Lucky Me I'm A HOH

I have been having problems for a few weeks with my hearing. I have a constant low hum with the occasional high pitched whistle. Not only that I would have problems hearing the boys while out walking. Especially Brodie because he walks ahead of me and he doesn't turn around when he speaks.

When I mentioned it to my GP that I was having problems hearing Mark and the boys. I wasn't sure if they were speaking more softly to annoy me or that I just wasn't hearing them. He told me that might be the case but when I told him that I hear a constant hum (it reminds me of a computer hum, not loud but always there) and the high pitched whistle he said that I have tinnitus. He checked my ears and said my left eardrum didn't look quite right and there was some inflammation there. Plus I have that stupid psoriasis in my ears *sigh*. My GP suggested that I have a hearing test done.

I had that test this afternoon. It turns out that I have high frequency hearing loss in both ears but the left is the worst. Although I have the hearing loss my 'speech hearing' is very good. I have to admit though I did concentrate very hard to hear the words clearly. There were a couple of words that tricked me a little but I must have gotten them correct.

I don't need hearing aids (for now). I just need people to face me when they are speaking to me which should help me when I am having problems. Unless things change I don't need to go back for three years. They will send me a reminder when it's time.

So lucky me! I am a HOH. A person who is Hard of Hearing. They don't call it Hearing Impaired anymore apparently. I am just like my hubby. That's one more thing we have in common (o_O)

Hearing Trouble

I went to see my GP Friday afternoon. I needed to get some repeat prescriptions and let him know a couple of annoying things I have noticed over the last few months that I keep forgetting to mention when I see him or one of the other doctors in our clinic.

First of all I mentioned that I sometimes have a whistling in my ear. It's not there all the time but it's annoying. I also have what I refer to as a hum, kind of like the background noise from a computer. It's nearly always there, actually come to think if it, maybe it is always there. I also mentioned that I don't know if Mark and the boys have started mumbling or not but I am finding it difficult to always understand them. That I need to ask them to repeat what they have said or that they need to face me and talk a little louder because I can't hear them.

Marlon checked out my ear. I have lots of psoriasis in there, which I knew, but I also have a bit of inflammation and a not quite right looking ear drum. I have some ear drops now which I need to use three times a day which should help with the inflammation.
I did have a burst ear drum in that same ear when I was in my late teens. I was wondering if that had anything to do with it. It's not all that likely but you never know, right?

I need to go have a hearing test. Lucky me. Fortunately for me there is a place in town that does them so I wont need to travel far. Unfortunately I don't know whether this will be covered by medicare or whether I shall need to pay for the test. I guess I shall find out when I phone for an appointment.

Second thing was I mentioned the pain I was having in my left hip. Mostly when I walk and sometimes when I stand up after sitting down for extended periods of time. After a little poking and prodding, Marlon found the exact spot that hurts. I was told it was highly likely that it's a trochanteric bursitis. Now I need to go have an ultrasound guided steroid injection if it is needed. I am not looking forward to having an injection but if that is what's needed then so be it. Maybe the ultrasound will show that it isn't a bursitis and that will be all. I can still cope with the pain. At least for now anyway.
Fortunately there is now an x-ray place in town (it only opened 2 months ago) so I am able to go there to get it done.

I am thinking we are very blessed in our little town to have so many things close by that we no longer have to travel to the city or to the hospitals in other towns.