anyone else having major tinnitus,hearing loss and phantom hearing problems SX

[purplecat]

I found out yesterday(end week 20) I am in placebo group A prove 1 trial VX-950 so I have to do regular 48 week treatment did not receive VX950.  Vertex won't tell me my PCR until week 24 so I do not know if UND or not.  My ear specialist told me to have private blood test to find out PCR to decide now if I continue or chance permanent hearing damage if I decide to continue. Had blood test yesterday.  If I come back detectable then no brainer stop treatment. I'm end stage 1 grade 1 nodel so I do have time for possible more advanced treatment.  If I'm UND I have a 70% chance at this point to clear if I continue.  Do I chance hearing damage or stop?. Dr does not know if end TX tinnitus will stop. Shot 18 I started Phantom hearing with the tinnitus. I have had regular hearing test and no further damage.  1st test showed high pitched loss. They did not do hearing test before TX so no baseline to compare. I recommend new TX starters have hearing test also! I've never heard this SX to others.  Anyone else out there?  Must decide next week if UND what to do. Do I go on if UND and chance permanent hearing damage?  Any advice will be appreciated.

[jmjm530]

I've heard of tinnitus being associated with treatment, but never read about it resulting in permanent hearing damage.

If it were me, I'd probably consult with another ENT to confirm permanent hearing damage is a possiblity and why not discuss it with your treatment doctor as well since they may have some tx related data on this.

Assuming permanent hearing loss is a possiblity --

If you do conclude that permanent hearing damage is a possiblity, then stopping treatment sounds like the right decision unless you have very advanced liver damage and then you have to weigh the relative risks.

As to an early PCR,  -- it might make sense but frankly even if it shows you're non-detectibe, do you really want to continue and risk permanent hearing loss? That's the question. But again, first find out if your ENT isn't overreacting.

All the best,

-- Jim

[mremeet]

I've got tinnitus, also in the VX study (week 23). I think it usually clears in most who have it after treatment. Pretty sure permanent hearing loss/damage is rare, albeit possible. I've heard of quite a few others getting ringing in the ears during treatment too, so it's definitely not a rare occurrence.

And you can get your VL's before waiting until week 24. Myself, PDS, PLN and APK all got our VL's less than a week after our week 20 visit. Your doctor can call you and tell you verbally on the phone how you did. Personally I'd want to know ASAP, did you experience any INF or riba dose reductions? Especially in the first 12 weeks because no rescue drugs were allowed?

[purplecat]

I'm at a big reseach center with much experience.  Most improve into treatment and tinnitus stops after tx.  because I did not improve they sent me to ENT. They have been monitoring me right along.  Worry is the phantom hearing that started shot 18.  My brain is now getting involved and hallucining phone rings and beeping sounds.  This not normal.  It is my decision if UND and just wanted to see if anyone else has tinnitus, now off treatment and it is gone or any phantoms out there?  Thanks to here from others who have experienced Tinnitus. I will get private VL test back next week and maybe I will get the info sooner from Vertex instead of week 24, hope so.

[purplecat]

Sorry forgot dose answer. Reduced IFN week 9, 10 and 11 to 135MCG. on full dose 12-21 week and counts have been good and holding. All of you on Prove1 who got PCR earlier than week 24, where any of you Placebo group A? Or are all lucky and got the VX950?

[SJL]

After finishing 100 total weeks of therapy & three mths. of maintainence, I have just noticed a ringing in the ears and that sounds made are terribly loud to me. I am constantly turning things down. It makes no sense to me at all, since I have been off of everything since Aug. 06?
Sandy

[mremeet]

Myself and pds are in the 48 week VX group, pln and apk are in the 24 week VX group. Labrat, travel mom and ?? have yet to unblind. We are all in the same Prove 1 stufy you are in. And yes you can get your VL's earlier than 24 weeks. But you have to call your doctor and insist that he provide them for you. Believe me they are available no more than a week after your week 20 visit (i.e. just as long as it takes for your week 20 lab results to be processed).

