Great... now I'm going deaf...what did you say?

[Annig83]

Had a hearing test today, because as some of you may have remembered, I have been having issues with Vertigo.  I have lost over 30% functioning in my right ear   So in addition to all the other bodily ailments, we can add deafness to the list!     The doctor thinks it was caused by a virus... 

[smcd23]

Could it be Meniere's Disease? My boss has that, and she has vertigo and hearing loss. The good news is that they told her she would be a candidate for the cochlear implant if and when she does lose it in both ears (she's only lost it in 1 so far and just started in the 2nd)

[WishIKnew]

Hearing loss is so isolating.  I have Alports so that's what caused both my severe hearing loss and my kidney failure.  Without my hearing aids I'm virtually deaf.  Will hearing aids help you?  I know they don't help with the vertigo.  My best to you.  Hang in.

 

[deniferfer]

I know how you feel. I have a hearing lost due a medication. I had surgery to replace the PD and got a infection. So they had to give me IV medication. Well they gave me the staring amount and a few days later drew some blood. Then I start to get phone calls asking if everything ok and I said yea so far...My nurse comes back and asks me did they tell you whats going on? I told her no and she tells me the level was too high..it was suppose to be at no more than 20 and it was at 100!! I go in to check my hearing and it was ok, a few months later they check it again and I have a pretty good hearing lost. So any high pitch sounds, and bells on TV I can no longer hear. I looked in to hearing aids and they want $3000 for both of the nicer ones. So I deal and tell people if I give you a blank look its cuz I have no idea what you said. I also try to use humor to deal with it.

[amanda100wilson]

I too have hearing loss.  The cause isnot known  but I suspect that it is medication induced.  Probably need to get it re-checked as I am missing so much that is said.

[WishIKnew]

Wow, a lot of us hard of hearing ESRD people.  My brother, too.  So is anyone else taking Sign Language classes?  I've been on and off for year and am in advanced sign now.  I LOVE it.  I have no idea if I'll ever be completely deaf but listening is so much work.  Sign is beautiful and fun to learn.  My husband, son and I sign little things around the house, like when we are working in the yard and I'm away from them, they know I'll never hear them so they sign to me.  Pretty cool.

It's funny:  ESRD, 5 years of dialysis, transplant, breast cancer, double mastectomy, 10 surgeries in the last year and the thing which isolates me them most is the hearing loss....  I talk to my therapist about it a lot.

Hang in all!

 

[conchman]

This is great news for me.  My wife always said I suffered from MHD (Male Hearing Disorder), now I can blame the meds...

(just trying to help you smile) 

[deniferfer]

@WishIKnew, I took Sign Language classes a couple of years before I lost my hearing. I actually found that I was able to catch on and learned it pretty fast. Mom mom took it along wit me and I was able to help her and another woman to make it easier for them to understand it. We made it all the way to the advance call and sadly we one had 8 other students that made it that far and they canceled the class due to lack of funding. My mom will help me out sometimes if we are in a crowed restaurant and sign to me something to help if I can't hear her. We are both kinda rusty so its kinda like relearning it all over again.

I also understand the feeling of isolation from it, mine is not server but when everyone is talking I find it hard to keep up with what is going on and quiet. Thou I think for me it has been the Dialysis that has been very isolating over all. I also think you are a amazing person for all you have got thur and you still seem to remain positive.   


@conchman Go for it!! 

[amanda100wilson]

Conch man,  I have always maintained that men don't hear their wives is that they have little flaps in thei ears that close down the minute a woman starts to talk.  The reason that these were never discovered from anatomy dissections is that they melt away the moment a man dies!  

[Whamo]

I can hear my wife, fine, but I just don't listen a lot of the time.

[billybags]

Whamo, you little monkey, most men are the same. Is it called selective hearing.

[Annig83]

Well, I had more testing done and it was a virus that did the damage to my ear.  Now I'm worried again because I have a sinus infection and my ear is doing the ringing thing again.  What if I go completely deaf in that ear?  I worry if I do, I won't be able to hear my son ever again.   

[Gerald Lively]

About five years ago the Ear Doctor said I had lost 50% of my hearing.  I have tinitus also.  My Mother swears this was caused by my hairy palms but I never caught the connection.  I think it was the military that did it.  You know, all that noise in the beer-hall.

[gothiclovemonkey]

annig, one think about hearing, it is a nice thing to have, but its not the worst thing to live without. I have a deaf friend who has 4 children, and shes never heard them.... i guess thats one thing to be thankful for, that you have at leaast heard him up until....

Sign language is beautiful, and very handy to know! i was taught some by my friend. Granted we tend to make up stuff, because its fun lol but i do know the "real" way too.

I hope things get sorted out for you

[Annig83]

Gerald- you always manage to make me laugh in your posts   If your mother was right, I think 99% of the male population would be 50% deaf as well!
GLM- I am greatful that I can hear him, but I still worry.  I know some sign language, I just wish that my body would quit doing this stuff!  Sometimes it feels like too much at once.  Your friend is so strong, much stronger than me, I couldn't imagine not hearing at all, but if she was born deaf, to me, it would seem easier to accept?  Maybe not, I don't know?

[gothiclovemonkey]

She wasnt born deaf , a fever made her deaf.  with a hearing aid she can hear random noises in certain pitches. like alarms...

I imagine that it would be hard for anyone. Ive noticed i cant understand the tv hardly at all without CC on ... and i absolutely love music, but i do know that even if im deaf, i can still enjoy things that most people hear, just not with my ears. as an example, place ur hand on ur throat and speak... or hummm... its awesome

i wish that your body would stop being so mean to you too! to all of us! its not cool... and one day hopefully things will be better