ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: doctorb on September 26, 2009, 11:31:49 am
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Just wanted to thank everyone I met today at the first every support group meeting I attended here in Atlanta. I enjoyed the opportunity to share, listen and learn...very much worth the time. I look forward to seeing everyone again at the next meeting.
Doc Breger
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Doc Breger -
I'm in Illinois, but I take it you're an AN doctor? Neurotolgoist? Neurosurgeon? ENT?
Support group meetings are awesome - as is this Forum - thanks for taking the time to attend. We appreciate it - even those of us who don't live in Atlanta :)
Jan
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Hey, Doc, it's me, Cindy, from the meeting yesterday! Was so nice to meet you - hope to see you again at the next meeting (probably Jan or so). Glad to see you here on the forum - share your story, if you'd like - you are doing amazingly well for only being 8 weeks out, especially considering the size of your tumor! I'm sure you will continue to improve as the days go on - it can seem painfully slow, but it will happen. Your great attitude will serve you well!
Keep us posted,
Cindy
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I think I'm confused here. Is doctorb a doctor? a patient? or a doctor and a patient (like Sam Rush & Dufreyne)?
Jan
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Well, Jan, he's definitely an AN patient - just had surgery here in Atl 8 weeks ago. He may be an actual doctor also, he didn't say whether he was or not when we met him yesterday at the meeting. Just said his name was "Doc." I didn't even think to ask if that meant he was a "real" doctor - we were all talking so much about his being a patient...
Doc? Are you a doc or just Doc :) Either way, we hope you'll hang around the forum with us.
Cindy
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Hi Cindy & Jan,
Thanks again Cindy, I really enjoyed :D meeting you and everyone else at last Saturday's meeting. But most of all, I was so relieved to be able to tell my story to people that understood because we share a common experience; that was priceless. I can't wait until our next meeting; I just wish it were sooner. By the way, I Googled Elliott, he is in fact an accomplished writer; very interesting guy!
Jan, nice to meet you, and I'm sorry to say, no I'm not a medical Doctor although that certainly would have made my mother very happy. Like Cindy said, I am an AN - Post-Op Patient. In fact, yesterday was actually 8 weeks to the day since my surgery (July 30th). When time permits I'll be back to participate in the Forum as much as I can...I feel like I've got so much to say...more like just needing to get it of my chest :-[ as it were. Anyway, good to meet you and I look forward to sharing with everyone on these pages. :)
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no I'm not a medical Doctor although that certainly would have made my mother very happy.
Yea, well we can't always make our mothers happy :D I'm sure yours is proud of you no matter what profession you chose.
Thanks for the clarification - hope to see you back on the Forum - and hope to read your story - very soon.
Jan
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Hey Doc,
Keep us posted on how you are doing. Sounds like you are doing awesome 8 weeks out.. :) :)
Would love to hear more when you have time.
Happy day,
Maureen
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Slight hijack .....
Have to respond to the "Doc" issue. The title Dr. ------ , unfortunately, has little meaning these days because there are so many disciplines that have a terminal degree of Doctor of something or other, and then many colleges/universities give honorary doctorates, which further complicates the title meaning.
My husband has an earned Ph.D. (as I am sure many others on this forum have, as well) and is a retired university professor, so his students all called him Dr. D. I'm sorry, but he went to graduate school for 5 years (+ many more completing the dissertation while on the job) to earn his M.A. and Ph.D. so in my mind he is a "real" doctor, just not a medical one.
Thanks for letting me vent .....
Clarice
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Thanks Maureen,
I'll do my best to share more detail as I work my way back.
Best Regards,
Doc Breger
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Doc
shame on me for being late to the "welcome" committee meeting! ;) good to have you here. I see you have found your way around, meeting some really nice folks, gaining and most of all, Sharing info. I see you had the honour of meeting our cherished cindyj (I had the true honour, as well, last summer, when I flew to ATL to visit my family on the northside of town) and she's a true treasure. *waits for cindyj to slip "thank you for nice words" $5 my way*
I'm glad you enjoyed the support group meeting. Whether in person... or on this forum, it truly is special to speak to others that walk our shoes.
