I'm have trouble hearing

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 05:50 AM

Oh Don, that is good news!

You'll be yodeling soon- I'll expect a demonstration!

Allison

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Allan C.
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 01:03 AM

Glad to hear it, Don!

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: DonMeixner
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 12:57 AM

Well it has been almost a week since I had my ear drum regrooved. Blow out patched and vulcanized in place. Things have been a pretty much success. I played with the band on sunday and once I got used to the newish sound I was fine.

Tho' yodeling will take some work.

Thanks to all who cared and were concerned. The good wishes helped keep up the spirit.

Don

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: erinmaidin
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 08:03 AM

I was recently diagnosed with Meniere's Syndrome, which is too much pressure in the inner ear etc. Ringing, vertigo...nasty business. I went to a Chinese acupuncturist who advised me that many times ear problems are related to the kidney. After a couple months of treatment I ended up in hospital for emergency kidney surgery(I guess she was right). I had a large kidney stone. Since that time my ear problems have gotten better and I've regained some of the hearing loss in the lower ranges and have not had further loss in others. The "roaring and whistling" in my head have diminished as well. Still there, but not intrusive any longer. May not be your problem at all but any information, I believe, is helpful.

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 07:25 PM

How are the antibiotics doing.
Are things getting back to normal?

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 02:07 PM

El Greko: **BG**

Keeping you in my thoughts, Don...luvyakat

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Don Firth
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 01:33 PM

Don, there's not a whole lot I can add to what people have already said here, but I'm holding good thoughts for you. Hang in there.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: LucyK
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 01:08 PM

All the best! This must be very alarming for you.

I have a congenital hearing loss in my left ear because the bones in my middle ear are malformed. I'm not totally deaf there, but it's close. Sometimes this condition can be surgically improved, but not in my case. So, you are not alone in being a folk musician with a partial hearing loss!

I recently got a hearing aid which I wear quite a lot of the time. It makes a great difference, because it gives me directional hearing which I otherwise don't have. It also allows me, when I use large headphones, to hear music in stereo - I can fit the aid under the headphones and hear both sides of the music, which I spent years and years not being able to do.

I hope things improve for you and that you get the best help and treatment possible.

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: GUEST, Hamish, no cookie
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 07:43 AM

All the best, Don. I had a ruptured eardrum a few years back - and lost hearing in it. Extremely painful at the time and very distressing, but completely recovered after the infection died. Good luck: hopefully you'll have a similar recovery.

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 04:24 AM

"Bang - bang, Meixner's silver hammer...", eh, katlaughing?
Seriously, Don, my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 01:26 AM

Lots of love and good healing thoughts from here, too, Don. Maybe too much silver-hammering?**bg** (Sorry, couldn't resist. Isn't it called "chasing," though?)

Anyway, lots of success with the treatments and patience to see it through to recovering what you had...

luvyakat

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: DonMeixner
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 12:21 AM

Kenny,

I lost the hearing in my right ear to two mastoidectomys in 1956 when I was 6. I have never heard stereo.

And I do know what you mean about mondegreens and a wicked sense of humor. Good Friday I took my boys to see "Hellboy". The ear drum went the next day. Hmmmmm, coincidence? I think not!

I am on two types of antibiotics and I will win this issue.

Thanks again all.

Don

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 07:29 PM

Don
Take Bob P and Wyllows advice, see an ENT speciallist ASAP and make sure you fight any infection in the ear.
I delayed going to my doc for a week, I had a mastoid infection which burst because I did not get antibiotics or diagnosis early enough.
Totally lost my balance for about a week 'till the "seasickness" pills took affect.
I totally lost the hearing in one ear which now has tinnitus.
The tinnitus seems to disappear if I am involved in singing or playing music. If you lose one ear music is good therapy although it is difficult to play along with anybody at your "Bad" side.
It also has the advantage of developping a large range of Mondegreens
which can be put to good use if you have a wicked sense of humour ie you can get away with mishearing things which were never said in the first place.
The bottom line is my opening sentence and the hope that you can recover the majority of the hearing you had before.
Best of luck
Kenny B

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Carly
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 07:25 PM

Don, it seems as if you are doing all the right things to deal with this misfortune. I hope everything works out well for you.
Sending sympathy and best wishes.
Carly

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: GUEST,wyllow
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 06:53 PM

Don, hang in there! it takes a long time to get over this.

i'm still getting over a middle ear infection i got in the end of February! fortunately my eardrum didn't rupture but i had severe hearing loss and constant tinnitus (ringing in the ear). the ringing hasn't really stopped, it comes and goes now but the hearing came back.

definitely take antibiotics. that's what helped the most. Amoxicillin did not do it for me (and made me sick to my stomach, too). i went back in to the doc and got another prescription for Azithromycin and that helped me a lot.

my friend's husband had a ruptured eardrum due to a fluid build-up, like you. the good news is that his eardrum is repairing itself and his hearing is gradually returning. it has taken several months, though.

take care,
wyllow :)

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 06:11 PM

Follow the advice and treatment of a specialist and avoid the naturopaths and other snake oil pedlars. Sign me- One ear.
My best wishes for recovery.

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 06:01 PM

Do keep us posted, Don- and look for warmth and friendship at Old Songs come June!

Allison

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 05:33 PM

Reconstructive surgery next week and probably a tube as well. Wheat, apples , and dairy are pretty low on my list anyway Robyn, we have a family history of Celiac's disease that we recently uncovered.
Thank you all for the kindness. I appreciate this very much.

Don

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Little Robyn
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 03:48 PM

Abby, I suggest you try the no-milk diet too. Give it about a week and see if the steam radiator quietens down.
Robyn

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 10:40 AM

It's allergy season here, so avoiding dairy is all the more important. Your ears are sensitive to all of that. Good luck, Don!

