Double or Nothing?

The answer to that is double. My hearing loss has doubled in the past two years since I last had it checked! At least it hasn’t gone to nothing :) I had an appt with the ear specialist today and was shocked to “hear” that it had gotten that much worse. Over time I have noticed my hearing in my right ear has gotten worse, harder to hear in large crowded places, or even just with 3 people around talking, hard to hear the kids if they are talking to me in the truck, hard to hear anything if there is music playing. I find I have started to read lips to help make sure I hear correctly. But doubled? I wasn’t sure what to say…

The ear doc is a really nice fella, he strongly encouraged surgery at this point. I was so taken aback by the initial “doubled” comments that surgery kinda struck me. Umm, ok. I knew some time I would have to have the laser surgery to correct it, but so soon? I teased him that “I sometimes use my being deaf as an excuse,” he laughed. I suppose it isn’t funny when you get to the point of surgery. So come April 17th, I’ll be headed to the hospital downtown for outpatient surgery. He did say I have some nerve damage because of the kind of hearing loss I have (Otosclerosis) so after the surgery my hearing in my right ear will not be perfect, but it’ll be pretty darn close. The alternate? “Letting it go” would only do more nerve damage to my ear which can’t be corrected. Pretty crazy stuff. I’m the one who has always been able to check the no box by “any surgeries.” Now I’ll have not only the ear surgery on my record, but also the probable vein surgery I’ll have for my right leg. I have an appt Monday with the vein doctor. What the beak is happening to the right side of my body? :)