Just got back from a doctor’s appointment and hearing test and it’s more good news!  My hearing levels are the same, but my word comprehension has improved from 80% to 100%!  This is a huge deal!  The doctors were all cheering and high-fiving/hugging me and everyone is really thrilled that this treatment has been a success.  I’m thankful to God for his wisdom and guidance in this situation and for his providence that brought me to these doctors at this time with the latest information and knowledge about treatment. 

Last night I was asking for prayers for wisdom regarding how to proceed in the future.  At my last doctor’s appointment, Dr. Levine told me that I really need to weigh the benefits and risks of trying to treat a future episode.  The results from today made the answer obvious.  The benefits far outweigh the risks at this point and it’s pretty easy to see that it would be foolish not to try to recover any hearing lost in the future.  I’m always so thankful when the answers we seek are so obvious!  Apparently, there was a recent study done and although he said it’s complicated, the bottom line is that there have been some positive results from going with an extremely high dose of steroids (higher than was previously the norm for this type of situation) and a much slower, longer taper down off of the drug.  This is what he decided to try on my this time, and it worked!  This is also the first time he’s prescribed an anti-viral drug along with it.  He seems to lean more toward the steroid change as the thing that worked, but I will insist on doing everything exactly the same next time since we don’t know for sure which part made the difference.  I also had four steroid injections in the eardrum vs. the standard three.  There clearly was additional benefit for me with the 4th one, so that will likely be part of the regime next time as well. 

As far as my function in day to day life, I’m in a good place right now.  Without hearing aids, there is a definite and very noticeable difference in how well I hear now vs. before the May episode.  I can hear some sound and occasionally figure out what is being said, but basically I can’t interact much with others without hearing aids any more.  I could before. I’m definitely dependent on them now.  With hearing aids, there is a noticeable improvement in my ability to follow conversations.  I don’t have to strain to hear what’s being said in quieter settings, the hearing aids go loud enough to allow me a more comfortable volume.  One of the hardest things for me was the loss of any human quality to voices.  Things were completely monotone and mechanical sounding.  Voices now sound human again.  This is a huge deal in the quality of life category.  Could I get by the other way and be grateful that to hear sound and follow conversation?  Absolutely.  Am I thrilled to have voices sound like people I know and love again and feel like I’m talking to people rather than “machines”…ABSOLUTELY.  This is a big deal to me.  I’m thankful. 

My next follow-up appointment is in three months.  The doctor wants to check my hearing again and touch base with me after I’ve finished tapering off of the steroids.  If I notice any problems with my hearing along the way, I am to call immediately and they will increase my dose again and slow down the taper.  Once I’m totally off the drugs, we’ll see how stable things are.  I also have an appointment in three weeks with the audiology department to discuss options for getting my hearing aids working better for me.  We’ll discuss new technology that’s out there as well as consider whether the hearing aids I have now are capable of doing more to help me and if we can tweak and improve the quality of sound they offer and improve my ability to function.  I’ve been dealing with a lot of feedback problems with them and swelling in my ears from the steroids could be contributing to that, so we have to wait a few weeks and give me a chance to have some of the major puffiness I have going on decrease! 

Today’s results could possibly mean that even with future episodes, my hearing might not ever be any worse than it  is now.  Before today, it seemed the odds were very high that I would be profoundly deaf within the next few years.  As always, the bottom line is that God is in control and none of us knows what the future holds.  I will continue to trust in Him and His wisdom and I will adjust and adapt to whatever my circumstances.  I don’t know why things have happened the way they have for me, and I don’t really care why.  I’m going to take whatever lessons and insight I can from this experience and apply them.  I’m still going to do what I can to prepare myself for whatever possibilities the future holds.  I have a computer program to help me do some training to improve my speech reading skills.  I found an instructor who teaches interactive American Sign Language classes on site and have arranged for her to teach a class at our church building.  I’m thrilled that that we have 24 people signed up to take it which is a full class!  My eyes have been opened to so much throughout this latest episode.  I’ve had a glimpse into the world of deafness that has forever changed me.  I never realized how great the impact is in every part of life for someone who is deaf or very hard of hearing.  Even with incredible support it is isolating and there are so many who do not have the kind of support I’ve been blessed with.  My heart will forever be sensitive to those who are there.  I’ve learned a lot about myself and have been humbled in some ways and allowed to see so very many blessings I hadn’t ever thought of before.   I’ve always wanted to write and this has got me thinking about and actually starting to write a bit.  It has given me new ideas about ways I can serve others and new directions to go in my life.  Whatever happens, it’s a blessing and I want to thank all of you for your love and prayers and support.  It has meant so much to me!