[mremeet]

Actually, forgot to post this report about hearing loss and treatment as well. This one states that hearing acuity does attenuate in a significant percentage of those treating, but most patients recovered within 2 weeks of stopping the drugs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8561688&dopt=Abstract

With the increasing long-term use of interferon (IFN), several new adverse effects have been recognized. Very little attention, however, has been paid to auditory acuity. We encountered 3 cases of sudden hearing loss associated with IFN. We then conducted a prospective study to assess the auditory function of 73 patients receiving IFN. Auditory disability (tinnitus and/or hearing loss) occurred in 32 patients (43.8%) during IFN therapy, among which audiometry documented sensorineural hearing loss in 27 cases (36.9%); 17 (48.6%) of the 35 patients receiving IFN-beta had auditory disability, including hearing loss in 13 cases (37.1%), and 15 (39.5%) of 38 patients receiving IFN-alpha suffered from auditory disability. There was not much difference between the influences of IFN-alpha and -beta. Auditory disability frequently developed in the later stages of treatment, and most patients recovered 7-14 days after the discontinuation of IFN. The results demonstrate that sudden hearing loss can occur as a side effect of treatment with IFN. This may reveal the association between autoimmunity and sudden hearing loss.

And here's an old thread from medhelp, apparently with a doctor weighing in:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/36008.html

There's a zillion other links online, just google it with interferon and hearing loss.

[prettydamscared]

Hi, I'm not sure what tinnitus is but I am in the study.  Like mremeet said, I got vl results within 1 week after reaching the 20 week point.  Not sure why they'd be telling you that you have to wait for 24 weeks...we're supposed to get them at week 20 no matter what group we're in.  I guess it doesn't matter though since you got a test privately.  I'm in Group B.

A friend of mine does have some permanent hearing loss due to treatment.  I ran into her at a party over the holidays and she told me about it.  First off, let me say that she treated twice, the last time for 15 months.  She was also in a study, coincidentally the same study center and doctor as myself, (major teaching hospital) but this was a few years back.  She incurred major hearing loss during her second treatment.  Some of her hearing has returned but definitely not all.  I wish I had an exact percentage to tell you but I don't.  I noticed while I was talking to her several times she had to bend down and put her ear close to my face even though the noise level in the room wasn't particularly loud.  Unfortunately for her, she never did clear.  

I wish I could tell you more but that's all I know.  If you are interested, I'd definitely contact her and ask specifics.

Maybe push for those viral load results from your study.  If you weren't clear by week 4 and you only have stage 1 - 2 damage, perhaps think about quitting and waiting.  I don't think it's very common to incur permanent hearing loss but I'm not sure.  My husband recently finished treatment and I swear his hearing seemms impaired now and it didn't before.  That's just anecdotal though.  What happened to my friend is a fact.  I wish you the best with your decision.

Hope that helps a little, Charlotte

[Chev55]

Hi purplecat.  

I've had a permanent hearing deficit since my late 20s to the extent that I wear a hearing device.  This is not due to either HCV or Tx.   Fortunately hearing devices have improved over the years and if one is willing to invest like I have it is pricey but worth it.  As you've mentioned you were tested at different frequencies & the devices presently do not just increase sound (like days gone by); but they're custom made and fine tuned, individually, depending upon what pitches you have problems with.  
I was concerned starting tx but even if it would  have deteriorated more (still a big fear of mine - tx or not) I knew it was more important (to me) to tx the HCV.  I treated and I am now over 2 years SVR,

During treatment some odd occurred.  I had a closing out of sound (all sounds) for 1.5 to 2 seconds.  Extremely frightening.  I mentioned it here @ medhelp. Tnhepguy was going through tx with me and described (I can't remember his exact terminology) a closing out of sound for a split second or so.  Maybe if he see this and remembers his experience, he will explain his specific situation more clearly.  If I remember correctly, it only occurred with him a couple of times, and only with me a few.  
I have had my hearing checked twice post tx and I am maintaining the same level as prior to tx.

A hearing device (or hearing aid) well... It is the same concept as one with eyesight deficit - one receives either contacts or glasses and becomes accustomed to the inconvenience of the correction device.  It is as complicated and simple as that.

I never had tinnitis or ringing in my ears.  That's fortunate for me.  I think that would be extremely difficult to deal with.  It would be unnerving for me anyway.  My hearing deficit can be an advantage to me at times.  For instance at the grocery store, etc, I turn it off & cut the sounds, and it is more relaxing.  Or in a conversation with a long winded person... depending on the substance of the conversation, I reach up turn it off (it looks as though I am scratching my ear) and then I just nod occasionally and smile politely.  Well.... it works for me.

Look, if you want to complete treatment, and you do sustain some loss.  Take it from a person that has lived with permanent hearing loss, it is doable.  I totally forget.  And there's a way to make it better.  I have a business and it is critical that I hear.  Unless it is a close personal friend that I've said something to, most people are not even aware of my loss.  Now if I run out of batteries... welll I'm in trouble.  However, I've made sure that doesn't happen.  I wish you the best.  If you do sustain loss, it is not the end of the world.

