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This is a mixture of Love/Hate of doctors, some people, and
I joke that I'm allergic to Las Vegas. Since I moved here almost 13 years ago, I've been suffering from chronic ear, nose, and throat infections. Our best guess is it's all the sand kicked up by the wind that's plugging my sinuses and blocking everything else from there. As a result of it, and possibly related to my having Osteogenesis Imperfecta, I've spent the last 7 years suffering from an extremely frustratingly and gradually increasing to severe form of Conductive Hearing Loss and Tinnitus caused by Otosclerosis.
I struggled to have conversations with people. I'd have to constantly ask people to repeat themselves. The worst part was when I'd move in closer to hear someone better and they'd speak softer/quieter. Despite it being against the ADA, it cost me jobs and promotions.
I bounced from specialist to specialist trying to find someone that could give me answers and work towards fixing my hearing. One specialist thought tubes would fix my problems. Another was insistent that the only option was for hearing aids. He refused to order a CT Scan to see if I might have otosclerosis. I finally found one willing to work with me and get to the root of my problems. She ordered the CT Scan and made sure we dotted every "i" and crossed every "t" in the treatment and investigation. She told me that she was concerned about me having Osteogenesis Imperfecta if stapes surgery was what I chose to do. She admitted she had no experience with an OI patient before me, but was confident she could do it. She did, however, tell me that if I wanted the best, I should go to the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles. She then worked with me to set up an appointment and get all of her notes to them in preparation for it. I had my first appointment with Dr. House in early June. He looked over everything and we discussed my options further. He explained what he could do, what he thought we should do, and the risks and rewards of each option.
I had laser stapedotomy surgery on my right ear 3 days ago. I can't describe the dramatic increase in my ability to hear right now. It's like I can hear everything. The little sounds, like typing on the keyboard, or the ambient sounds of the room are incredibly loud. Today is my first day back at work and I'm struggling from the cacophony of sound in the call center. The breakroom was the worst. Between everyone talking and the sounds of the TV, the various vending machines, and the refrigerators, I had to cut my break short and goto the quiet room to balance out.
I go back to LA to see Dr. House, for a follow up, in about 3 weeks. If everything goes well, I'll schedule the surgery for my left ear and hopefully have everything taken care of for good.
I joke that I'm allergic to Las Vegas. Since I moved here almost 13 years ago, I've been suffering from chronic ear, nose, and throat infections. Our best guess is it's all the sand kicked up by the wind that's plugging my sinuses and blocking everything else from there. As a result of it, and possibly related to my having Osteogenesis Imperfecta, I've spent the last 7 years suffering from an extremely frustratingly and gradually increasing to severe form of Conductive Hearing Loss and Tinnitus caused by Otosclerosis.
I struggled to have conversations with people. I'd have to constantly ask people to repeat themselves. The worst part was when I'd move in closer to hear someone better and they'd speak softer/quieter. Despite it being against the ADA, it cost me jobs and promotions.
I bounced from specialist to specialist trying to find someone that could give me answers and work towards fixing my hearing. One specialist thought tubes would fix my problems. Another was insistent that the only option was for hearing aids. He refused to order a CT Scan to see if I might have otosclerosis. I finally found one willing to work with me and get to the root of my problems. She ordered the CT Scan and made sure we dotted every "i" and crossed every "t" in the treatment and investigation. She told me that she was concerned about me having Osteogenesis Imperfecta if stapes surgery was what I chose to do. She admitted she had no experience with an OI patient before me, but was confident she could do it. She did, however, tell me that if I wanted the best, I should go to the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles. She then worked with me to set up an appointment and get all of her notes to them in preparation for it. I had my first appointment with Dr. House in early June. He looked over everything and we discussed my options further. He explained what he could do, what he thought we should do, and the risks and rewards of each option.
I had laser stapedotomy surgery on my right ear 3 days ago. I can't describe the dramatic increase in my ability to hear right now. It's like I can hear everything. The little sounds, like typing on the keyboard, or the ambient sounds of the room are incredibly loud. Today is my first day back at work and I'm struggling from the cacophony of sound in the call center. The breakroom was the worst. Between everyone talking and the sounds of the TV, the various vending machines, and the refrigerators, I had to cut my break short and goto the quiet room to balance out.
I go back to LA to see Dr. House, for a follow up, in about 3 weeks. If everything goes well, I'll schedule the surgery for my left ear and hopefully have everything taken care of for good.
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