I just got home and I wanted to say hello to everyone and sort of DOWNLOAD! I rode with my uncle to VA it was an 11 hour trip. I was worried about the travel part, I should have been worried about the people part. This last Saturday there where 19 people in my parents double wide trailer. This noise alone was hard on my eardrums at times it was like hammers on my ear drums and I could hardly walk much less hear anyone. It was really hard make out any ones words unless they where right in front of me. I am only 42 and my Dad is 73 and my Mom is 72. My Dad was asking me a question and he was to my right about 5 feet away. Then my girls who went with me kept walking up behind me or walking away from me trying to ask me a questions (they know better). I had to repeatedly tell them I can't hear you!! At one point I was almost in tears. That was the first full day of my visit. The second day I kept getting dizzy when walking and I had an allergic reaction my mother forgot I was allergic to cinnamon and made a spice cake. I spent some time on her front porch while it baked and then had to wait for the house to air. The whole trip I had to repeatedly tell people I couldn't hear them and it hasn't gone away. I think I have lost more hearing . Now when I talk I feel like I am yelling but my kids keep getting what I say wrong. *arg* I am so frustrated. But it really hurt to see the look on my Dads face when he realized what Menieres did to me.
After I have been in a loud environment (house/restaurant, etc..) it can sometimes take my ear a few days to recover. "Funny" thing is that when I finally started wearing a hearing aid the loud noises don't "hurt" the same way as they used to. That seemed wierd to me since it would "seem" like hearing more would increase the pain of noise not lower it...but it is consistent. If you don't have a hearing aid yet, I would highly recommend getting one. Mine is what the audiologist called "entry level" so not as expensive as most - but it works and it is nice to be able to hear on that side. Restaurants are still sometimes difficult, but definitely better than without it. Loud noisy situations can also bring on my vertigo. I always carry ear plugs in my purse. Even with them in both ears it is surprising how much you can still hear in a noisy house or restaurant. I am sorry that your trip was not all pleasant. I am sure that it definitely impacted your Dad to "see" it - our parents always want the best for us. I know that mom, before she passed away, it bothered him that she couldn't do anything to help.
I completely relate to the hearing issues in a noisy environment. I have been dealing with it for more than 15 years and there are some places you just aren't going to be able to hearr. If I want to catch up with an old friend, I ask to meet in a quieter environment or ask them to step outside or were ever for a few minutes so we can really talk. For your dad, you have to do the best acting job of your life and tell him you are doing fine and you think things are getting better. It will help you too.
You made it through an ELEVEN HOUR car trip! You still have your parents and they're still married to each other! You are spending time with your family! I think there are a lot of positives in your post that MM has NOT taken away from you. Enjoy them because there are some losses that can never ever be replaced and you have not lost those. Don't worry about your dad. Life is messy and since he's gotten to the age of 73, I'm sure he knows it. Rest up. Stay away from cinnamon and enjoy your family as much as you possibly can.
Thanks everyone! I think I just needed the I am not alone vent and it worked! Its just hard to see as a parent your child going through things you can't help them with and I knew that look on my Dads face. That just made it hard.
Karen, you'll be fine. It's a good thing to be sensitive to others feelings. It means there's love there.