I had my follow up appointment after my MRI yesterday, and great news - no tumours! I have to say, I thought about correcting the Dr when he said my brain was "normal"... I mean, really, there must be synapses communicating like crazy in there - surely my brain is better than normal LOL! He was a little taken aback when I asked for a picture of the MRI - and I'm not totally sure what I'll do with it anyway, but for some reason, i think it would be cool to have. Especially in the absence of tumours :)
Bad news is that they still have no idea what caused my hearing loss, and really the only thing they can do is screw some sort of hearing aid into my head, which would send the sound into my left (good) ear... I'm not too keen on that, and it won't stop the ringing anyway, so since I think I'm pretty well adjusted, i'm going with status quo. Besides, it is nice to sometimes put the people I don't want to hear on my right so I can ignore them with a good excuse...
I'll go back in a year for another hearing test but other than that, life goes on. And I can sleep well now, knowing that I have no tumours!!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Hearing update
It's been almost 4 months since I lost my hearing in one ear, and I can honestly say that it isn't stopping me from doing most things at all! There's the odd time that the ringing gets really loud or high-pitched, and I cant' focus, but it seems to happen less and less. Sometimes I'm even able to tune out the ringing altogether.
My hearing has gotten marginally better, too - at very low frequency, I can hear tones at lower decibels. In fact, I'm in the moderate hearing loss range at certain frequencies - so things like a Harley Davidson motor, I can hear at a farther distance now. So that's good! You never know - maybe it will continue to improve! The stranges part of my hearing test is that words, although they are loud and "clear" in my right ear, sound like complete gibberish. I cannot make out what people are saying at all, even when they're yelling into my ear. So that's kind of an odd sensation.
I finally have my MRI scheduled - it's happening next weekend, so keep your fingers crossed that either they find nothing or they find something that is super easy to fix and give my hearing back fully! I'm not going to lie, the waiting has been killing me. I have had several sleepless nights and nightmares about there actually being something wrong - but really, I'm sure there isn't. I will just be glad to get it over with. My MRI follow up is Wednesday the 25th, so stay tuned for an update after that!
My hearing has gotten marginally better, too - at very low frequency, I can hear tones at lower decibels. In fact, I'm in the moderate hearing loss range at certain frequencies - so things like a Harley Davidson motor, I can hear at a farther distance now. So that's good! You never know - maybe it will continue to improve! The stranges part of my hearing test is that words, although they are loud and "clear" in my right ear, sound like complete gibberish. I cannot make out what people are saying at all, even when they're yelling into my ear. So that's kind of an odd sensation.
I finally have my MRI scheduled - it's happening next weekend, so keep your fingers crossed that either they find nothing or they find something that is super easy to fix and give my hearing back fully! I'm not going to lie, the waiting has been killing me. I have had several sleepless nights and nightmares about there actually being something wrong - but really, I'm sure there isn't. I will just be glad to get it over with. My MRI follow up is Wednesday the 25th, so stay tuned for an update after that!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Severe!!!
So, lots has happened since my last post. I have moved into my house, painted almost every room, almost finished unpacking, and progressed from Profound to Severe!!!
I had my second hearing test on August 26th. Sorry no photos from this one! Same drill - the beeps and the whooshing sound and then voices. As I sat through it, saying "yes" every time I heard the beep, I was absolutely positive that I was hearing much more than in my first hearing test. When we got to the words, it was a little strange - I could hear her speaking very loudly but I couldn't understand a single word. It was a strange and very frustrating sensation - she was telling me just to say what I thought I heard, and out of ten words, I thought I might have gotten 2-3 right. Turns out I had them all wrong...
But on a positive note, when I sat down with the Specialist afterwards, he reviewed the hearing test and I showed him my first one. I asked "have I improved?" and he said actually, yes - quite a bit! Then I asked if I now fit in the "severe" category of hearing loss and he said yes I would. Yay!!! I let out a little cheer and he laughed at me. He's apparently never seen anyone excited to be severely deaf in one ear. I knew it had gotten better, though, so this just proved that my positive thinking has helped.
