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Avatar universal

Are there ANY SUCCESS stories with SSHL???

I have found this forum very informative, however, at the same time, I am left feeling very discouraged because I am not reading much in the way of positive outcomes.
I am going to explain my current situation and would love to know if ANYONE has had favorable outcomes, what treatment you had and when did you first achieve positive results:
I, too, had the classic symptoms of SSHL after waking up 3 days ago to sudden deafness in my right ear.
I do not have vertigo or dizziness problems, just the deafness.
On that day, I did my usual proactive research so I was not at all shocked when the very next day my ENT diagnosed with SSHL.  All of the research I have done myself leads me to believe that recovery (partial or full) is so hit and miss even with extremely prompt treatment with everything that has already been mentioned before.  My ENT also indicated to me there is no conclusive evidence that steroid treatment, in any form, is beneficial or not.  Either way, he gave me a 50/50% chance of regaining any hearing.
However, I did opt for the oral Prednisone treatment as he suggested.  After countless hours of researching, I am now left wondering if what he prescribed is the correct dosage.  This is how it was prescribed for me on a tapering schedule which I began on day 3 of the onset of SSHL:
10mg Prednisone taken in this way:
Day 1 through day 4 - 1 tablet 3 times a day for 4 days=30 mg/day
Day 5 through day 8 - 1 tablet 2 times a day for 4 days= 20 mg/day
Day 9 through day 12 - 1 tablet a day for 4 days=10 mg/day
Day 13 1/2 tablet for 4 days=.5 mg/day
Total 16 day treatment.
The doctor was concerned for me to take steroids because I suffer from panic/anxiety and have a lot of digestive issues.  I am wondering if this is an adequate dosage or if he gave me less than normal due to my other conditions?
Does anyone have any info on that?  I have read over and over that 60 mg/daily is what's is typically prescribed, however, I'm not clear if that is a tapering schedule or not.
Finally, to any of you who have had the tympanic injections:
I have read horror stories on how painful they are, i.e., feeling like acid being poured into the ear and then also people began symptoms of vertigo, something I am not willing to live with having had that once many, many years ago.
What has been your experiences?
It's so upsetting to me that I am currently away from Maryland where I believe the best medical care is provided.
Unfortunately, I am currently in South Florida where medical care is the worst!
Any help that anyone can provide with regard to the Prednisone dosage I am on to advising me of any centers or doctors to see will be greatly appreciated!
I wish all of us the best possible outcomes and thank you again.
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Avatar universal
I am 18 years old and I was also diagnosed with SSHL two days ago. However, the ENT specialist did not mention that I have to go for a MRI but i am on oral Prednisone instead of injection since I had to go overseas the next day or so. I am worried that going on a flight two days after being diagnosed with SSHL has some negative effect on my recovery. The noises I hear around me is much sharper in terms of constant ringing noise on my affected ear than it was before but the pressure on my affected ear has gotten better. I guess I am just curious on whether anyone who is also diagnosed with SSHL has similar recovery experiences... I am just very worried about the sharp pitches now ...
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Avatar universal
I'm elated your daughter's hearing was restored!
I wrote on this thread back in February that thankfully
oral Prednisone alone restored my hearing as well.

I agree with Freedom2B, I believe they are just taking extra precautions.  I flew just days after my hearing was restored and all was fine.
Better to be safe.
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6899126 tn?1385912164
SO HAPPY to learn she has recovered most of her hearing!

I suspect the limitations are to prevent any new issues which will complicate things.  Best to be safe.  
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Avatar universal
My 13 year old daughter had SSHL two weeks and one day ago.  She started prednisone and injections on day 5 of her hearing loss.  We have Kaiser and once we got in and realized this was an emergency, they started aggressive treatment right away.  Her hearing returned spontaneously on day 12 after one week of therapy.  We haven't had a hearing test yet to see how much was recovered but it is substantial as she can hear whispering.