Dollface and others lost their thyroid and take meds daily.  Some people have lost teeth and have had them replaced.  There is decisions to make. We know the risks.  And it is important to know the risks.

[purplecat]

Thanks to everyone for all the data.  I will keep researching until I find out my PCR next week. Info from old link GI.PA   about Vascular or Neuro that they can monitor at the audio clinic is very interesting. My Audio and ENT has not mentioned this at all. I'm having interferon vascular ooze in my legs and have to wear compression socks prescribed by Derm Doctor. Derm said build up of INF is seeping out the small veins in my legs.  What about my ears?? TZ's post from 3/11/04 about sudden total loss in the one ear is scary. I will try to find his post after the week of predisone and find out what happened.

sjl: sounds brother me also.  I have to wear ear plugs when going out or watching TV. If you are having this problem protect your ears as much as possible. You can use ear plugs to just filter out the hurtful noises.  TV really pisses me off when commericals all of a sudden blast the sound.  I have Panasonic Plasma with sound sensitivity, NOT working for this TX tinnitus SX patient.

Thanks again

[theflyjd]

I have tinnitus that began in 1988 when I had my first stroke. I have had it since then. I didn't know that it was a possible side effect of the treatment. My tinnitus began at the time I was losing the hearing in my right ear because of the stroke. It has never gone away and increases/decreases with the rising and lowering of my blood pressure. My hearing never returned. I also hear things (ie. bells-chimes-beeps-and other strange tones). I have had this problem for almost 20 years and don't wish it on anyone. Have you had an MRI of the brain? Not to worry you but it might not be a bad idea just to be sure. Like I said, I was unaware tinnitus could be caused by tx and by all of the posts it sounds like there are a lot of people out there who are aware. But the first thing my ears-nose-and throat Dr. recommended was an MRI of the brain and I laughed at him much to my chagrin. I might have saved my hearing had I listened. I wish you the best of luck and I hope it is temporary.

[ZeroFrancis]

I have had bad tinnitus for a couple of years but I am not on treatment and have never done treatment. I also have various other symptoms eg serious fatigue, myalgia, neurological stuff, sleep disturbance etc. I have been surfing this forum for some while looking for people with similar. They ain't hard to find but here's the rub. Invariably these signs and symptoms are discussed here as side-effects of treatment. But like I said already I'm not on treatment. For several years I got no help explaining these symptoms from my hepatologists (I changed docs a few times seeking answers). Because relatively mild fatigue etc are common symptoms experienced by hep-c patients the hepatologists tend to just shrug them off although they know these symptoms are not related to liver pathology. I suspect a significant minority who manifest more serious fatigue type illness remain undiagnosed because of this kind of negligence.

Recently I got a referral to a consultant hepatologist who was formerly involved in researching effects of HCV infection on the brain at a major London hospital. Coincidentally(?)she also manages the local chronic fatigue service and is currently involved in ME/CFS research into gene-expression in ME/CFS seeking diagnostic markers for this poorly understood condition. I have now at last been diagnosed with CFS in addition to my   HCV. I don't dare to treat HCV as this is likely to exacerbate   CFS. Tinnitus is a recognised symptom of ME/CFS. If you need more information I suggest you start with the Canadian diagnostic guidelines which are thought to be superior to the CDC definition. But be warned CFS is a notoriously controversial and contentious  subject and you wont find many easy answers.

[ZeroFrancis]

Sorry Guys, I didn't round my argument off very well. What I'm saying is maybe the majority of HCV patients acquire CFS to a greater or lesser extent and only a small minority of these who develop a more serious form of this are ever diagnosed. These would also be the few who are stubborn and persistent enough to refuse to  accept the shrugging shoulders of the hepatologists. They don't know what causes CFS but viral infection is high on the list of suspects. Vaccines are also suspect. It seems to me that it is entirely possible that Hep-C treatment might be a catalyst provoking a more severe manifestation of CFS in patients in whom it is already latent. Many of the commonly reported side-effects of treatment are spookily similar to the known symptoms of ME/CFS.

I'm not a medical expert. I'm just Joe Bloggs with Hep-C and a bad case of ME/CFS. If there are any medical experts reading this please feel free to comment and correct me if I'm wrong!

