ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: wendysig on June 05, 2008, 08:01:59 am
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Hi all --
Dr. Choe just called to give me the results of the audiogram I had yesterday. As I thought,, my hearing has gone down rather suddenly again. I forgot what he said about pure tone, but my discrimination is doiwn to 24%,, so there is nothing left to save. He is now recommending translab and I guess that's life, so I will be joining the ranks of those of you who are SSD. While it certainly is not the end of the world, getting this news, even though I pretty much expected itl, has made me much sadder than I thought it would. On the positive side, Dr. Choe pointed out that I am a good candidate for BAHA and I plan to pursue that when the time comes. I asked if he could do the surgery for BAHA when he does the AN surgey,, but he said he prefers to stage it. His feeling was that recuperating from the AN surgery was enough to handle at this time. Hopefully, I will get the good news I expect from the opthamologist today. That will make me feel at least a little bit better.
Wendy
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Oh well. :P
SSD is manageable, and translab is otherwise a good safe surgery. By all accounts, the BAHA implant is a simple procedure that can be done anytime.
Not great news, but at least now you know where you stand, and what lies ahead. Resolution is a good thing, even if it is plan B instead of plan A.
Hopefully the eye doctor will have something good to say.
Best wishes as you go forward,
Steve
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Wendy,
While I wish your decision about approach didn't have to be connected to news of your hearing loss, I hope the sense of clarity and resolution on what lies ahead helps offset some of your sadness and anxiety about it. I think it's natural to be sad about a permanent change in yourself even if it doesn't come as a surprise. When I went to an audiologist to confirm my right-sided hearing deficit, I was shocked and saddened by the words "profound loss" even though it had already been that way for months and months. Somehow the medical test, official terminology, or whatever, always makes the reality sink in.
But SSD really isn't unmanageable, and if you are candidate for the BAHA, things should eventually return to normal (more or less ;) )
so, best of luck and hang in there!
Carrie
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Wendy,
I'm glad to hear you have your plan in place, but sad to hear about your hearing. I guess in some ways, at least you didn't have to struggle with the choice of approach. I know that when I had my translab, the decision was pretty much made for me. I'm sure it would have been hard to weigh the pros and cons of the different approaches.
As the others have said, SSD is definitely not the end of the world. It does take some getting used to, and I will say that I had an easier time accepting it once I allowed myself to admit I was sad and angry about it. I spent so long telling myself that I shouldn't be sad about it because I still had one good ear and that was more than some people have, but I was sad and angry about losing a part of myself. Once I admitted to myself that it was okay to feel that way, I was able to move on and now I just accept it as a part of the new me! And it has definitely taught me to be a little more patient with people who may also have issues they are dealing with that I may not be able to see - like the SSD. I hope my kids are learning that lesson through me as well.
I got my BAHA in January and am very happy with it, so it's good to know there are some options out there for you. The BAHA surgery was not a big deal and I haven't had any problems with it.
Hang in there! You will find a silver lining in this cloud!
Lori
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Hi, Wendy:
I join everyone here in regretting the decline of your hearing ability that has motivated you to choose Translab surgery. However, it's probably a good choice under the circumstances. Your sadness at the loss of your hearing in one ear is perfectly understandable and many of us have had a similar experience. The BAHA can certainly help offset your hearing loss and is something to look forward to. I've been SSD for some time (prior to my diagnosis and surgery) and I believe I cope quite well. That's not to pretend that SSD isn't annoying at times, but it is surmountable. Human beings are very adaptable. :)
I wish you all the best as you move toward your surgery. Try to remain as positive as possible and please stay connected here. :)
Jim
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Sending you a big hug, Wendy. It's a relief to have an approach, but you are entitled to feel sad, too. I remember laying in bed one night talking to my dear hubby before surgery, and "sad" is exactly the word I used to describe how I felt about my impending hearing loss. I kept trying to imagine how it was going to feel to wake up from surgery and be deaf in that ear (my hearing was still quite good - speech discrim. was 76%).