With that said, the Doctor doesn't think it will get any better but does want to run a few more tests - I'm still waiting for the MRI, and now I have to get blood work done too. Foranyone who doesn't know me well, this is probably my hugest fear. I am completely terrified of needles. I can't even see one on TV without breaking out in a cold sweat. To think that they will be sticking me with one and drawing blood out... ewww... not sure about this. But I will do it. Just have to procrastinate a little but I'll get around to it.
So that's all that's new on the ear-front.
As for the move, it went well but was a huge amount of work. I'm not going to lie - the people whose house I bought left it quite dirty. Thank god for Merry Maid! Even they were a little survprised at the grime in the kitchen and baths though! Anyways, once we got through that, we started painting. My mom has been amazing through this. She helped me paint almost every single room in the house. It looks like a new place altogether. I love the colours that I chose (with the help of Josette - if anyone is looking for an interior decorator, let me know). I only have 2 bathrooms and a hallway left to do. It's been a lot of work but well worth it! This house now feels like my home. My dog Piper loves it, too - she's getting 3-4 walks every day, at least one of them including some play time with the pooches at the dog park nearby. My neighbours are great, the commute is much shorter, and although the backyard is small, it's perfect for sitting out, working on my laptop or reading a book with a glass of wine.
So all in all, I've had a splendid couple of weeks. What a great word - splendid!
I had my second hearing test on August 26th. Sorry no photos from this one! Same drill - the beeps and the whooshing sound and then voices. As I sat through it, saying "yes" every time I heard the beep, I was absolutely positive that I was hearing much more than in my first hearing test. When we got to the words, it was a little strange - I could hear her speaking very loudly but I couldn't understand a single word. It was a strange and very frustrating sensation - she was telling me just to say what I thought I heard, and out of ten words, I thought I might have gotten 2-3 right. Turns out I had them all wrong...
But on a positive note, when I sat down with the Specialist afterwards, he reviewed the hearing test and I showed him my first one. I asked "have I improved?" and he said actually, yes - quite a bit! Then I asked if I now fit in the "severe" category of hearing loss and he said yes I would. Yay!!! I let out a little cheer and he laughed at me. He's apparently never seen anyone excited to be severely deaf in one ear. I knew it had gotten better, though, so this just proved that my positive thinking has helped.
With that said, the Doctor doesn't think it will get any better but does want to run a few more tests - I'm still waiting for the MRI, and now I have to get blood work done too. Foranyone who doesn't know me well, this is probably my hugest fear. I am completely terrified of needles. I can't even see one on TV without breaking out in a cold sweat. To think that they will be sticking me with one and drawing blood out... ewww... not sure about this. But I will do it. Just have to procrastinate a little but I'll get around to it.
So that's all that's new on the ear-front.
As for the move, it went well but was a huge amount of work. I'm not going to lie - the people whose house I bought left it quite dirty. Thank god for Merry Maid! Even they were a little survprised at the grime in the kitchen and baths though! Anyways, once we got through that, we started painting. My mom has been amazing through this. She helped me paint almost every single room in the house. It looks like a new place altogether. I love the colours that I chose (with the help of Josette - if anyone is looking for an interior decorator, let me know). I only have 2 bathrooms and a hallway left to do. It's been a lot of work but well worth it! This house now feels like my home. My dog Piper loves it, too - she's getting 3-4 walks every day, at least one of them including some play time with the pooches at the dog park nearby. My neighbours are great, the commute is much shorter, and although the backyard is small, it's perfect for sitting out, working on my laptop or reading a book with a glass of wine.
So all in all, I've had a splendid couple of weeks. What a great word - splendid!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
I know what profound is!