Again, welcome to the site.
Phyl
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Phyl,
Thanks for the warm welcome. Interesting how quickly people have joined the conversation with the new guy...says a lot for the community. Yes, Cindy certainly is a good one, no doubt about it. She made me feel very welcome at last Saturday's meeting...very glad she was there. The same for everyone I've meet so far, on the Forum and the Group. I look forward to participating in the Forum and learning from everyone!
You take care! :)
Doc
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*waits for cindyj to slip "thank you for nice words" $5 my way*
Phyl
Here's a $20, Phyl! You are too sweet, you know :)
Thanks to you, too, Doc - it was my plesure to meet you! Do hope to see you at the next meeting - you will be a great inspiration to any newly diagnosed or recently treated folks that may be there. That was a whopper of a tumor you had!
(Clarice, ooops, did I say something wrong? Were you venting at me? If so, sorry, I sure didn't mean anything by my comment regarding Doc being a "real" doc or not. I didn't mean MD vs PHd or DDS or other initials, I meant any sort of doctorate degree vs just a nickname he may have acquired. If I ever managed to get a PHd, I'd definitely be Dr. Cindy to all! Sorry to you to, Doc...)
Cindy, no where near being a doc of any sort :)
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Cindy ......
I was in no way directing my vent at you or anyone on this Forum. The phrase "real doctor" just stirred up lots of emotions. :-[ And, I am red-faced that I did not even welcome Doc to this Forum.
A big welcome to Doc Breger! I am glad you found not only us, but also the Atlanta support group. As you well know, this AN journey is a rough one and to meet others who fully understand is a tremendous stress-reducer.
Clarice
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Hi, Doc - and please accept yet another much-belated welcome.
You're to be congratulated on your recovery and we look forward to seeing more posts from you.
I've never spent much time contemplating titles related to one's education. However, I always thought the M.D. and PhD. titles were a bit confusing when the holders of either title can legitimately use the honorific 'doctor', which most ordinary people immediately assume stands for Medical Doctor (M.D.) If that weren't confusing enough, My dentist, the local veterinarian and some ministers (with degrees in theology) can and do use the title 'Doctor' - so the confusion grows exponentially these days. Maybe I'm old school, but when I hear someone addressed as 'doctor', I usually assume they're a medical doctor, unless I have reason to know their title refers to another field of expertise.
Jim
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I'm going to start using the new credentials: Dr. Phyl, dfM (Doctor of Discussion Forum Moderation, not to be confused with the male Dr. Phil)
well, Doc... look at all of these belated "Welcome". Yep, we certainly try our best, at support group meetings and here, to make all feel at home.
Dr. Phyl, dfM ;D
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Jim .....
Just noticed your new avatar ...... is it you? ;) (I'm sure it is ..... and it is a good picture ..... but quite different from the previous one.)
Clarice
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Clarice ~
That's for noticing. My previous avatar photo was over 2 years old and a bit blurry so my wife snapped a new one for me to use. I don't care for it too much as I look a bit fierce but decided to use it anyway, at least until I can get a better-looking photo, if that's even possible, considering the subject matter. ;)
Phyl: The thread hijack is now officially ended.
Jim
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Clarice,
No need to apologies...friendly banter is a good thing. Allow me to share the story behind the nick name "Doc." When I was very young my father gave me with the nick name "Doc" after hearing it on Bugs Bunny. We've all heard the infamous "What's up Doc" to which I usually reply "a Chicken's a*s when it eats, do you need a visual." :D
He later refined the explanation for why he gave me the name by saying, "one should pursue the vocation they're best qualified for" and mine was "Underwater Brain Surgery". Little did he know!?! That was nearly 50 years ago and the name has mostly definitely stuck; especially throughout a 20 year military career where it helped to show up with a Nick Name already assigned; GI's typically don't have good taste in Nick Names! :'(
Take Care!