But you know what? It hasn't been bad at all! As with many things, the uncertainty of the unkown was worse than the actual event - if that makes sense?
Give yourself time to feel sad, angry, etc - and then think about all the new friends you've made here!
Did Dr. Choe give you any idea as to timing, Wendy?
hugs to you!
Debbi
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I'm glad to hear you have your plan in place, but sad to hear about your hearing.
As the others have said, SSD is definitely not the end of the world. It does take some getting used to, and I will say that I had an easier time accepting it once I allowed myself to admit I was sad and angry about it.
Wendy -
I know this is kind of like "cheating" or definitely plagarism, but I'm quoting Lori here because she said exactly what I want to say at this moment.
While I wasn't able to be sad or angry about my hearing loss going into surgery (because the retrosigmoid approach gave me the chance of saving it), I did subsequently discovered that being SSD brought on these emotions. I wasn't angry at my doctors though; I absolutely believe they did the right thing in my case and I would have made the same decision if they could have asked me.
IMO you have to grieve your hearing loss - like Debbi and Lori mentioned - give yourself time to feel sad and mad/angry. It's only natural to feel this way. You were born with two ears that could hear perfectly well, and now you will be "losing" one. After you are done grieving, if you choose to, you can look into a BAHA or a TransEar. Don't rush things; baby steps :)
BTW, I think Dr. Choe is right about wanting to stage the BAHA surgery. I make this comment with no facts to back me up - it's just my opinion based on my own experience. Others who had the surgeries at the same time might tell you differently.
Jan
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Hi to all and thanks for your kind words and support. Your advice sounds a lot like what I've been telling myself all day. I do feel like I am grieving for something precious that I lost, which I did. I just never realized before how precious it was. Amazing what we take for granted. The only one I am mad at is myself, for taking too long to make a decision I should have made at least a month ago. I might have had a chance to save my hearing then. Well, this feeling too shall pass, hopefully soon. I am not the kind of person to sit around feeling sorry for myself for very long. On the bright side, I went to the opthamologist today and everything went as I expected. I still have high pressure in my eyes, so I am still at risk for glaucome, but that is the same as it has been for the past year. I asked him about the visual problems I've been having (disorientation in crowds and things looking slightly different when I am walking) and he said the nerves in my eyes look perfect, so as has been suspected, it must be part of my dysequalibrium problem. That was the best news I could have gotten today and I was happy to get it. It made everything else feel not quite so bad.
Wendy
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Debbi -
Nothing definite but we agreed on a tentative date of July 24. It may seem like it is pretty far away, but since there is no no longer anything to save as far as hearing goes, it's soon enough.
Wendy
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Hi Wendy-
Well, July 24 is pretty quick, actually - you'll be surprised how quickly the time actually goes.
Hey, don't beat yourself up for "waiting too long" - very likely that a few months (or six or more) wouldn't make any significant difference. The important thing is that you've found a doctor you are really comfortable with and have settled on an apporach. You've done all the right things. And, your attitude is great!
Call anytime, okay?
Debbi
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Hi Wendy,
Given how fast your hearing declined over six weeks, I don't think there was much chance of saving it by any means, no matter how soon you had acted. Sometimes hearing preservation is just not in the cards.
I too have elevated eye pressure, and have had since a year before my AN diagnosis. I am also told that it has nothing to do with the AN. I have been using a drop to control the pressure; are you using anything?
It never ceases to amaze me how many different ways these ANs turn out. They start over here or over there; they grow this way or that way; they grow quickly or slowly; they show symptoms at a tiny size, or not at all until they are quite large. They're a lot like that famous box of chocolates.
