Cochlear Hydrops Something of a last straw.
Psychophysiological entity
Thread Starter
Cochlear Hydrops Something of a last straw.
Most regular Ppruners will know life had been somewhat challenging lately. The last torment has been a severe problem with my hearing. It's bad, and the hope that my Carpal tunnel ops were going to get me back to the piano is all becoming a bit of a lost dream. This is what I've just posted on a specialist site, though right now it's not taking my post.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone that has knowledge of this tedious problem as I'm a year into the NHS not really holding out much hope.
I'm a retired airline pilot, age 77. Very active, and in recent years commuting between Texas and Essex in the UK as a professional grandparent. Unpaid. :-( About a year ago I noticed some distortion in mid range hearing. Finally, it became so tedious that I went to my GP. Hearing test showed little but normal fall-off of higher frequencies. The guy that issued the hearing aids seemed almost annoyed when I said the top end was way too loud, and I suggested that amplifying the mid-rage would do little but make the distorted sound louder. Finally I was sent to the ENT department of our hospital.
For several minutes the consultant rambled on about the eustachian tubes and I had to explain that for 40 years they had been my best friends and I'd soon know if they were blocked. Finally, she looked deeper for the answer.
It has to be said that the muffled sound, and an almost physical feeling of matter seemingly in the middle ear did lead to me to the wrong conclusion as well. However, I have a son that has lost hearing in one ear following Meniere's disease, and I made it known I was scared of progressing to that miserable condition. Finally I was given a drug (Betahistine dihydrochloride) that seemed to help a bit, but unfortunately made me so sick I had to stop taking it.
Following what felt like a head cold, everything got worse. I even had a momentary attack of vertigo. I shook my head and it went away. Yes, it was horizontal spinning.
I wonder if there's a connection, but I have suffered two attacks of vertigo in the past. One in 2001, and one in 2015. Both cleared up in 48 hours. At that time, no hearing problems apart from a residual tinnitus since the 1980 which I've learned to live with.
The noise I'm suffering now is worse. If I knew this was as bad as it will get, I'd suffer that gladly, but there's a deep machine like rumble in addition to the increased high note. It's for all the world like air traffic in a distant sky, or fairly even road noise. So natural, that it wasn't until a quiet night I realised I shouldn't be hearing this new sound.
One thing that gave a ray of hope: there's a subset of the problem that one site suggested an autoimmune reaction may be causing the problem. I am suffering multiple reactions to gluten, wheat etc., but also, of all things, strong soap. Severe, borderline Anaphylaxis Quote: "an extreme and severe allergic reaction. The whole body is affected, often within minutes of exposure to the substance ..."
Darn good job I didn't get that when I was flying. But I'm very aware my body is rebelling about something, so it being causal in the hearing problem might just be a good thing. I'm hanging onto that hope right now.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone that has knowledge of this tedious problem as I'm a year into the NHS not really holding out much hope.
I'm a retired airline pilot, age 77. Very active, and in recent years commuting between Texas and Essex in the UK as a professional grandparent. Unpaid. :-( About a year ago I noticed some distortion in mid range hearing. Finally, it became so tedious that I went to my GP. Hearing test showed little but normal fall-off of higher frequencies. The guy that issued the hearing aids seemed almost annoyed when I said the top end was way too loud, and I suggested that amplifying the mid-rage would do little but make the distorted sound louder. Finally I was sent to the ENT department of our hospital.
For several minutes the consultant rambled on about the eustachian tubes and I had to explain that for 40 years they had been my best friends and I'd soon know if they were blocked. Finally, she looked deeper for the answer.
It has to be said that the muffled sound, and an almost physical feeling of matter seemingly in the middle ear did lead to me to the wrong conclusion as well. However, I have a son that has lost hearing in one ear following Meniere's disease, and I made it known I was scared of progressing to that miserable condition. Finally I was given a drug (Betahistine dihydrochloride) that seemed to help a bit, but unfortunately made me so sick I had to stop taking it.
Following what felt like a head cold, everything got worse. I even had a momentary attack of vertigo. I shook my head and it went away. Yes, it was horizontal spinning.
I wonder if there's a connection, but I have suffered two attacks of vertigo in the past. One in 2001, and one in 2015. Both cleared up in 48 hours. At that time, no hearing problems apart from a residual tinnitus since the 1980 which I've learned to live with.
The noise I'm suffering now is worse. If I knew this was as bad as it will get, I'd suffer that gladly, but there's a deep machine like rumble in addition to the increased high note. It's for all the world like air traffic in a distant sky, or fairly even road noise. So natural, that it wasn't until a quiet night I realised I shouldn't be hearing this new sound.
One thing that gave a ray of hope: there's a subset of the problem that one site suggested an autoimmune reaction may be causing the problem. I am suffering multiple reactions to gluten, wheat etc., but also, of all things, strong soap. Severe, borderline Anaphylaxis Quote: "an extreme and severe allergic reaction. The whole body is affected, often within minutes of exposure to the substance ..."