[Pdilly]

I have been expierencing the beeping and ringing for about 4 months.  THe beeping the first time I heard it I thought someone was getting out of a car behind me.  Really strange.  Usually triggered when I move my eyes right or left but n ot all the time.  I have notice the ringing is more prevelent than it use to be.

[BThompson4]

Not trying to be negative, but I don't think your odds are anywhere near 70% of getting svr if you clear at week 20 and are geno 1 and do only 48 weeks of SOC.  Do you have access to multiple and early pcr's; clearing at week four might get you as high as 70% for svr.  Clearing between week 12 and week 24 only gets svr on a 48 week treatment about 20% of the time or less, and obviously clearing early in the 12 to 24 week period is better than clearing later.  Of course if you are geno 2, your odds of svr would be much higher.

[GrandmaA]

I have been having tinnitis for quite a long time now. Mainly in the right ear. I did not associate tx with my hearing loss since it runs in my family so I went to the Audiologist and got two hearing aids. This is the first time I have heard that My hearing loss could be related to treatment.

[purplecat]

I've never had hearing problems.  3rd shot about 2 hours later my ears started screaming.  scale 1 to 10 where 1 is sound inside your head and 10 being outside regular sounds, it got so bad as 8-2. It was horrible.  Settled down and got better as days went on. 4th shot was 5-5 sound inside my head equal to outside.  has been that way ever since.  Settles down to about 2-8 by shot day and then we go again.  Phantom sounds started week 18.  Tinnitus is like a high electrical noise for those who haven't experienced it.  Like the sound you might hear under high tension wires but higher pitched. Makes your hearing very sensitive.After shot I can't go out for a couple of days because of sound sensitivity and also feeling weak of course.  I wear ear plugs when out most of the time.  It definatley caused by TX for me.  I was always on the go before TX so no CFS symptoms. For those out there not recovering after TX and the idea of latent CFS brought out from TX?  Wow, interesting?

[lab-rat]

Hi purplecat...welcome to the club!  Sorry I don't know anything about tinnitus, but I found out last Friday that I'm also in the placebo group.  While I wasn't the least bit surprised (I'd suspected it all along) - I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.  So we didn't get the fancy new drug and now we have 28 (or so) more weeks of tx.  I've been fortunate that I haven't gotten the nasty side effects and I haven't had any dose reductions (so I drew the long straw there!). My study nurse said she would fax my vl results when she gets them; probably about 9 days.  They should give yours as well - I'd pester them until they do.  Especially since your hearing is at stake!  Good luck!!!

[APKhaos]

I'm a Prove 1 lab rat, in Group C [24 weeks] and finished with dosing five weeks ago. From a high starting VL of 28,400,000, my VL went UND around day 15 and has stayed UND since then.

The tinnitus/phantom hearing thing was one of my nuisance SX. The thing that drove me crazy was the almost constant sense of hearing a phone ringing in the background. Don't know how many times I got out of the shower to check the phone [which is what you do when you have a 20YO & 18YO driving in DC, I guess].

Its basically gone now, just five weeks after dosing ended. No sign of permanent damage in my case, but seeing an ENT is the smart thing to do just in case!

[mremeet]

Labrat sorry to hear you weren't in the VX group. But you never know, you may have been one of the one's who got a major rash if you had been on the VX (and perhaps even had to drop out because of it). Lots of us either got the rash or constant diarreah - and some both. Just think of how much *fun* you may have been spared. So try to think of it that way, because you never know it might have knocked you off treatment altogether. In the meantime lets keep our fingers crossed your VL's look good across the board, including a fairly early UND status. I don't recall your starting VL, but if it's moderate to low, your odds are good. Plus you didn't experience any dose reductions, so you're doing as well as one could hope to be doing. And I'm sorry my theory about bitter and neutral tasting pills turned out to be correct in your case. Looks like APK is the only standout in the bitter/neutral=VX/placebo experience.

And speaking of which, APK how have your VL's been coming back? Haven't seen you report all your results yet. Plus you state above "I'm a Prove 1 lab rat, in Group C [24 weeks] and finished with dosing five weeks ago...Its basically gone now, just five weeks after dosing ended." I thought you stopped on January 7? That would place you at three weeks post treatment, not five. Remember?

[jmjm530]

On 1/22 you posted you did your 28-week (4 weeks post treatment) blood draw. Do you know when you will be getting the results? Hope all is well, and all the best luck still being non-detectible.

