ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: debora on December 27, 2007, 05:59:25 pm
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It's been a really rough week and I was wondering if anyone wanted to come to my pitty party. Guess I need a swift kick to remind me of my blessings. :'(
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I'll join you!!! I'm feeling really yucky today too. Too tired, worn out :'(
Christmas was great for my husband and sons but the rest of the out laws can just stay home next year. I cooked for two days. Cleaned and put away..... its best not to go there. Next year I think I'm going to change faiths!!
Hey where's the popcorn when we need it?
Anne Marie
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I have a fresh bowl of popcorn for anyone that needs it. I've had some medical problems lately and I'll join the pity party even though I'm feeling better now. I'm not looking forward to the surgery and recovery that I have to go through. Not even close to what you guys have gone through, so I shouldn't complain. I just hate to miss a good party. I'll sing for you also just name the tune. 16
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Hey I will bring some soggy Oregon snow balls. You have to throw them around before the melt... as “the rains� are in the forecast.
My youngest has her snowball stored in the freezer ... and is mourning that ole frosty is melting and washing away… leaving only his muddy scarf and the carrot as evidence (guaranteed to be eaten by the raccoons overnight)
But boy the Christmas snow was SO fun while it lasted.
OK we have at the party popcorn balls, snowballs... MMMM melon balls?
Who else is coming and what are you going to bring?
Cheers,
4
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I will bring some chocolates to the party. I need to share it so I don't eat it all myself. I've been spending time thinking back to where I was right after my surgery. Even though I'm not back to normal I'm not as bad as I was then. I've been feeling a bit depressed too. I tried downhill skiing for the first time right before Christmas and found that I couldn't do it. I've been noticing more balance problems since then. Probably just my perceptions. Hey...chocolate melted on the popcorn would be good!
Jean
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MMMM...
How about melon balls dipped in chocolate fondue?
4
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I had such a bad cold this week, I had to stay home, and I missed the family Christmas gathering. All I could do, between the naps and the chicken noodle soup, was sit at the computer composing a Christmas poem. So I'll be bringing the Kleenex. :'(
I think I'll pass on chocolate covered melon balls, but if Anne Marie has some of that bacon-covered turkey and stuffing left over, that might cheer me up pretty quick. :D
Steve
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It's not a party without the ole Texas staple,guess what I bring to partys ?
TEQUILLA,cheers you right up !
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Ewe gross super 8 – you aren’t going to eat that worm again are you? ::)
… Just the thought gives me the willies…
4
:)
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Hi Guys…..Adrian here. I bring Florida sunshine (almost 80 deg today) and a size 12 EEE to kick everyone right in the rump! I’m always the one to stir the proverbial $@%t pot….so here I go again.
Sam’s eldest daughter’s best friend, 15 years old, has been in the hospital for almost 2 months now from meningitis. She has been in an induced coma with the top of her skull removed to allow for the swelling of her brain. She has a “spider web� of electrodes attached to her brain to fire stimuli at precise moments so her brain is not over or under stimulated to allow for the swelling to subside.
As you can imagine, her parents are a mess. They started out good, with positive hopes, and with each passing day, seeing their daughter in a coma, those positive hopes become harder to grasp.
Sam and I both agree that what we went through was nothing in comparison. I obviously physically went through surgery and came out with the loss of hearing in my right ear and facial palsy that “should� be temporary. Sam endured my 15 hour surgery emotionally and I think she had the more difficult task of the 2 of us.
Everyday I thank God for my AN. It was not cancer……..it was treatable……and I am doing great all things considered. I know there are SOOOOOO many people that would love to be in my AN shoes. I too get discouraged especially when catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror or see myself in a picture, or can’t understand what someone says to me in a loud environment, but I’ll take my residual effects any day and every day if it means I’m alive and well.
Food for thought everyone. Keep your spirits high, and remember there are others who have it worse.
Respectfully,
Adrian
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Geez what a party pooper! ;)
As long as there's tequila, I'll be there. Don't need a pity party, but I over-did it on Saturday cleaning, so have been sleeping a lot and missed half of the holidays. Plus been whacked with really bad cramps. Really need something not too noisy to get me back up and running again! I'm ready to feel better!
Adrian, right there with ya....in the last week a co-worker lost a son to a one car accident (wasn't wearing his seatbelt..with friends, not with dad) and another attorney I used to work with is in the hospital in a coma from a different car accident. Has 2 very young kids and a loving wife wrecked with grief. The dreaded TBI. I will keep my crappy little tumor hole and experience in comparison. Wouldn't trade it for the world.
