I was playing my favourite guitar this week (McIlroy A30) after a couple of weeks break over Xmas. It sounded completely dull and lifeless, so I restrung it thinking the strings must have gone off badly. It sounded completely the same after the restring.
After trying another guitar it turned out it's my hearing not the guitar! I had a bad sinus infection over the holidays, which has been helped with antibiotics, but I hadn't realised how much it's affected my hearing. In addition to the frequency attenuation, there's some tinnitus going on, which is really frustrating.
Had anybody experienced anything similar and have any recommendations how to help it? Or how quickly it might recover. I know this is an odd place to ask for medical advice but as my GP has said it's non urgent and I'll get an appointment in 5 weeks, I thought it might be worth asking.
It's a very strange experience playing guitar at the moment. Sounds like I'm playing with ear defenders on!
Thanks. And apologies if this is way off topic!
Comments
You can use the oxymetazoline nasal spray as well, but longer than a few days use can cause a "rebound" nasal congestion. It should clear on it's own, but if it was me it would drive me mad just waiting.
Declaration of interest - I'm a GP.
My YouTube Channel
As mentioned by a few, once the illness was fully healed things returned to normal.
I saw the doctor about it and she prescribed some anti-inflammatory drops for my outer ear on one side. I'm not sure that they made the difference but I think they helped a bit. As time has gone by I'd nearly forgotten about it until just yesterday when I noticed some pressure there again and felt as if I needed to pop my ears. This morning is the same.
Nevertheless, the overall experience has been a gradual recovery and no long-term damage that I know about. Let's hope that applies to you too!
I understand that it's difficult for you to see a doctor. One alternative you might think about is seeing an audiologist. You should have no difficulty getting a prompt appointment. (They can't see you soon enough because they think you might shell out £££ on a hearing aid!) That would be informative and quite possibly useful. One thing you will get is a clear picture of where your hearing stands, difference between ears, frequency response, and so on.
(PS: don't buy the hearing aid. For the price of a hearing aid you could buy a nice made-in-Japan Takamine.)
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
.Given that @tomjax clearly stated at the start of this Thread that this is a very recent occurrence ("over the holidays", which I assume refers to the recent Christmas holiday time).
The Oral, Nasal, and Ear Passages are all interconnected, and, whilst one may only develop obvious symptoms relating to just one or two of these areas, the other areas can be infected without causing obvious symptoms.
As far as I am concerned, it would vastly safer to leave things well alone for possibly at least several weeks (even 2 to 3 months, particularly if you start to notice even some small improvement). If there is no improvement, then try to ask your GP for an ENT referral. If absolutely necessary, then make initial contact with a specialist privately, but be warned any competent private specialist would require letter of referral from your GP in the first instance.
Be warned : Steroids are potent drugs. Potentially with benefits, but they can also cause very serious damaging side effects, which, in some patients, cause permanent long term damage. You are ill advised to take steroids in doses which you know not how to estimate the dosage.
Thank you ATD for mentioning this and allowing me the platform to clarify / restate my position! I am talking about my experience only, in which I was ordered by my GP to go immediately to A&E, where I was fast-tracked past all the people with saucepans on their heads, and where I was prescribed a very heavy and unpleasant course of steroids, by qualified medical ENT consultants who marched me down the hall to the hospital pharmacy and supervised me taking the first dose there and then, as time was of the essence. (When I originally suffered catastrophic hearing loss in one ear, 40 years ago, this was not done, and the hearing loss was 100% and permanent. I am now stone deaf on one side and have zero stereo / directional hearing).
But totally - when I said Yes to steroids, I meant "yes, steroids can sometimes be prescribed for sudden sensorineural hearing loss". I do not, and would never, suggest someone go and get any medicine from the street! (btw I'm not sure I did suggest that, I said "I’ve been prescribed an emergency heavy course of steroid pills" - I think you might be referring to Ungulate.)
PS aww Dave, I love that we are so aligned normally - the feeling is mutual xx
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Your first comment unfortunately lacked any sort of clarity, and, to be fair to me, I took it at face value, Though considerably surprised, and a tad mystified, by the very curtailed nature of your comment.
You normally provide such detailed thoughtful comments, that I read them all with interest, and seek to see if there is something new for me to learn.
Here ended myne lessen, and we will now in goodly voice sing : " Gawd Help Us Gessus, For We Know Not Whither We Journey"
Get medical advice from doctors, folks!
“Man be merrie as bryd on berrie, and all thi ca-re let away”
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Can’t say I’m seeing much progress regardless and think this is going to be a few weeks before it sorts itself out.