Exceedingly Mundane

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Aug
08
Posted by Stace

Long Break!

I don’t know if I just took a long break, or more likely, I had nearly given up on blogging. Either way, it’s been a while since I updated my blog.

The last time I posted was late March, which was when I developed tinnitus. I went to sleep one Friday night and I was fine. When I woke up Saturday morning, I had this loud screeching noise in my head. Well, actually, at first it was a loud pulsating noise, like I could hear my pulse pounding inside my head, very loudly. After several doctors visits, and being treated for what they said was a middle ear infection, it changed over to “traditional” tinnitus, a loud buzzing or screeching sound in my head. I took decongestants, mucus thinners, a Z-pack, a steroid pack, and finally they said the fluid was gone, but the noises remain. And apparently will for the rest of my life. I saw an ENT (who I disliked immensely, she was cold and uncaring and had the worst “bedside” manner I have ever encountered) who told me that I probably had Meniere’s Disease and that is why I have tinnitus. Except that my father-in-law has Meniere’s so I know all about it. I do not have vertigo, which is one of the hallmarks of Meneire’s. I just have tinnitus. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day. I’m getting better. And I’m trying lots of things on my own. The doctor said “learn to live with it”. When I told her I was having trouble sleeping, she said “turn some music on”. That was the extent of her helpful medical knowledge. HA! So, I’m doctoring myself and taking vitamin and herb supplements. It is better, but it has not gone away, and probably never will. I will have to learn to live with it, and I have somewhat, but I still have quite a long ways to go. Luckily, I have an awesome God on my side, who loves me, and the most loving spouse on the planet. So I know I’ll be fine, one way or another 🙂

Hearing the loud noises in my head and trying to cope with it consumes most of my days! I no longer read much, because it’s hard for me to read with the noise. I am getting better, but my reading pace and the number of books I have read is way down. I won’t come anywhere near the number of books I used to read in a year, this year. But I am enjoying most of the ones I do read, so I guess that’s good!

I’m walking 6 days a week. Most mornings, Tim gets up and goes with me, and we take Beau. We walk anywhere from 1 mile to nearly 3 miles. We don’t walk on Sundays, because we go to early church. In April, I got pretty sick and was having so much trouble sleeping and eating, that I lost 6 or 8 pounds in a couple of weeks. While I was ecstatic over the weight loss, I didn’t feel well. So once I got to feeling better, I got back to eating, and I’m happy/sad to report that I’ve gained all of that weight back!

I’ve gone back to scrapbooking, at least on a smaller level. I can turn music on when I scrapbook, which helps to mask some of the tinnitus. I’ve finished my Disney album (I won’t even tell you how many years ago we went to Disney World) which is way overdue. I’m working on pages for my Christmas album and also some in my regular chronological albums. I’m way behind, so I won’t ever come close to catching up. In addition to working on pages, I’ve also gone back and gotten a few pictures printed out. I’m about, oh, 6 or 7 years behind on printing pictures. To say I’m totally digital now is an understatement. I didn’t even know where to start at looking for places to print out photos!

I’m trying to stay busy, because when I’m busy or out in noisy places like restaurants, stores, etc, I don’t hear the tinnitus as much. Tim is great about getting me out and keeping me busy. I was always such a homebody, and it’s been so hard, such an adjustment for me, not to be able to enjoy being at home, enjoying the silence, being quiet and content. We’ve been going to a lot of movies this summer (although this is hard on me, the noise bothers my ears badly now, so I try to take ear plugs, which helps, but my tinnitus always spikes after we go to the theater). We go out to eat some, and get out and about whenever we have time.

Tim is still playing a lot of golf. He changed golf clubs a few months back and now has two courses that he can play at. The bad news is that he can no longer take Beau to the new place he joined (it’s a country club, not a golf club any more). When the weather was cooler, I was going with Tim and walking some at the golf course. It’s been really hot lately, though, so I have not been going. Tim still goes when it’s outrageous hot, but not me, I like my air conditioning! We had triple digit weather a week ago, and he was still out, on the days it was 103, with a heat index of 112. Yikes!

Anyway, this is not a very interesting blog post, nor am I promising any interesting ones in the future. Just thought I’d do a long, boring update! 🙂

  1. Laura Said,

    Oh, Stacy, I’m so sorry to hear about your ears. I can SO relate but I’m on the opposite side: I JUST have the vertigo, nothing else. No ringing or hearing loss. And my experience with ENTs is much the same. I don’t know what it is about them that they are generally so bitter and unhelpful. Mine never goes away 100% – I just have good days and bad days. It’s been a little over a year now and it took me many, many months to just “live with it” (and some days I still worry about it a lot). It’s so frustrating so I totally understand. I will be praying for you.

    Thanks for the update. *hugs*

  2. Desert Songbird Said,

    I am so sorry to hear about your inner ear problem; my friend Laura also suffers from this, and it’s breaking her heart. She, her husband, and both kids are musicians! It’s difficult for her to listen and enjoy, and she doesn’t even attempt to play an instrument now.

    I hope you find some relief. When you’re in a quiet time at home, have you tried listening to music with earbuds? Or would that exacerbate the problem?

  3. jen Said,

    I’m so sorry you are going through this…I will be praying for you girl….hold on to your faith!

  4. heidi @ ggip Said,

    Sorry to hear about the ear issues. My former boss either had the same thing or some thing similar and I know it was not fun. I hope you continue to find ways to keep busy. 🙂

  5. Gail Said,

    What have you found that helps so far? I’ve been “living with mine” for some years now. Maybe mine is Meniere’s rather than tinnitus? I’ve had just one or 2 episodes with vertigo and it is NOT pleasant.

  6. Dawn Said,

    My goodness, Stacy! Even though you haven’t been blogging, of course I “see you around the web,” and I never would have guessed you were adjusting to something so aggravating! You’ve been so positive & upbeat. =) I hope you find some relief–in whatever form that comes. As for printing photos? I love Shutterfly. They have all kinds of options. I usually get the prepaid plans because they run the least expensive per photo & I am very pleased with their quality. (I do my Christmas cards through them too!) They also have a “photo book” option, which I am thinking of trying out. I like having a whole year’s worth of photos in a single book (just another form of backup for me & I am manic about that! LOL).

  7. mamichelle Said,

    Hey Stacy! I’m really sorry you have to deal with the inner ear problem but I’m happy to hear that some things have helped. Can you have background music on while you read? Maybe classical so it doesn’t distract you?

    My son is dealing with labyrinthitis at the moment (lots of symptoms like vertigo). I hope it passes before his baby is born.

    I’m so happy you started scrapping again! Good for you for keeping busy and exercising!! Hang in there!

  8. Lauren@BaseballsandBows Said,

    Stacy,

    I am so sorry for what you are going through, and I will be praying for you. Unfortunately, I can relate. My throat has been hurting constantly since early May. It is so consuming! I also haven’t read as much (other that online info regarding my throat hurt), and it affects me all day long. I truly believe that I have LPR (a form of reflux), even though my gastroenterologist doesn’t think so. I am going on Friday to have my throat scoped, so hopefully I will have some answers then.

    I am truly sorry for the difficult months you have endured. I pray that you will improve and find a doctor who is willing to listen and help you. It’s so nice to hear from you on your blog, and I hope you will keep posting!

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