You take care and I hope you have no more issues with the ears. Boy you have
had it so hard with many issues.

Donna, this really wasn't necessary.  We all know how bad your medical
problems have been and you didn't have to lose your ability to hear well to
get our attention.  In fact, we feel that you have had enough problems to
have our attention for the rest of your life.  It really is a shame that you
had such bad news today; what I mean, it's a shame that it was necessary.
You had a lot thrown at you, and I really do sympathize and will continue my
prayers.
Gwen

A warning for you all!

Had an appointment with the ENT guy today.

I had had an ear infection that was pretty bad for the last month and a
half. I did two rounds of oral antibiotics, and the infection never
cleared up and my ear was still full of pus. My pcp tried cultureing it
to see what antibiotic would work better at clearing it up, but
apparently because I had already done the two rounds of antibiotics, the
culture just grew staph and something called ?diptheroids which the ENT
said isn't all that unusual.

This last infection had at one point gotten so bad that when my pcp
tried to culture it, it was soooo painful and then started bleeding
because the culture swab had literally taken off the top layer of skin.

In the mean time, I was in the hospital and while in the hospital, they
had done IV antibiotics, oral antibiotics, and IV steroids, and the
nasty, stubborn ear infection finally cleared up, but I still wasn't
able to hear much out of that ear.

Saw the ENT today and he said the ear looked fine now, but from now on
when I am having that much trouble, to call his nurse so that I didn't
have to deal with the gate keepers at the front desk and he would work
me in right away so he could see things when they were really bad.
He also said to supplement the antibiotics next time to try genly
rinsing the ear with a mixture of 1/2 and 1/2 water and vinegar.

He did a full set of hearing test this afternoon and he was shocked at
what it showed! (so was I).

This last round of infections has left me with mild hearing loss/nerve
damage that is permanent in my right ear and severe hearing loss/nerve
damage in my left ear, which is the ear that was so bad. He said since
it is nerve damage there is nothing they can do to fix it and the
hearing loss is permanent!

Yikes!!!

He said severe infections and systemic infections/inflammation can cause
this along with all the antibiotics I have been on, but he felt the
damage was primarily from the severe infections and inflammation I have
had so often. This is all despite having ear tubes in!

So, now I am half deaf, have no immune system to speak of, can't breathe
half the time, etc. what a mess huh?

I think I am aging faster than most of you all!!! LOLOLOL --- ahhhh the
joys of aging!!!

Glad it isn't any worse!!!

ENT wanted to talk about hearing aides and I told him I wasn't quite
ready to discuss that just yet. I had to digest all he dropped in my lap
today, and that would take me a bit!

Never a dull moment on this end!!!

SO, PLEASE, PLEASE, BEWARE, IF YOU HAVE A REALLY NASTY INFECTION, STAY
ON TOP OF IT AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF SO HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T END UP WITH
THE HEARING LOSS LIKE I NOW HAVE!!!

(I never in a million years would have guessed that an ear infection
could have done so much damage so quickly!)
.
.
.

Donna

.
.
.
.

Donna
.
.
.
.
1.)   ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......

2.)    J.K.M.A.

Oh my... just reading this made me think of all the pain you must have been
in. I remember when my ear drum ruptured and it was awful, but nothing like
what you just went through.
About the hearing aids.. they do make ones that are invisible to most
people. I have seen one of my 12 year olds friends wear one and you can not
see it unless you are right up close to the ear. One day you will be ready
to deal with that part of it.
We went through  a simular thing with my youngest child he ended up with a
30% hearing loss in both ears and had to take antibiotics for what seemed
like 2 years!  I felt like we lived at the ENTs office. I remember once
waking up to him screaming and went into his bedroom and he was burning up.
We rushed him to the ER and he had a 105.1 fever and his ear was very
infected. He did not show any signs that night when we put him to bed. It
just came on that fast.
I will heed your warning and pay close attention to that kind of ear
trouble.. Thanks for reminding me of what ear pain can do.
You take care of yourself  (((((((((((Donna)))))))

A warning for you all!

Had an appointment with the ENT guy today.

