Still having trouble in restaurants and around a lot of people

Hi Jimmie. I can relate to your noise issue and how unnerving it can be. I was becoming quite the recluse and further disrupting my husband's life, since he is a very social person. I will say that it has improved as the other MM issues have improved with antivirals and JOH (almost finished with my 7th week). I have been able to better tolerate social situations and even normal conversational tones. However, I am scheduled for a CT scan next month to see if the there is any temporal bone thinning around the semicircular canal, producing SCDS. Have you had tests to address this possibility?

 

Jimmy--I can totally relate to having hearing aids that don't seem to help in certain situations. I am now on my 2nd week of this new pr. of hearing aids. Today the roaring in my head is an 8 and a 10 scale! Glad I'm at home today. That is not from the aids--but Meniere's symptoms! But--the aids are helping much!

I too, understand how nerve wracking it is to try to 'listen and participate--when you always have done so'.
I do believe it will return for you. I have days like today--when I'm glad we aren't going out.

Other days that are as troubling--sometimes turn out better than I expected, and I think it's partly because my brain is getting a rest from 'fighting' these symptoms.

I agree about the program on the aids that is supposed to block out background noise, instead --makes not only those closer to you louder but those outside your table area. I told the audiologist about that. I just got another adjustment and still they are not acceptable. Maybe in time. I do hope so--

I suggest turning your aid down and reading lips and facing the ones you are talking to if possible. As to the anxiety--just accepting it is the biggest hurdle. Some days I do better than others. Don't beat yourself up because you are anxious--remember you have a true health issue--like many folks do. Ours just doesn't show! Friends will understand and we just need to relax more if we can--and keep on keeping on.

These symptoms do seem to run in spurts of not so good days and pretty good days. So--until we 'get better' and I do believe we will--we just have to 'hang in there'! Let us know how you are doing. Folks here 'do understand and care!'

 

I too am challenged with the whole "accepting" my life has changed but actually I've had a lot of my symptoms for years and now they make more sense. I was actually diagnosed as having adult attention deficit disorder because I had trouble focusing but now know that that as well as what I've thought of as social phobia and anxiety may be Meniere's. my job now as I see it is like someone here said, try to relax: which has been a frequent goal of mine for a long time. So far I've made a little progress by praying, meditating and trying to remember to breath. Breathing sounds so simple but sometimes I notice when I'm "uptight" that I'm holding my breath. A friend told me that's because I'm resisting what is. So that brings me back to accepting that I don't always feel well. I believe that I will adjust, I've already accepting that I am now someone who takes medication daily.
My best to all of you and thanks for posting so I know I'm not alone in this.

 

Definitely 'not alone' Marie. And Jimmy--glad you are able to talk about your true feelings. It will help someone here and in doing so hopefully help you too. Just knowing we have all either 'been there' are are 'still there'.
And we 'will survive' and 'this too shall pass'!

Heading for church this morning--feeling very lightheaded, shaky and a loud roaring going on in my head. But--I always feel better after I get there and get hugs and then listen to the sermon and songs. Though the songs no longer sound 'right'--I still enjoy the words. Have a good Sunday!

 

Restaurants and other places with loud background noise are the biggest challenge for all hearing problems. They were tough for me even before i had hydrops. And they still are places i a oid when possible. Not only is it miserable to be in the environment but constant loud noise exposure is bad for hearing in general.

All i can say is, try to avoid things that rev up tinnitus like salt and caffeine before and during exposure. Hearing aids ... forget it, never worked for me in that kind of place, allergy treatment and antivirals did imporove my hearing and therefore improve my tolerance to these places, but to be truthful they are still a challenge to me. I still cannot hear in such places with only one good ear.

You have my sympathy. I hate places like that. Why do they design bar and restaurants with tons of hard wood and small places that bounce sound every which way and then fill them with loud people and bands and electronics? Give me a walk in the woods any day.

 

I do wonder if musicians ear plugs could help in this situation. Maybe a musician could comment on that.

 

Are those plugs to completely block hearing--obviously not or they couldn't hear the music. But do they 'filter sound'?
I had a bad morning with loud roaring and making me feel nauseated trying to adjust the aids to hear better and doing alot of turning and etc. We left just before church let out--so as not to need to stop and turn alot to talk. After we got home--took a long nap--felt some better but still have pressure going on and some nausea. Hoping to enjoy music program tonight--we'll see. Neurologist appt. tomorrow. Hoping for some answers and some help.

 

If your involved ear is unilateral, ear plugs are good for temporary relief from loudness, and it also works well to protect "drowning" hair cells from endolymphatic hydrops. Whenever I had to visit places where the noise level was higher than normal conversation, I always wore a normal ear plug like Moldex when I my involved ear was too sensitive and always roaring, and it worked great. I also stayed away from any loud place whenever possible.

I have worn musicians ear plugs for 6 months after Meniere's symptoms are almost gone. It moderately reduces the noise by around 20dB, so I can hear conversation AND protect ears from loudness. It works in a transition period for almost-drowing hair cells to come back to normal. Although dead hair cells won't come back, other hair cells that are still alive will come to life again. Sensitivity issue will be recovered weeks after the recovery from endolymphatic hydrops. At that point we can gradually resume social activities with a little louder areas.

 

I'm so sorry. I'm an avid motorcyclist and my life revolves/revolved around motorcycles and planning motorcycle events. It truly is life changing--I just had to make the decision that I can't organize a major event that I started. I just don't have the energy...or the knowledge that I will even be able to attend.

I'm a therapist by job and I can assure you this gives me a whole new perspective on chronic illness and how deeply it impacts lives. One week I was riding my bike 600 miles a week...the next, I'm not. Even if I can do a little ride around town it isn't the same--I can't just take off and go wherever I want. I have a lot of skills in terms of techniques to help me--and it requiring a hell of a lot of work to manage my emotions around this. I'm actually not doing so great at it right now as it's dawning on me that this is chronic, and I may not be riding my bike anytime soon. One day I'm all "Imma going to fight this" (which I am) and the next day I break down in tears when I think about riding.

 

Losing the ability and joy of doing something you really love to do is the hardest part of this condition/disease. There is hope--as many here will tell you. For a time it seems there isn't. And for some it gets 'so much worse' before it gets better. But--even though I'm not really doing well right now--I am focusing on being among those that either are or will get better. For me it's music that the joy of has been taken away. For you the joy of riding your cycle and being out and about. For others it's something else. As a therapist--you have the 'techniques' to deal with it--but it's like saying 'doctor, heal thyself'!
Don't give up--check out others posts here that are encouraging and focus on them. Take one day at a time--that's my best advise! At least right now. Good luck! Hope you ride again--and soon!

 

Thank you Yanksgirl. I've been out walking/running a couple times last week and went to a salsa boot camp on Saturday. I'm trying to focus on getting some exercise and remaining active and that has been helpful.

I'm going to call and get an appointment with a new doctor associated with a good medical school.

Yes, very glad to have this form.

 

The difference with musican's earplugs is that the filtering is moderate in all frequencies with slightly better protection against high frequency. This is for those whose MD symtoms are mostly gone. If you feel loudness in the involved ear, I recommend a normal earplug. Cotton is fine, and normal ear plug can offer better protection. The affected ear can't hear well with or without hearing aids and any type of ear plugs. However, an ear plug on affected ear can shut the loudness out so that you can focus on listening with the functioning side of the ear. AND it protects your hair cells from dying with too loud noise.

So we'll listen with one functioning ear. You can adjust your position so that your friend comes closer to your functioning ear. When you stand on the opposite side, you can't hear well. Someday hydrops will be gone and your effort will eventually pay off.