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Leave it to the guy from Florida to spoil a good party,
just kidding Adrian,No child should have to endure that,she has my prayers.
the one good thing about it,if you can call it a good thing is she knows or feels
totally nothing. please keep us updated on her,I will be checking.
dont make me bring a size 13 to the sunshine state.
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BRING IT DON'T SING IT....TEX!!! :-\
I truly don't mean to spoil a party, Lord knows I love to be the life of one! I don't know if you've read any of my past posts where I talk about not always being the most "positive" person. My AN has tought me to work on that!
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Hi and Merry Christmas to all! Jeanlea, I also tried to downhill ski. Too shaky and dizzy for me which is a bummer because I miss it. I use to be a ski patroller and now I feel like I can't even snow plow! I think I will try cross country skiing this year. Been walking on the treadmill and still can't let go of the bar. So guess I'll also join the party and savor Mexican food. Anybody like along with the tequila? All kidding aside, I had a wonderful Christmas this year. My new grandchild was here along with a zillion other people . Exhausting , but what fun. Now the house is quiet except for the constant noise Tinnitus in my head. I am thankful that at this point I don't have to consider surgery. I am having some facial numbness and weakness on the left but it is related to a vessel irritation on the trigeminal nerve. If I am rested, I am good to go. Take care everyone and have a Happier New Year. Helen
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I hate to miss a good party too - so count me in. I don't have much skill in the kitchen, but I can bring my leftover Christmas cookies. And how 'bout some rum? Didn't hear any mention of rum. I have a feeling Satman will be drinking all the tequila!
Happy New Year to everyone. Let's all think happy thoughts for 2008!!
Lori
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Hi Adrian,I know what you mean about the changes.This AN thing has made me more
compasionate towards other people,and for me thats a huge change,being in the media I always see the bad things,very bad things and I use to just put all that out of my head,but now I stop and think about how the situation,whatever that may be, will affect the victim for the rest of thier lives.
for example,I once covered a story where the mother of an infant cut off her babys arms [3-4 month old] I was concentrating on what the crew[news crew] could get for lunch,etc,now I would literally want to beat that woman to death...
The AN brought me back to where I needed to be,I now care.
I hope all that makes sense.
can I bring a party down or what? I am still working on the whole compasssion thing when it comes to all the panhandlers ,in time I guess,babysteps..
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Greetings from the State of Kansas. A Big Item I can bring too the Party-and is a hit around where I live at least is_Raw Hamburger. No Kidding. You have too season it really well but it is actually raw. People go nuts for it over the Holidays here-a real tradition. I cannot not eat it anymore because of the spices. Raw hamburger and Beer. So anyway-here is my pity for the year. Got my MRI last Thursday-this will be for a year and a half after Radiation. No results back yet but I have lost another 5 Decibels in hearing. have too have my Hearing Aid Readjusted this morn-too distorted and tinny. I got my 1 year evaluation at work before the Holidays. Was told I concentrate too much on my health issues and I need too accept my deafness and get on with life. Evaluation was a satisfactory but AT first it really teed me off. How dare you tell me how too accept my health when you have no problems-then I got too thinking. Ignorance is bliss-every dog has it's day. Some day they may be in need of understanding about health issues, but that is how people respond too illness they can not even fathom or understand-so you go on and accept I guess because you have no other choice. Don't you just love the human race-how we are always judging someone else. SO ANYONE FOR SOME RAW HAMBURGER. LOVE AND MAY YOU ALL HAVE A BETTER 2008-RON
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It's sunny in Ohio this morning, but 29 degrees. I have cut-out cookies that need to leave my house....The last few days I've had an odd pain running up the back of my head. 3 1/2 years later and those weird pains still get me..
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I actually use to eat RAW burger all the time ... (I have not for a while) ... but I do like my steaks on the rare side ... to the point it grosses my wife out .. ;D
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BLEEECCHHHHH! Raw Hamburger?? I've never heard of eating a raw hamburger!!!! Is it still mooing when it sits on the bun?
I'm still learning to like grits since moving to the south - that's daring enough for me.
Lori :P
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Raw Hamburger, ucchhh, with beer, double uch. I'll bring popcorn with tabascco sauce on it. My personal favorite and it keeps the kids out of my popcorn bowl. The dogs don't seem to mind. Pass the tequila and happy new year!!!