I had my 2nd Specialist appointment on Wednesday, with a different specialist. Basically, he agreed with the other Specialist that the hearing loss was viral, but he gave it a name - labryinthitis. It's nice to have a name - and it's quite an exotic one, at that! No cause - just a random virus causes it. I asked about whether a hearing aid will help, but the only hearing aids for this just route sound into my good ear, or have to be screwed into my head (yikes) and I think I'm pretty well adjusted to need that. He was very impressed with my balance, and said that most people with such profound hearing loss are unable to do most of the things he had me do. Yay me! I asked about the Tinnitus (ringing), and he explained that my brain should get used to it and tune it out more so that it will start to sound much quieter over time. Looking forward to that!! I'm going back for a new hearing test on Wednesday, because I told him I believe it has gotten better over the past few days - I explained the phone test to him, and how I could make out that there are words being said etc. I think he thought I was a little crazy but he does want to see if my hearing is still "Profound".
By the way, I have found out what Profound Hearing Loss is. Basically it means that I cannot hear sounds less than 95 dB. According to the web, that means I should be able to hear:
By the way, I have found out what Profound Hearing Loss is. Basically it means that I cannot hear sounds less than 95 dB. According to the web, that means I should be able to hear:
- Boeing 737 or DC-9 aircraft at one nautical mile (6080 ft) before landing . . . 97 dB
- Power mower . . . 96 dB
- Rock band . . . 108 - 114 dB
(which all makes me wonder how flippin' loud my phone is!!!)
But not:
- Motorcycle at 25 ft . . . 90 dB
- Propeller plane flyover at 1000 ft . . . 88 dB
- Diesel train 45 mph at 100 ft . . . 83 dB - This is great by the way, since I live (until next week) about a block away from train tracks and occasionally would hear them at night if my window was open - now I just turn over!
- Food blender . . . 88 dB
- Garbage disposal . . . 80 dB
So at least I can explain to people what this all means. Although I do hope that the hearing test next week puts me into the Severe category instead of Profound... this would mean that I can hear sounds from 70-95... then I might be able to hear a Passenger car going 65 mph at 25 ft . . . 77 dB or High urban ambient sound . . . 80 dB (not sure what this is but I think I want to hear it in two ears!)
So as for developments with the ear, that's pretty much it - he also said I need an MRI and will try to get me one at St Joes, since I've now been waiting more than 3 weeks to even get an appointment scheduled at St Michaels (by the way, I called 2 more times this week to follow up).
As for life, work has been busy - but I really am not letting it get to me. I put my out of office reply on my email for 3pm on Friday - so I am officially on vacation! Which means I better get packing... not ready for my move yet! But I'm very excited to be getting into my new house in Oakville - the drive to Vaughan from Hamilton this week was pretty bad - in my last two days, between the Skyway closure, the crazy storm, and an accident on the QEW, my hour-long commute took me an average of 1 hr 45min. But I just kept telling myself this was the last week I would ever have to do this commute.
On other house news - we went for a final viewing on Thursday night, and the sellers are very much packed and hoping to be out of there early Monday (yay!). And I brought a designer, Josette from JAG interiors, who came up with some great unique ideas as far as room set up and colours. I definitely have a great vision to make the house a home now.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Were those actual words I heard???
I've been off the drugs for several days now, and 80% of me had resigned myself to the fact that my hearing is not coming back and I have really gotten used to it. Not too many issues and I know that I'm still very lucky to be healthy other than this one little ear. But that other 20% of me has been quietly hoping and wishing for noises to suddenly get through... So every morning, I still do my phone test to see if I can hear anything other than the buttons being pressed. Up until Sunday night, there was still nothing.
