Long COVID-hearing loss and tinnitus

jeindc, Wow. I'm so sorry you are battling this. COVID can do some strange things to folks.

I have tinnitus and significant hearing loss (not related to COVID) and hearing aids have been a huge blessing. It has taken a while to adjust to them.

Praying for you. Blessings....

Welcome to the club you never wanted to join. My situation is similar. Recovered from Covid and started “clogged” and muffled hearing in my ears. Dismissed as age related hearing loss and fitted with hearing aids. I have seen many ENT doctors and audiologists. I feel it must be related to Covid. I have other symptoms I won’t go into at this time but also I think related to Covid. There is no way to get a real diagnosis.
I am very sorry you are experiencing this too. I am now almost three years into this condition, and it still changes, but never gets better.
Good luck to you, and all of us suffering.

After reading the article, the conclusion says we need to be referred to specialists care. It’s unfortunate that specialists have no answers.

AND worse seem uninterested in learning. The long COVID specialist I saw basically dismissed me after he diagnosed one thing and decided not to deal w/ the others.

They have no answers, so they pass you to someone else or dismiss you.
It is a very hard condition to live with but that is our challenge.

Reading your posts backward, @dloos - so another response:
I'm "only" 19 months in and am trying my best to manage tho' today for some reason it all just 'hit' and I wanted to do anything except work! I'm old (77) and work for myself and have for 43 years and so if I don't there's no income except piddly social security (for which I AM grateful!) I needed to write a recap of the ENT visit to the other docs I see, all for long COVID OTHER symptoms bec they all aren't communicating, even via my PCP. How you've managed for 3 years and far more doc visits than I is what I know I'm facing - it's exhausting and too many different opinions and no deep look.

I seem to read far more than any of the docs. I have a google alert set up for Long COVID/Post COVID and try to even read academic papers. Why are we not heard? < -- that's rhetorical probl.

Thank you for your empathy. This group helps. I at least can say "I read in the Mayo group ...." To all of us and to all who don't have access to a computer or this group or have no idea what ails them may be this.

Frankly, all my doctor appointments have been meaningless. I have honestly had hundreds of appointments because I guess I’m stubborn and really hate to give up. Two or three appointments a week for almost three years add up. I am finally to the point where I am ready to say this is what it is. Getting to the appointments is hard, and really has gotten me nothing. It’s just been hard (understatement) to accept that there is NO HELP.
I continue to see my PCP every few months and I am currently seeing a Neuro Optometrist for blurry vision. I am about to stop those appointments because he hasn’t helped me either.
I wish I had better advise for you, but my experience has been so terrible.
I find listening to meditation type music helps me during the day, and an air purifier fan helps me to relax enough to sleep some at night. My PCP will prescribe Klonopin (many doctors will not). I take a very low dose and it helps me with anxiety.
That’s about all I can offer as to things that have helped me somewhat.
I’m so sorry you are suffering with this too.

HUGE sigh and I understand about both being stubborn and about eventually giving up. Like you, I keep wondering "aren't they reading what I am?", "aren't their medical conferences or other resources providing guidance for how to speak with us?" and so much more.

I don't drive and have physical mobility issues (pre-COVID and post-COVID) - each appt. requires finding someone to take me. YES it is expensive for it all not to mention time and exhaustion. I've only dropped or been dropped by the post-COVID specialist - which I find "amusing" in a very not good way! I see my PCP, dentist (for the mouth rash that came with COVID - he is so kind and has no answers), and a few others that I must to ensure I get the medications I need.

Here's to us and maybe a breakthrough soon.

Thanks for this. My hearing was fine until COVID and with the tinnitus it has got increasingly worse. Hearing aids may be in my future if the recommended airpods pro don't work. It's that I can't afford them.

Praying for us all. It really does stink.

I must say that almost all the people I have seen have seemed genuine in wanting to help me, but they don’t know how. They treat me for a condition that is similar to my symptom, and not surprisingly, it doesn’t help me.
The hearing aids don’t really help. I had balloon inflation of my Eustachian tubes, it did not help.
I had cataract surgery on my eyes. Nope, not the real problem.
So, finally I must accept that there is no treatment for what ails me. If my condition were stable I might be able to adjust. Unfortunately my condition is always changing. I now have not only muffled hearing, but hyperacusis and tinnitus. My vision, and dry eye continue to worsen. I hate to think where I may be in a year!
I’m not sure a “breakthrough” can correct damage that has already been done.
I had always been a healthy person and I am really a terrible invalid! I went from being a very active senior, to being mostly home bound. It is depressing and also makes me MAD.