key for safety), etc.
After 6 days of steroids, I have had no improvement, which from what I read does not bode well for any type of meaningful recovery.
I know there are many people on this forum that have severe hearing loss, and I have a new appreciation and empathy with all of you.
I am having to work hard to not get depressed. Waking up one morning with such a large change in ability has been a challenge to take in. The steroids are causing insomnia, so that is contributing to my lack of resiliency, I'm sure.
Anyway, I wanted you all to know about this, so if it happens to you, you call an ENT doc ASAP.