I'm just glad they aren't a bigger problem than they are. ;)
Steve
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Thanks Debbi -
I do work at having a good attitude because I know it is too easy to feel sorry for myself. That is that last thing I want or need. Hopefully, by tomorrow my sense of humor will return and I'll do something I can laugh at myself for again. Either that or maybe someone will post something funny that will make me fall out of my chair again. Actuallly, maybe I'll go back and look at Jan's post regarding her processor I did practically fall out of my chairlaughing when I read it last night. In fact, thinking about it is already making me feel better. I'll defininttely give it another read.
Steve - Sorry to hear that you too are at risk for glaucoma. I'm not using any drops, the pressure in my eyes is 19. The doc says anything under 20 doesn't need anything but watching. My next appointment is in six months. You know, the doctors can say whatever they want, but the fact that your eye pressure is elevated and mine is makes me wondrer if there are anyother ANers out there with the same problem. To me at least, its within the realm of possibiility that they could be connected somehow.
Wendy
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Wendy -
I'm sure Jan would gladly whack her head on something if she knew it would make you smile! I would offer to do it, but somehow it seems much funnier when Jan does it. At least it does to me! :D
Lori
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Geez, Lori. Some thanks I get ::)
Here I am trying to be just like you - I even picked you as my mentor today and quoted you directly, not once but twice in the same post, and this is my reward? A suggestion to whack myself in the head :o
I can't even believe you'd behave this way! Must be because Phyl's back on hiatus and not checking in on us :D
Sadly, Wendy, Lori is probably correct. As she's mentioned before I am a bit of an overachiever and I probably would take a whack to the head if I thought it would cheer you up.
Don't beat yourself up thinking you've waiting too long to decide on the surgery. As Steve said (okay I lied in my prior post, I do actually listen to him) "sometimes hearing preservation just isn't in the cards". I am a perfect example of this. I picked retrosigmoid to try to save my hearing and it just didn't pan out. We don't always have a choice about things and despite being a certified control freak, even I have to admit that lots of times we just don't have any control either.
I'm glad you liked my BAHA play by play. I've probably said it a million time before, but I am thrilled with my new "toy".
Now did I hear Steve say something about a box of chocolates? Chocolate is my one true vice - outside of humor. Is he going to share them? I certainly hope so because if he doesn't Lori might just want me to whack him over the head :o
Jan
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Golly, Wendy, now I am feeling bug-eyed. My eye pressure got up as high as 30 at one point; with the drops, I can get it back down to 18 or 19. To me, 19 is low!
If anything connects them, I think it might be the case that both the AN and the high eye pressure share some common cause - a parent, so to speak. It might be something like a higher or lower than normal level of something in the blood: a hormone or an enzyme, some risk factor that increases the likelihood of both things occurring. Don't hold your breath waiting for a solid answer on that, but it will be interesting to see if there are others sharing this little boat.
Personally, I think Jan went out and got a miniature model of a BAHA, along with the real one, so she could scare us into thinking she has enormous hands. :D I have no idea why she would want to scare us, though. Lori and I are as harmless as tiny little fleas. ::)
Steve
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Personally, I think Jan went out and got a miniature model of a BAHA, along with the real one, so she could scare us into thinking she has enormous hands. :D I have no idea why she would want to scare us, though. Lori and I are as harmless as tiny little fleas. ::)
What is this? Let's all pick on Jan night ??? Anyone else want to participate in this obviously fun-filled activity LOL
You're cracking me up here, Steve. But that's one of the reasons I hang around this forum :D
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Jan, Lori and Steve -
Thanks, you really made me laugh! I am feeling much better this morning and any residual self-pity is definiitely gone. It just takes too much energy that I could be using for something more positive. Hey Steve, I want some of those chocolates too! Jan, no need to whack yourself in the head, but maybe Steve if he doesn't share those chocolates. Doesn't he know better. He's surrounded by women! Lori, thanks to you. You always crack me up. And by the way, when I eventually do get my BAHA I want a purple toothbrush with my name in diamonds too, so start working on those gift baskets!!
WEndy
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Hey, did someone say chocolates???? I'm menopausal - you don't want to mess with me, or withhold chocolate...