"Doc" Breger
aka: Joe Lincoln (Another Story)
Phyl - I like it...not a medical Doctor Phyl! Something tells me you're probably just as smart though!
Thank you Jim Scott - greatly appreciated. I still have a long way to go on my road to recovery but I think having found the Atlanta Group and this Forum thanks to Cindy, that road will be a little bit easier perhaps.
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Phyl: The thread hijack is now officially ended.
noted, oh mighty fierce one! ;) Dr. Phyl, dfM
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Phyl - I like it...not a medical Doctor Phyl! Something tells me you probably just as smart though!
naw, only play one on tv! ;)
Ok, folks... back on topic now (officially!)..... and glad that Dr Joe is here and looking forward to his contributions about his AN journey.... and here's sending wellness wishes his way (and to everyone else!) :)
Dr. Phyl, dfM :D
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...... and we do banter! (Phyl, isn't this part of "Support?" :-*)
Clarice
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...... and we do banter! (Phyl, isn't this part of "Support?" :-*)
Clarice
"E" for Effort, Clarice. Good thing I remember your hugglez :)
May move this to "AN Community" so the *coff* banter can continue.
Dr, you fine with that? "AN Community" has minimal forum moderation and you can chat away in this thread.... you ok with that?
Dr. Phyl, dfM
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Move as necessary, I'm ok with that...thanks for the heads up!
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done. Thanks DrB.... let the banter continue. Have fun. :)
Dr. Phyl, dfM (man, I am really likin' typin' that!) :o ;D 8)
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Dr. Phyl, if I talk about our support group meeting topic, can this move back out of AN Community ::)
We did have an awesome speaker at the meeting - Gaye Cronin from the Atl Ear Clinic. She's a vestibular therapist and neuromuscular facial retrainng expert/person (?). Was so informative! Really helped explain why vestib excercises post surgery/radiation is so important. I've been trying to do some, but had stopped as they just make me so nauseous. However, after hearing her, I've vowed to get back to the excercises to give my system a fighting chance to fully compensate...but, yuck.
She also talked a bit about the tinnitus reduction therapy they do - they've had a good bit of success, apparently. They use some sort of electrode in the ear - she was very clear that they only do this on patients whose tumors have been completely removed. So, radio patients are not candidates, unfortunately.
Anyway, great info and great company...and pretty good brownies, too!
Cindy
PS - Thanks, Doc, for clearing up the whole "doc" matter :)
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She also talked a bit about the tinnitus reduction therapy they do - they've had a good bit of success, apparently. They use some sort of electrode in the ear - she was very clear that they only do this on patients whose tumors
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I'm going to keep my ears perked (or ear) for tinnitus reduction therapy here in the Pacific NW. My tumor is all gone (along with the sacrificial facial nerve). Always a bother......
Maureen
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Dr. Phyl, if I talk about our support group meeting topic, can this move back out of AN Community ::)
Actually, it should be in AN Community anyway as other forums here may/may not truly apply. We typically mention all AN-related get-together's here (ie: Apple Dumplin Brunch, upcoming ANA Support group mtgs, etc), so my thoughts..... keep it here. AN Community is a widely-read forum as well.... so, may get better exposure here and allow newbies to recognize the value of in-person meets, such as the support group meetings.
Dr Phyl, dfM has spoken :D
(thanks for understanding)
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I was really just kidding about moving the thread again, Dr. Phyl ;D
Moe, check out the Atlanta Ear Clinic website - they have some info about the various techinques they use. May be helpful to you. I am kicking around the idea of trying the electrode thing myself. She said that they you have six sessions and they evaluate you. Apparently, if no improvement is seen after six treatments, there won't be any improvement. I'll let y'all know if I pursue it...
Cindy
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Please do let me/us know it you pursue the electrode thing. Very interesting. I'll check the web site- THANKS!!
Maureen