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I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

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Re: I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

#31

Post by outworlder »

shanselman wrote: post #5

It always strikes me how often we hear that folks either won't go to the doctor to get something looked at, or they go to the doc and get the answer and then simply aren't compliant. If it's broken, fix it. I've never understood the logic behind avoiding the doc.

"Avoiding" the doctor is one thing. Some people are even afraid of doing any sort of tests for fear they might discover something.

However, there is a different phenomenon. Sometimes, going to the doctor is not so straightforward. You have to go to a clinic, wait an unspecified amount of time to see the doctor. Once there, he'll prescribe several inconvenient things. And you know, we got stuff to do.

I went to a doctor a few months ago. I then had to do two tests, an abdominal ultrasound (which was fine, and I did), and several stool tests. These, I took my time. When I finally got around to doing them, I found out there is a time limit and the lab won't do them. I now have to go back to the doctor so that he can order them again. It's been months now.

I'll go back there... someday.

Re: I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

#33

Post by outworlder »

masklinn wrote: post #22
byuu wrote: post #10

I lost hearing in my left ear for the same reason. Ear kept blocking up more and more frequently until it stayed permanently shut. Tried the store peroxide kits, they didn't work at all for me. It's such an unnerving experience because you really fear it's something permanent. Finally got it cleaned out by a doctor, and just wow. It really is as if you have bionic hearing. Everything sounded enhanced, and had a lot o…

> But it quickly fades back to what you're used to as your ear builds up a normal, healthy amount of wax again. No, it fades back because your brain re-adapts. It's somewhat similar to day/night vision, during blockage the ear/brain complex cranks up sensibility to try and hear things, once the ear's clean it dials back sensibility because there's no need for it. There's no such thing as "heatlhy amount of wax" becau…

Yeah, me too.

Once my ear got clogged,as happened with the original poster. However, the auditory impairment was nowhere that much. It seems that, as long as there is a path to the outside, you can hear almost as well.

Once it happened, I now have to go to the doctor 2 - 4 times per year to get it cleaned. If I don't let it build up that much, then the cleaning is easy. And, as the doctor is a specialist, he will not use the syringe, unless as a last resort.

Re: I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

#34

Post by ido »

jonmrodriguez wrote: post #19
elnate wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was once in a car driving through the Rajasthan desert and, with not a soul seen in the last hour, the driver still habitually tapped his horn every couple of minutes.

What... That sounds surreal. He was honking for no reason? Was he aware he was doing it?

In India it's somehow considered a safty measure to just honk all the time. You'd see big trucks with stickers "please honk" on their rear-bumper, sepposedly they won't know you're there otherwise.

Re: I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

#35

Post by coldpie »

bobowzki wrote: post #4

Haha I'm an MD and I like doing that because of the immediate results :-)

I have to get this operation done once every 2-5 months, and I've heard several times from nurses and doctors that it's their favorite operation, for exactly that reason :) As a common 'sufferer,' let me say I enjoy it, too.

Re: I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

#36

Post by thelogos »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #17
thelogos wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about other people but I can tell you my reason. 1.Money 2.Takes forever to get an appointment with any specialist 3.Busy schedule 4.Money 5.See 1and 4

I think this is a problem in places with free health care too (so money isn't even a reason for a lot of people). It doesn't cost a penny to see a doctor or get treatment here but I know plenty of people who avoid going to the doctor until a problem has gotten out of hand.

Procrastination plays a part too. It's a big effort to, 1.Find a good doctor (not all of them are equal) 2.Call to make an appointment 3.Take time off work/classes 4.Get there and wait, wait, wait

Really, all this could be solved if more medical school were allowed to be opened and get rid of the arbitrary ceiling on the number of students med school are allowed to accept .

This is only the easy part. If you don't have insurance, it's a nightmare.

In the case of my father, he went to a general doctor. Got referred to another specialist. Who then referred him to another specialist. $600 later (a huge amount of money to most normal people) and no diagnosis, he decided to just "deal with it".

Re: I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

#37

Post by Forplax »

bitJericho wrote: post #32

500 rs?? Good thing you don't live in the states, would have been a 5000 dollar operation!

Normally I'm happy to jump into a "bash US healthcare" conversation, but as someone who recently experienced exactly this issue off-insurance, I can tell you that office visit + procedure runs anywhere from $200-$400 out of pocket. Since it's a 5 minute in-office thing, most of that cost would be hidden behind a copay to those with decent insurance.

Nothing like 500Rs, to be sure. But not quite four figures yet.

Re: I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

#38

Post by bryanlarsen »

ilanco wrote: post #2

Car horns are meant to be used in emergencies only, mostly to prevent accidents. Unfortunately in some countries like Israel (where I live) it has become more of a device for expressing anger or frustration.

IMO, car horns should be as loud inside the car as they are outside. That would teach people quite quickly that they're for emergency use only...

Re: I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

#39

Post by jleyank »

Glad it was just wax and that your hearing's ok. As somebody who is quite deaf I heartily recommend that people pay attention to their hearing. Get a test to establish a baseline and then check every 5-10 years if no problems or ringing, shorter otherwise. And if you find yourself losing soft consonant sounds, or piss off people with your tv volume, get it checked ASAP.

Hearing loss sucks as even with modern aids, hearing in crowds tends to be difficult at best. Oh, watch your meds for things that can cause sudden loss (aspirin?).

I'll admit that's its nice to feel music, though, rather than just hear it...

Re: I was partially deaf for the last couple of years

#40

Post by [deleted] »

Forplax wrote: post #37
bitJericho wrote: post #32

500 rs?? Good thing you don't live in the states, would have been a 5000 dollar operation!

Normally I'm happy to jump into a "bash US healthcare" conversation, but as someone who recently experienced exactly this issue off-insurance, I can tell you that office visit + procedure runs anywhere from $200-$400 out of pocket. Since it's a 5 minute in-office thing, most of that cost would be hidden behind a copay to those with decent insurance. Nothing like 500Rs, to be sure. But not quite four figures yet.

[deleted]
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