Debbi
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It was Steve ;D
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Steve, i think you might want to add an extra layer of cushioning to your knit hat. Sounds like you're in for a few good knocks to the noggin!
However, if you just hand over the chocolate and step away.....no one has to get hurt.... ;)
Wendy, our budget doesn't quite allow for diamonds at this point. We can do the purple toothbrush and I'll just borrow some silver glitter from my daughter and glue it on there. You'll hardly notice they're not real diamonds. Just make sure you put extra "goop" in both eyes before you use it.
I'm so sorry I went to bed before Pick on Jan night was over. We'll have to schedule another one. Before Phyl gets back.. she always make us play nice... ::)
Lori
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I'm so sorry I went to bed before Pick on Jan night was over. We'll have to schedule another one. Before Phyl gets back.. she always make us play nice... ::)
Yeah, were is Phyl when I need her - and her censorship wand ???
Lori -
I'm a good sport so if you want to extend Pick on Jan Night, I'm game. Just remember your time is coming ;D
Because Wendy is Wendy and I really like her sense of humor, we might have a little something in the budget for cubic zirconias ;)
And taking away silver glitter from a small female child - good luck with that! I'd make sure she's napping ;)
Jan
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Lori -
I guessif it has to , silver glitter will do (heavy sigh!) . Are sure you can wrestle that glitter away from your daughter? I lend you ours but my daughter wont't let me have it. Maybe I'll sneak into their bedroom when they're not home.
Jan - Thanks for the thought but I don't want to break the bank of Lori's budet before you two get this gift basket thing off the ground. Hmm, maybe I'll be an investor! Then the three of us could be big time entrupeneurs (spelling?)! We'd be a sure hit with the BAHA gang!
Wendy
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Ah, an investor.. that's just what we need, Jan... apparently all this time I thought YOU were the independently wealthy one - and it's actually Wendy! How sweet of her to foot the bill for our start up costs. Let's not tell Steve though, or he'll want her to pay for his yarn! Can you imagine that?? On his moderator salary, I think he can afford to buy it himself without taking advantage of poor Wendy.
And good news, I don't have to borrow any glitter from my daughter after all - I just realized that there is more than enough that's been sucked up into my vacuum cleaner - we may just have to spend a little time gathering it. :-\ Wendy, you don't mind a little dog hair stuck to your toothbrush, do you??? :P
Lori
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Did someone say dog hair??? I have a collie, can donate unlimited quantities of dog hair - just need shipping address. Jan, Lori and Wendy will have to take charge of the glitter, though...
Debbi - feeling silly ;D
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Lori -
an investor is exactly what we need. I'd offer myself, but I don't know yet how much the processor is going to set me back, plus I'm currently in the middle of funding another AN project, and God only knows how much I'm going to lose on the potential sale of my current "mansion" (don't flatten those boxes, yet!) ;)
I've put a lot of thought into this and I think that since Wendy has so generously offered to sign all of her assets over to us, it would be very rude of us to decline! You know what they say about never looking a gift horse in the mouth. In an effort not to highly insult Wendy, I say we graciously accept her money. BTW, have I mentioned that Wendy is actually more incredible than I first thought :D
Now if we can just get Hope's "Dr. W" to invest also, I think you and I will be sipping margaritas in Tahiti - rather than NJ ;)
Let's not forget to invite K, I know how she loves to volunteer to take care of children - especially fighting ones - so you and I will be free to party without any of those pesky "mom" worries.
And since Steve has already offered to purchase all of Brucifer's drinks at the symposium, if he asks for yarn money from us, I say "no way"! You weren't kidding when you said I was tough :D
Jan
PS to Debbi, I'll send you Lori's address for the dog hair shipments. She said to tell you to send several large boxes ;) I'll have to ask K to send her some from the pic-a-wienie too! Lori will be SO thrilled - and surprised too!
