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Ototoxicity (deafness)

6079 Views 15 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  Philly Bud
I've been hearing impaired since the age of 18 and I'm now 65. Recently my doctor, who is an advanced practice nurse, put me on Lasix for edema that I have in my legs and feet - which she thinks is caused by another blood pressure drug called Norvasc. After being on Lasix for about a week or less, I noticed that my hearing was being affected.

So I called her office and the decision was made to stop Lasix and try Bumex, which I guess is in the same class of water pills. Now after being on Bumex for almost two weeks I am again experiencing the same ototoxicity. My head feels like it is in a barrel - all hollow - can't hear worth a darn. I am 100% deaf in my left ear and hearing impaired in my right ear. So any hearing I have left I want to protect at any cost.

This past Wednesday, when I first noticed my hearing was being affected, I called the APN and explained my situation. She told me that since I was on a small dose twice a day she did not think it was the Bumex that was affecting my hearing and I should not stop the drug. I believed her....what a fool I am!!!

Today I woke up and I cannot hear hardly anything even with my hearing aid. I am feeling absolutely crushed.....just needed to rant on about my ear. Sorry if I've offended anyone.
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Hey Strawberry ...

Pul - LEEZE!!! You're not offending anyone. Everyone in this forum is dealing with something in our bodies that is malfunctioning. I wish I could say some magic words to make you feel better.

My hearing issue appeared about 1 year ago: TINNITUS. I am plagued with this sound in my head that won't go away. Sounds sorta like the "crickets" or "tree frogs" you hear on a summer evening in a country meadow. Or standing under noisy high tension electrical wires that hum. Went to an Ear/Nose/Throat specialist (not ear wax build-up or water behind the ear) who sent me to an Audiologist. They discovered I had hearing loss in a particular high pitch frequency.

In my opinion it's a good idea to see the specialists and learn what all your options for treatment are. Sometimes there is nothing more we can do, and we just have to serenely accept the situation and still appreciate life even with our disability. The world is a beautiful place and filled with wonderful people, and having a disability won't change that.

Sending you my warmest regards.:hug:
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