I've had an Idiopathic Sudden Hearing Loss and being treated for the past 10 days at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear/Mass General Hospitals...but woke up this morning Totally Deaf! Now only option awaiting Cochlear Implant. Anyone out there have this procedure?
Traditional bowhunting is about doing it the Hard Way...just got a little harder.
tippit
wow that's awful prayers sent my friend!
Things could be a lot worse. I feel great @ 70 and all my bows are Dead Quiet.
This is a bend in the road that I know you will get around. I will pray for you Jeff.
Sad news Jeff My neices son has had an Implant.If you would like to speak to her I can put you in touch.Kip
Sorry to hear your troubles Jeff.
I knew a guy who's wife was born deaf. I believe she was one of the first to receive this procedure.
From what she told me, it was a huge success. The biggest issues she had was learning to hear and know what she was hearing. Also, since hearing was new for her, she would not be able to tune out certain noises like other peoples conversations or white noise.
Since you have been able to hear in the past, I think you wouldn't necessarily have those issues since your brain has already learned to deal with it..
One thing you may have is super sensitive hearing but it may go back to what i was talking about before with the brain. we were at a restaurant with my friend and his wife. She was complaining about a noise. we all had to really listen hard for it and decided what she was hearing was a high pitched frequency from a television which was on but not playing. Although we could hear the frequency, it was something we tune out.
with that being said, I am not sure if she was just sensitive and heard that noise as "loud" or if her brain just hadn't learned to tune it out.
Best of luck Jeff, I had a good chuckle at your joke.
Blessings to you Jeff...When it comes on so sudden, one is left wondering...just don't wander too far!
They say each of us should spend time with Him in Quiet Time... that should have just gotten a wee bit easier....(in keeping with your humor of quiet bows, brother)
Truly, I will pray for your discernment and when to make such a powerful decision on surgery of that nature. Never knew of anyone, but know it can be successful... not knowing the cause of the loss, makes me wonder how they ascertain if it will be a success...
Keep the Son in your eyes as you decide!
Sorry to read Jeff. Hope the implant is successful.
Sorry Doc. Hopefully you will regain some hearing.
Thinking about you this morning. I hope you get some if not all of your hearing back.
Hopefully, this situation can be resolved. Good luck!
I dearly love the country and our farm in SC...BUT Boston is a great city to have any medical problems with all the amazing hospitals. Thanks for all your well wishes. I'll be fine...just a hiccup.
PS: Don't call me! Either email, PM, or text. Guess I need to get more computer savvy.
Praying
Sorry to hear this......at least now I can sneak up on you. From what I have seen and heard of you, you will make this work, praying for the best.
Doc--no experience to help you but prayers sent for strength on this bump in the road.
I can tell by your posts that you will handle this with grace and humor... Will pray for a good result.
One of my friends had the procedure done. He is about eighty now and has had the implant for quite a few years.
In his case, the results allow him to be able to have a reasonably good conversation, can hear the pastors sermon, etc. Pretty comparable to someone with hearing aides, near as I can tell.
I will be praying for you this morning. Still using/enjoying the binoculars that I bought from you, btw.
Take care, Gary
Thanks fmscam...but there's really no other reason to handle it differently. You take what is dealt and I have been so very fortunate. I have no complaints.
You are in my prayers! You are such a figure here and have made such an impression even though we've never met! My wife's grandmother had the same thing happen in one ear. She didn't require an implant but did learn to read lips to help with conversations on loud places and such. I don't know if that's in the cards to compliment the implants but you're already moving ahead with a great attitude!
Hoping for the best for you .
Prayers sent .
I now work with a gentleman who was born deaf. It is amazing how his other senses are more in tune than the normal person. Based on your "chin up" attitude Im sure you will be fine.
My advice for you and those close to you is to learn the alphabet in sign language. A lot of the time just having the first letter of a word makes it easier to read lips and understand what is being communicated.
