yes, i am dysfunctional
May 9, 2008
I saw a neurotologist yesterday and finally have an answer for why my hearing has been so sensitive for the past couple of months: I have Eustachian tube dysfunction. She tested the ability of my ears to respond to changes in pressure, and mine don’t respond. My tubes get locked in either the open or shut positions. When they are shut, sounds are muffled; when they are open, sounds are incredibly shrill and painful.
She loaded me up with medicines, mostly over the counter, that are supposed to help the condition, namely those for allergies and laryngopharyngeal reflux. I didn’t even know I had this form of reflux but once she described it, I realized I have all the symptoms associated with the condition, including hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, a lump in my throat and excess throat drainage. Who knew? I attributed those symptoms to my thyroiditis and allergies. Apparently, between the allergies and the reflux, the part of my Eustachian tubes that opens into my mouth has become inflamed, resulting in the dysfunction.
I am so happy I went to see the neurotologist. I saw an ENT a couple of weeks ago, and he had no idea what was going on. I could have given up at that point, but I decided to see someone who specializes in ear disorders instead. I almost canceled the appointment two days ago because I’d gotten to the point that I felt nobody could help me and I just had to live with the sensitivity. I’m so glad I didn’t give up too soon.
I am sharing this because a number of people have found their way to this blog in the past few days by searching for “hyperacusis” or “sensitive hearing.” I know how frustrating it can be to live with this condition, how quickly it can become debilitating, and I hope my diagnosis might help others who are looking for answers. Of course, not everyone will have Eustachian tube dysfunction, but some people will, so I want to share my experience.
We’ll see how all the medicines help over the next few weeks. The doctor said it will take some time before I notice any improvement. At least I have something to look forward to — and I’ve wrangled one of the seven health issues that is plaguing me. Actually, two of the seven: I’ve also made headway on my temporomandibular disorder, with the help of a TMD specialist. Now I just have to get over the thyroiditis and deal with the paresthesia, insomnia and fatigue, as well as the anxiety, which has not completely subsided.
OK, so I have a long way to go. But I am going, which is the important thing.
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If you don’t credit Dana (by using her full name and preferably by linking back to the appropriate post) for however you copy, distribute, transmit or adapt her words, you are being bad. And naughty. And she will have her servant monkeys hunt you down and cut your hands off so you can never copy, distribute, transmit or adapt anyone’s work again and call it your own.
(Unless, of course, you were to use your butt cheeks to manipulate your keyboard with the copying, distributing, transmitting, adapting and whatnot, but Dana fortunately has only met one person whose butt cheeks are that talented. He could play a major third on a piano using nothing but his ass. She kids you not.).
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Great news!
You say you have a long way to go … from my perspective you’ve come such a long way already - good for you. So pleased.