Starting to get a consistent 6 am wake-up, and I am feeling fresher due to this.

The project is starting to kick in again and some more stock has sold, so spent some time this morning working on this and posting the stock.

My ear has been giving me sharp pain all morning, so after working on the project, I focused on getting my ear seen too.  I found it very hard to try and get an appointment that was not over 3 weeks away, it seems this is due to the NHS not providing this service anymore at doctors and only at health clinics, where you need to leave a message and they will post out an appointment date.  So this was no use for me as I am in pain.

I called around many audiologists and managed to get an early afternoon appointment with a private specialist hearing clinic.  When I attended this appointment, I was amazed to find out that both of my ears are heavily blocked, and my left ear is causing me pain due to the pressure in my ear canal.

During this appointment, as part of the health screening, I mentioned to the audiologist about my past excessive drinking and that I am now absent.  It turns out that alcohol and hearing issues are related;

Drinking too much alcohol makes your ear absorb more fluid and increases blood flow, which can lead to an ear infection, tinnitus and overproduction of wax.

Long after you have stopped drinking, alcohol can remain in the fluid of your inner ear, leading to vertigo and balance issues, like when you get the spins the morning after.

Excessive alcohol consumption can damage those inner ear hair cells, so the sounds don’t get sent to your brain, causing hearing loss.

The audiologist tried to remove it with water and suction, but it was not shifting, so now I need to use olive oil in my ear for another week, and a follow-up has been booked for next week.  My right ear can wait until my left ear has been sorted, I could not bear this pain in both ears.

I was not just in denial about my drinking, I was in denial about taking care of my body.
The after-effects of excessive drinking are becoming clear and only now am I sorting out my overall body health, mentally and physically.

Gratitudes:
I am grateful for the hearing clinic giving me an appointment within a few hours of calling
I am grateful for the audiologist explaining what is happening with my ear
I am grateful that there is a plan to get rid of this pain
I am grateful to be sober another day