Wellness

[AuntG]

All your comments are much appreciated. I'll try to answer those who asked a question @GingerHead , @T , @JeanLouiseFinch .

All vitals like BP were good. I think they have taken a water pill for many years, but I don't know brand name. As far as expressing to the office staff the urgency, yes I pressed for an appointment. My friend called the doctor whose name was provided in the ER paperwork. We were told to see him in a day or two. The office  person said February was the earliest. Then, because of the lack of hearing, I started to make calls. I was so happy when one doctor had an afternoon appointment tomorrow. Being that I was in the ER room, I felt they were very dismissive. A person with good hearing going deaf in an hour and bye-bye, deal with it tomorrow!! I felt fortunate my doctor at least gave me an opinion that steroids would have been his first choice. While waiting in the ER, I too, had read what a poster found on the internet so I specifically asked about steroids and was blown off.

[granddi]

@AuntG Mindy D @Mindy D has given you and your friend some important information

Sudden loss of heaing is an ENT emergency. 

Hopefully it can be explained. Emergency docs should be able to get you to ENT. 

[GingerHead]

@AuntG Oh thankgoodness you got an appointment tomorrow.....

  Sometimes you just gotta force the issue because I find most of the offices and doctors sadly, either don't care, are overwhelmed, jaded or just plain suck....unfortunately.

[AuntG]

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@granddi wrote:

@AuntG Mindy D @Mindy D has given you and your friend some important information

Sudden loss of heaing is an ENT emergency. 

Hopefully it can be explained. Emergency docs should be able to get you to ENT. 

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Oh how I wish @granddi. The ER doctor said the ENT usually keeps appointments available for emergencies. That turned out to be false. Normally, I think health care where I live is pretty good, but I'm scared by what I saw. I should add the ER wasn't crowded at 11pm. Fever and flu like symptoms were what the two people complained of who came in while we waited.

[granddi]

@AuntG 

For most people, hearing loss happens gradually over time. You probably don’t notice changes in your hearing from one day to the next.

But sometimes, hearing loss can come on suddenly and without warning.

This is called sudden sensorineural hearing loss, or sudden hearing loss. It’s when someone loses hearing — usually just in one ear — over the course of three days or less. It can happen to anyone but is most common in adults in their 40s and 50s.

While it can be easy to brush off a sudden change in your hearing (maybe my ear is just clogged or it’s my allergies acting up), it’s actually very important to see a doctor right away if this happens.

“There are not many emergencies of the ear, but this is one thing that we would consider an emergency,” says ear surgeon Erika Woodson, MD.

There can be other causes of sudden changes to your hearing, but if it is SSNHL, it needs treatment — and the sooner, the better.

[KathyM23]

Yes, this  happened to me several years ago at work.  Hearing loss and very bad vertigo.  I called my PC and she immediately saw me and sent me to ER from her office as my BP was high and I was admitted by ER.  Saw an ENT in the hospital next day.

DH had said my hearing completely went. That ENT prescribed eye drops, yes I said eye drops.  Never did get a diagnosis.  Vertigo left and my hearing returned partially. 

[KathyM23]

@GingerHead  andd @AuntG  I agree with calling ENT back with the explanation of an emergency.  I have "battled" many times to get better appointments.  Also call everyday to check for cancellations.  I had to do this recently with my Derm.  It usually does work.

[SaveTheTurtles]

Don't they usually do a more thorough exam like at least a ct scan to rule out a tumor for sudden loss of earring.

[wonderfulworld]

Sudden Hearing loss is considered an emergency situation. My audiologist said I should call a local Ear Institute ( not E N T) and I was 

seen the next day. I had steroid injections ( 2) and the second time worked. 
I got most of my hearing back. I also had an MRI to rule out tumors etc. 

I had no dizziness just complete loss in one ear. Started with a roaring sound and then no hearing in right ear. 
I was born with some hearing loss and think that this is a weak spot for me. 

Good luck to your neighbor. 

[wonderfulworld]

I wanted to add that the steroid injections were into my ear. Also oral steroids.