Does anyone else feel ignored by doctors after SSNHL?
I lost hearing in my left ear during my first year of college and since then I have had constant tinnitus and random pain behind/around the ear. Sometimes I also wake up with balance issues and room spinning that can last for days before it gets better again.
The hardest part is that nobody around me really takes it seriously because I still function normally outside. I joke about it a lot because that is honestly the only way I know how to talk about it.
I had another ENT appointment recently and the doctor mostly told me to meditate, improve lifestyle and move on. I understand stress can affect things but the pain and tinnitus are still there every day and it makes me feel very unheard.
Does anyone here deal with:
- constant tinnitus after SSNHL
- random ear pain
- balance problems/vertigo episodes
- feeling emotionally exhausted from it all
How do you manage it mentally when people around you do not really understand how much it affects your life?
I think I just want to know if other people relate because sometimes I feel like I am overreacting even though this has been going on for years.