I Was Habituated — Nine Years Later, Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, Headaches and Ear Pain Are Back

[kingsfan]

What kind of work do you do @kingsfan? It sounds pretty demanding & stressful.

I'm a web designer/front end developer, currently working in the gaming industry (never again). Once tourism gets back in swing I'm going to try and go back to the travel industry in which I worked for 8 years.

 

[Taw]

@Taw, have you done all the tests recommended by the doctors?

Yes, so far, they recommended only hearing tests (otoacoustic emissions, audiogram, tympanogram, Acoustic Reflex Test).

My hearing is perfect (I have a small hearing loss on high frequencies, but it's very old) and it seems that the cochlear nerve send back the impulses, so they are ok also.

I expect to do a brain CT in the near future, but never heard of BERA, ECohG and VEMP. I am willing to do those also, I have a good medical insurance. Where did you do those, maybe at Clinica Urechii?

 

[aura]

Where did you do those, maybe at Clinica Urechii?

Yes, at Clinica Urechii Chirurgie.

 

[aura]

Anyway, my foot is still tingling and vibrating, but I try to keep a positive attitude

 

[kingsfan]

Anyway, my foot is still tingling and vibrating, but I try to keep a positive attitude

View attachment 45715

I hope your foot feels better. I really believe the tingling and vibrating will go away. Just give it some time. I'm sure you have been off your for a while with a broken foot and the cast/brace applying pressure probably isn't helping.

 

[Taw]

That test was Electrocochleography, you can search on the forum, it was a recent topic about this. Maybe Dr. Ioana Vodă already did this test?

I have had these 2 tests, the ENTs told me they are the same, but I see nowhere the word Electrocochleography (or Ro equivalent )

I've seen tons of neurologists for my headaches and ear aches. Finally they told me that it's a vestibular migraine.

TBH I don't have many hopes from neurologists, but I want to check this on my list also, so I can live in peace that I tried everything. I noticed that neurologists like to put the "migraine" word on everything, so they can dispose of you and get the next patient.

I think that my problem is multifactorial: vestibular migraine, sound exposure, ototoxic drugs, sinus problems and deviated septum, stress and anxiety, genetic predisposition (both of my parents and my aunt have hearing problems).

I think exactly the same and I noticed that people with tinnitus or/and hyperacusis have other problems also. My problems are TMJ, cervical pain (from posture at the computer), stress and anxiety (I almost never could relax, this is my character) and the most important of all, noise exposure. I had some drums lessons (with Loreadan's teacher) and from the first drum beat I felt the pain in my ears, he did not give me protection. I told him that I had pain and he said "you will be fine". And the nightmare began.

I have other chronic problems (severe dry eye, stomach pain) and I saw at least 20 doctors for each of them in 10 years and I learned some lessons:

- listen to your body, no doctor cured me of these problems, but I learned what triggers them (some foods, watching too much TV, reading books, etc) and I try to avoid them. I still have eye/stomach pain, but not as severe as 5 years ago.
- try to get as much information as you can from the doctors. I learned tiny bits of info from each of them. For example dr Voda prescribed me Clonazepam, which does miracles for pain and LDL. I use it only when I am in great pain.
- 90% of the doctors only know what they learned and they are not willing to go extra mile to help us. Why bother, when they have tons of patients? They tell us to do many tests (so they can get the % money) and then get to the next patient. It's very hard to find an empathic doctor these days, I found that the younger ones are more empathic.

Cheers.

 

[aura]

Anyway, my foot is still tingling and vibrating, but I try to keep a positive attitude

View attachment 45715

C'mon, guys, that was a good one!

Me, trying to be optimistic -> my foot vibrating -> but only good vibes coming from my foot

 

[Taw]

I think this post describes perfectly the doctors that we need:

You have to find a doctor who thinks outside the box, has a mind for passionate scientific inquiry, or is just extra compassionate and has free time to spare to go outside their limited purview to help you. And that's an extreme rarity among doctors and probably people in most fields. Most of us for now will have to figure out how best to get by and solve it on our own. That doesn't mean don't see any doctors - but prepare to be disappointed and come in armed with your own research and contingency plans.

 

[Christiaan]

I'm a web designer/front end developer, currently working in the gaming industry (never again). Once tourism gets back in swing I'm going to try and go back to the travel industry in which I worked for 8 years.

That sounds like a dream job, except if you work at Activision Blizzard :O The stories about the high amount of pressure in the game industry is quite harsh and I think you show strong character by even having worked in this industry for some time. I do hope that you can get a job in the travel industry @kingsfan. Surely they will welcome someone with 8 years under the belt with open arms?