-- Jim

[mremeet]

You're right jim, Apk did state he was in week 28 (i.e. 4 weeks post treatment) in this post to you on 1/22 (C4):

http://medhelp.org/forums/hepatitis/messages/44711.html

Which of course concurs with the dates provided within this thread.

But then in the two links below he very clearly states his treatment ended on 1/7. And it's been well established all along (by apk) that his treatment has been exactly one week ahead of pln's, who stopped exactly 2 weeks ago (thereby making him on his 3rd week post treatment, not 5th week):

C17 at http://medhelp.org/forums/hepatitis/messages/44631.html

First post at http://medhelp.org/forums/hepatitis/messages/44524.html

I guess apk is still feeling the effects of treatment. That's certainly understandable, as we all know these drugs can really play with your mind.

[lab-rat]

You're right!  I'm so glad I didn't get a rash, or anemia or any of those GI problems (or tinnitus!).  The study nurse told me that my numbers look the best out of their group anyway...however she's referring to the numbers minus the VL (which we stll don't have).  That just means my LFT's look good (ALT 13/AST 24), and all the other numbers like hgb, wbc, anc, platelets etc. pretty much match my pre-screening numbers which were all fine.  The doc said he'd be very surprised if I were not responding, and frankly the treatment and clinical trial experience have been very positive for me, so I'm not complaining.  There was just that slight glimmer of hope before the actual unblinding that I may have a shortened treatment time.  Its no big deal for me to keep going on with treatment, I just hope it works!  

My starting vl jumped around a bit - I don't have the exact nbumbers in front of me, but in June 2006 it was 8 million, then for my first screen (7/28/06) it was around 3 million, then my second screen a week later, it was 6 million.  I was sort of surprised at how much it varied pre-treatment.  Anyhow, I'll post the results when I get them just for comparison sake.  I hope you're doing well and surviving your vx-less treatment!  

[jmjm530]

Assuming the previously posted dates are correct, then the 1/22 date would be a 2-week post treatment draw, not a 4 week. The 4-week blood draw would then probably be on February 5th.

I'm then assuming that the VX trials draw blood both at the 2 and 4 week post treatment junctures and no doubt at close intervals after?

This all does get confusing, especially when even doctors start counting at different junctures, but I'm counting from the last shot (1/7), not the last riba dose on the 15th.

In any event, while the 4-week post treatment draw would probably offer more information, the post 2-week draw is also important since so many relapses happen very shortly after the treatment drugs are stopped. Maybe that's why we haven't seen any press releases yet because I'm pretty sure they aren't going to draw conclusions based on just a 2-week draw. I do wonder however when they will post the 4-week post treatment data for the 12-week dosing arm. Maybe someone in the Vertex trial can find out from their coordinator, or maybe indeed the coordinator knows people in that ARM and how they fared.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Yes, I now see that follow-up tests are every 2 weeks per the first post in this thread: http://medhelp.org/forums/hepatitis/messages/44524.html

So, what I'm assuming then is that the 1/22 draw is your first draw since finishing treatment with the exception of perhaps an EOT draw sometime close to 1/07?

-- Jim

[APKhaos]

Jim said, "So, what I'm assuming then is that the 1/22 draw is your first draw since finishing treatment with the exception of perhaps an EOT draw sometime close to 1/07?"

Thats right, Jim. The first post tx draw was 8 Jan, and the next one is next Monday [and every two weeks for the rest of the year]. So far, so good.

[jmjm530]

Just to be clear, so your blood was drawn for viral load on Jan 8 (EOT),
Jan 22 (2 week post treatment) and next draw will be Feb  5th (4 week post treatment). Then viral loads will be drawn every two weeks thereafter for one year?

Very impressive that they will draw every two weeks post treatment for up to a year. And I thought I was neurotic post treatment drawing blood for viral loads at weeks 3, 6, 24, 36 and 48 (upcoming).

Do you know when you will be given the results on your Jan 8 and Jan 22 draw?

All the best luck with the tests.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Now that I think about, with all the time and money invested, I can see why all the blood draws. Makes sense they want to know as close to real time as possible both the sustained response rate as well as the relapse rate, plus who knows how many other things they are examining in the blood.

-- Jim

[APKhaos]

Yes, we are getting full lab panels and PCR every two weeks, along with periodic full physical exam, EKG, urinalysis, et al. I agree that its probably a nominal incremental cost to get the most timely data they can.

As to the PCR results, we are literally seeing the results as soon as they are available from Covance. No more delays since the blinding was lifted.