Tippit- my great gandfather went nearly deaf. Had to have the real powerful hearing aids. Now my great grandmother, we all loved her, was a notorious nag. We use to laugh our butt's off after dinner because she would start in on him and never noticed him quietly reach under the table and switch his aid off! Sometimes a bit of quiet can be a blessing.
I have had severe hearing loss for a long time. It basically forced me into retiring before I really wanted to. When I first discovered it was interfering with my work, I was tested for a cochlear implant, but my hearing was not bad enough, so that never happened. The biggest thing that scared me was that with the implant I would be totally deaf when it was not attached. I did a lot of reading about them, and it seems they work wonders for those that are totally deaf. Do your research, and ask all the questions you can think of! Prayers up that you get this resolved in the best way possible.
Bisch
I'm not familiar with the procedure, but you have my respect for the way you're handling it for sure, and I love your sense of humor about the situation. I'll definitely keep you in my prayers and hope it all works out for you.
You have a great attitude Doc and you cant ask for anything better for coming out of a tough situation!
Praying for wisdom for you, your family and the DR.s :pray:
Sorry to hear this Doc, best wish's! I'm sure, for you, it will be "Just a bump in the road"! Stay strong!
LD
Sorry to hear this Doc, best wish's! I'm sure, for you, it will be "Just a bump in the road"! Stay strong!
LD
Also got a good laugh, thanks. And prayers for your operation.
Wished those hearing devices had a red and green led light that was highly visible. Then I could tell when the wife "tuned me out."
Some friends of ours daughter was born deaf and she had it when she was probably in first grade and now she's in her 20's. She can hear good though now with the implants
Doc, Praying for you here in Tennessee. May the good Lord watch over you and guide and direct your path as well as the doctors who will perform the procedure.
Michael
Jeff, my adopted daughter was born deaf. She had bilateral cochlear implants about two years ago at age 32 and is thrilled with the results. She could hear the birds singing in the yard for the first time ever in her life--and her daughter playing. Now we can talk by phone. :) May the Lord give you peace about your decision and a restoration to hearing again.
I'll be praying for you tippit.
Praying for you Doc, you have a great attitude about it. That will take you a long way.
God bless,
Steve Jr
We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers Jeff!
I have to say I admire your handling of the situation. Most people lack the understanding that you have of what's dealt them. I pray that the surgery and outcome are all that they can be.
I had a contractor do work for me who had one. This was when it was very new technology and he was running a successful business. He was born deaf and had a learning curve but did well.
I'm sure you would rather have your hearing back but I think you should have high and positive expectations.
The very best of luck to you.
Jeff if you need anything or help with anything at the house while they are fixing you up or if you need some rest up time let me know.
Thanks for sharing with the rest of the Gang... you are impacting a lot of folks here with your strength and setting an example for others of us to follow.... and we are grateful! May you be blessed with years of good health after a speedy recovery (or adaptation)!
Dan
Prayers sent >>------> Hope the procedure returns your hearing.
Kind of funny, today I was reducing the weight of an old Bamboo Backed Osage bow. When I finished it, I set up a new string including round rubber silencers :knothead:
Sense of humor is a wonderful thing. :) I know you'll get through this Jeff. As another guy who has suffered with gradual hearing loss in one ear down to -90% I can empathize. I hope this next procedure works great for you.
Fantastic attitude! Can't help with your question but wish you all the best.
Did they run Lyme titers/etc., Doc?
That's kind of rough Jeff. I know you have been dealing with hearing problems for a long time. Hope the Dr.'s can come up with a solution for you. You will miss the ring of the hammer hitting steel I imagine.
Jeff, my thoughts and prayers are with you. You'll weather this one regardless of the outcome. You're a tough fellow and have my utmost respect. I consider myself fortunate to have shared camp with you on this thing we refer to as our "trad journey".
Tippit, I share your plight of hearing loss. Born that way since day one. I had some hearing to get by on with help of aids . Ten yes ago my hearing went south and I became almost completely deaf in both ears. I was a candidate for cochlear implant surgery which I uderwent back in 05.
