Recently diagosed with SSHL and ear nose and throat doc is recommending intratympanic steroid injections to try and restore hearing. Recently switched to a lyme literate primary care doctor and not being seen before the scheduled injections. I have heard that steroids are very bad for lyme patients but wondering if anyone has any feedback on this condition and treatment. Thank you
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
I would not take steroids unless it is opposed by antibiotics, and only with LLMD's approval. Could you call their office ahead of the appt. and ask this question?
Posted by lucy2320 (Member # 31232) on :
Thank you Lou. I am currently taking doxycycline and couldn't get an appt with new doctor before the injections. Everything is happening so fast. I am on the outer time limits for the steroid therapy and am just not sure what the right course of action is. I want to make sure that I have done everything possible to restore that ear but am afraid of the consequences.
Posted by ahmet ozbek (Member # 14358) on :
hyperbaric oxygen treatment is alternative treatment for sudden hearing loss. success rate high but expensive
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
Do you believe that your hearing loss might be due to Lyme (ie seventh cranial nerve irritation) or from another source?
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Hearing is the Cranial VIII (Auditory Nerve).
Cranial VII is our facial nerve. It innervates the muscles of the face.
Is it possible that you may have some medicine related hearing loss?
Lots of medicines are toxic to our hearing capabilities.
I hope you get an answer, however, you only really need one good ear.
I have a profound hearing loss in my left ear which is congenital or from birth.
I never even knew I had it until I was 18.
Look at your meds and check out which ones may be toxic to hearing.
You'd be suprised.
Zith can cause a permanent hearing loss.
Keep us posted.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Well, again, I suggest you call the doctor's office and see what they say about these steroids. They might not want to advise a patient they have not seen in person yet, but it is worth a try.
Lyme has been known to cause deafness.
Posted by lucy2320 (Member # 31232) on :
Thank you everyone for your responses. I did receive a diagnosis of chronic lyme yesterday based on symptoms and a cd 57 of 20. I believe the hearing loss to be caused by this as well as bi-lateral degenerative arthritis in both hips. I had my left hip replaced 8 months ago and will need the right hip replaced soon. I was put on biaxin and plaquenil but very concerned about side effects especially hearing loss. I need to follow up with my doctor as this was over-looked yesterday. So much to learn it is really overwhelming!
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Best of luck with your treatment, Lucy.
Here is some info regarding lyme and hearing loss:
"OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Otolaryngological manifestations are common in Lyme disease, affecting up to 75% of patients. One of these symptoms is sudden deafness. Hearing loss has been frequently described in Lyme disease; on the other hand, titers seropositive for, the causal agent of this disease, have been found in almost 20% of cases of sudden deafness. "
from a published medical journal article
And here is what the Merck Manual says:
"A number of infections cause sudden deafness during or immediately after acute illness. Common causes include bacterial meningitis, Lyme disease, and many viral infections that affect the cochlea (and sometimes the vestibular apparatus). The most common viral causes in the developed world are mumps and herpes. Measles is a very rare cause because most of the population is immunized."