The latest challenge

Starting immediately after my 55th birthday (March 17) my left ear began gradually to plug up, and by late the following week it was becoming tender and affecting my sleep. I had been foolishly trying to "tough it out," thinking I would turn the corner, but on Friday, March 23, things took a decided change for the worse. Although through the morning I was OK, at lunch every time I chewed or swallowed I could feel/hear the ear plug up or close off, and when I returned to my desk to transcribe, I could hear virtually nothing out of that ear. So I contacted my supervisor, and took a quick cab ride to my doctor, where I was able to get in without appointment, and was diagnosed with severe otitis ... a swelling of the ear that had completely closed off the ear tube, blocking the eardrum. The doctor also confirmed that it must be extremely painful, having reached that stage, so I was given prescriptions for a steroid and an antibiotic to address the swelling, and for Vicodin to help ease the pain. As I write on Sunday morning, Mar. 25, things are in an odd state. The medicine is beginning to take effect, but has not fully eased the swelling, so currently my hearing in that ear is popping in and out of existence. I am grateful, though, that progress is occurring.