It’s been a big few weeks and I’m exhausted! Work has been busy, I’ve fought off a cold, I’ve returned from a work trip to Taiwan and my ears have been all fuzzy since I started my job.

Of all of it, my ears are the worst part. It started during my interview but I didn’t realise it then. I go up two sets of escalators (they are as steep as at Kings Cross Station – they freak me out) and then in a super fast lift to the 39th floor with its first stop at the 34th floor. In Taiwan, I was going up the lifts in the highest building to the 45th floor. Apparently it’s the highest in the world but I’m sure that it’s been out-built by now by some building tycoon with a short appendage complex.

I had a great time there meeting the team though it was incredibly busy and I was stuffed every night going to bed. That’s when the cold hit. I was staying in a great hotel with a nice bath so had a few of those (luckily they’re not going through a drought).

In the meantime, my ears, particularly my right ear, had been taking longer and longer to ‘pop’ each day. Now it rarely pops at all and is only clear on the weekends if at all. I’ve been hearing things in a muffled way for all this time and thought that perhaps I should do something about it because it’s driving me nuts.

Some colleagues recommended ear candling which I looked into and the idea freaked me out a bit so I went to the doctor. The doctor stuck those things in my ears to not be surprised that I was having troubles. She’s given me some anti-inflammatory drugs and some sinus tables as well as some ear drops in case I need to fly soon. Interestingly, these are all drugs that I could buy over the counter in Australia but here they are prescription. Even more interesting is that the contraceptive pill can be bought over the counter. I spoke with the doctor about ear candling and apparently that wouldn’t help my current situation but apparently it is quite soothing and she gets it done herself. Reassuring but I’m still not ready for it.

It’s the second day I’m on these drugs and still I’m hearing people as though I’m underwater. I apparently have to give it four days. It’s been so long already that four days is quite short though it feels like it’s four years right now. I can’t even hear myself properly!

Did I mention this is driving me crazy?

* Thank you to Cyprus Hill for the title to this post