Light at the End of the Tunnel?

I went back to the doctor yesterday since my ear was still hurting and I’m still having major hearing problems because of it. My doctor said the fluid was still there and there was no way I could wait until July 16th to see the ENT (the only appointment they could get me for when the ENT came closer to me). I’m worried and in pain so I told him I would go to Kentucky if they’ll just get me in…soon.

Well “soon” was this morning at 10:00. We head out at 7:30am for Paducah, Kentucky. We get there a little early and, surprisingly, they took me on back to a room. He checks my ears and does a hearing test (which showed moderate to profound hearing loss in right ear (DUH!) and mild to moderate hearing loss in left ear because of the fluid) and gives me a choice…

Try an antihistamine nose spray for 3 - 4 weeks and see if that dries it up or go ahead and put a tube in that ear (a 5 minute procedure in the office) today. After he explained everything to me, I opted to try the nose spray first.

The reason I decided this…He said that since I have only one “good” ear, he didn’t really want to put a tube in right off without trying the antihistamine. It seems that having the tube put in (for adults — not kids) *could* come back and haunt me later in life. Not that it would…just that it could cause me some difficulty with being able to hear on down the road. And since I already only have one good ear and that’s the ear that the tube would go into…..Well, it was a no brainer that I would go with the nose spray (I HATE nose spray) first.

If in 3 - 4 weeks time the antihistamine DOES work, then I have to go back to him in 7 weeks for a check up on the ear…that’s it! If it doesn’t work…I have to go back to Paducah, Kentucky in 4 weeks and have the tube put in since that will be only option left to me at that time.

I have to say this…

I’d never been to Paducah, Kentucky, so I had definitely never been to this particular doctor’s office. First of all, the place is huge (it’s a medical pavilion). LOL I’m from the boondocks and we don’t have anything like that here. :rolleyes Secondly…they were some of the nicest people I’d ever met! SO friendly and courteous. So if you’re near Paducah, KY and in need of an ENT, I highly recommend Purchase ENT.

Anyway…

We left there and went to the Kentucky Oaks Mall (I think that’s the name of it?). After spending a couple of hours in there (not too much damage done to the credit card :whew) we left and took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese. The kids had a friggin’ ball in there. Was there a couple of hours (LOL) and then - FINALLY - we head for home.

I hate road trips. If it takes me longer than 30 minutes to get to where I’m going…then you can bet it’s a ride I despise. So for me to go on a road trip? It HAS to be somewhere that I REALLY want to go, I’m sick and need to see a doctor, or someone I really want to see / meet.

So, today was a good day. Still in pain and still can’t hear too good, but now I’m not worried about my ear…just aggravated, spent some quality time with DH and kids and had a blast.