I was reading an article by Oticon about dementia. It claims that studies have shown that unaddressed hearing loss is believed to be the leading preventable cause of dementia. **
Well, that's me screwed then! Before I caught Covid the second time my hearing was excellent. I always maintained it was making up for my shocking eyesight.
After my second round with the virus, I have had nothing but trouble with my hearing for two weeks I couldn't hear out of my left ear!
Slowly, as some of my hearing came back, it came back painful. My ears would physically hurt by the evening and I would have to turn to face people to hear them as I couldn't separate all the noises going on at the same time.
I was worried I'd lose my hearing entirely and ended up having a phone consultation with a doctor who prescribed ear drops which you SQUIRT into your ear! Mother of God who invented that!! It was like a foghorn going off!!
Well, that's me screwed then! Before I caught Covid the second time my hearing was excellent. I always maintained it was making up for my shocking eyesight.
After my second round with the virus, I have had nothing but trouble with my hearing for two weeks I couldn't hear out of my left ear!
Slowly, as some of my hearing came back, it came back painful. My ears would physically hurt by the evening and I would have to turn to face people to hear them as I couldn't separate all the noises going on at the same time.
I was worried I'd lose my hearing entirely and ended up having a phone consultation with a doctor who prescribed ear drops which you SQUIRT into your ear! Mother of God who invented that!! It was like a foghorn going off!!
This didn't work, three weeks later I went and saw the resident paramedic who basically told me to wait it out another two weeks or go to Specsavers and have a hearing test. Clearly forgetting I am in pain too.
I waited two further weeks, but there was no real change in the pain or my hearing. I went back and saw another doctor who told me to wait eight weeks after contracting the virus before doing anything further with my ears, and then I can be referred. So I waited a further two weeks and got a call back from the resident paramedic, who has now referred me.
I don't know if my hearing is permanently damaged but I'm also not willing to just accept this is my hearing now! It's not often I bug the doctors but after reading about dementia, I'm determined more than ever to get this sorted.
I'm not ready for my hearing aid yet.
Were you unfortunate enough to catch Covid? Did it give you any side effects?
* * Livingston et al. 2020. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. Lancet.
I waited two further weeks, but there was no real change in the pain or my hearing. I went back and saw another doctor who told me to wait eight weeks after contracting the virus before doing anything further with my ears, and then I can be referred. So I waited a further two weeks and got a call back from the resident paramedic, who has now referred me.
I don't know if my hearing is permanently damaged but I'm also not willing to just accept this is my hearing now! It's not often I bug the doctors but after reading about dementia, I'm determined more than ever to get this sorted.
I'm not ready for my hearing aid yet.
Were you unfortunate enough to catch Covid? Did it give you any side effects?
I feel like I am in a minority now, mysef, my fella and our girls have never had Covid but my dad and his partner have had it twice. Ugh. It's funny you should say this. My dad's partner has never had earache until after she had Covid for the 2nd time and is having a rough time of it at the moment. Eek.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better soon x
Thanks Kim, I also never had any problems with my hearing before the 2nd bout.
DeleteHope your ears and hearing make a full recovery. We've avoided covid so far but have been super cautious throughout. Know many many people with long covid and ongoing symptoms so we shall continue to be cautious as much as we can though I fear it is only a matter of time.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebecca, stay safe
DeleteWe've managed to avoid Covid. Hope your hearing improves back to normal and the pain goes. I've always had slight issues with my ears. Have to wear a hat in the winter otherwise I easily get earache. And can't properly hear a conversation anywhere there is background noise
ReplyDelete