BUT... Sunday night as I was laying in bed, unable to sleep, I thought I'd try the phone test again. I swear that I could make out actual words when my voicemail picked up. I was so excited, I hung up the phone and frantically tried calling my sister and mom, so that I could test out a real voice on the phone. I got my mom - surely she was totally worried when her phone was ringing so late at night - she probably thought I was having a vertigo attack again or something. But I said "Mom I think I can hear a little" and she was perhaps more excited than me (ok not possible but she was happy!). I got her to talk and put the phone to my right ear. And seriously, I could just make out words as she spoke! I truly think that 20% that it was positive thinking that made this happen. So now the test will be twice daily. So far, as of Tuesday night, I can still just make out words on my home phone. On my cell, I can't - it must be a lower frequency or something. But I will continue to try and think positively about it. You never know!
I also have an appointment with a Hamilton specialist tomorrow. Perhaps he will have a different diagnosis or treatment that works. Once again, positive thoughts.
On a "new reality" note, I was out in restaurants all day today in various meetings, and I found it much easier to carry on a conversation even with lots of noise around. So on the glass half empty side, if the hearing doesn't improve, I can handle it. (hmm. that sounds almost like a glass half full... not good at glass empty...) Give me a few more weeks and I'll be ready to hit the dance floor.
I just think that as long as you keep things in perspective, you really can get through anything.
BUT... Sunday night as I was laying in bed, unable to sleep, I thought I'd try the phone test again. I swear that I could make out actual words when my voicemail picked up. I was so excited, I hung up the phone and frantically tried calling my sister and mom, so that I could test out a real voice on the phone. I got my mom - surely she was totally worried when her phone was ringing so late at night - she probably thought I was having a vertigo attack again or something. But I said "Mom I think I can hear a little" and she was perhaps more excited than me (ok not possible but she was happy!). I got her to talk and put the phone to my right ear. And seriously, I could just make out words as she spoke! I truly think that 20% that it was positive thinking that made this happen. So now the test will be twice daily. So far, as of Tuesday night, I can still just make out words on my home phone. On my cell, I can't - it must be a lower frequency or something. But I will continue to try and think positively about it. You never know!
I also have an appointment with a Hamilton specialist tomorrow. Perhaps he will have a different diagnosis or treatment that works. Once again, positive thoughts.
On a "new reality" note, I was out in restaurants all day today in various meetings, and I found it much easier to carry on a conversation even with lots of noise around. So on the glass half empty side, if the hearing doesn't improve, I can handle it. (hmm. that sounds almost like a glass half full... not good at glass empty...) Give me a few more weeks and I'll be ready to hit the dance floor.
I just think that as long as you keep things in perspective, you really can get through anything.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
One more day of drugs...
It's been 2 weeks since I started the prednisone to try to bring my hearing back... and no real change... I'm sure there are cases where the hearing randomly comes back at some point in the future, so perhaps that can still happen.
I've got an appointment with another specialist next week, so fingers crossed that perhaps he has some other magic to work for me.
I still haven't heard from the MRI clinic. I've got to assume that must be because the Doctors really don't think that there's anything other than a freak ear thing going on, so I'm not worrying. Really, not worrying, I tell myself.
I'm hoping that after the drugs are done, I won't get such bad headaches. They feel like no headache I've ever had before - half of my head just feels like it's trying to split away from the other half. Yesterday was the worst one yet - I couldn't focus on what I was working on and had to actually stop and lay down for a few hours, not looking at anything and trying not to think at all. I did feel quite a bit better today, maybe because it was only a 2 pill day! Thank goodness!
One more day... then hopefully I'll feel more "normal" (not that I've ever really been normal!).
Positive thoughts everyone! Thoughts about beautiful sounds that have no resemblance to ringing at all, and a relaxed head with no pain or pressure... feathers and bubbles... feathers and bubbles...
I've got an appointment with another specialist next week, so fingers crossed that perhaps he has some other magic to work for me.
I still haven't heard from the MRI clinic. I've got to assume that must be because the Doctors really don't think that there's anything other than a freak ear thing going on, so I'm not worrying. Really, not worrying, I tell myself.
