(Sorry to be so long in finishing the post)Over the next four weeks, we administered the IV antibiotics twice a day. Everything Tim touched had to be sterilized. A daily routine developed including getting him up and to his chair in the morning, home health care nurses coming in, vestibular therapist coming, etc. He had to learn to walk all over again due to the loss of strength as well as the loss of vestibular on the right side. It was finally determined after 2 weeks that the double vision was not med. related and we were able to schedule an appointment to begin trying to figure out just one of several things that were residual effects of him being so ill. His appointment with the retinal specialist revealed a Roth's spot had occured in his right eye possibly affecting blood flow to the occular muscle. The good news was the double vision could be corrected with glasses. The hearing was more complicated. We started with a followup appointment with the ENT. He referred us on to a neuro-otologist(Dr. Knox). This was the first time we heard that a possible septic embolism could have caused the double vision, hearing loss, and loss of balance. Our first appt. with Dr. Knox went well. He ordered addtional MRI's and CT scans. Again the possibility of a septic embolism came up. He also recommended we see a neurologist and possibly a neuro-opthamologist. Per Dr. Knox Tim began receiving steroid injections to his right ear in the chance that it might restore at least a small amount of his hearing and possibly improve his balance.
Both the MRI and CT scan showed no indication of a septic embolism. So the questions remained, why was he continuing to experience the symptoms and balance loss. We began to get answers when we finally saw the neurologist(Dr. Toenjes). Dr. Toenjes ruled out septic embolism right off the bat.(I'm amazed by these doctors that can trace the nerves through the brain and know what affects what) He believes most of the damage came from the original Strep infection that triggered the whole illness.(The crown was on the right side of Tim mouth which is where they believe the infection started and all the residual symptoms involve the right side)Tim continued the treatments until December when no improvement in the hearing or balance occurred. From the time the IV antibiotics ended, Tim had been in vestibular therapy. The month of November was literally spent going to some type of appointment or another almost everyday. Certain symptoms began being more pronounced one of them being sound induced vertigo(Tullio's phenomenon) as well as visual vertigo(just walking into a grocery store or the mall would send him spinning). Once the steroid treatment stopped it seemed the Tullio's became worse. Towards the end of December, Dr. Know was recommending going forward with a Gentamycin treatment by February in the hopes it would kill off the remaining vestibular on the right side with the hope of improving Tim's balance. We had reservations based on reading we had done and at our next visit with Dr. Toenjes, he said he would seek a second opinion before doing something so drastic. (During this time Tim also saw a cardiologist at Toenjes recommendation to be certain that his heart was indeed okay and while he was left with a level 1 heart murmur, there wasn't any need to be concerned. Dr. Stroh did let Tim know that every health care provider going forward needed to know he had a history of endocarditis.)
God is so amazing. When we asked Dr.Toenjes for a referral, he gave us the name of Dr. Goddard at Jax Hearing and Balance. We were already at the point of being willing to go anywhere we needed too so Tim could have the best possible care. Just a few days later we met a woman while at different doctors visit and she had similar symptoms to Tim's. She ranted and raved about her doctor. We asked her for his information and it turned out to be Dr. Goddard's office. We had been praying about what step to take next and where to go. God so obviously orchestrated our meeting. We went home and scheduled an appointment with him.
Dr. Goddard has been wonderful. Our first visit he was able to point to the MRI and show us the canal dehiscence that is causing Tim's Tullio phenomenon. He was able to explain why he agrees with Dr. Toenjes' opinion that it is all a result of the original infection using the MRI images to support what he was saying. Dr. Goddard ordered a new CT scan to confirm this as the original was not of a high enough resolution to pick up the minute bones of the ear. He also ordered additional testing that would help determine exactly what part of the inner ear is causing the balance issues. We see him the end of February for the results and to find out where we go from here.
So, where are we at now? Learning to trust God on a daily basis. Tim was blessed to have short term disability available through his company(Bayer) and we just transitioned to long term at the six month mark(February 3rd). The company has had to fill his position here in Jax.. It is possible that surgery can correct at least the dehiscence and possibly also the balance. If the surgery is successful, he has the potential to be able to return to a normal job, possibly even at Bayer if something is available at that point. It has truly been a faith walk. Tim nor I would trade all that we have learned and the growth we have experienced throughout this time. God is good no matter what our circumstances look like. He NEVER abdicates His throne. He alone is the Sovereign Ruler over all. Our Creator and Redeemer. Nothing absolutely nothing catches Him by surprise! Thank you for your prayers and support!! Your are loved.
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