It helped restore my hearing but it wasn't the Bomb. I still struggle with speech recognition and talking over the phone is unworkable. I heartbw twang of my bow and the thud of an arrow hitting target 25 yds out . So all is not lost.
All I can say is that I have many many deaf people both late deafened and outright deaf Deaf from birth. This has helped me deal with all problems esp accepting myself. Don't be in denial and be up front and you ll do fine.
Cochlear implant would definitely help as you have stored speech recognition. Also you can learn ASL no not the American semi longbow but. Sign language. Yep , it used to be heavily stigmatized back 40 years ago. All that has changed.. It's widely mainstream and taught every where's . It's cool...
Jeff,prayers for a quick recovery....
Jr.
I'll be prating for you and your family. This will likely put some strain on several people. That said, implants are becoming more and more common with increasingly better technology and success rates.
Jeff, attitude is everything when you have troubles. You,my friend, have it nailed! :thumbsup: :pray:
BTW, I have one of your knives made from a buggy spring , excellent piece of work gifted to me by a dear friend.
Jeff so sorry for this new hurtle to deal with. Your smart and will sort out the best course of action to take but just the same I send you all the well wishes possible sir!
Can I say to you that it is not necessary to come up with a new surgery every year to avoid Denton Hill?!? Just trying to make you smile. I was looking forward to stalking you down this year :)
Please keep us posted Jeff!
starshooter,
Thanks for sharing. I'm still on steroids for another week then in two weeks I'll be going back to set up the cochlear procedure. I haven't had hearing in my right ear for 20 years so that is the one they will start with. My hearing had been going up and down all week in the left ear until this morning when I couldn't hear at all.
paradocs,
Lyme titers are neg...but I have had it in the past almost everyone in New England is exposed. Also seeing increase in Babesia and Anaplasma in people around here...but I have been in SC all fall through June.
Nate,
I try Not to hear the ring of the anvil with ear protection...guess that didn't work so well.
Jim,
I was so looking forward to making it back to Denton this year. There's a slim chance I might come anyway...just to wave to ya'll if nothing else. Problem is I won't hear the Tornado Warnings that usually blow through Denton.
Hey I'm still shooting my bows, casting my fly rods, and making bows & knives...not allowed to ride my horse till I'm off steroids but that will be in a week. I'll let you know if I change my mind.
Jeff, sorry to hear this. Last year in the wink of an eye I heard a loud ringing in my left ear and then the hearing went out. Completely. I waited 3 days over the Easter weekend to go to the ER. They sent me home with a referral to a hearing Dr.
The Dr. said I had SSNHL and gave me the steroids (prednisone) and said it 'should' get better after 10 days. After 10 days I was deaf as a stone in that ear. Could literally hear nothing.
I was devastated. One of my joys in life is listening to music and playing my guitars, and it just sounded all wrong. I felt like never playing again or listening to music. I read, read, read on the internet for hours researching SSNHL... Nothing but depressing, negative posts. And then I found this:
A website (temporarily unavailable) that posted international research on patients who suffered SSNHL and treated it by plugging (restraining) the good ear and listening to classical music (recommended by the study for the pure tones involved)with headphone or earpiece directly on the bad ear. Patients were instructed to do this 6-8 hours a day. Sort of like treating lazy eye by patching the 'good eye'
Here is the link if the website comes back up again:
http://www.nature.com/articles/srep03927
The first ENT had given up on me. Told me to go get a hearing aid. Have a nice life. Thank you very much. I saw a second specialist who was much more upbeat and encouraging.Said my SSNHL was probably caused by a virus (which he stated SSNHL is rising at an alarming rate with no apparent cause or reason) or possibly a mini-stroke in the blood vessel that feeds the inner ear. I mentioned the above procedure, he had never heard of it but offered this: "Can't hurt".
