Question For Sqad

[Bambiagain]

Forgive me, for I have sinned - I haven't been on AB for ages due to various other commitments. But now I have a question for you. I have been a bit ill recently. A nasty cold turned to bronchitis. Last Monday I saw the doctor, who prescribed antibiotics. That evening I had severe earache, something I haven't ever had before or if I had it was so long ago I've forgotten. About 2 in the morning the pain subsided and I thought all was well. On Wednesday the pain came back, along with sinusitus and swollen glands. Since Wednesday was a Bank Holiday I saw the doctor again on Thursday. He changed the pills to penicillin. The sinuses gradually got better but the earache, although not so painful, persisted. By the weekend the ear felt blocked and I was fairly deaf in that ear. Back to the doctor on Tuesday (last day of the pills). He said he could do nothing and referred me to an ENT specialist, whom I saw today. After an inspection, a bit of a vacuuming and a hearing test she told me that the infection has gone but there is loss of hearing in the ear, which is likely to be permanent. The only chance she could give me was cortisone injections over three days. I had the first then and there and the second will be tomorrow - also a Bank Holiday. My questions are: have you any idea how good a chance there is that the injections might work? If so, how soon might I find an improvement? And is there really no other option if the injections fail to make an improvement? (I was a bit too shell-shocked to think of questions at the time). At the moment there is a little pain, but more of a severe blocked feeling and a bit of a swooshing feeling in there (if that makes any sense). Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance.

[Sqad]

\\\Forgive me, for I have sinned \\\

sqad loves a "sinner."

Well, I presume that you had an audiogram (hearing test) at the ENT clinic and that confirmed that you had a "nerve deafness" which occasionally, very occasional follows a viral infection.

Now,steroid injections are the mainstay of attack of this problem is your only avenue of treatment.

Chance of getting your hearing back? 50-50

Any improvement of hearing will be in the first 2 weeks and after that your hearing will remain at that level.

Keep me informed as i am interested.

[Bambiagain]

Thanks, Sqad. I suppose I'll have to live with 50-50 and hope I'm on the right side. I shall definitely let you know as soon as I feel an improvement, or after a couple of weeks at the latest if there is none.

And yes, I had a very comprehensive hearing test.

PS Is there anything I should avoid while having the injections, ie alcohol? I've been off the drink since I've been ill anyway, but tomorrow is a party day here!

[Sqad]

No....nothing that you should avoid.........go easy on the "booze" tomorrow.

[Bambiagain]

Thanks again. Will do!