The Sound of Silence

It may be a while before we're reunited!

I had my follow-up appointment at the hospital today, the purpose of which seemed to be to make another appointment, and coming shortly after reading a notice about how many missed appointments there were in August and how this cost the hospital over sixteen thousand pounds begs this question of whether this morning's £127 appointment 'fee' was money well spent!

I saw the same doctor as last time (albeit minus the head mirror) who tells me that he isn't surprised that there has been no change in my symptoms. The tablets haven't made any difference apart from to make me feel poorly and so we move into the realm of tinnitus management, and he tells me that I will see someone about this this morning, but seems to find it necessary to write on my referral slip that I am reluctant to have a hearing aid, based on my reaction at my previous appointment. I did tell him that perhaps I need to be more open minded but he carries on writing.

I am then escorted further up the corridor to await my consultation, or as it turns out - to make an appointment to see someone else in a further four and a half weeks time. She mutters something about how they would have done something with regard to the hearing aid today, but for the doctor's note, and again is reluctant for me to change my mind on this, whilst looking at me like I am exceptionally ungrateful when I make the comment that surely no one 'wants' a hearing aid?!  I'm not sure if this stance will end up being for my benefit or just delay the process longer, but it all seems rather inefficient, and my opinion on this is only reinforced when on leaving I am given an information sheet on tinnitus and some suggestions of what I can do - really it's taken two months for this to be given to me?

It's a complicated old thing... I've to avoid silence (which is one of my most favourite things!), listen to white noise as much as possible (apparently most people find the sound quite soothing?), add environmental sound at night - a ticking clock or a radio off station - but not to do anything solely because of my tinnitus as this could become tinnitus related activity and might make it worse.  Now excuse me my naivety but surely no one in their right mind would choose to listen to a radio off station all night?!

However as the leaflet also states tinnitus is a non-specific symptom that can be brought on by a mental or physical 'change', no physical ones to report, perhaps I am just loosing the plot after all. It concludes that the best thing I can do is learn to relax... it's almost like they saw me coming!

M - 595
HM - 152
Glasgow - 12
Total Distance covered  251.3 miles