I Just WANT to MAKE the THUMPING STOP! - Hearing Disorders Message Board

THE EAR · 05-02-2003, 07:05 AM

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am suffering from very terrifying, very sudden and very annoying THUMPING in my ears. I WANT it to STOP. Not just when I take my MEDICATION. I want it to GO AWAY forever. Most people don't have to PUT up with PAIN and DISCOMFORT. Why should I be in the 1% of the population that does? I am 27 years old in the prime of my life. I don't DESERVE to have these years RUINED and maybe the rest of my LIFE by THIS. Botox FAILED. Cutting the inner ear muscle failed. Is there any other way to STOP THIS? Most 27 year olds can do what they WANT without *****-FOOTING around an annoying condition.If I exercise, my ear becomes more uncomfortable and pops. I CAN"T STAND THIS. Before my left ear was injured, I was 180lbs in excellent shape. I cycled and jogged everyday. NOw, I am a 225 lb FAT BODY like Private Pile in Full Metal Jacket. I have been suffering for two years, three months and 22 days. WHEN WILL THIS END?

HERMIT · 05-03-2003, 10:09 AM

Hello in Ottawa!! Used to live near there--in Petawawa. I replied because you seem to be in the same boat I was in--unable to find a doctor who would sit and listen to what my problems were instead of showing me the door after 5 minutes. Persistence will get you bounced from specialist to specialist who think they are God and worried about their next golf tee time. I do not presume to know what your problem is caused by--but i have lived with severe pain since I was 23--am now 35. I also have large tumors on my hearing nerves which cause pain and hearing loss. The noise is horrible and cannot escape it. My advice to you is this--you are in luck--you live in a province with a lot of doctors--some of the best in Canada. Your problem will be to find one. Next visit to your doctor have all your questions wriiten down. Take your time and INSIST he answers all of them to your satisfaction. Lert his secretary know you plan to take a while this visit so shed better allow his schedule for this. Let the doctor know how frustrated and angry you are with your problems. Ask him to refer you to a specialist who will take the time to look and find the answers to your questions. Your doctor may not be a good one---I have learned that with doctors the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Insist nicely or angrily if you have to to get things done---no you can't wait 6 to 9 months to see the specialist--I need to see him NOW. Like I said make sure your doc knows how upset and frustrated you are. I have been through the pain medication game too. Let your doc know this also--and to allow for extra doses so you do not run out. If this doc doesn't hop to your liking tell him he is fired--and to refer you to another. I had to do this 6 times till I found a good doctor. I have been there my friend--and they WILL let you suffer like an animal---and die like one too if you do not get control of your health. I wish I could move back to that area---it is beautiful there especially renfrew county. Try to do things when you feel good--it is easy to get depressed. Are you working? Do you have a benefit plan? If so maybe take some time off--long term disability. Your doc can fill out the necessary forms. Canada pension disability should help also. Hope this helps--I know how frustrating it can be---almost died from first doctor's attitude--but he did not know he was gonna come with me. They are paid big money to help you---make sure they do. Another thing that will get their attention if they do not help you is to complain to OHIP. Anyways--hate to post my Email but if you need to talk post yours if you want and I will send you mine. Good luck and hold on---things will get better--sooner or later.

HERMIT · 05-03-2003, 10:48 AM

Hello again Ear. I just read a few other posts you made and thought I should add a few things. First--It seems you get extremely angry easily--when I said--get mad and make noise---I meant do it calmly and politely. A rage state will probably get you cuffed by the federales. I went to algonquin too by the way---am an electrician by the way. Now---in another post you mention a social worker asked you what you would do if this situation is incurable? I was in the prime of my life too when I first got sick--was just married--had a baby and bought a new house--I was a 4th year apprentice by that time and my wife was working for the govt making good money. So was I. That all changed overnight--my neck swelled horribly and had to have a biopsy done the day my son was born--went from surgery to delivery room. They took a piece of tumor from my jugular area --told me it was benign--But it went from my chin down to my shoulderblade. Was scared S##tless!! Went to Ottawa for the operation and while there did a MRI. They foud two more of them on my hearing nerves--each ear. One has my brain pushed up towards the left side of my skull. Got the opne removed from my neck--it was on my vocal cord nerve which they removed. Now I could not talk. After that Went to get the big hearing nerve tumor out--another scan showed huge spinal cord tumor from my brainstem all the way to the shoulders. They were more worried about that one so off to TO to get that removed. Took me 5 years to get over that one--still have the ear ones and 12 more in my spinal cord.
MY POINT IS THIS----anything can happen to change your life overnight. I lost my job, my house, my boat and self respect. BUT I can still walk and use my arms,can talk again quietly, with pain pills I can live a fair quality of life. NOTHING can change what happened to you or me. Noone will ever know what you really are going through except yourself. The real heroes in the world are the ones who do put up with severe pain and disability every day and still function in the world. You may have to face the fact that your condition will never go away--I hope it does. You need to deal with the situation you find youself in right now. Get yourself set up with good medical care--deal with what needs to be done--even if that means putting up with pain every day. You say you were active---you can still be active with adequate pain control--but you have to learn when to stop and when to just take it easy when it does get bad. Live every day as best you can because things could get worse--or better tomorrow. This is a long rant I know--first time i ever wrote about my illness, but seems you need some help in coping with your situation. Be honest with your doc--if the pain goes away with 5 instead of 3 pills TELL him that--don't lie and go without till next refill. If he won't help--find one who will. Get a handle on your present situation and deal with what comes after when it coes. Best wishes and leave your addy if you need to talk. P.S--do you know Lionel? Teacher from elec theory. Great guy and teacher.

THE EAR · 05-05-2003, 08:38 AM

Thank you for your support. My parents believe that I need psuciatric help to deal with my medical condition. I tried three drugs, Zoloft, Paxil, Serzone which made my ear symptoms worse and supercharged my nervous system making me very edgy. The I took Zyprexa for a year. This only calmed my nerves by 10%. The cost. I was a alking dope who could not think clearly, analyze situations or engage in any interest. My interest were eating, sleeping, smoking, had I been allowed to by my parents drinking and sitting around watching TV. Now being off the Zyprexa and only taking medication for my ear problem, I am sharp, alert, energetic and full of interests. My fear is if I see a psyciatrist, he/she will prescribe me a drug preventing me from taking the medication relieving my ear symptoms, my GP will determine it inappropriate for a psyciatric patient to be taking codeine and clonazepam and there will be no way to stop the unbearable thumping in my ears. I also fear that the psyciatric drug will dull my mind or create another unpleasant reaction. I think what is needed right now is to control my ear symptoms with clonazepam and codeine and forget about the psyciatric aspect. When the thumping leaves me alone, I am happy, content and positive. When the thumping torments me, I am frustrated, terrified, enraged and in a state of hopelesness. That's the way it is with me.

HERMIT · 05-05-2003, 10:47 AM

As long as your present regime is working; I don't see why the psychiatrist or your doctor changing your meds. The enragement part--I don't know what to tell you---sounds to me like that is something you should talk to someone about. I may be wrong, but life gets pretty rough sometimes and if you can't learn to cope with things you will suffer for it. Talk to your doc---keep a diary of what meds you take each day and state how you feel each day--it will be very useful for the doc or psych guy to asess your situation. My ears drive me crazy--sounds like i am being beamed up in those old trekkie shows. Other days sounds like guitar amp feedback other dayd like someone screaming far off. You just learn to ignore it I guess. Good luck and wish I still was in the valley there.