I had had an ear infection that was pretty bad for the last month and a
half. I did two rounds of oral antibiotics, and the infection never
cleared up and my ear was still full of pus. My pcp tried cultureing it
to see what antibiotic would work better at clearing it up, but
apparently because I had already done the two rounds of antibiotics, the
culture just grew staph and something called ?diptheroids which the ENT
said isn't all that unusual.

This last infection had at one point gotten so bad that when my pcp
tried to culture it, it was soooo painful and then started bleeding
because the culture swab had literally taken off the top layer of skin.

In the mean time, I was in the hospital and while in the hospital, they
had done IV antibiotics, oral antibiotics, and IV steroids, and the
nasty, stubborn ear infection finally cleared up, but I still wasn't
able to hear much out of that ear.

Saw the ENT today and he said the ear looked fine now, but from now on
when I am having that much trouble, to call his nurse so that I didn't
have to deal with the gate keepers at the front desk and he would work
me in right away so he could see things when they were really bad.
He also said to supplement the antibiotics next time to try genly
rinsing the ear with a mixture of 1/2 and 1/2 water and vinegar.

He did a full set of hearing test this afternoon and he was shocked at
what it showed! (so was I).

This last round of infections has left me with mild hearing loss/nerve
damage that is permanent in my right ear and severe hearing loss/nerve
damage in my left ear, which is the ear that was so bad. He said since
it is nerve damage there is nothing they can do to fix it and the
hearing loss is permanent!

Yikes!!!

He said severe infections and systemic infections/inflammation can cause
this along with all the antibiotics I have been on, but he felt the
damage was primarily from the severe infections and inflammation I have
had so often. This is all despite having ear tubes in!

So, now I am half deaf, have no immune system to speak of, can't breathe
half the time, etc. what a mess huh?

I think I am aging faster than most of you all!!! LOLOLOL --- ahhhh the
joys of aging!!!

Glad it isn't any worse!!!

ENT wanted to talk about hearing aides and I told him I wasn't quite
ready to discuss that just yet. I had to digest all he dropped in my lap
today, and that would take me a bit!

Never a dull moment on this end!!!

SO, PLEASE, PLEASE, BEWARE, IF YOU HAVE A REALLY NASTY INFECTION, STAY
ON TOP OF IT AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF SO HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T END UP WITH
THE HEARING LOSS LIKE I NOW HAVE!!!

(I never in a million years would have guessed that an ear infection
could have done so much damage so quickly!)
.
.
.

Donna

.
.
.
.

Donna
.
.
.
.
1.)   ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......

2.)    J.K.M.A.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{DONNA}}}}}}}}}}}}

That also goes for having a virus. I thought I just had a flu, then it
got worse and I thought I had bronchitis. By the time I got the correct
diagnosis, I had severe congestive heart failure.

So listen to Donna and me. When you don't feel good, GO TO A DOCTOR. And
if you don't feel better, go back and keep going back until you find out
what's really wrong.

Carole

Thank you for the warning, Donna.   An infection does not have a prayer with
me taking 40 mg a day of pred.   I do get tired of the roaring ocean going
on in my ears though.   We make choices and I choose air doing some good in
my lungs.    Yes, we are getting older and our bodies are getting weaker.
I am ready for the next step in this life and I think that you are but
meanwhile we keep doing what we can to live one more day in this world just
in case  something in that day is part of God's plan and needs doing by
us,,,, you and me.  May God lift your spirits and heal your body.
Harv

A warning for you all!

Had an appointment with the ENT guy today.

I had had an ear infection that was pretty bad for the last month and a
half. I did two rounds of oral antibiotics, and the infection never
cleared up and my ear was still full of pus. My pcp tried cultureing it
to see what antibiotic would work better at clearing it up, but
apparently because I had already done the two rounds of antibiotics, the
culture just grew staph and something called ?diptheroids which the ENT
said isn't all that unusual.

This last infection had at one point gotten so bad that when my pcp
tried to culture it, it was soooo painful and then started bleeding
because the culture swab had literally taken off the top layer of skin.

In the mean time, I was in the hospital and while in the hospital, they
had done IV antibiotics, oral antibiotics, and IV steroids, and the
nasty, stubborn ear infection finally cleared up, but I still wasn't
able to hear much out of that ear.

