In the fall of 2023, I experienced sudden hearing loss.
One night, I woke up with intense heart palpitations, and when I got up in the morning, I could barely hear anything in my left ear.
I thought, “It’ll probably get better on its own,” and tried not to worry too much.
But instead, it got worse day by day.
On the third day, I went to an ENT doctor.
I was told that if I didn’t start medication immediately, my hearing might not return.
I took a day to think about it, and decided to begin treatment.
I was prescribed a high dose of oral steroids, a diuretic, and vitamin B12.
The medication worked quickly, and my hearing recovered within a few days!
Following my doctor’s instructions, I gradually reduced the medication and finished the treatment after about two weeks.
Afterward, I developed symptoms that I believe were side effects of the medication, including a depressed mood, but I recovered after about two months.
Sometimes, Medication Is the Right Choice
Since developing chemical sensitivity, I’ve tried to avoid medication as much as possible.
I’ve focused on living in harmony with nature and supporting my body’s natural ability to heal.
Basically, I feel that this is a good approach for me.
But in this particular situation, I believe I might have lost my hearing if I hadn’t taken the medication.
To be honest, at first I struggled with whether to take it because I had such a strong aversion to medication.
But after gathering information and talking with other people, I decided to take the medication.
Take care of your everyday health and lifestyle, and when an emergency arises, don’t hesitate to make use of medical care.
Once the medication has helped bring the symptoms under control, return to a lifestyle that feels more in harmony with nature and gradually get back to your usual routine.
This experience made me realize that having that kind of flexibility can be important, too.
Don’t Push Yourself Too Hard
The other question is: Why did I develop sudden hearing loss in the first place?
Around that time, I was already feeling worn out from moving several times and from the intense summer heat.
On top of that, I was preparing for an event at a healthy cooking class I had been attending.
I threw myself into the preparations so wholeheartedly that my allergies also became more active, and I started losing sleep because of the itching.
I should have noticed what was happening and taken a proper rest at that point.
Instead, I kept telling myself, “Just a little more… just a little more,” and pushed myself too hard.
Perhaps the result was sudden hearing loss.
My body had already been sending me signals in the form of eczema, but I kept ignoring them.
Maybe my body was trying to get my attention with a more obvious symptom.
Even small changes are worth paying attention to as messages from our bodies, and it’s important to respond to them appropriately.
Pushing yourself too hard and making an effort are not the same thing.
It can be difficult to tell the difference.
But when I’m pushing myself beyond my limits, I tend to become irritable or get into conflicts with my family.
Effort, on the other hand, can feel enjoyable.
Even when I’m tired, there’s a sense of freshness and fulfillment afterward.
There’s still so much I don’t understand, but I hope I can keep learning, little by little, from the everyday experiences that come my way. 🍀
Thank you, as always, for reading. 😊