Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratte
hi,
I am riding from Belgium to Senegal but ended up in Dakhla because of medical problems.
I have problems with my ears, it is too noise to ride further. meanwhile, I got a permanently ringing sound known as Tinnitus.
I refuse to ride on before I make it worse.
I saw a few doctors, and got confirmed I have hearing loss. (which highly probably causes the Tinnitus). I have an inflamation wherefore I take antibiotics for the next days. this inflamation also can cause the ringing. I tried several wind screens, helmets and earplugs. But I am still feeling like I am destructing my ears when I ride.
the biggest problem is I know nothing. can it be cured or not? is there a way I can ride a motorcycle again without damaging my ears more? ...
what to do? I don't know.
Go home and go for further research back in Belgium.
but then - sell the bike/store the bike?
Any tips/hints/...are welcome.
grtz from a very dissapointed traveller.
Ratte
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Very sorry to hear about your condition and trip cancellation. I think others have covered most of everything, but thought I'd add my two cents.
I recently developed (through exposure to a sudden, loud, higher frequency noise) chronic tinnitus. For 5 months now - frequency, amplitude are unchanged and constant. I'm very frustrated. More headaches, more frustration. And it's all impacted sleep cycles. Because I had a baseline hearing test a couple years back, I also see a hearing loss at higher frequencies - but that doesn't bother me - and arguably its slight enough it could be independent and par for the course. Tinnitus and hearing loss are not always coincidental.
I've seen two ENT specialist and an audiologist now. I was told in the most roundabout way - that its nerve to brain damage and there are no cures, per se (my case). It may still resolve on its own (or change), but nothing medically can be done. Yes, there are aids (frequency masking/white noise) aids, but no magic bullets. I was told to figure out way to cope - like others here, yoga, meditation, exercise, avoiding certain drugs, hydration…etc.
As others have suggested though - do seek medical help. A number of tests/exams that were performed on me (short of CAT/MRI scans), if nothing else, eliminated other possible causes of the hearing loss/tinnitus. The nature of my onset most likely points to the culprit.
I've also been recovering from wrist surgery, so taking ibuprofen (as suggested by others increases the tinnitus) has been a catch 22.
I have not ridden moto yet this year because of my wrist, but have managed cycling. Hoping that I'll find the right combination of ear plugs/helmet (and the other aids) that keeps me moving as I have grand plans for longer distance moto travel.
Thank you for your post, as I've learned much from others in this thread now. Wish you the best possible resolution and hope this is just a temp setback, and you find your way back on the road soon.