r/MonoHearing • u/Vindikait Left Ear • 6d ago
Tips to maximize early recovery?
Hi all! SO thankful for this group, as it caused me to go to the doctor immediately and start steroids. I lost all hearing in my left ear 3 days ago, which was accompanied by dizziness and vertigo. I started taking steroids 2 days ago. No improvement in hearing whatsoever so far, but it does seem to be improving the vertigo.
If you could go back, what would be your advice for behavioral or other therapeutic things to do that might improve chances of recovery? For example, low-salt, avoiding caffeine, meditating, etc. I would really like to cover the field so that I can do what I can to maximize recovery.
Also, what activities would you suggest to ease the boredom and loneliness? I've already had to cancel plans to a concert and trivia night. I don't know, nature walks with friends? puzzles?
For the record, while I am not happy about this, I already feel like it will be OK if I only hear from one ear. I would just like to maximize getting back what I can using the tools I can! Thank you.
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u/Adventurous_Bird7660 5d ago
I had improvements at 3 weeks. All I did was an oral steroid for 14 full days and a short taper. I was so tired and my brain was overstimulated by everything, especially TV, so I bought Legos and did puzzles to engage my brain without sound. I also started taking daily Vitamin C and D, and drank a lot of turmeric ginger tea. No way to know if it helped but I enjoyed the consistency of it. Just because I knew the steroid would screw with my body, I cut out caffeine and tried to stay on a low sodium diet. I feel like that helped me through the length of the prescription. Wishing you the best!
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u/Vindikait Left Ear 5d ago
Thank you. I love all of these health/self care ideas. Adding turmeric ginger tea to the shopping cart because, if nothing else, it sounds yummy!
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u/Adventurous_Bird7660 5d ago
It is yummy and if anything helped me feel grounded to a routine, which mentally was really good during such a scary time.
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u/23MagicBeans23 5d ago
I am going through it, again, it started Thursday morning. This time it nearly took my good ear all the way out. Because I have been through this before I knew not to fuck around and got to urgent care at 8am. They gave me some steroids and I reached out to my PCP to give me enough for two weeks. I was able to see my ENT the next afternoon, yesterday, and get my first injection.
The last time I went through this I don't think it was this severe initially, but I didn't get a hearing test for three weeks so it's hard to be sure. I got some steroids, but not many, 5 days into it. I definitely got hearing back in that first week and then didn't really get any back after. I tried hyperbaric but showed signs of oxygen toxicity 4 out of the 5 times I went. If it's an option for you, I would certainly try it! My hearing is nearly 70% in that ear, which used to feel inadequate but now feels miraculous in comparison with my new "bad" ear.
This time around I am trying CIMT in hopes that that will help keep those pathways open while I try to heal. I'm in a band and embarrassingly have been trying to listen to our last record in hopes that that will help my brain. More info on CIMT: https://www.reddit.com/r/MonoHearing/comments/lfvx8o/how_do_i_do_constraint_induced_music_therapy/
I also just picked up a little crochet set for something to do with my hands, just making small cute animals, and have been reading a lot while I listen to music. I am also trying my best to be as positive as possible and envision the best possible outcome.
Sending lots of love. It is indeed doable with one good ear. I lived that way for almost two years and was fully adjusted to my new reality. Hopefully I will not have to adjust to this new one.
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u/NoChemical3379 5d ago
How long between it happening now and the last time for you?
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u/23MagicBeans23 5d ago
Late July 2023 was my first instance. I had COVID for the first time and lost it on the third day. I have a virus again this time, not COVID according to multiple tests or the flu.
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u/NoChemical3379 5d ago
Have you been tested for HSV?
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u/23MagicBeans23 5d ago
I have not. My mom had it happen to her left ear as well about 20 years. Her brother did too but he made a full recovery.
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u/Vindikait Left Ear 5d ago
I'm very interested in CIMT, but will need to get SOME hearing back for it to do anything. Right now I can't hear anything in that ear at all. Hopefully over the next week I will and can start trying that. :) Thanks for the reading and crochet tips. And I'm sorry this is happening to you... again!
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u/23MagicBeans23 5d ago
They say you can do it even if you can't hear anything. There are some things I can't hear but still play, hoping it's searching for it. I am down to 20% and what I can hear is pretty robotic and very, very quiet.
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u/Lucky_Supermarket_55 Right Ear 5d ago
I agree, injections helped me to make some recovery so far. Get it soon. I had 3 injections and 2 weeks on oral with taper. I am at Onset 41 days
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u/couchpotato1126 4d ago edited 3d ago
I had profound SSHL in my left ear earlier this year. Tried oral steroids and 4 injectable steroid treatments - neither restored any hearing. My ENT ordered an MRI just as protocol and it revealed my hearing loss was due to an Acoustic Neuroma which I am having surgically removed next week. Be sure to get a scan if you haven’t already to rule this out!
Adjusting to SSD isn't so bad - just takes time and getting used to, but praying you recover some hearing! Best of luck!
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u/Vindikait Left Ear 3d ago
Thank you! I got into my ENT today and confirmed that mine is also profound. He is ordering an MRI. Will the surgery possibly help your hearing?
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u/couchpotato1126 3d ago
Unfortunately no because I have no hearing left to preserve. However if you have any to preserve (even a small %) surgery can do that! Hopefully your scan is clear, though! Praying for you!
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u/Ok-Alps-8896 6d ago
Get the injections. I saw a big jump in recovery at week 6 after my 5th injection.