I started in immediately with the constraint induced therapy treatment. I was not able to do the 6-8 hours but would plug the right ear and put on the phone, cue up YouTube and go classical in my bad ear (heard nothing but buzzing vibrations)while I surfed the web and forums in another browser window for several hours each evening...
Within 3 days I could hear water splashing in the shower and a crackling sound when I rolled down the car window. Within a week I could hear Tchaikovsky (very poorly, but I could hear it)It sounded like a radio with a blown speaker. I kept this up along with a healthy dose of prayer, multi-vitamins rich in zinc, and Ginkgo Biloba to ease the tinnitus.
Now, a year later, I know there is still some hearing loss, but the difference is night-and-day amazing. I can hear. I can talk on the phone, listen to music, and even plug the good ear and hear normal conversation! I would guess the hearing loss now is maybe 20%?
I urge you to give it a try. Like my Dr. said, "Can't hurt". Indeed.
Prayers sent for a good man. God Bless you and yours my friend. :pray:
Kirk,
Thanks so much for your response. My history goes back 20 years ago I had sudden hearing loss and was deaf in one day. At the time they thought it was an autoimmune response. On steroids for a year! Hearing would come and go but never got it back in my right ear...50% in left ear. You are correct in that the experts don't know what triggers it...viral, old age usually slow loss but can come on suddenly. I'm still hoping for it to come back as it has been up & down this past week. I'm still going to have the cochlear implant in my non hearing right ear with the hopes of improvement. I posted this mainly to see what dealings people had with this condition...not to feel sorry for myself. The kindness and concern of Trad Gang has come through Loud & Clear. Thanks to all of you...tippit
Tippit, thank you for sharing your life with Tradgang. May God continue to Bless & use you for His Glory. My prayer is for full restoration and the joy & peace only God can bring! :clapper: Well done on all accounts, great attitude, carry on..... :goldtooth:
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Jeff
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Kind of funny, today I was reducing the weight of an old Bamboo Backed Osage bow. When I finished it, I set up a new string including round rubber silencers :knothead:
That's OK Jeff! The silencers are not for us anyway.
Bisch
OK, I have no clue how this posted eight times!!! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Bisch
:knothead: :knothead: :knothead:
Bisch
:mad: :mad: :mad:
Bisch
:( :( :(
Bisch
:knothead: :banghead: :mad:
Bisch
:deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse:
Bisch
:eek: :scared: :scared: :knothead: :knothead: :banghead: :banghead: :(
Bisch
Sorry to hear that,Jeff. I hope you can heal someway.
Tippit - prayers for a successful surgery, I've worked with a couple of folks that had it done and worked out well for them once they got used to it. They said sounds are different afterwards but with patience it works out in the end.
I have had the single side variety, almost 30 years now. At that time, the Doc says well, at least you got one side that works. Chances of losing the second side are about nil. I just was grateful one side worked.
I can say that if I lose the second one, yep, I'd do the same thing you are doing. Good Luck.
Kaz,
I don't know about the Bear Quest Legend stuff...that sounds like another word for just being Old.
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Kirk,
Thanks so much for your response. My history goes back 20 years ago I had sudden hearing loss and was deaf in one day. At the time they thought it was an autoimmune response. On steroids for a year! Hearing would come and go but never got it back in my right ear...50% in left ear. You are correct in that the experts don't know what triggers it...viral, old age usually slow loss but can come on suddenly. I'm still hoping for it to come back as it has been up & down this past week. I'm still going to have the cochlear implant in my non hearing right ear with the hopes of improvement. I posted this mainly to see what dealings people had with this condition...not to feel sorry for myself. The kindness and concern of Trad Gang has come through Loud & Clear. Thanks to all of you...tippit
Jeff;
FYI the link appears to be operational this am. http://www.nature.com/articles/srep03927
Good reading and very informative.