I'm hoping that after the drugs are done, I won't get such bad headaches. They feel like no headache I've ever had before - half of my head just feels like it's trying to split away from the other half. Yesterday was the worst one yet - I couldn't focus on what I was working on and had to actually stop and lay down for a few hours, not looking at anything and trying not to think at all. I did feel quite a bit better today, maybe because it was only a 2 pill day! Thank goodness!
One more day... then hopefully I'll feel more "normal" (not that I've ever really been normal!).
Positive thoughts everyone! Thoughts about beautiful sounds that have no resemblance to ringing at all, and a relaxed head with no pain or pressure... feathers and bubbles... feathers and bubbles...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
3rd week and Seinfeld would have fun with me
This week has been much better at work so far. I've been able to last full days and although I'm exhausted by the end, I'm actually being productive too.
The newest strange phenomenon is my seemingly incessant need to tell people I'm speaking to that I can't hear from my left ear. because I really need to concentrate on what people are saying, and watch then talk so that I can really hear them, I am always worried that they're thinking "what's up with this crazy stalker chick". I think I could be on a Seinfeld episode as a "concentrated talker" or something.
So I end up blurting out that "I'm deaf in this ear", and then making jokes about it. More than likely, people feel somewhat uncomfortable with this, and unsure whether I'm joking or not because I try to make light of it, so then I get serious and say "really, I suddenly went deaf in this ear a couple of weeks ago so I apologize if I'm listening to you oddly". Then I usually get into a rant about how if they ever get ringing or deafness in their ears, they should insist on seeing a specialist. I'm positive that these people think I'm completely crazy by this time, so then I try not to make it apparent that I'm concentrating so hard on our conversation and I end up missing half of what they say. I will figure this out soon and come up with a new strategy!
By the way, once again, I've been unimpressed by our medical system. When I was at my ENT appointment on the 31st of July, they told me they would be scheduling me for an MRI within the next couple of weeks, and that they would call with the time. Because I hadn't heard anything by Monday, I called to inquire and the MRI clinic had not received a request yet... so I followed up with the ENT clinic and they said the would "re-fax" the paperwork. if I don't hear anything in 2 weeks the I am to call back again. (GRRRRR) It is completely frustrating to have no control over things that affect you so much personally.
So, next steps for me: new coping strategy for conversations, without having to relay my whole story to everyone I speak to, and MRI follow up...
The newest strange phenomenon is my seemingly incessant need to tell people I'm speaking to that I can't hear from my left ear. because I really need to concentrate on what people are saying, and watch then talk so that I can really hear them, I am always worried that they're thinking "what's up with this crazy stalker chick". I think I could be on a Seinfeld episode as a "concentrated talker" or something.
So I end up blurting out that "I'm deaf in this ear", and then making jokes about it. More than likely, people feel somewhat uncomfortable with this, and unsure whether I'm joking or not because I try to make light of it, so then I get serious and say "really, I suddenly went deaf in this ear a couple of weeks ago so I apologize if I'm listening to you oddly". Then I usually get into a rant about how if they ever get ringing or deafness in their ears, they should insist on seeing a specialist. I'm positive that these people think I'm completely crazy by this time, so then I try not to make it apparent that I'm concentrating so hard on our conversation and I end up missing half of what they say. I will figure this out soon and come up with a new strategy!
By the way, once again, I've been unimpressed by our medical system. When I was at my ENT appointment on the 31st of July, they told me they would be scheduling me for an MRI within the next couple of weeks, and that they would call with the time. Because I hadn't heard anything by Monday, I called to inquire and the MRI clinic had not received a request yet... so I followed up with the ENT clinic and they said the would "re-fax" the paperwork. if I don't hear anything in 2 weeks the I am to call back again. (GRRRRR) It is completely frustrating to have no control over things that affect you so much personally.
So, next steps for me: new coping strategy for conversations, without having to relay my whole story to everyone I speak to, and MRI follow up...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)