Saw the ENT today and he said the ear looked fine now, but from now on
when I am having that much trouble, to call his nurse so that I didn't
have to deal with the gate keepers at the front desk and he would work
me in right away so he could see things when they were really bad.
He also said to supplement the antibiotics next time to try genly
rinsing the ear with a mixture of 1/2 and 1/2 water and vinegar.

He did a full set of hearing test this afternoon and he was shocked at
what it showed! (so was I).

This last round of infections has left me with mild hearing loss/nerve
damage that is permanent in my right ear and severe hearing loss/nerve
damage in my left ear, which is the ear that was so bad. He said since
it is nerve damage there is nothing they can do to fix it and the
hearing loss is permanent!

Yikes!!!

He said severe infections and systemic infections/inflammation can cause
this along with all the antibiotics I have been on, but he felt the
damage was primarily from the severe infections and inflammation I have
had so often. This is all despite having ear tubes in!

So, now I am half deaf, have no immune system to speak of, can't breathe
half the time, etc. what a mess huh?

I think I am aging faster than most of you all!!! LOLOLOL --- ahhhh the
joys of aging!!!

Glad it isn't any worse!!!

ENT wanted to talk about hearing aides and I told him I wasn't quite
ready to discuss that just yet. I had to digest all he dropped in my lap
today, and that would take me a bit!

Never a dull moment on this end!!!

SO, PLEASE, PLEASE, BEWARE, IF YOU HAVE A REALLY NASTY INFECTION, STAY
ON TOP OF IT AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF SO HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T END UP WITH
THE HEARING LOSS LIKE I NOW HAVE!!!

(I never in a million years would have guessed that an ear infection
could have done so much damage so quickly!)
.
.
.

Donna

.
.
.
.

Donna
.
.
.
.
1.)   ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......

2.)    J.K.M.A.

I've had a "cold" for several days now. Been coughing my insides out the
last two days. My ears hurt, my throat hurts, and my chest hurts. I have an
appointment this afternoon with my PCP at 4 PM. Unfortunately, I was
supposed to see the RD today at 9:50 and had to cancel that.....his next
opening is in JULY! Grrrrrrr. Anyway, I'll see my PCP today to get the ears
checked.

Thanks, Hon.
DeeTee

A warning for you all!

Had an appointment with the ENT guy today.

I had had an ear infection that was pretty bad for the last month and a
half. I did two rounds of oral antibiotics, and the infection never
cleared up and my ear was still full of pus. My pcp tried cultureing it
to see what antibiotic would work better at clearing it up, but
apparently because I had already done the two rounds of antibiotics, the
culture just grew staph and something called ?diptheroids which the ENT
said isn't all that unusual.

This last infection had at one point gotten so bad that when my pcp
tried to culture it, it was soooo painful and then started bleeding
because the culture swab had literally taken off the top layer of skin.

In the mean time, I was in the hospital and while in the hospital, they
had done IV antibiotics, oral antibiotics, and IV steroids, and the
nasty, stubborn ear infection finally cleared up, but I still wasn't
able to hear much out of that ear.

Saw the ENT today and he said the ear looked fine now, but from now on
when I am having that much trouble, to call his nurse so that I didn't
have to deal with the gate keepers at the front desk and he would work
me in right away so he could see things when they were really bad.
He also said to supplement the antibiotics next time to try genly
rinsing the ear with a mixture of 1/2 and 1/2 water and vinegar.

He did a full set of hearing test this afternoon and he was shocked at
what it showed! (so was I).

This last round of infections has left me with mild hearing loss/nerve
damage that is permanent in my right ear and severe hearing loss/nerve
damage in my left ear, which is the ear that was so bad. He said since
it is nerve damage there is nothing they can do to fix it and the
hearing loss is permanent!

Yikes!!!

He said severe infections and systemic infections/inflammation can cause
this along with all the antibiotics I have been on, but he felt the
damage was primarily from the severe infections and inflammation I have
had so often. This is all despite having ear tubes in!

So, now I am half deaf, have no immune system to speak of, can't breathe
half the time, etc. what a mess huh?

I think I am aging faster than most of you all!!! LOLOLOL --- ahhhh the
joys of aging!!!

Glad it isn't any worse!!!

ENT wanted to talk about hearing aides and I told him I wasn't quite
ready to discuss that just yet. I had to digest all he dropped in my lap
today, and that would take me a bit!