 

[Christiaan]

I think this post describes perfectly the doctors that we need:

You have to find a doctor who thinks outside the box, has a mind for passionate scientific inquiry, or is just extra compassionate and has free time to spare to go outside their limited purview to help you. And that's an extreme rarity among doctors and probably people in most fields. Most of us for now will have to figure out how best to get by and solve it on our own. That doesn't mean don't see any doctors - but prepare to be disappointed and come in armed with your own research and contingency plans.

That's a pretty good list of criteria. It's so hard to find someone who does everything in his or her might to help you. It took me about 3 ENTs before I finally settled with someone who is very compassionate and open-minded.

 

[linearb]

I'm a web designer/front end developer, currently working in the gaming industry (never again).

Every other CS major I knew in college: "I want to make games!"

Every person I know who actually worked in games for any period of time: "OH MY GOD THIS IS AN AWFUL PREDATORY INDUSTRY THAT EXPECTS PEOPLE TO WORK 80 HOUR WEEKS FOR SUB-MARKET RATES AND IT HAS MADE ME HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT VIDEO GAMES"

There are like two games I like a whole lot in 2021, and I am very sure that if I went to work for the company that made either of them, I would grow to hate that game within weeks.

I literally never wanted to make games, because it always seemed really hard and demanding and low paying compared to basically anything else I could be doing, aside from maybe digging ditches, a vocation I am not physically cut out for (but once dug 120 feet of ditch, so I know how awful it would be).

 

[kingsfan]

C'mon, guys, that was a good one!

Me, trying to be optimistic -> my foot vibrating -> but only good vibes coming from my foot

I hate to admit that it went right over my head

 

[Exit]

I hate to admit that it went right over my head

Yeah she's a clever little kinky kitten this one...

 

[aura]

Yeah she's a clever little kinky kitten this one...

Well I did find it a bit strange receiving so many hugs and not a single funny face

 

[Stacken77]

Every other CS major I knew in college: "I want to make games!"

Every person I know who actually worked in games for any period of time: "OH MY GOD THIS IS AN AWFUL PREDATORY INDUSTRY THAT EXPECTS PEOPLE TO WORK 80 HOUR WEEKS FOR SUB-MARKET RATES AND IT HAS MADE ME HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT VIDEO GAMES"

There are like two games I like a whole lot in 2021, and I am very sure that if I went to work for the company that made either of them, I would grow to hate that game within weeks.

I literally never wanted to make games, because it always seemed really hard and demanding and low paying compared to basically anything else I could be doing, aside from maybe digging ditches, a vocation I am not physically cut out for (but once dug 120 feet of ditch, so I know how awful it would be).

As a recent software engineering graduate; I love making games, but I consider it best as a hobby. I would never consider it as a professional career.

It seems a bit unstable, a lot of luck involved in its success, not to mention that there's not a whole lot of jobs out there where I graduated. My local college offered a MScEng specifically for game development, but what would I use that for?

 

[kingsfan]

Well I did find it a bit strange receiving so many hugs and not a single funny face

Maybe you're just huggable?

 

[kingsfan]

Every other CS major I knew in college: "I want to make games!"

Every person I know who actually worked in games for any period of time: "OH MY GOD THIS IS AN AWFUL PREDATORY INDUSTRY THAT EXPECTS PEOPLE TO WORK 80 HOUR WEEKS FOR SUB-MARKET RATES AND IT HAS MADE ME HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT VIDEO GAMES"

There are like two games I like a whole lot in 2021, and I am very sure that if I went to work for the company that made either of them, I would grow to hate that game within weeks.

I literally never wanted to make games, because it always seemed really hard and demanding and low paying compared to basically anything else I could be doing, aside from maybe digging ditches, a vocation I am not physically cut out for (but once dug 120 feet of ditch, so I know how awful it would be).

Sub-market rates has been the story of my life the past 2 years. The work I've been doing has been very uninteresting. I don't play any of the games my company releases, even though we get them for free.

 

[Damocles]

Is it like my blepharitis? In that, I never feel 100%, but I'm gotten used to getting on at 80-90% that it's now normal. Then a few times a year it gets so bad I can't open my eyes. It can last a couple days to a couple months, but always goes back. It messes with my life, but I have good times when it's under control.

I'd say I suffer SD to about a 60% severity most of the year round.

Except in summer, when it drops to around 5-10% severity.

We get roughly, 2 weeks in total, of above 25 degree heat in London, a year; for those 2 weeks it drops to that 5%, and I'm alleviated of my need to constantly apply moisturizing lotions.

Once it hits winter again (it's basically winter in London 9 months of the year) it jumps back to 60%, and I'm suffering dry patches of skin all over my face and scalp, which if scratched, leave sore red patches that weep in their place.

Good times.

 

[Damocles]

There are like two games I like a whole lot in 2021

Pokémon Shining Pearl and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond?

aside from maybe digging ditches, a vocation I am not physically cut out for (but once dug 120 feet of ditch

...to bury @DaveFromChicago in?

