Being hard of hearing is so very frustrating. I find myself having to look at people’s lips in order to help me understand what they are saying. It’s getting kind of scary for me. I’m sure people have had ear infections, have been hard of hearing…and it has gone away. But…I’m scared.
I’ve resumed another round of those antibiotics again. It’s quite apparent that this infection or whatever it is is quite stubborn…so I’m going for another 7 days.
Yesterday, I went to see Dr. Brien, my hemotologist. Bless his heart for remembering me from the last time. He remembered the screamfest that occurred when he performed a bone marrow tap on me the last time. This time, he said that he wanted to do some regular blood tests FIRST before subjecting me to another bone marrow tap. He would make some changes to my medications, wait a few weeks, and go from there. I asked him if I did need another bone marrow tap, if I could somehow be sedated. I simply cannot take that kind of pain again. He mentioned that they do sedation at hospitals like sick kids, but not usually in that particular hospital for that reason. He said we would figure something out if and when we cross that bridge.
He examined me and checked my ears. His reaction when he looked in my ears was enough to make me nervous. He was pretty alarmed at what he saw- it was red and probably full of pus. At this point I’m pretty curious at what the inside of my ear looks like, so I asked him if he had some sort of camera that he could use to show me what it looked like. Unfortunately, he did not.
Dr. Brien was concerned enough to want me to be seen by an ENT doctor. If I have to be seen by an ENT, I hope it’s Dr. Irish, the ENT who took care of me when I had a mysterious bump/cyst on the inside of my lower lip. He’s really nice and he’s at the same hospital as Dr. Brien.
My legs and arms hurt. I’m still walking like an old lady and I’m still off balance. What’s even better? I have to go to school tomorrow and do a presentation. I have to do it. I can’t lose these marks…I’ve already lost and missed so much. I refuse to let this semester be a bust because of some dumb ass illness. But i’ll only go to school for that presentation, then I have to go to the hospital again for another appointment with Dr. Richardson. I need someone to do something with this blasted 40mg daily dose of prednisone. I can’t take it anymore. How did I do 60mg 3 times a day when I was in sick kids hospital?
I have 3 tests/midterms to write in the next 7 days. I think I’m going to have to drop my labour relations class. I’ve simply missed too much and I don’t think I’ll be successful in the course…and success is absolutely vital.
I will post more updates as they become available. The act of keeping my head upright makes me lightheaded. I want to lie down now.
View Comments (4)
I hope things turn around for you soon. When I had an ear infection last summer I did two rounds of antibiotics and a mega shot of penicillin. Then it started to go away, but my ears popped and crackled for a few months after. Hang in there, it will get better.
Melanie
ugh, I really hate the snap, crackle, and pop business going on in my ears! But thanks for letting me know because I'm pretty much in the dark here with regards to what I can possibly expect!
Thank you!
<3
xo
Wow, you sure are dealing with a lot. I hope that things turn around soon because it's really scary.
I had an ear infection for about 18 months at one point. They tried treating it with tons of stuff and it wasn't responding. Eventually figured out it was some sort of staph infection and we did much tougher rounds of antibiotics to get rid of it. I did have hearing loss in my ear and they warned me that it may or may not come back. Thankfully, it did return and I haven't had any problems since then.
I hope you are just as lucky. :) Ear infections are awful!