And BTW, Vertex confirmed that the PCR assay stops the down steps at 30IU/ml if no viral RNA is detected in the qualitative test at that sensitivity. Your read on this was correct.

[jmjm530]

Thanks. Do let us know when you get the results of your Jan 8, 22 and upcoming February 5th draw. Also, if you have a chance, maybe you could ask your study doctor if he's learned of any results coming in from the 12-week arm. I assume someone is in that arm but apparently no one here.

Be well,

-- Jim

[pln]

Jim, I was reading the vertex site, and all groups (a,b,c,d) were started by mid sept. so group d (12 weeks) are aleast a month post. I asked my study nurse yesterday if she could find out any thing, she said she would try. I went monday for my 2 weeks post, will have Results friday, this is my second pcr since stoping tx. This is very very hard waiting . I hope we get some info soon. Pam

[APKhaos]

Jan 8 & Jan 22 PCRs were both UND.

[jmjm530]

Of course, way to early to pop the cork, but being non-detectible at week 2 is certainly very positive considering the habit of the virus to frequently relapse within the first couple of weeks after stopping the drugs. The results of your Feb 5th draw will be even more telling, but if you're like me, you'll still be holding your breath until the 12-week post treatment draw and not pop any corks until 24 weeks post. Still, the 4-week post tx draw correlates around 90% with SVR, and the 12-week draw around 98%, at least with SOC, and see no reason why it wouldn't with VX-950.

Thanks for the info and if you get a chance try and ask your study nurse how the other 24-weekers are doing as well as any 12 weekers, if your center has them enrolled. The 12 week arm should have their 4 week results in by now, possibly even later test results.

All the best,

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

All the best with your upcoming test. While only a "study" of 1, hopefully APK's negative test will allay some of the waiting anxiety.

Be well,

-- Jim

[pln]

Apk said "And BTW, Vertex confirmed that the PCR assay stops the down steps at 30IU/ml if no viral RNA is detected in the qualitative test at that sensitivity. Your read on this was correct.      So does that mean it only goes to 30iu, and if something is detected they test to 10? maybe I will catch on one day. Pam

[pln]

Hello, I also wanted to ask you on your two week post, did yoy take on monday also? and did you know the results by friday. Thanks Pam

[purplecat]

I'd be nowhere if it weren't for this forum.  Right again guys-Vertex came back with VL today.
I'm 1B VL 6,250,000 predose Ishak stage 2 grade 1
Day 29 72,800
Day 57  658
Day 71  78
Day 85 UND-WEEK 12
I had lower dose of 135mcg 7,8 AND 9-I had weeks wrong earlier post

DR said 70% chance to SVR if I go on.  I see ENT about my ears on Monday.  Going to find out about Vascular or Neuro question. I will also check out the new post info and SVR chances. What more data on that percentage if I'm going to risk my hearing. Shall I chance the hearing thing? Is my leg vascular IFN thing related to my ear problem?  I got the Docs really doing their homework because of all your help.  Thanks so much.  Takes the weight off this decision to be armed with information!  

[caseymack]

Did you hearing loss and tinnitus ever get better. I have the same symtoms as you. Ended tx about 4
months ago but hearing loss and tinnitus are still with me. I'm afraid they are permanent in my case.

Thanks,
Caseymack

[purplecat]

I ended treatment 09August.  Post tx 9 days now.  Tinnitus not as bad but still there. Last hearing test showed improvement.  Go back again 24August.  Audiologist continues to monitor me on monthly basis.  I was told they will follow me for the next 6 months post TX. I'm still wearing my ear plugs when I go out to protect my ears from the hurtful sounds. I hope it improves once interferon is out of my system but it is still a wait see situation.  If not improved in 6 months then I will follow up with ENT for further therapy.  I find water sounds help me.  I live in Pacifica which is a coastal community and walking on the beach and the sounds of the waves relieves the intensity and makes me unaware of the ringing. It's a place I can go for relief and relaxing mediation. My friend has a fountain in her yard and I get a similar effect when relaxing in her garden.  I'll keep in tough on progress.



        

[orphanedhawk]

  Hey there .I don't know if this is the right place but. . . Congratulations on completing tx !!!  
      I'm post tx 5 1/2  weeks now and my last CBC showed my blood levels improving which corresponds with my energy and attitude. Enjoy your walks on the beach.
     I'll think of you while driving by to Santa Cruz.          OH