14 weeks and 4 days

[Laura878787]

14 weeks since my ears suffered the noise trauma and my ears are still ringing however it has quietened down where I do not need to mask it. However it does upset ne sometimes and wish it would go away but dealing with it.

I have been careful since it happened however trying not to be too careful

However I used my vacuum on Friday quickly without my earplugs in and on Saturday I went to a competition I very echoey gym and their was a whistle going off after every performance which I knew in advance however I have been doing a lot of reading and talking to people and the noise cannot physically cause any damage unless it is very loud, loud enough to damage 'normal ears'

However it was louder than I thought and I I start feeling pain and my ears were feeling sor so I put my earplugs in. I wish I left the room however its hopefully a small setback, which is bound to happen.

I have had sore ears for the last few days but it seems to be a bit better today. I get pinchy feelings that hurt but not for long.

I was getting to the point where I could watch TV normal volume without my ears Buzzing however they are a bit kore sensitive now.

However hopefully it will settle down again ans have got to remember as soon as it settles down again not to get complacent

The ENT wrote to my Dr saying I have no pain, but I do have pain just not really severe and I haven't been diagnosed with anything. Even if I did you cannot walk around with a sign however if I need to tell an employer for example they may want proof but hopefully they'll understand. I have a job at the moment and I am talking to customers all day on hands free it doesn't affect me I just have to be sure to turn the ringing volume down as I have left it loud then my ears react. However I am worried about Xmas parties etc but I'm just going to have to give it a miss as I cannot risk another setback as I'm taking my recovery seriously.

[Laura878787]

I did tell the ENT than I have spoke to people who know about this sort of things and I think I have TTTS and I also have sound sensitivity he just said let's look in your ears and don't listen to people online. Didn't want me to expand on my symptoms etc He saw my ear plugs and said so they help I said yes as my ears get sore after being around traffic/tv etc and he didn't seem bothered. I said things did seem louder at first but that has settled down.

When things seem louder that is loudness hyperacusis

When you get sore ears after noise that is pain hyperacusis

ENT didn't mention this however I have done a lot of reading and talking to people who have a lot of knowledge on this

I dont want to moan about the ENT however it was a complete waste of time

What I have cannot be treated I know this and when the lady called me to book me in I said I do not see the point in going now as I know what is wrong with my ears ans I'm dealing with it. But she sounded like she actually knew about acosutoc shock and said come in so we can note on the system where you are at the moment . I went as I thought I might get a bit of advice, I may get an official diagnoses. However he just looked in my ears, made me try and pop my ears, and did an uncomfortable rinne/fork test. He said it wouldn't be loud but it was uncomfortably loud for me and I said yes I can here it in an uncomfortable way and looked like I was in pain but he didn't seem to take notice.

I told the lady on the phone beforehand that at 6.5 weeks the Dr offered me steroids and I'm not taking them and so nothing else can be done. She said they can have a look and maybe give me an intratympanic injection, I said no I don't want that as I have read ,no point

Anyway so I had my guard up as soon as I was in the ENT room as I had to explain the situation again! I said I don't want steroids as too late and he agreed. So I don't know what ent my Dr spoke to that advised my Dr to prescribe it but I think the dr had contacted 2 as he didn't have a clue and neither did the 1st one he spoke to. But after he contacted the 2nd one for advice after me calling 111 again as at the time I wasn't getting anywhere.

Also for hyperacusis there is a reflex test ans that apparently can make things worse so even though I mentioned the sound sensitivity I didn't want to go on too much as then they might try and get m to to the test.

I'm not expecting a magic wand it would have just been nice to go to the Dr initially and be listened to!

Rather than ignored and being told its not long enough to cause damage! Telling me alarms that loud wouldn't be sold as the company would be getting sued!

Well these alarms are being sold in the 1000s online and are popular apparently

[Happyrosie in reply to Laura878787]

On the point of a medical person saying “don’t listen to people online”. He or she has a point, in that there are “cures” all over the place, all of them just a ploy to get your money. And there’s a forum called Tinnitus Talk which just makes you want to give up and retire to bed for. Year.

A reputable place is here on this forum, and through Tinnitus UK and anything that TUK recommend. Any ENT or audiologist person I’ve spoken to say that TUK is the first point of call.

Because tinnitus is so common, any employer is likely to have heard of it or indeed have it themselves.

Laura, you are doing so well now, keep it up!

[Laura878787 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks happy Rosie yes there is a lots of scammers. Even these alarms themselves are a money making scheme, selling them to empower women walking alone, kids and old people! and people walking their dogs and the person selling them online is telling people it will not harm dogs ears when someone asked if it would, when dogs have more sensitive ears than humans. They even tried to get these alarms banned at the Kings coronation as protesters were planning on throwing them and people were worried about the horses etc anyway the people on here and yourself are great and also I have spoken to the hearingloss help centre and a man called Neil Bauman who has answered all my questions for free and doesn't claim to be anything he is not or make a diagnosis or sell me anything. Although after he answered all my questions I did buy his book for less than £30 and it was worth it as it is about hyperacusis etc and I thought maybe he won't want to help me now, but he is still answering any questions and worrys I have.

[Laura878787]

Hi its telling people thay I cannot go out to loud restaurants and explaining why as they may not understand as some things I can handle some things I can't.

I can go to a restaurant with my kids for example as they understand that I'm wearing earplugs and I can't here well and they are not bothered if I talk or not however being around people who you don't know as well is different.

I'm still figuring it out myself

[Kellythecat-74]

One ”cope” I used in loud places ,, was wax earplugs . They totally blocked the sound, then I could tweak them a bit so a small amount of sound came through . Even wore them in the car , cos that made it louder as did the telephone , music and home computer.