I concur with your decision to go forward with the implant in the bad ear. After 20 years you're not likely to regain hearing in that ear. But the 'new' deaf ear..you are still well within the window of recovery. I would urge you to start the sound therapy immediately and try the zinc and GB tabs for 30 days. I was completely deaf in that ear for almost a month and once I began therapy it took almost a month to get to a stable place. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Doctors really have very little idea what causes SSNHL. As my hearing Dr. told me; "The only way to know for sure is with an autopsy...and I think you're a little early for that." He did tell me that there is a silent epidemic going on (sorry, pun intended) with this in the US...he feels it is a viral thing. He said that since starting practice in the 1980's he would treat on average 5 cases of SSNHL per year, but that about 5 years ago it jumped to over 100 cases per year and has been maintaining or rising ever since. It's being discussed at all the ENT seminars, apparently. At this time there are no answers but is suspected to be a viral infection possibly originating from another country. (this is what he told me, 'off the record') He also pointed out that many people do not report or investigate SSNHL, they just accept the decision they "went deaf in one ear" and move on with life.
Don't do that. Fight back. You could be fighting the viral thing and the treatment is prednisone, followed by the therapy I recommended. Just do it.
Whatever you decide, please keep us informed.
Jeff,
I hope things are improving for you.
One last comment before I leave this alone, for everyone else out there:
Both hearing doctors (ENT specialists) I saw told me the same thing; if this happens to you or one of your loved ones, what will happen is you will probably go to the ER (I did) and the staff ER Dr. will find no cause (happened to me) and send you home with an Rx for Claritin and a referral to an ENT within the next week or two. WRONG! Both Dr.'s and everything you find on the 'net indicate it is CRITICAL that you begin steroid treatment, preferably within the first 48 hours for it to be effective. In many cases, immediate treatment patients showed a 100% recovery rate while the ones that waited two weeks or more suffered permanent hearing loss. Yeah, it's that critical. Don't even waste your time with the ER...they can't help you and you are losing valuable time. Contact an ENT immediately and tell them you (or a loved one) has suffered SSHL (they know what it means!) and that it is an emergency! Don't take "No" for an answer. I feel the 5 days I waited (and wasted taking Claritin) are probably responsible for the small percentage of permanent loss (15-20%) I've endured. What's even more astounding is that general ER hospital staff is totally clueless about this epidemic and how to treat it. Again, sorry to beat this to death, but if I can help one person...just ONE...avoid permanent hearing loss damage, I'll talk about it 'til my lips turn blue. Just file this info in your memory vault in case it ever happens to you or a loved one and remember; steroids within 48 hours may bring about a complete recovery.
You take it for granted until you lose it. Don't let it happen.
I am always late to the party. Jeff we've never met but have in joyed your knives and stories even if you hang around Joe L. Just kidding. I've worn AIDS for 30+yrs 90%+ lose in both ears. I've had a long learning curve with the aids and I know your are implants but you also will have adjustment period then moisture problems is the worst. Not sure about the implants but my new aids have Bluetooth built in and damn does it work on my iPhone. Surely technology is out there. Bisch and I can not talk on the phone because he is to OLD. I am working on getting a TV with Bluetooth soon but I live alone and that's not an issue but believe you will be watching it alone!! Prayers. Bob
Prayers for your healing
QuoteOriginally posted by oldgoat:
Bisch and I can not talk on the phone because he is to OLD. Bob
You and I can't talk on the phone because of that country-a**ed west Texas accent you have!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
That, and the fact that both of us are almost as deaf as a rock!
Bisch
Mate, your bows will be dead quiet and you'll be as silent as a leopard when stalking! All the best!
Good luck Jeff
You to Bisch
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Praying for a positive outcome, Jeff!
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Things could be a lot worse. I feel great @ 70 and all my bows are Dead Quiet.
I'm very sorry about your hearing loss, but this made me giggle! :)
I lost 90% of the hearing in my right ear due to the flu about 15 years ago. Gone in about 3 days never to return. The flu attacked the nerve in my ear.
The implant is not supposed to help the type of loss I have. I have a hearing aid, but about all it does is let me know if someone is talking on my right side. I can't hear enough to understand the words, but at least I can turn and address them so they don't think I am completely rude.
