hearing loss from infection...

MartyM · April 8, 2008

I just got back from an ENT specialist who could find nothing wrong with my ear. I guess a little background first...

About 4 weeks ago I had the worst miagraine I have ever had in my life. The day after it turned into the flu that lasted for almost 2 weeks. Like every spring, the cold went into my right ear and it plugged up with fluid. I went to my walk in clinic like I do every year and got some anti-biotics and a cortical steroid which helps to drain my ear within a day or two so I can get back to work.

Only this year the steroids didn't drain my ear completely. Within a week I was feeling fine and could hear 90% out of my right ear, but there was still some fluid in it, so I went back to the walk in clinic. The doctor said there was no more sign of infection, but was kind enough to prescibe a tougher decongestant along with another round of ear draining steroids. These still did not work, so I made an appointment with a ENT specialist.

Well, after looking in my ears, sinus cavities, and sending me next door to a hearing specialist, I apparently have no fluid in my ear, no eaustation tube disfunction, and my hearing tested fine up to 8k (the highest the test goes) with no asymetery between my 2 ears.

This is NOT what I hear inside my own head. I'm currently taking a break from editing some sound effects I need to complile for a show I'm sound designer for, because I cannot get my mind off this. I can't exactly explain it, but something is really not right with my ear. It feels like there is a bit of fluid stuck in there. Although in the everyday world, it really does not bother me too much (kinda like my tinitus), in the studio/theatre it affects my work, because I can not tell what I am really hearing. There also seems to be a slight pressure on the right side of my head surrounding my ear, but I don't know how much of that is just psycho-somatic (sp?).

I also have neck problems from a bad car accident 12 years ago, and have even recently been to a chiropracter to get an alignment in the hopes that is the cause. Still no relief.

So now I am faced with trying to figure out what else to do with my life, because I refuse to become the stereotypical "deaf sound engineer" and just wing it for another decade or 2 because it's all I know how to do. I can only assume that this latest infection caused some sort of internal damage to my ear that can not show up in the usual round of tests, and that I'm basicly {censored}ed.

Before anyone suggests more comprehensive tests, I have no insurance, and my ENT said the next step would be to get a CAT scan (didn't say what he'd be looking for) that would cost around $1,000. I just don't have that kind of cash, the $200 it cost me yesterday just to see him was borrowed from my mother.

Does anyone here have any advice or suggestions? This has really, really depressed me; as I have had nothing but this as a carrear goal since I was a freshman in high school and recorded my first band. I love music, I love engineering, I love sound design. I would hate a life where I couldn't enjoy all these things to their fullest.

Thanks for any advice you may have for me, or for just allowing me to rant to people who can understand.

Marty

slider · April 8, 2008

I had a bad head cold once. it took forever for my ear canals to drain. slowly they did, except one ear laged. the doctor prescribed a strong decongesant. that eventually worked and my ear drained with a slow pop.

I have a sneaking suspicion, because you describe to a T what I felt, that you still have a plugged ear. possible bolus of mucus that is harder now, probably infected. the doc needs to recheck his work.

MartyM · April 8, 2008

I'm actually thinking of getting a second (actually a fourth) opinion. I kind of feel he didn't take my pleas seriously enough, especially when my tests came back a-ok, his suggestion was

"Well, you are probally more in tune with ear noises and hearing than the average population."

Huh? Exactly why I can sit here and tell you that something is terribly wrong with my ear even though your damn tests tell you otherwise.

I've been on wiki and google for the last week looking stuff up and suggested what is called "glue ear", which is hardened mucus in the middle ear, and he shrugged it off and pointed to my hearing tests which "shows no fluid in there".

Well, something is messing it up.

jchas · April 8, 2008

Your story sounds earilly (pun intended) familiar.

Around 16 months ago I went through the same early stages including 8 hours of the worst ringing in my left ear I can imagine. The general practicioner found mild fluid and gave me antibiotic and steroid. He also hooked me up with a ENT. The ENT said I had Meniers and would probably lose my hearing over the next 5-10 years. So I spent the next couple months feeling pretty depressed - not to mention the symptoms hadn't gone away - dizziness, pressure in the ear, etc.

Finally I went in for a second opinion. I wrote up a detailed history of everything that had happened. The ENT read it, poked around a little, then said there is no doubt it's a viral infection (as opposed to bacterial). Antibiotics do nothing, steroids don't do much, you just have to wait for it to run it's course (up to a year) - and hope it does no permanent damage. Well,

it's been over a year. For the most part I can say i'm back to normal, though my eustation tubes still close up once in a while (minor damage), my tinnitus is worse (probably permanent), and I get occasional bouts of hyper-resonant

hearing where certain sounds drive me up the wall, such as the wrinkling of paper or the microwave buzzer (a sign of permanent nerve damage).

