Steroids after 6 weeks

[Laura878787]

My Dr just called as he called the ENT and he said he will prescribe steroids whilst I'm waiting months for an appointment for acoustic shock/traum 6 weeks 2 days ago

60 my high dose at first then qill be reduced

The Dr said a bit late but worth a try

Is it worth it? I really don't like medication and if it's too late whats the point

Any advice

I have light ringing

Ears ache sometimes

Slight clicks flutters

Not sure what to do?

Should I pick up the medication in the morning or hope it gets better in time

[Happyrosie]

I’m not a medical person and I’ve never had an acoustic shock. Your doctor is a medical person. He or she might have come across this before and s/he can tell you are still troubled. May have even discussed this with colleagues.

I’ve had 60 mg steroids over a short period to help with the effects of chemo. I expect it helped (though of course I don’t know what I would have been like without them). I was not harmed by them as far as I know,

Your doc is trying to help you.

[Laura878787 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks 😊 The Dr admitted he didn't know much about this and he said that it's worth a shot within 6 weeks but it's passed 6 weeks

I've just spoke to someone online who knows a lot about acoustic shock and he said after 30 days it's pretty much pointless

I'm going to have a think tonight

I did mention to the Dr weeks ago people are given steroids for this sort of situation but he didn't know and it has taken a while for him to get advice from the ENT

Thanks

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Hi Laura.

Further to what Rosie's said, the research community do point towards quick intervention with steroids potentially having the optimum effect on tinnitus which has developed after issues like acoustic shock or sudden sensorineural hearing losses -

bit.ly/3YoYaeS

(a study focussing on Israeli soldiers exposed to noise trauma during their service and reporting acute injury).

This doesn't mean that people who experience acoustic shock have a brief window to 'cure' tinnitus and then have no recourse to further support. People can experience traumatic exposure to loud noise/sound and find ways to manage any emotional difficulties or frustration which is related to it.

[Laura878787 in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Hi Thanks for the reply I decided not to take the steroids. I asked the Dr after about 2 weeks and he had never heard of this for ear but he has since spoken to the ENT and said that he advises me to take steroids now and apologies he didn't know sooner, he said if it's within 6 weeks it could work. However this yesterday 6 weeks and 2 days. Today when I should have picked it up is y weeks and 3 days.

Firstly I don't actually know what the steroids are for, supposedly to reduce inflammation but inflammation of what and the damage has been done now and 6 weeks have passed

Secondly after 30 days apparently it is not worth it.

Thirdly my ears have been damaged hopefully it will get better I'm time however I'd rather have this ear problem on it's own rather than risk the additional side effects of the steroids

If it was within 4 weeks I probably would have taken it due to the extreme loud noise and the damage it has done

If I could speak to the ENT directly and he gave me reasons to take or not to take and knew more about my symptoms then I would take but the ENT doesn't know as I haven't spoke to him and since I've seen the Dr symptoms have changed

So I will not take the steroids and hope in time it will get better

It's early day apparently these can take a couple of years to get the ears settled again

[bournville]

I would follow the advice of the ENT if he thinks they may help. Dr could give you his name so you could track him down & speak to him privately?

[Laura878787]

31st August ENT called me (or a lady who works at the ent clinic) and said I should come in

I said I do not see the point now as there is nothing anyone can do now

On the 7th Sept I was finally offered steroids by the Dr after 6 weeks after he spoke to another ENT for advice, and that was after he had wrote to them however I think he only called them eventually as I called 111 and they notified the Dr

To contact me but I only called 111 as I wanted to go to a and e about it as I wasn't getting anywhere with Dr's etc

I didn't pick the steroids up as after doing a lot of reading no point and glad I didn't

The lady on the phone said it is worth coming in so they can log it on the system and maybe just me an intratympanic infection I said I'm not keen on that

When I saw the ENT on tbe 6th September I had to explain the situation again

I said aftee speaking to someone who knows about this online etc I have ttts and acoustic shock, sound sensitivity (hyperacusis)

He just looked at me and said don't look online.

However the man Neil Bauman who has advised me is very knowledgeable about this and helpful ans has answered all my questions. Quickly and free of charge. I did buy his book on hyperacusis however no pressure to buy and it has helped alot and it was less than 30 pounds.

The ENT did not ask me many questions about my symptoms. I said I have ringing, mild pains and sensitive to sounds and fluttering and feels like an elastic band pinging

He looked in my ear and looked fine which it would do after acoustic shock

So this implied that I wasn't dealing with someone who knew much about it

Then he did a tuning fork test and I said is it loud he said no but it was a bit loud so I said yes I can hear it and made an expression that it was uncomfortable

I had a hearing test at specsavers and he ask to see the results, however I wasn't at the ENT about my hearing I was their for advice and to have my symptoms logged and maybe have a diagnosis on file

He just then said your ears are fine stay away from loud noise

He has since written to my gp to say that I have mild hearing loss in left ear and has advised me to stay away from loud noise and there is no pain

Even though I do have pain just not severe

Anyway it was a waste of time seeing the ENT

I luckily have worked at home so can talk to colleague and customers om handfree however I do get sore achy ears after but not severe.

However I just hope my employer no or future will understand as I don't feel comfortable putting a headset or phone close to the ear yet