ENT Appointment... Nothing I Didn't Know Yet Still Upset...

Had my ENT appointment an hour ago. Of course broke down crying during the appointment. All the hormones of pregnancy and stress got to me. Anyway, she went over the result of my hearing test and said I have mild hearing loss in the upper ranges of my right ear which is slightly abnormal for someone my age (31). She said what i already knew from this group and research. It could either be hearing loss related (if so it won't go away) or it could be pregnancy/hormonal related in which case it will resolve after birth or after breastfeeding. She said there's no way to pin point it and my stress is most likely making it worse, which I already knew. She referred me to a tinnitus specialist here for TRT if I decide to do that and a handout sheet with some remedies that may be helpful . I don't know why I feel so upset after leaving especially because I already knew all of this anyway, just hearing it for sure kind of sucks. ;,( either way she told me it will come and go and it will most likely get better with time. She told me also she didn't think the cause was anything serious and she wouldn't order an MRI right now based solely on my exam/symptoms. My ears look completely normal also.

I am trying to be so positive from all your stories and support knowing it will get better.. I just wanted to post my update and get a little extra love today because I'm feeling kind of down.

 

Hang in there! You're doing everything right.

I remember feeling the same kind of "that's it??" After the ENT saw me and told me there was no magical cure and I can just sort of hope it gets better on it's own.

But hey, maybe it will. And even if it doesn't, we habituate to the sound so we still get better in the area that matters most: our own well being!

I've only had it for a month but either the sound has gone down or I've already started to cope better.

 

Sending lots of love and hugs.
Maybe TRT might try maskers for you.
Hope your tinnitus settles down for you soon and fade away after your little bundle of joy arrives.
Try to relax when you can as a busy mum and working too.
Lots of pampering ..lots of love glynis

 

Hi Natalie, first of all I'm not a doctor and this is just a personal opinion. Most probably the hearing loss was there way before your tinnitus started, and it's only in one ear. So, don't you think that it could be related to your pregnancy? Try to take it easy, if you are too distressed your t will seem worse, it happens to me all the time. Give yourself some time and after the hormonal storm things may resolve. Good luck and keep us updated.

 

Thanks for your reply.. This is what I was thinking last night. I haven't been exposed to overly loud noises or anything in my life that would cause hearing loss, especially not since I've been pregnant. So, that means the hearing loss has been gradual over time. I believe they said the loss was in my right ear but I'm not 100% sure. So, in my opinion it would make sense it is more pregnancy/hormone and stress related and will most likely get better after baby. Also, for the most part I am able to handle the noise. Its more like a white-noise that sometimes turns into a ringing depending on what I'm doing/background noises but over the last week I have been able to ignore it or it hasn't bothered me for the majority of the day at least on several days which is reassuring that its getting better or I'm adjusting. Thanks again for everything.

 

Exactly! I was like "ok.." and she seemed very empathetic but not much she can do. She did tell me to ask my OB for a nassal spray to dry my sinuses because she said it could be causing a back up of fluid in my tubes and that may help.. I also agree with you, I've only had this 3 weeks now and several days last week I wasn't overly consumed with the noise so like you I have to think its either getting quieter or I'm learning to cope with it better. Thanks for your reply.