I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear, but then again mine lasted about the maximum alotted time so the effects are probably worse. Good luck and hope yours clears up soon.

weeman · April 8, 2008

The cat scan is to find cancer btw or anything else that could be causing a problem. I have had many problems with my left ear and all i can offer you is my heart and that i hope it gets better. Good luck buddy!

Billster · April 8, 2008

Find a way to get some insurance coverage and ditch the walk-in clinic. Those places are horrible. If you live in the US, every state has a program for providing insurance to those unable to buy their own. You might qualify for a group plan with the local musician's union if you are in that. Get thee a proper doctor.

MartyM · April 8, 2008

I did go to a "proper" doctor this 3rd time. I'm not going back to the walk in for this problem, I'm well aware this is too serious for them.

I do not belong to any union, nor do I have any desire to join one, unless hearing loss is a sure thing, and from what I've been reading this week, I think I am too late to fix this.

Do you have to be in a union to get coverage? Besides a union where would I even begin to look for such coverage? Is there an official name for these government programs?

Billster · April 8, 2008

Most of them fall under the umbrella of Medicaid, but they give it a catchy sounding name so as not to be confused with Medicare, which is mostly for older folks. Massachusetts used to call it MassHealth until they changed the insurance rules and now they call it Commonwealth Connections. We're supposed to have "universal coverage" here now. Oops, wrong forum.

Start at the state government Department of Human Services.

MartyM · April 9, 2008

In my experience, you should never trust the opinion of an urgent care physician. They have misdiagnosed more things than they have gotten right for me. I had a severly broken wrist once, and the urgent care doctor missed it in the x-ray, and instead told me to start moving it around until it felt better. It ended needing bone-graft surgery.

Even specialists can be seriously wrong. I was diagnosed with MS a year and half ago and it took six months and three neurologists to get it right. Not only that, a jackass doctor told me I had a hard time walking because I was out of shape! I run a 6:20 mile, and this dumb ass thinks I can't walk because I'm lazy. Find the best doctor you can, and even then get several opinions. Doctors make mistakes all the time.

Thank you for all your reply's everyone, it means alot to me right now. Bill, I will look into my insurance options tonight, thank you for turning me on to that, I had no idea that existed.

And for the record everybody, I only went to the walk in because I thought this was going to be a standard early spring cold like I always get. I do not trust them at all, I use them only to prescribe what I need to get my ears clear and back to work. The second I realized this was a serious problem I found a ENT. The more I think about this, the more I realize I need to find another ENT untill I find one that takes me seriously.

Thank you all again, I will keep you posted on what I find out.

Marty

alphajerk · April 12, 2008

honestly, it could just be time you need to readapt. i blew my hearing flying up to NYC with a head cold, literally made me dear except LF for a day and then only slowly came back. landing was the worst pain i have ever had in my ears. aynway, NEVER fly with a headcold. not that it applies to this particular situation.

sucks to have your hearing go when doing audio... like breaking your writing hand as some author.

June Moris · April 13, 2008

MartyM I really feel for you and I hope you find the problem and your hearing turns back to normal.I heard to get medicaid depends on how much you make so if they ask becareful with telling them how much you earn.

Keep us up to date as I also have n insurance and can use all info I can find.

I have my own story with my hearing(diagnosed at 19 with loss,got tinitus later on plus an extremely sensitive hearing)and Ive been terribly depressed with fear to lose my hearing-and I am losing it- so I know how you feel.I also had one desire only to fill my days with making music.

Still i don't know what you mean by having fluid in your ear,is it not the normal wax and does it poor out of your ear when it gets drained?

As a teenager I used to go skeeing.It took an hour bus drive everyday to get higher up the mountain and one day I couldn't release the pressure in my ears that temporarily reduces your hearing and since i feel all i need is my ears to pop so I can hear normal again.

www.myspace.com/thejunemorisproject

www.myspace.com/junemoris

danbronson · April 14, 2008

It's been about a month since this started, right? That's not really that much time. I'd say give it at least one or two more before even considering that this might be permanent. Even then, you can still heal. If you do lose some of your hearing, as much as that will suck, is it enough that you have to quit a career that you love? There are plenty of athletes out there who never recovered 100% from an injury, but they still do what they do and they're still good at it.

In the meantime, go easy on yourself! Be as healthy as you can possibly be in every aspect you can. Eat right. Get good sleep. Work out. Avoid any cold or flu if you can. And of course don't listen to anything too loud.

Good luck! I really hope this is just a matter of time before you're completely fine.

nice keetee · April 27, 2008