Hi again,
11 days on and just had the cotton and stuff out of my ear. There was a mix-up with the appointments, so only happened this morning.
I was walking back from the ENT and I could hear the wind! Yay! Still not full hearing - things are still a bit tinny but not like on day 7. I can hear a bit of voices and I am sure my hearing has improved some - although he sound quality isn't great just yet. I think the quality will improve - it has improved since day 7 so fingers crossed. Also, my hearing was so bad that they don't expect me to get full hearing regardless - but maybe at 30-40% (it was at 80-90% and rather useless even with a hearing aid).
The ENT told me the stapes was exceptionally hard (as in VERY calcified) and he had to make a bigger hole and literally break the bone off! (sounds scary) He said because of that he had expected me to be rather dizzy and nauseous. I could only attest to that.
He takes it as a good sign I can hear traffic and other noises but also said because of the 'bigger hole' he had to make it will take a little longer to heal and for good sound to come through. He is expecting the hearing to improve over the next 4-8 weeks.
Normally I would have an appointment back with him in 4 weeks but I am an overseas patient and need to fly home, I am seeing him again in 2 weeks for a follow up.
I am also seeing the audiologist in 10 days which is probably sooner than normal but I need to be able to schedule 2 fittings/adjustments of my hearing aids before I leave. I have no access at all to any audiologists where I live so it is really really important the adjustments are perfect before I leave.
I still feel small periods of dizziness especially if I move quickly, or even just move my sight quick - like moving eyes only to look up and then look back down. Sometimes the dizziness comes without me doing anything. But it is bearable and doesn't make me nauseous anymore.
I feel my tinnitus is less but in the same time I feel it is a little too early to say for sure. Still have some tinnitus but seems to be less 'loud'. I will be checking that out over the next coming days!
I will give you an update again when I have been to the audiologist!
Take care out there!