Never a dull moment on this end!!!

SO, PLEASE, PLEASE, BEWARE, IF YOU HAVE A REALLY NASTY INFECTION, STAY
ON TOP OF IT AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF SO HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T END UP WITH
THE HEARING LOSS LIKE I NOW HAVE!!!

(I never in a million years would have guessed that an ear infection
could have done so much damage so quickly!)
.
.
.

Donna

.
.
.
.

Donna
.
.
.
.
1.)   ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......

2.)    J.K.M.A.

(((((((((((((((((((Donna))))))))))))))))))))

Feel sorry for the pain and suffering you have had to go through.

I found out I needed hearing aids the day they voted as best speaker in the
meeting the one I couldn't hear.  Now, I can go without my hearing aids most
of the time, but there are times when I need to use them.  Before I got
mine, my son took my mom and me to a show by a country group at Myrtle
Beach.  My goodness, they should have been able to hear that clear across
the state!! I had my hands over my ears and looked at my mom.  She just
grinned and turned her hearing aids way down - they make pretty good ear
plugs, too!  Most people don't even notice them.  Before I had my hair cut
Pixie cut short, I could turn the side of my head towards them and say "See
what I got?"  I would have to tell them, because they couldn't see them.
Since they make a mold from your ear, they fit very comfortably.  With soft
speaking nurses, doctors, etc, they have come in very handy.  I know it will
take time to digest all that you have to, but look at it this way -aren't
the infections all cleared up?

PS No wonder generation X and subsequent ones can't hear.  Their "music" is
mostly noise, and it's too loud.

A warning for you all!

Had an appointment with the ENT guy today.

I had had an ear infection that was pretty bad for the last month and a
half. I did two rounds of oral antibiotics, and the infection never
cleared up and my ear was still full of pus. My pcp tried cultureing it
to see what antibiotic would work better at clearing it up, but
apparently because I had already done the two rounds of antibiotics, the
culture just grew staph and something called ?diptheroids which the ENT
said isn't all that unusual.

This last infection had at one point gotten so bad that when my pcp
tried to culture it, it was soooo painful and then started bleeding
because the culture swab had literally taken off the top layer of skin.

In the mean time, I was in the hospital and while in the hospital, they
had done IV antibiotics, oral antibiotics, and IV steroids, and the
nasty, stubborn ear infection finally cleared up, but I still wasn't
able to hear much out of that ear.

Saw the ENT today and he said the ear looked fine now, but from now on
when I am having that much trouble, to call his nurse so that I didn't
have to deal with the gate keepers at the front desk and he would work
me in right away so he could see things when they were really bad.
He also said to supplement the antibiotics next time to try genly
rinsing the ear with a mixture of 1/2 and 1/2 water and vinegar.

He did a full set of hearing test this afternoon and he was shocked at
what it showed! (so was I).

This last round of infections has left me with mild hearing loss/nerve
damage that is permanent in my right ear and severe hearing loss/nerve
damage in my left ear, which is the ear that was so bad. He said since
it is nerve damage there is nothing they can do to fix it and the
hearing loss is permanent!

Yikes!!!

He said severe infections and systemic infections/inflammation can cause
this along with all the antibiotics I have been on, but he felt the
damage was primarily from the severe infections and inflammation I have
had so often. This is all despite having ear tubes in!

So, now I am half deaf, have no immune system to speak of, can't breathe
half the time, etc. what a mess huh?

I think I am aging faster than most of you all!!! LOLOLOL --- ahhhh the
joys of aging!!!

Glad it isn't any worse!!!

ENT wanted to talk about hearing aides and I told him I wasn't quite
ready to discuss that just yet. I had to digest all he dropped in my lap
today, and that would take me a bit!

Never a dull moment on this end!!!

SO, PLEASE, PLEASE, BEWARE, IF YOU HAVE A REALLY NASTY INFECTION, STAY
ON TOP OF IT AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF SO HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T END UP WITH
THE HEARING LOSS LIKE I NOW HAVE!!!

(I never in a million years would have guessed that an ear infection
could have done so much damage so quickly!)
.
.
.

Donna

.
.
.
.

Donna
.
.
.
.
1.)   ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......

2.)    J.K.M.A.