Otosclerosis, the menopause and the Mirena coil

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

I have otosclerosis, worse in one ear than t'other, and have recently noticed that my hearing has got worse/changed* after being pretty stable for nearly 20 years. I had noticeable hearing loss at puberty and again with my pregnancies, which is when I was diagnosed. I am not in ongoing-care over this issue - I haven't seen an audiologist since diagnosis in 1990, don't need aids and don't (thankfully) suffer tinnitus.

I am now 46, but any menopausal symptoms (other than hearing loss) are masked by the Mirena coil. At the time I was diagnosed, stapedectomies were fairly new and I understood that one should wait till almost complete deafness before having the operation. However, I've just searched MN for other otosclerosis threads and see that mousiemousie on Wed 06-Dec-06 17:47:26 on on this thread says that some surgeons now recommend operating sooner rather than later. Is it time to go back to my GP and get a referral to an audiologist again?

*Bizarrely, I am now able to hear ultrasonic rodent repellants.

When I was diagosed with oto. about 2 yrs ago, the ENT specialist told me that, as one side is still good, I should wait to have the worst ear operated on only when it is absolutely necesary. In other words wait as long as you can before having the op because of the risk of a "dead ear". However, it would seem that there is another school of thought that says the condition is there, it will only worsen, so get it sorted rather than wait. Maybe a new appt with a specialist might shed some light on the matter for you.

Thanks, Coolmama. Back to the GP then.

I hate going to the doctors.