I have trouble knowing what direction a sound is coming from so it hurts me at times hunting, but I am so fortunate compared to others I know that I won't complain. My buddies have fun with me because I am always asking what direction a sound came from. On my last elk hunt, which I doubt I ever do alone again, they were a great help. I would have been headed in the wrong direction chasing bugles most of the time. It is inconvenient, but if that is worst I have to deal with I am a lucky man.
D.P.
Dave,
When I was hearing, I only had 50% from my left ear and deaf in the right ear...no directional ability at all. If I did hear leaves rustle I knew it was close & on my left. One time I was hunting bears with Tom Philips, he was in a stand above me. He had a stick to tap me on the head and point to where the bear was coming from. Kinda like a bird dog...I miss that :)
Jeff,
Very sorry to read of your troubles. Prayers for your hearing to come back as fast as it disapeared! All the best for the implant in your one ear. I've battled with hearing loss in one ear since 5 yrs old. It's getting worse as time goes by. Getting old sucks to say the least. Best wishes for good results in both ears.
Wow Jeff ... wishing you the best outcome
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Things could be a lot worse. I feel great @ 70 and all my bows are Dead Quiet.
You made me laugh out loud in public!
A goodly part of hunting to me, is playing "What's That Sound".
I can surely feel your loss. While I have no experience with your options, believe me when I tell you that I feel what the hearing loss would take from me. I have tinnitus, and that takes some of my sensitivity from me.
I wish you the best that the Lord will allow. Godspeed your (how else to say this, though it makes me giggle,) return to your senses.
Killdeer
Jeff,
Sorry to read this. Keep us posted on progress.
Mike
Sorry about that. the good thing is you can drop the word "huh" from your vocabulary. When I take my hearing aids out that is the first response my wife gets when she says anything.
Jeff: Wow, I just saw this thread. I'm so glad you are taking it in stride with some humor. They say laughing is good medicine. "email me don't call me"; "sorry to hear this"... you guys are bad! Well, worst case scenario will be on our next long drive together (Quebec/ Denton Hill, etc.) I won't have to tell you stories all the way there and back again.
By the way, a gal at the Hearing Aid Shop in Wolfboro, NH, by the name of Jessica Williams, is worth the trip. I have her adjust my hearing aids once a year whether they need it or not. Meanwhile, stay close to the A/C and if you hear anything you better duck. BW
That Tom Phillips stick deal has me thinking. Going to need a new system when I'm on the poling platform and you're on the bow of the boat with your back to me. Maybe I can get a long cane pole or something and poke you in different spots to let you know where the fish is.
QuoteOriginally posted by Duckbutt:
That Tom Phillips stick deal has me thinking. Going to need a new system when I'm on the poling platform and you're on the bow of the boat with your back to me. Maybe I can get a long cane pole or something and poke you in different spots to let you know where the fish is.
A cattle prod works well, or so I'm told.... :D
Sorry for your circumstance. I have to carry small stones in my pocket when I'm hunting with my buddy in CO. I hit him with one to get his attention. Its kinda funny and we laugh. Its cost us an animal or 2, but I love it!
That cattle prod might just shock my hearing back!
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
That cattle prod might just shock my hearing back!
Now, THAT...that would be a holistic health approach me thinks :knothead: :bigsmyl:
Jeff,
Dam I hope you get some of your hearing back.If we get to hunt out of same tree again I will have to have 2 STICKS one for each side to tap you when game is approaching !!!
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
That cattle prod might just shock my hearing back!
I'd rather stay deaf :scared:
You seem to be rocking right along. I have always enjoyed your post my friend :thumbsup:
I guess since you are "taking it in strid" I know you have an ecollar to train dogs, so Mrs. Tippit might just need to know this. I think they have a range of one mile.. Bob
I've already felt the effect of the training collar in my hand...don't think I want it around my neck. Anyway being deaf has it's rewards on Honey Dew Lists ;)