My T started December 20th. Laying in bed that night I heard my ear ringing and so began my journey. Although I guess the journey had started some time before that as I was at a low point with my anxiety. I was convinced I had heart problems and was soon to die (I'm a healthy 18 year old). But now my ears were ringing and suddenly my "symptoms" of heart problems were gone, proving that they must have just been some screwed up result of my anxiety. However, I was even more of a mess and my research on the topic only made it worse.
After about a month of this I finally saw an ENT. The office had an audiologist on hand and the first thing they did was a hearing test. Now I don't know the names for the tests they ran but it was way more thorough than what I knew of as a "hearing test." You know, when you go for a physical and put on a headset and there are 4 beeps in each ear and then you're done? Yeah, this was much more interesting then that. Sound proof room, many more "beeps", the audiologist matched my T sound and "masked" it at 10db. There was even a test that showed that my Eustachian tubes were working properly, that was a strange feeling in my ears. Anyway, next was consulting with the ENT.
I cannot stress enough how great this ENT was for me. He was an older guy and very willing to answer all my questions. However, before a word came out of my mouth the first thing he said when he entered the room was "wow! Your hearing is fantastic! I haven't seen a hearing test this flawless in awhile." That obviously brought me some relief. Then I explained that my fear with this is that it'll never stop. He responded without a moment of hesitation and said "It will go away, and if for whatever reason it doesn't, you'll stop noticing it." I asked a few more questions, he told me about TRT and how I can always come back and get setup on a TRT program, I got some earplugs there and I was on my way. Now it's been a few weeks since my visit and I still have my ups and downs, but I've been much more optimistic and feeling better. I no longer doubt my ability to be productive and to accomplish the things I want to accomplish. Especially after I learned of how many friends and family around me "suffer" from T and never even mentioned it but lead normal lives. I hate the phrase "T sufferer" that alone makes it sound so hopeless. It's really not. I wouldn't call someone with asthma an "asthma sufferer."
Just the other day my GF and I booked a flight to Las Vegas over the summer. I don't know how that's directly relevant but to me it's relevant because it's a step towards being optimistic and not letting T, or the even great battle of anxiety, stop me, or even effect me in the slightest if I can help it.
After about a month of this I finally saw an ENT. The office had an audiologist on hand and the first thing they did was a hearing test. Now I don't know the names for the tests they ran but it was way more thorough than what I knew of as a "hearing test." You know, when you go for a physical and put on a headset and there are 4 beeps in each ear and then you're done? Yeah, this was much more interesting then that. Sound proof room, many more "beeps", the audiologist matched my T sound and "masked" it at 10db. There was even a test that showed that my Eustachian tubes were working properly, that was a strange feeling in my ears. Anyway, next was consulting with the ENT.
I cannot stress enough how great this ENT was for me. He was an older guy and very willing to answer all my questions. However, before a word came out of my mouth the first thing he said when he entered the room was "wow! Your hearing is fantastic! I haven't seen a hearing test this flawless in awhile." That obviously brought me some relief. Then I explained that my fear with this is that it'll never stop. He responded without a moment of hesitation and said "It will go away, and if for whatever reason it doesn't, you'll stop noticing it." I asked a few more questions, he told me about TRT and how I can always come back and get setup on a TRT program, I got some earplugs there and I was on my way. Now it's been a few weeks since my visit and I still have my ups and downs, but I've been much more optimistic and feeling better. I no longer doubt my ability to be productive and to accomplish the things I want to accomplish. Especially after I learned of how many friends and family around me "suffer" from T and never even mentioned it but lead normal lives. I hate the phrase "T sufferer" that alone makes it sound so hopeless. It's really not. I wouldn't call someone with asthma an "asthma sufferer."
Just the other day my GF and I booked a flight to Las Vegas over the summer. I don't know how that's directly relevant but to me it's relevant because it's a step towards being optimistic and not letting T, or the even great battle of anxiety, stop me, or even effect me in the slightest if I can help it.
