Coming (Back) To My Senses
I had an ear infection for five months; I lost over eighty percent of my hearing because of it. Stupidly I thought the hearing would be the sense I would miss least if it went; I was wrong and I didn't even totally lose it.
The whole experience was frustrating. It started with a cold and a very, very bad cough. It was because of the cough that i finally went to the doctor. First visit she decided that I had a chest infection and gave me some antibiotics for it. Seven days later I was back in her office telling her that my hearing had started to go. Her answer to that; "You're chest infection has cleared up, I think you just have a cold." In other words, 'go away'. So I went.
Two weeks later I was back. "My hearing's getting worse."
She checked me out. "I can't find anything wrong with you."
"What about my hearing?"
"I think that's just a symptom of your cold."
I went away again.
My hearing got worse, I started to get horrendous headaches, so I went back.
"I'll give you some more antibiotics."
Thanks.
Back again. "I really think there's something wrong; I can't hear, my headaches are intolerable, and I'm coughing up green shit."
"Oh, you have a sinus infection."
Goody, even more antibiotics; and codeine. The codeine was good for the first ten minutes, the antibiotics weren't. Another couple of weeks came and went; I got no better. Went back to the doctor. "I'm still sick."
Her mouth moved, I heard nothing.
"I can't hear you."
Her mouth moved again.
"I really can't hear you!"
"Oh," she yelled, "I think you have an ear infection," she looked into my ears for the three hundredth time, "Oh yes, there's quite a lot of fluid in there."
I hate to say it, but 'duh'. She gave me even more antibiotics. Ten days later I was back. Two hours after that I was off to the ENT. Maybe I should have got angry sooner.
"You have a bad ear infection," the specialist shouted. "You should have seen the doctor sooner." This was a month ago; I'd been seeing the doctor for four months, my relationship with her was better then my relationship with my family by that time. 'Specially as my family never give me pills. Two more weeks of anitbiotics, big, f***ing horse pill type antibiotics, and my ears finally popped. I wept; really, I did.
Upshot is that I'm finding myself a new doctor; I'm getting my tonsils and my adnoids removed, and I'm happy. Happy is good.
I'm not even going to tell you about how my doctor tried to perscribe me antidepressents; I'll just let that sentance say it all.
The whole experience was frustrating. It started with a cold and a very, very bad cough. It was because of the cough that i finally went to the doctor. First visit she decided that I had a chest infection and gave me some antibiotics for it. Seven days later I was back in her office telling her that my hearing had started to go. Her answer to that; "You're chest infection has cleared up, I think you just have a cold." In other words, 'go away'. So I went.
Two weeks later I was back. "My hearing's getting worse."
She checked me out. "I can't find anything wrong with you."
"What about my hearing?"
"I think that's just a symptom of your cold."
I went away again.
My hearing got worse, I started to get horrendous headaches, so I went back.
"I'll give you some more antibiotics."
Thanks.
Back again. "I really think there's something wrong; I can't hear, my headaches are intolerable, and I'm coughing up green shit."
"Oh, you have a sinus infection."
Goody, even more antibiotics; and codeine. The codeine was good for the first ten minutes, the antibiotics weren't. Another couple of weeks came and went; I got no better. Went back to the doctor. "I'm still sick."
Her mouth moved, I heard nothing.
"I can't hear you."
Her mouth moved again.
"I really can't hear you!"
"Oh," she yelled, "I think you have an ear infection," she looked into my ears for the three hundredth time, "Oh yes, there's quite a lot of fluid in there."
I hate to say it, but 'duh'. She gave me even more antibiotics. Ten days later I was back. Two hours after that I was off to the ENT. Maybe I should have got angry sooner.
"You have a bad ear infection," the specialist shouted. "You should have seen the doctor sooner." This was a month ago; I'd been seeing the doctor for four months, my relationship with her was better then my relationship with my family by that time. 'Specially as my family never give me pills. Two more weeks of anitbiotics, big, f***ing horse pill type antibiotics, and my ears finally popped. I wept; really, I did.
Upshot is that I'm finding myself a new doctor; I'm getting my tonsils and my adnoids removed, and I'm happy. Happy is good.
I'm not even going to tell you about how my doctor tried to perscribe me antidepressents; I'll just let that sentance say it all.
7 Comments:
Tell this story to a lawyer, you deserved much better treatment than you received. It should have been patently obvious to your doctor that you had an ear infection long before you had to go to a specialist.
You may not like the idea of going after your doctor, but other folks need to be protected from the lack of compentcy shown in this case, it angers me that your weren't taken seriously.
By garrysouders, Jan 24 09 5:11 AM
Hell, Frances, I'm weeping for you. And delighted that you are moving so fast to find yourself a new doctor. And agreeing with Garry: other people need to be protected from this sort of incompetence.
By lesley153, Jan 24 09 6:36 AM
I've lost most of my hearing permanently due to repeated ear infections - the fluid in the ear eventually dissolves the bone, and after repeated ruptures, the eardrum loses the capacity to heal.
So I've got a couple pieces of advice for you:
- Always finish your antibiotics, even if you are feeling better before they are done.
- If the doctor says "take these and come back to see me in two weeks", go back, even if you are now feeling fine.
You really don't want to be building a strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in there.
By agony, Jan 24 09 7:44 AM
Oh, sweetheart, I am so sorry you were not listened to by your doctor. I agree with Garry and Lesley, go after the doctor.
I am glad you are finding a new doctor. The old one should not be practicing medicine. She is dangerous.
Is there any chance your hearing could return or is the loss permanent?
Please keep us posted. You are very important to us.
I am also crying. My heart goes out to you. I am angry. This should never happen to anyone. Hugs.
By talentedone, Jan 24 09 7:49 AM
I am so glad that you are feeling some better. I have missed your posts.
By honeybee4, Jan 24 09 3:09 PM
Hi Frances, I was wondering what happened to you. I am sorry that it took so long for a doctor to figure out what was wrong with you and am glad that you are feeling a little better. Good luck with the operations. You are in my prayers.
By kitkat121080, Jan 24 09 3:16 PM
I'd have rather heard your doctor was leaving the profession than you leaving the doctor, over here there would be lawsuits all over the place and if you have the patience is worth it there as well. Glad it's OK now, I had one for a year so know the form, I had five courses of treatment before it worked.
By satguru, Jan 24 09 6:02 PM