Debbiethewife Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 It has been awhile since I have been here. I think I need to get over my message board shyness. Ok hear it goes... I know this may seem so petty, but my hubby is losing his hearing from the chemo (platin drugs). They can't stop using those drugs. He has lost the high frequencies and a couple of sounds at the voice level. It started with his first dose of chemo 7 cycles ago. It is expected to continue. Has anyone else experienced this? This is just breaking my heart. I know how upset he is. We understand he has more life threating problems. But there is something precious or sentimental about hearing. Also it is hard to watch all of these other things happen to him along the way. And to have them be permanent is hard. I just keep thinking he too young to have these health problems. Sometimes it is just not easy being the caregiver. Because sometimes when I hear news like that and the disappointment in his voice I have to have a get away to have my little break down so can be there for him. Thanks for listening. Sorry if I rambled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darci Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Debbie, I am so sorry for everything you and your husband are going through. I don't have any good advice for you regarding the hearing loss, I can't imagine how hard it is to lose your hearing. I hope that you can get much needed support and information here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Debbie, you didn't ramble at all. And even if you did, it is perfectly okay here. That's one of the things we do for each other. Lucie has not lost her hearing from chemo,but she has lost hearing in the right ear due to radiation on her skull there. Do you know if the hearing loss is permanent or temporary? Also, you might want to have his hearing tested to be sure where you are. Aids can help. We are seriously discussing that for Lucie. Best to you both. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Debbie, I have done a little research through some searching about this problem. I have found this Link; Click on below to be redirected To the Link. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec19/ch218/ch218a.html Also This Link May help: http://www.chemocare.com/managing/heari ... ss_and.asp I have not found too much yet, to sum this article up. It seems as thought here may be a reversal of loss if the cisplatin is discontinued possibly. Have you seen an Ear doctor to get the hearing measured? Possible Hearing Aid to assist? Just a few thoughts. Personally I never experienced this with my Late Wife also Debbie. I send prayers and hope this may help a little bit some how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastCoastLadi Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Debbie, My husband had some hearing problems with cisplastin when he was taking anti-depressants, so he stopped the ad's...but the onc. said cis. was the culprit. Has he tried carboplastin? He has tinitius ( sorry about the spelling ), you may want to check with an ears, nose and throat specialist to see if he can get some help. Is you husband taking any supplements?, my husband takes magnesium and b-6 along with his multivitamin. It can help with some of the effects of chemo. You have definitely found the right place to look for advice and support. As you can see my husband has the same dx as yours, it's a very difficult cancer to deal with, but your husband is very young and hopefully he can tolerate his treatment. Please don't hesitate to ask any ?'s I will look further into the hearing problems. Grace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbiethewife Posted July 18, 2006 Author Share Posted July 18, 2006 His Oncologist made an appointment with and ENT for us yesterday and the appointment was yesterday as well. They tested his hearing and the loss he has right now is permanent and he expects more. His Cochlea (sp?) is being damaged from the toxicity of the chemo. All of my husbands doctors are against stopping the platin based drug. He has too much small cell cancer and it is responding to the drug. They said if they stop it he could die. Anyway ENT also said Hubby would benefit from hearing aids so we will start looking into that now. I will check out the web sites. Thanks for your support really need it today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eppie Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 I say save his life first...then wear a hearing aide with his grandbaby on his lap. First things first. (I have been there and done this too...or my dad did. It upset us lots that he lost his hearing and then when the nurse said the words above...it sort of put it in perspective) Much love, eppie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 I agree with EPPIE ON THAT ONE!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchurchi Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Debbie, My husband has also lost some of his hearing from brain radiation. Although it is frustrating at times and his responses to my questions causing some great laughter on my part (what he hears and what I say are at times mile apart) this has been a small price to pay for zapping his brain tumor into submission. I pray the chemo continues to work on your husband's cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamasbabygirl Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 You are right-caregiving is not easy, but you are doing it and you should be so proud. My mom lost her hearing from WBR, but after she got her $4000.00 hearing aids, she found that all of the whistling in the ears from the hearing aids was not worth it, so she did not wear them. I have been meaning to look to see if there is any way we can donate them, but I have not had time. I hope that the hearing aids work well for your hubby. Take care and hang in there!