Mary
2cm AN, HEI, Dr. Brackmann, 05/24/05
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Raw hamburger is not served on a bun. You dip it with crackers or so. It sounds awful but it is really good. Awfully spicy though. The local meat processor's sell out early over the Holidays and alot of taverns serve it during the Holidays. It is actually a German tradition. The area that I live in has a Germanic background and ancestry so this is where this originated from. When my best friend got married years and years ago we ate a whole bowl full with pitchers of ice cold beer. I bet if I served some too some of you and never told you what it was you would say-Oh how tasty-what is it. Of course a good host never reveals their secret. Happy New Year- Have some Raw hamburger-Ron
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I got a big feverblister and had to swear off sweets and chocolate for the holidays, boo-hoo!
I am attending the neighborhood party where everyone has margueritas and lots of loud game playing. I broke the news to our hostess that I'd be bringing my gigsaw puzzle and a glass of my "favorite" wine. Not too much pitty for me, I'll be wearing an earplug in my good ear. C'est la vie!
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I think I'll stick with the Italian tradition of lentil soup and lasagna for New Years. Sounds better than raw burgers. Tell you what Ron, if we wind up at the same party - you can have my share!! I'll just eat the crackers! And the beer. ;D
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I remember having that as a kid. I think it was called Rawdog. The taste was pretty good if I remember correctly. Must have been made by some of the many Germans around here.
Jean
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PARTY - YEA
2008 is here and I am still in Indiana, while my films are still stashed on top of the armoir in my bedroom and the noise in my head was the only thing awake to welcome the new year. I have been on the diagnostic wheel of life since the last of August at which time I was only battling Diabetis, Depression & Fibromyalgia. At the end of August following a heart Cath I was labled with Viral Myocardiomyopothy (Virus attacked my heart) and Hypertension: that was changed to Non-ischemic Myocardiomyopothy after a CMRI. The onset of dizziness was attributed to my fluxuating blood pressure which the Cardiologist eventually (3 Months later) decided that it could be coming from my inner ear and forwarded me on to an ENT. Wow - the ENT discovered that I have lost all of my low-tone hearing and a portion of my high frequency as well. (Oh, and I had been hearing tweeps and ocean sounds for months but had not reported them due to all of the other more pressing issues). MRI was done and I was set up for an ECOG and ABR test along with a consult with a Neurotologist on Jan. 15.
So, my depression worsened and my meds were changed. My diabetic diet became a diabetic/cardio diet. My son (33 years old and Pastor of a church elected to write me out of his life - to quote him, "It's not healty for he and his family to be in my presence, as he believes that all of my conditions stem from my mental illness!" So, I spent Christmas without seeing my five-year-old granddaughter.
So, I too would like to attend the PARTY. I will be attending alone as the wonderful husband who supports me, watches over me, and laughs when I lose the dog, lose my heart meds, bake a frozen pizza on the cardboard disc etc. could use a break.
Is this a dress-up affair?
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Oh, no - come as you are! And if you find the dog, bring him too!
Sounds like you've had a heck of a year. I hope this one is better. You've had more than your share of things to deal with. Your husband isn't the only one who needs a break - you do too.
Hang in there!!
Lori
p.s. I don't usually lose my dog, as she's stuck to me like velcro half the time - I do tend to lose my kids in the house - and yesterday I spent 15 minutes looking for my sunglasses - that were in my hand the whole time!!
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A year and three months post-op. Still have balance problems and left side of face still can't make a full smile.Tinnitis is full blown now.I have to adapt to crowded places and noises. I thank GOD for his healing and I still pray that some day I will awaken to a full smile. I got I great tropical drink (went on a cruise last July and found it) Mango and strawberry smoothie with rum.On the ship its called the the love connection Ran up a heck of a bar tab on the ship. I think we should all go on a cruise. Lots of partying. Talk about balance. No pitty paryty for me. You got to get up and go .
Tastykake
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Hey Tasykakeman, we've been on a cruise over on the Good Morning thread for over a year now. Start on about page 20. Right mateys? Steak Tartare. Mmmmm. Usta serve it at Club Comance in Christiansted on the Island of St Croix. With a raw egg and lots of lemon and capers and finely chopped red onion and tomatoes and pickles and stuff. With crusty French bread. Yummm.
I'm ready to cut loose some relatives, too. My step-daughter decided to wreck everyones New-years Eve.
Not fun. Wish she'd get some counselling!