Darn good job I didn't get that when I was flying. But I'm very aware my body is rebelling about something, so it being causal in the hearing problem might just be a good thing. I'm hanging onto that hope right now.
Loose rivets, you have been fortunate to have seen an NHS ENT consultant whom I am sure will give a superior opinion to anyone on here who cant even examine you. Why dont you ask her what the problem is? If you are not happy, ask for a second opinion., but please remember like any doctor that consultant may need to try several remedies over a period of time. Try to build a rapport with her and I am sure you will get excellent care and hopefully some improvement.
Psychophysiological entity
Thread Starter
Mmm . . . one tries. Sad thing is, first time I saw a nice middle aged guy who immediately said I was describing the symptoms of over-pressure in the cochlea. It was not known why this happens. A bleak start.
Second visit, was the lady surgeon, a consultant, who shook her head at this theory and talked about the Eustachian tubes - until I became politely assertive. The symptoms are so like gunge in the middle ear that it's a perfectly sensible first line of attack, but the issue was, she'd not really read the notes of her colleague which are of course on the screen in front of her.*
I was prescribed the drug mentioned. It made me so sick my GP found another drug - which was worse.
Third visit, obtained I'm rather ashamed to admit, was due to the distress I was suffering. (Moments of vertigo, the loss of a lifetimes love of classical piano, and sounding totally stupid when I miss a word and it changes the total meaning of what folk are on about.) I walked into the same room to find yet another doctor, a serious and charming young man who spent more than my fair share of time with me. He held out very little hope, and said the first drug was the best - if I could learn to tolerate it. He's going to arrange re-tuning of my hearing aids which I don't need except for this narrow frequency-band of fuzzing.
For the first time I went to the local church to get me free batteries. Oh, my goodness. In moments I found myself helping old people up stares, or opening doors for them, turning them around when they were going the opposite way to the HEARING AID ROOM sign. Decrepit souls, all with their hands to their ears as a permanant flagging of their helplessness. All needing a chair when they got to the waiting area.
I doubt one of the silly sods was as old as me.
This is a battle I've got to win. There has to be an answer. Doesn't there?
*Our group of hospitals exchange data well enough, but one has to really be a squeaky wheel as duff data in=duff data out. I've had a vitrectomy and peel which is almost always followed by a cataract. I got a day for a VAG laser treatment. Just what I needed, squirting lasers in the WRONG EYE.
The mistake was made it seems, by the people, the company, that dole out the money for the procedures. 'If it's not ordered by them, we don't get paid.'
When did life get so complicated, but never fear, I'm very, very aware of the price of medicine. Four hours in a Texas hospital, with nowt but a drip, resulted in a bill for $17,000. Plus the doctor's $780. Yes, very aware.
Second visit, was the lady surgeon, a consultant, who shook her head at this theory and talked about the Eustachian tubes - until I became politely assertive. The symptoms are so like gunge in the middle ear that it's a perfectly sensible first line of attack, but the issue was, she'd not really read the notes of her colleague which are of course on the screen in front of her.*
I was prescribed the drug mentioned. It made me so sick my GP found another drug - which was worse.
Third visit, obtained I'm rather ashamed to admit, was due to the distress I was suffering. (Moments of vertigo, the loss of a lifetimes love of classical piano, and sounding totally stupid when I miss a word and it changes the total meaning of what folk are on about.) I walked into the same room to find yet another doctor, a serious and charming young man who spent more than my fair share of time with me. He held out very little hope, and said the first drug was the best - if I could learn to tolerate it. He's going to arrange re-tuning of my hearing aids which I don't need except for this narrow frequency-band of fuzzing.
For the first time I went to the local church to get me free batteries. Oh, my goodness. In moments I found myself helping old people up stares, or opening doors for them, turning them around when they were going the opposite way to the HEARING AID ROOM sign. Decrepit souls, all with their hands to their ears as a permanant flagging of their helplessness. All needing a chair when they got to the waiting area.
I doubt one of the silly sods was as old as me.
This is a battle I've got to win. There has to be an answer. Doesn't there?
*Our group of hospitals exchange data well enough, but one has to really be a squeaky wheel as duff data in=duff data out. I've had a vitrectomy and peel which is almost always followed by a cataract. I got a day for a VAG laser treatment. Just what I needed, squirting lasers in the WRONG EYE.
The mistake was made it seems, by the people, the company, that dole out the money for the procedures. 'If it's not ordered by them, we don't get paid.'
When did life get so complicated, but never fear, I'm very, very aware of the price of medicine. Four hours in a Texas hospital, with nowt but a drip, resulted in a bill for $17,000. Plus the doctor's $780. Yes, very aware.