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelofcharlie20 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Hi Debbie, I hear you on caregiving not being easy and I can't imagine adding hearing loss to your already hectic life. I really hope that the chemo continues to do it's job and then maybe the doctors can do something to restore his hearing. P.S. I didn't think you were venting at all and if you ever need to - this is the place to do it. Take care, Shirley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meredith Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I had a lot of cisplatin, and I think I am having some hearing loss because I often have to ask people to repeat themselves. Mostly I still have very strange sounds in my ears, which first began with lots of ringing and now is a constant "whooshing" type noise. I've never had it checked out, only because it isn't too severe. Unfortunately, I don't think much can be done about reversing or stopping the hearing loss, save stopping the chemo--and it doesn't sound like that's what you or your husband want to do. Of course that is reasonable, as life comes first. But as others have mentioned, hearing aids would definitely be an option. I'm sure they would take some getting used to though. I'm sorry this is happening to you both. It seems to be a very distressing side effect of chemo. hang in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carleen Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 My husband started having hearing problems with Cisplatin too. They did switch him to Carboplatin which is also platinum based drug but doesn't have the ear side effects as much as cisplatin. The carboplatin we were told was just as aggressive and effective as Cisplatin. Also, we were told the problems he had would be permanent, slowly after we switched of of Cisplatin things started to improve. He still had a lot of ringing in the ears, but the overall hearing got a lot better. Only occassionally did he have ask me to to repeat myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chanwit Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Thanks for the heads up on the hearing loss due to Cisplatin. Well here is another link that looks interesting: http://www.scienceblog.com/community/ol ... 6149.shtml It talks about using antioxidants to prevent the hearing loss caused by Cisplatin in particular: N-Acetylcysteine, A Potent Antioxidant that Protects Against Harmful Toxins. Of course we all know how much Ong doctors discourage using antioxidants with chemo. My wife's doctor didn't seem to care one way or the other and doesn't interfere with her supplements and she takes a lot of them which has help her through all the toxic treatments. She doesn't use this particular antioxidant but some others that are just as good. She is on Carboplatin. Chuck C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adela Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 My husband also lost his hearing due to WBR. We purchased a pocket talker. The cost is about $110,this devise amplifies the sound. Adela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbiethewife Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 I want to thank you all for your helpful sugesstions for us and your support. The news doesn't feel quite and crushing as it did when we first heard it. In order to help cheer him up I made reservations for our 10th anniversary dinner at a fun resturant for next month. It always helps us to look forward to something positive. Thank you all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastCoastLadi Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Debbie, I'm so glad that you are feeling better. I think it's great that you are doing positive things..you have to, you may feel like time has stood still, but you and your husband can enjoy and have fun...!!!! please stay in touch. Grace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aliboo Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Dear Debbie, My boyfriend has Lung Cancer. He just found out a month ago. So far his hearing is OK. I am the one who has lost my hearing due to Autoimmune ear disease. I'm not sure if I could handle it if we were both deaf. The good news is that I may get an Implant after I am eligible for medicare. Ask the doctor if it hearing loss is pernament and if an Implant might help. They looks like a little snail that is put in right underneath the skin on the nerve and a tiny microphone comes out and sits on top of your ear lobe. It can hardly be seen. Hearing loss is such an immotional thing. I have a hard time getting people (My Family) to understand that just because I can't hear does not mean I can't think or see, or talk for myself. It is very, very frustrating. Then also with my boyfriend being so sick, our communication has suffered. It takes a lot of patience on both our parts. I have gotten so much helpfull info from this website. No matter what it's very important to do anything to keep up the communication. He has just completed four weeks of chemo and radiation. we hope that it has shrunk the masses. He has Non-Samll cell lung cancer. He has felt better this week. His appetite has increased some. So we hope that is a good sign. Also at the hospital they have offered to let me use listening devices until I get the implant. I know there is one that he can read what the doctors are saying. They usually use them for students and for people who have court cases. Ask the radiolgists at the hospital. Let me know how things work out, Aliboo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.