I went to see an ear specialist at my local Ear, Nose and Throat doctor (ENT) regarding my right ear. Since returning home in April, I noticed my right ear feels full, there is a continuous tone and the sound quality is slightly distorted and diminished. I thought it would go away on it’s own, but it hasn’t. Today after getting a hearing test and speaking with a doctor I learned the hearing in my ear will not improve as it has permanent nerve damage from the stroke and traumatic brain injury I had in March. I have two options, I could get a hearing aid for my right ear. I can still hear, but it  needs to be amplified by a lot. According to doctor, I have something called Tinnitus in my right ear. Another option I have is to go see another specialist about getting Tinnitus training which could eliminate the tone I hear in my ear through brain training. I still need the hearing aid because of the diminished sound. Since it’s been almost six months since the stroke and brain injury the ear doctor said my ear most likely will not improve. Not happy about the hearing being damaged permanently. At least I can still hear with amplified sound in the ear…

I went to see a neuro-opthamologist yesterday regarding my right eye. According to the doctors ( I saw two ) the reason I have double vision five months after my stroke in March of this year is because my right eye has been moved out of place. I had senses it had been shifted since March because when I look at a lamp with both eyes open and tilt my head to the left (for example) the image of the lamp in my left eye will stay in place while the image of the lamp in my right eye will move either up or down depending on if I tilt my head up or down. I was tested for prism lenses to see if this would correct my double vision. The level I would need is a 30.

I had been tested for prism lenses in the beginning of May with a different doctor and the level I was tested at was 30. This means the thickness of the lenses would be about an inch. They don’t make prism glasses at that high of a level and thickness. Overall my best option is to have surgery (3rd time this year) to realign my eyes.  Since it’s been five months I have to wait until the sixth month before any surgery can be done. He wants to see me again in September to look for any changes. He doesn’t think anything will change too much between now and the next six weeks.

According to him, anything that was going to heal on it’s own already fixed itself. I still have some balance issues and feel a little numbness around my lips and tongue.  I’ll also have to meet with an eye surgeon during September. I can drive around the county during the day and when it’s nice outside for now. 

Eye alignment

Eye with patch

Glasses with tape

The eye doctor told me I didn’t have to wear an eye patch anymore because I’m not 7 years old. He took some medical tape and attached it to my right lens. I don’t have double vision because the tape on the right side blocks me from seeing out of that eye. At the same times no one knows whats wrong with my eye and I’m not sweating underneath the patch anymore. I will use this for now until September.