Her ENT says no swimming or air travel for 2 months.  Have others who have regained hearing taken similar precautions?  We are so happy to have her hearing back and certainly don't want to do anything to jeopardize it.  We are in the process of changing our vacation to a driving instead of flying vacation.

Thanks for anyone who can share their experience.
Helpful - 0
6899126 tn?1385912164
You asked about the intra tympanic injections.  I have had 3, about to start 3 more.  I did not have any pain.  The ENT uses a swap with a local anesthetic to numb the area.  I can't really said there was even any discomfort.  There were some odd sensations, weird sounds, but nothing scary at all.  I had told the ENT I was very nervous so he calmly talked to me through out the procedures, telling me things like, 'you will hear a scratching sound now,' or ' I am not doing anything in your ear just now' (when he was making noise with bottles, preparing the swab).  So that really helped me!  Also I found a video on youtube, and watched that several times, and that helped me too.  Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyZ0OLFEAm8

Hope this helps.
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Avatar universal
Thank you sixsticks.  You made my day.
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Avatar universal
Noring, I forgot to mention, my ENT gave me a prognosis of a 50/50 chance that my hearing would return...not great odds but as you have read with my story...there is always hope!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello Noring~
I do have a GREAT SUCCESS story to share!!!!
I just got home from the ENT, MRI clear, repeated hearing test and I can hear again perfectly out of my right ear which was effected by SSHL!!!
Just to refresh for those who have not read my previous posts:
Woke up on Feb 12 with zero hearing in right ear. Waited 1 day.
Saw ENT next day on FEB 14, prescribed tapered dose of ORAL Prednisone ONLY along with supplements (Vit E, D, B Complex)
It's now 10 days later and I am fully recovered from the SSHL!
Hearing test was perfect.
There is HOPE!  
Again, I implore anyone reading these posts who have been afflicted not to waste any time in seeing your ENT.  While it is not known whether the steroids are actually beneficial or not, and perhaps I would have recovered on my own anyway, it is all there is at this time.  We will just never really know if the steroids worked or they didn't.
In any event, YES, THERE IS HOPE!
I wish the best possible outcomes for anyone reading this and don't hesitate to contact me if you feel the need.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I only had hearing in one ear, then got SSHL two weeks ago in my "good" ear.   I am on heavy oral steroids and have had two steroid injections, anti-virals, diuretics and supplements.

SO, I would love to hear some good recovery stories!!!

After a very slight recovery in a day or two in, conditioned worsened and I got steroid injection.  Was pretty much deaf after 6 days, but for some high frequency recognition.  Slight recovery day 8, then worse 10, 11.  Got another steroid injection and improved slightly.  

Today is best day yet.  Two weeks to the day from occurence, I can understand one one one conversations.  Not loudly, and not on cell phone LOL.  

I was very discouraged for two weeks and my hopes have been raised before then dashed.  Hopefully this is a good sign.

I poured through the thread with 100+ plus posts.

Leaving the doctors out of this.  Who has experienced near recovery from TOTAL failure.  The neuro-tologist mentioned day 1 that I was a candidate for  Cochlear Implant.  

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Today will begin Day 4 of my oral Prednisone treatment.
I also am going for my MRI today.
As of late yesterday, I am feeling/hearing a slight improvement in my effected ear!!!!!!!!!  Perhaps it would be considered as more than slight.
My ENT will not follow up or order any additional hearing tests again until he receives the MRI report but I I know I can now hear things I couldn't 5 days ago and the awful clogged feeling, pressure and sounds have subsided.  It's by no means near perfect but am hopeful this is the beginning of regaining full hearing back in my right ear!
The only thing I can possibly attribute this to is the immediate diagnosis and treatment I received, both within 24-48 hours upon wakening deaf in my right ear.  So, I implore anyone visiting this site to seek immediate attention with an ENT doctor when you first notice this has happened to you.
Helpful - 0
152264 tn?1280354657
See my comment under the previous thread.
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