Struggling

[Mettafort]

Hi-

I am new to this forum. On April 8th, 3am I awoke to intense feelings of nausea and vertigo. I spent the next 48 hours over the weekend vomiting and unable to move. I had noticed I couldnt hear out of my left ear, but I was so poorly I could do noting but focus on not being sick. On Monday I went to the doctors in Illinois, I was told to go home and take anti biotics, and maybe book in with Athletico to see if I had BPPV. It wasnt until Thursday/Friday did I finally get to meet an ENT specialist who put me on prednisone and injections. I am a little hazy on details; I had an MRI and people started suggesting a TIA had been the cause so I was put in hospital for a barrage of tests...I feel over this period the deafness turned to tinnitus.

I am profoundly deaf in the left ear, and my tinnitus is so loud it hurts; a high pitched metal dentist drill. I have been trying to keep things together; I have a wife and two daughters and a career. But I have become withdrawn. When we leave the house, I am an island lost alone in my head. I cannot hear anybody because my right ear, although very good, doesnt seem to help to compensate for the tinnitus. I am starting to feel myself "lose it" emotionally...I think the realization that I have to deal with this has dawned on me, and hit me hard after all thats gone on this past few weeks.

I just wanted to introduce myself.

mf.

 

[Scared111]

would hearing aides help? have you tried them? sorry you are suffering...

 

[Dominic1955]

How old are you?
I think you have Labyrinthitis, could have been tia or viral
Do you have copy of your Audiogram?
Your symptoms are so acute that you may get better with steroids or spontaneously.
I developed sudden hearing loss last year and the first 3 months it was hell! I am still struggling
Get medical treatment for anxiety and sleep
Use white noise maskers
Keep everyone posted
Dom

 

[Mettafort]

Hi-

Thanks for responding. Scared111 - I have been told that I have sensorneural hearing loss and that the hearing aid could be provided, sending the sound from the left to the right ear; no single aid on the left to improve that hearing. Apparently the ear is fine, or certainly responds fine, but nothing is being processed after it.

Sound from the good right ear pierces the tinnitus in my left side, and its painful.

Hi Dominic, I am 42. My doctors have gone through the whole spectrum of conditions at this point; labrynthitis, lymes disease (still waiting for first tests results), menieres - this actually seems to be the conclusion by 70% of the people I spoke too, but I got some hope from believing I didnt have enough of the symptoms. However lastnight I went to the restroom while sleepy and kept my eyes closed sat down, and noticed spinning. This is the first time the spinning has returned since April 8th. So thats concerning me for sure.

I am sorry to hear you are still struggling Dominic. I managed to get some diazepam, but I am only taking 5mg before bed. I was, until this event, a very fit and active guy. I am hoping nutrition might help, but my research journey has only just begun. I am struggling with concentration which is anxiety inducing given my career is very full on.

I dont have the audiograms actually, never thought to ask for them. Maybe I should.

Thank you for the responses,

mf.

 

[Dominic1955]

I doubt that you have Ménière's, you never had symptoms before?
Severe hearing loss with vertigo probably labarynthitis
Look up @caffclifton and read her story.
I have SSHL and I may have cochlear hydrops
It's a positive story with great outcome!
I will follow your progress
Dom

 

[Lorac]

Welcome @Mettafort!
Your story sounds exactly like mine...extreme vertigo, nausea, sudden and profound hearing loss in one ear. My diagnosis was sudden sensorineural hearing loss caused by labyrinthitis.

The steroid treatment did not help me but I was not prescribed the prednisone until a month after losing my hearing. Are you still taking the steroids?

I've tested twice for the type of hearing aid you describe (baha and cros). In both cases, the hearing aid caused my hearing ability to decrease instead of improve. My deaf ear reacts to every sound my good ear hears and the hearing aids just seemed to increase that negative reaction.

Many people do benefit from these types of hearing aids though and I hope you are one of them. I would just caution you to test first.

I completely understand what you mean when you say "you are an island lost in your own head". The noise and pain is so overwhelming in the beginning. You look in the mirror and you don't see yourself, you just see noise! Your limbic system is kicked into overdrive right now and it takes time to settle down, maybe a few months. I benefited from sessions with a therapist and since you are close to Chicago, you might even be able to find a therapist who specializes in treating tinnitus and hyperacusis.

BTW, I live in southwestern Michigan and my husband is from Chicago.

I wish I could say more to help you. I just want you to know that you're not alone with this messy condition. I have been dealing with this for almost four years now and I will not deny that the hearing loss and tinnitus still impacts my life but I want you to know that that I am adapting and I don't feel likean island lost in my own head anymore. I will be thinking of you. Please keep us posted.