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate2.gif)
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Partaaaaayyyy! I'm for that, and can I bring my sister-in-law as she brings a naked uniqueness crankin it up a notch? Let me back up to the 30th of December and my family reunion at my house. Here's the "pitty" part.....I'm experiencing some of the worst vertigo (much like three years ago when I had my surgery) even while my eyes are closed and with the help of son, daughter, son-in-law, and hubby we pulled off this reunion. Here's the "party" part.....People were sleeping here there, everywhere in da house. The two large dogs constantly chasing, play biting one another around our legs and knocking me off kilter one too many times, adding to the ruckus was my grandaughter squeeling gleefully! My neices and nephews started betting on which aunt would fall in the pool first as they were guzzling vodkatinis, wine and beer. Both sisters-in-law decided to jump into the pool together and after some more drinks later, one decided to strip and before you know it......(use your imagination). What a sight they were, wet rats laughing loudly, dogs running around the pool barking as this surely upset them thinking they were in trouble and the rest of us were holding our splitting sides from laughter!! Thankfully my elderly parents left before the stripper act as just jumping into the pool was not on their list of best party behavior. Oh yes, and I'm still feeling crappy and probably will through January until my surgery in February.
Happy, healthy New Year to all!
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Well, I'm ready to start answering to the name Popeye .... for the last month - when I eat my left eye closes and I can feel my eyelid pull when I talk too. I went to the Bell's Palsy site and looked at exercises to try and get this over board reaction to stop....but feel like I am fighting a loosing battle. The only places I could find that really know about skinesis and Facial Neuromuscular Retraining...were in Canada and Georgia.
Does anyone know of a place closer to South West Washington that can help with this??? I first notice a 'pulling' feeling about 5 weeks after I started teaching full time and then it got worse and got to the eye close thing when I got Broncitus (sp?) and coughed for 2 weeks solid. I know 'they' say to avoid excessive facial exercises at the beginning...(because this may cause skinesis) and I'm wondering if having to stand in front of my class and talk 6 1/2 hours a day has been excessive... and caused this Popeye problem. I keep hoping that it will go away but I don't know what to do.
Thanks for any help.
Margaret
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There should be a list of places that specialize in facial PT on the Bell's Palsy website. My PT here in Nashville mentioned it one day - I guess there was one PT intially in Wisconsin or someplace that really came up with the program - and then over the past few years, other PT's have gone to learn from her. Those people should be listed on the site.
I go in the next couple of weeks to my PT, so when I see her, I'll ask her if she knows anyone near you.
I have some mild synkinesis too and we're working on correcting it and keeping it from getting worse. When I eat, the muscle that controls the bottom lip contracts and pulls it down, making it very difficult to keep food in my mouth. When i try to blink, my cheek moves. It is really annoying! :-\
Lori
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Are you in Southwest Washington State? If that is the case you can call Harborview or the UW and talk to a nurse in the rehab department and they can direct you to someone closer to home. If you can not find the number let me know and I will get Dr Jaffe's number at harborview for you. He was my Son's inpatient and outpatient rehab Dr at Childrens and he is also at Harborview. PM me and let me know since I am new to this (I sometimes have problems) and the msg will go to me if I'm home or working. 16
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My surgeon saiys it inevitable that one will get synkinesis so don't be too hard on yourself. He also though says to chew gum and Jackie the FT says that is a no no. I also have it again after my facial neuroma surgery. The eye closing type. I don't get as shook this 2nd time around. It bothered me after the first surgery.
Cheryl R
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Back to the party...I think the cruise idea is great!! It may be the only time I feel like I AM balanced! Other complaints are that I listen to the TV too loud...well DAHHH...I can't hear anything but ringing and an ocean sound...why not make the ocean sound real!?!?! I just got back from a 2 week Caribbean cruise over the holidays with my son...we had a blast.
Think on this...you're with a group of people who talk as loud as you do, can't hear anything, act tipsy even when they aren't and appear like they are habitually winking at you...it sounds too good to pass up!
Hope there are rough seas...if I'm going to have Vertigo, I'd like to have earned it...
BTW...I'll bring Mango Margarita’s (one of my favorites) to go with all this good Mexican food being promised.
As for the Pity - I did find out Friday that the CK I had 2 years ago appears not to have worked...I'll know real change in size this week, but to the naked eye, there is a section that appears to be growing (looks to be much more than normal swelling).
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Thank you to : Lori, 16,and Cheryl. I will look into those areas and see what I can find. It helps to have a direction to look. I talked with an occupational theropist (at my aunt's nursing home)today and she said I should go to a speech therapist....but I don't see how that will help.
Anyway, I will check into this more after my daughter leaves for Sweden on Thursday ( lots of last minute things to do )
Anyone else who has an idea about this ...please do :)
Thanks again AN family,
marg
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Sometimes the speech therapist can do facial PT too. I know there are a few where I go that do both speech and facial stuff.
Tell your daughter to have a nice trip to Sweden!
Lori