Have you done any proactive research on your own? http://www.WebMD.com is a good place to start.

SRS

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: harpgirl
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 10:33 AM

Don, I can really sympathize having had a hearing test and been told I have to go to hearing aids to recover what I have lost. I am still resisting it, mainly because I have to pay dorm fees, meal plan, books, and out of town money for Nathan, who goes off to the University of West Florida in August to finish up his college. I'm learning to read lips and hoping I can hold out in the office which is where my problem is most annoying. Keep your chin up and hope for healing. I'm told that cochlear nerve damage is not reversible. Of all the noises in my ears, the ones soudning like a steam radiator in my left ear is most disconcerting. Abby

I'll refresh the thread I whined in...

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 09:06 AM

Very sorry to hear this Don - Please keep us updated.

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Allan C.
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 09:04 AM

Best wishes to you, Don. I hope better news comes soon.

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 06:55 AM

Hi Don - sorry to hear your news

Like has already been said see the ENT specialist.
When you say 75% hearing loss in your left ear just check with the ENT specialist what they mean by that. Mostly they use percentage when they mean 75dB loss which are two different things altogether. This can be a 'flat loss' most common as the result of middle ear infections and burst ear drums. These respond well to hearing aids or you may have different degrees of hearing loss at different frequencies - digital aids again can help this. If you are worried and you can find out your audiogram ( the graph they make when they test your hearing)and you want to PM me I can tell you some of the consequences and implications that might be useful for friends and family to know.

By a total loss in your right ear I presume you have what is called 'dead' ear in which you hear nothing at all. If your loss is permanent in both ears you might want to consider a cochlear implant in the future. A work with a guy that now has two - one for each ear and is abolutely delighted with them.

In my experience burst ear drums usually heal well leaving only a slight loss because of the scar tissue.The thing with middle ear hearing loss is that if you can make sound loud enough you can still hear - its not like a degenerative cochlear problem. I know its difficult for you people dont realise how much hearing loss effects everyday life and how isolating it can be - but it looks like a whole bunch of catters will stop you feeling quite so lonely.

Thinking of you
Sue

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 06:01 AM

Don, my thoughts are with you. Pay attention to Bob Pacquin's post: If you haven't gotten yourself to a specialist, please do it today!
Little Robyn's not so far off the mark, either- I have to keep my dairy intake to an absolute minimum.

Having said that, know that I'm sending light and love and hopes for recovery.

All the best,

Allison

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Little Robyn
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 05:16 AM

Try giving up all dairy food - milk, cheese, yoghurt, custard, ice cream, whatever. See if that helps to dry up the fluid from the inside.
If I have a milk shake or ice cream or even cheese sandwiches, I get a mucus build-up that sets off ringing in my ears, I get a sore throat and my balance goes haywire. It took years of suffering before I discovered I was intolerant to any dairy product.
The 'cure' is so easy (well, not so easy when everyone else is having ice cream or Camembert cheese!) Give it a try for a week or so - see if it works for you.
Cheers,
Robyn

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 03:58 AM

Beethoven?

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: open mike
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 03:11 AM

Do you have an infection? take anti biotics!
this sounds serious, painful and debilitating.
I hope you will be able to pull thru with your
hearing intact! Is your hearing in the other
ear a long term loss? some forms of hearing loss
can be helped greatly with hearing aids. they
make state of the art digital ones now. If you
have cochlear degeneration, this is more difficult
to repair but i "hear" there can be implants to
improve this situation. good luck and keep us
posted.

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: kendall
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 02:50 AM

Jeez Don, I'm so sorry to hear that. What a bummer!

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Bob Pacquin
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 01:44 AM

Don--It sounds like you are having a rough time of it--hang in there. I am assuming that you are seeing the best ENT specialist that you can find in your area(if not get in there ASAP)--these problems can often be treated and resolved without any long term harm--

We have a history of fluid-related hearing problems in our family, not the same degree of seriousness as yours--but troublesome--two of the kids had recurring hearing impairment due to fluid build-up which we finally were able manage with medication, though at first the had to be drained regularly by the specialist--

This last winter, after a bad round of flu, followed by a secondary infection, hearing in my left ear was impaired by fluid build-up, and my sense of balance(shaky under the best circumstances) was so bad that I had trouble walking--it took a while, but with the specialist's care, the hearing has come back and I am able to get around again.

Nothing is quite as scary as having one of the vital senses suddenly go out on you, but good medical attention can clear a lot up, and there is a lot more therapeutic and technological help available than ever--so though it must be very discouraging, chances of a good outcome are better than ever, and we're all with you 100%--

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 12:54 AM

Oh, Don, I am so sorry- and alarmed. What do the specialists tell you? Hang in there; lots of healing energy will be coming your way.

Elva B.

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: Mark Clark
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 12:53 AM

All good thoughts going your way, Don. Get well soon.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: I'm have trouble hearing
From: darkriver
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 12:46 AM

Don,

really sorry to read this. My thoughts are with you. I don't know the diagnoses, but it's possible your left ear will recover, so I'm hoping for the best.

Regards,

doug

Subject: I'm have trouble hearing
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 12:37 AM

In the past few days I have lost 75% of the hearing in my left ear.
My ear drum has ruptured three times in two weeks due to a build up of fluid behind the ear drum.

I am totally deaf in my right ear.

I don't know if this hearing loss is permanent or temporary. And obviously time will tell me that. I have overcome a lot in my life to keep on as a musician but I don't know if I can over come this one.

A kind thought in my direction would be appreciated.

Don