 

[aura]

Maybe you're just huggable?

Just a crazy thought, but... what if you're right?

 

[kingsfan]

I'd say I suffer SD to about a 60% severity most of the year round.

Except in summer, when it drops to around 5-10% severity.

We get roughly, 2 weeks in total, of above 25 degree heat in London, a year; for those 2 weeks it drops to that 5%, and I'm alleviated of my need to constantly apply moisturizing lotions.

Once it hits winter again (it's basically winter in London 9 months of the year) it jumps back to 60%, and I'm suffering dry patches of skin all over my face and scalp, which if scratched, leave sore red patches that weep in their place.

Good times.

Is it the heat or humidity that alleviates it?

 

[kuromi]

As a recent software engineering graduate; I love making games, but I consider it best as a hobby. I would never consider it as a professional career.

It seems a bit unstable, a lot of luck involved in its success, not to mention that there's not a whole lot of jobs out there where I graduated. My local college offered a MScEng specifically for game development, but what would I use that for?

Seeing this post is actually quite interesting as I've been an independent game developer for a few years now - I'm entirely self-taught, as my educational background is in Literature and Linguistic Science, but it's something I thoroughly enjoy in the context of a hobby. The games industry, as much as I love it is absolutely bullshit with employee mistreatment and insane work demands, not to mention little job security and a painfully common tendency by studios to fire whole departments.

 

[kingsfan]

Just a crazy thought, but... what if you're right?

Well then, bring it in!

 

[Damocles]

Is it the heat or humidity that alleviates it?

That's a really good question (which I rated a "Good Question") that I have no idea of the answer to.

I'm going to see a dermatologist in the fall, so, let you know then?

 

[linearb]

Pokémon Shining Pearl and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond?

Magic: Arena and Colin McRae DiRT Rally 2 in VR with a force feedback wheel and pedals and an H-shifter, actually.

I'd play more VR if it was less obnoxious to set all that shit up.

The ditch digging was to fortify our garden against groundhogs, which I find charming but boy will they do in your tomatoes, cannabis or anything else they lay tooth on.

 

[kingsfan]

The ditch digging was to fortify our garden against groundhogs, which I find charming but boy will they do in your tomatoes, cannabis or anything else they lay tooth on.

Are you saying you built a groundhog moat?

 

[Taw]

@aura, just curious, these were the prices when you visited Dr. Lucian David? €180 EUR? I never heard of prices like this for a consultation... these are posted on Clinica Urechii website.

Consultatie initiala ORL
dr. Lucian David (calendly) 900 lei

"Consultația programata si achitata prin sistemul pay-pal nu necesita confirmare si nu poate fi anulata/reprogramata"

 

[aura]

@aura, just curious, these were the prices when you visited Dr. Lucian David? €180 EUR? I never heard of prices like this for a consultation... these are posted on Clinica Urechii website.

Consultatie initiala ORL
dr. Lucian David (calendly) 900 lei

"Consultația programata si achitata prin sistemul pay-pal nu necesita confirmare si nu poate fi anulata/reprogramata"

Yes, it's pretty expensive for Romania... I did spend a large amount of money there... and this is the price for the consultation only, you'll have to spend money for every additional test you're doing there.

I think there are 2 types of consultations and the "second opinion" one is 180 EUR.

He did spend like an hour just talking to me, but I think for the "average" Romanian it's a little bit pricey.

And yes, you have to pay for the consultation before.

 

[Taw]

Yes, it's pretty expensive for Romania... I did spend a large amount of money there... and this is the price for the consultation only, you'll have to spend money for every additional test you're doing there.

I think there are 2 types of consultations and the "second opinion" one is 180 EUR.

He did spend like an hour just talking to me, but I think for the "average" Romanian it's a little bit pricey.

And yes, you have to pay for the consultation before.

I see, I hope it's worth it. For all Romanians it's very pricey, I went to hospitals in Germany and Vienna and the consultation was €100 EUR.

The good thing is that he spent 1 hour talking to you, usually doctors spend like 15 minutes for each appointment.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[aura]

I see, I hope it's worth it. For all Romanians it's very pricey, I went to hospitals in Germany and Vienna and the consultation was €100 EUR.

The good thing is that he spent 1 hour talking to you, usually doctors spend like 15 minutes for each appointment.

Thank you for the advice.

I just hope you'll get your answers.

I didn't get mine, like a lot of people here, but it's partially my fault for not doing all the tests.

In the end, the ENT told me that I'm gonna have good days and not so good days, and there's not much I can do about it but avoid loud sounds, high temperature exposure, stress, try to fix my nasal septum, etc.

I probably didn't have to pay so much money just to find something that I already knew, but I had to do it.

Still thinking about this every day.
I feel there's more about it than what all the doctors told me.

It's very frustrating not being able to do something about it, especially since I'm also a doctor...