You'll have to speak up...

I promise you now, this blog is not going to be focused on the medical woes of our little family. It just so happens that we've had a lot going on this fall in that area, and I am trying to get into the habit of blogging!

On September 6th, I woke up with hearing loss and very annoying ringing in my right ear. A quick trip to the clinic diagnosed a probable inner ear infection and I was put on antibiotics. A second trip 5 days later, and they said it was likely fluid. My hearing was not coming back, the ringing was persistent, and my balance was worse than a toddler learning how to take his first steps. I was afraid to go out in public for fear that people would suspect I was three sheets to the wind. I saw a doctor 5 times in 2 weeks (varying diagnoses all involving fluid and the inner ear, varying pills and sprays prescribed) before finally being referred to an ENT specialist. He took one look in my ear, told me there's no fluid there. To my shock, he told me what I had was a sensorineural hearing loss, most likely caused by a virus that attacked the nerves in my inner ear. The kicker: treatment with high dose steroids is usually only successful if started within 72 hrs of the onset of symptoms. By this point it had been 2 1/2 weeks, which was the very outset window of opportunity for steroid treatment. He started me on prednisone immediately and booked an audiologist appointment for the next day.

At my audiologist appointment, I learned I now have a mild to moderate hearing loss in my right ear. I have lost my ability to hear in stereo and locate sounds. Major bummer at cocktail parties, church, and any event with more than one person talking. Sudden onset hearing loss due to a virus is very rare, proving once again that I am one in a million. The audiologist said he usually only sees a dozen cases in his area of practice each year (he is the regional manager for our local health care system), but this year I was number 15 so it had been a "bumper year" for him. Glad I could help! Most general practioners will only see one or two cases in their lifetime, which is why it goes misdiagnosed so frequently.

I am now finishing up my last few days of steroids, and other than having a very clean house and lots of meals put in the freezer (insomnia has been my biggest side effect), not much has changed. The tinnitus is still there, my constant companion during quiet moments. My balance is slowly improving, so at least there's that. The hearing seems to be about the same. It comes and goes as well, depending on my current level of ringing and what's going on in the room.

And that has been my adventure this fall... it has been interesting, to say the least. I am slowly adjusting to my new way of hearing, and trying to reinsert myself back into society. I no longer stagger when I walk, and I am learning ways of blocking out the ringing when it gets to be overwhelming. I am a good candidate for a hearing aid but I am going to wait for awhile and see how I do before venturing down that path.