It is finally warm out side - real warm and sunny, no wind. Days like this are perfect days for putting on the miles but I'm stuck here typing this post.

In January I noticed my hearing was getting bad and my ear felt like it had pressure in it. Went to the Doc several times for drugs. Finally I had enough and (Long story short) was sent to a hearing specialist. The recommendation was lie around doing nothing, sleep sitting up, don't lift anything over 3 pounds (huh?), don't work to hard at taking a dump, don't blow your nose, no exercise. No, I'm not making this stuff up!

After a couple of weeks I couldn't walk down the stairs without getting incredibly dizzy. I would puke for hours and couldn't even crawl straight on my hands and knees. Obviously I had to miss work and I couldn't even think of riding. I was sent for a CAT scan and then in for emergency surgery on my left ear. Something had damaged the diaphragm inside of my ear which had to be plugged.

I now have the abide by the ridiculous recommendations for a few more months and I'm not sure when I'll be able to ride again (I have rode a few short rides but it messes with my head). Fact is, I won't regain all my hearing and if the surgery isn't successful I will need more extreme surgery. Ultimately there is no guarantee the problem can be fixed. My sense of smell is now messed up, I can't hear anything out of my left ear, I have an incredible ringing in my deaf ear, and I still feel like I want to puke if I do too much.

Now to the title of the thread - Protect your hearing, it affects more than just your ability to hear in stereo. Loud pipes will save your life because if you damage your ears you won't be out riding, you'll be stuck inside like me and you won't be able to get into an accident. I have no proof that my loud pipes caused my problems, and Yes, I do ride with ear plugs but even them the loud pipes caused my ears to ring after long rides. Better safe than sorry.

Warning - If this does happen to you, don't watch late night TV or you will own several sets of Ginsue Steak knives, and don't go online with your credit card. The new mufflers are in the mail along with the new cams, spark plugs, PCV, adjustable pushrods, etc., etc. <G>

 

Like you, my hearing got so bad that last year went in for hearing aides. The CVO is a lot quieter than my Heritage, but getting hearing aides plus buying the CVO was a very expensive way to save my hearing. I wore ear plugs and that helped, but it added too much pressure inside my ear canals. Sorry about your need for surgery. Hope it works out for you.

 

Thanks HDRick.

Funny thing is, I was in the process of trying to find some quieter mufflers because my wife found the V&H Ovals too loud. Now I'm the one that needs them quiet.