About two weeks ago I used a cotton swab after a shower like every other day, but the result was dramatically different. I immediately lost 90% of my hearing. The following nights I tried every conceivable method to remove what I thought was wax deep inside my ear. A persistent ringing developed which has never gone away.
Two days after the shower incident I finally succumbed and went to urgent care and was told my ear was "spotless" but that my eardrum was "warped and inflamed." I was prescribed antibiotics and ear drops, which I took religiously (the ringing was driving me mad).
Three days after I visited urgent care I went to an ENT. He told me my eardrum was impacted with wax and infected. He used a vacuum to remove the wax which immediately restored my hearing, but did nothing to stop the ringing. After my numerous pointed questions about the ringing, and with his foot halfway out the door, the doctor told me the ringing "may never go away." It was crushing news.
Its been two weeks since the shower incident and the ringing is still endless. I'm out of antibiotics and praying to God the ringing goes away even though I'm not religious. The antibiotics caused me to throw up numerous times and the ringing makes me thoroughly nauseous by midday. A video from William Shatner about his tinnitus spoke more to me than any video ever has -- I was in tears. The only difference between us is that I'm 25 and have been extremely careful my entire life about protecting my hearing, and yet here we both are.
This experience has taught me that people struggle to empathize with what the cannot see. I'm sure I've encountered numerous people with tinnitus and never knew it. The hope that it will go away and the realization that life can go on even if it doesn't have been what has kept me going. Thanks to everyone who share their stories and support to let others with tinnitus know they aren't alone
.
Two days after the shower incident I finally succumbed and went to urgent care and was told my ear was "spotless" but that my eardrum was "warped and inflamed." I was prescribed antibiotics and ear drops, which I took religiously (the ringing was driving me mad).
Three days after I visited urgent care I went to an ENT. He told me my eardrum was impacted with wax and infected. He used a vacuum to remove the wax which immediately restored my hearing, but did nothing to stop the ringing. After my numerous pointed questions about the ringing, and with his foot halfway out the door, the doctor told me the ringing "may never go away." It was crushing news.
Its been two weeks since the shower incident and the ringing is still endless. I'm out of antibiotics and praying to God the ringing goes away even though I'm not religious. The antibiotics caused me to throw up numerous times and the ringing makes me thoroughly nauseous by midday. A video from William Shatner about his tinnitus spoke more to me than any video ever has -- I was in tears. The only difference between us is that I'm 25 and have been extremely careful my entire life about protecting my hearing, and yet here we both are.
This experience has taught me that people struggle to empathize with what the cannot see. I'm sure I've encountered numerous people with tinnitus and never knew it. The hope that it will go away and the realization that life can go on even if it doesn't have been what has kept me going. Thanks to everyone who share their stories and support to let others with tinnitus know they aren't alone
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