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Hi Jan and Lori -
Well, things seem to just be moving right along. I can contribute some cat hair too and if you really want to get fancy, my daughter's hermit crab has outgrown a couple of her shells, so that might come in handy too. As for sipping margueritas in Tahiti, count me iin. Steve can only have one if he decides to share those chocolates he was talking about. And what kind of yarn does he want that he thinks I shoudl pay for? Is he knittiing little beanies for the BAHAs?
Wendy
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Tahiti does sound slightly more exotic than NJ...
I love it when a plan comes together.. must be all the great minds at work around here! And Wendy's unbelievable generosity! She's really somethin' else!! ;D
But Jan, if you may be needing the boxes to live in, perhaps we should have the large boxes of dog hair shipped to you. I think we're all set here. I'm getting tired of doing the Heimlich maneuver on my vacuum cleaner. I just bought the "Furminator" for my dogs - whew...got enough hair off the golden retriever to make everyone a dog hair sweater to go with our knit hats.
And K - that's so nice of you to offer your child care services for free once again....remind Jan to slip you a couple of bucks to buy something nice for yourself after the kiddies go to sleep.
Lori
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Hmmm. Dog hair sweaters to go with our knit hats - you might be on to something here :D
Oh wait, that was a typo - I should have said you may be on something here. By any chance, have you just come from sipping margaritas with satman?
Almost forgot to mention - very good comeback on the boxes of dog hair - you are quick!
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You could use the dog hair as insulation - I hear it gets cold up there in the Windy City.
I missed out on the margarita - I think Satman polished off all the tequila! ;)
Lori
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Lori & Jan~
Here's the deal: I WANT TO HAVE FUN & BE WITH Y'ALL -- I DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE don't make me do it
K *runs out of room sobbing*
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Lori & Jan~
Here's the deal: I WANT TO HAVE FUN & BE WITH Y'ALL -- I DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE don't make me do it
K *runs out of room sobbing*
K -
have you been bugging my house :o Do you realize how many times I've said this very same thing in the last 12 years!!! ;D
Pack your bags and grab your straw, K. I think Lori will agree that we should ask Steve to take care of the kids. If he's really smart he will teach them all to knit, so he can keep up with production. Child labor - it's been done before ;)
Lori -
I'm beginning to think that you and my daughter are conspirators. She has an answer for everything, too ;D
Jan
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I think Lori will agree that we should ask Steve to take care of the kids. If he's really smart he will teach them all to knit, so he can keep up with production. Child labor - it's been done before ;)
Now this I like. I will dust off my Mark Twain, and brush up on the patented Tom Sawyer "painting this fence is fun - I'll let you try it for a nickel" routine. Not only will they all be knitting, they will think they are lucky to get the chance, and have a great time! 'Course the hats might come out funny looking, but that was probably going to happen anyway.
Did someone say margarita?
Steve
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Actually quite a few people have said margarita today :D
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Jan & Steve~
An excellent choice for the children!!! I feel so much better already! Where are the little umbrella drinks (i still need them after yesterday's adventures!)???
Thanks for solving my problems so quickly...
K ;D
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Okay, but I give it an hour before Steve realizes he is outnumbered. He should be tied up in miles of green yarn by then while the kids run off to the nearest toy store with nickels in hand.
Jan, just because your daughter is a genious (like me), it can't possibly be my fault! :D Perhaps you should bring her to the symposium...we could discuss debating tactics...My favorite is "if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull "poop"." (Beware of the censors...).
Lori
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Lori -
if I did bring my daughter to the symposium she would be too busy shopping on Michigan Avenue to even consider hanging out with you ::) No offense.
She told me just the other day that she is thrilled we are going to NYC next month, because apparently they have the largest Tiffany's store in the USA.
Don't know where she plans to get the funds to buy anything there though. I think the batteries in my BAHA might just be dead that day ;)
Jan
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Jan -
When are you going to be in NYC and what are you going to be doing? If we're not in Florida and I'm inot in the hospital, I would love to meet you. I'd be glad to come into the City and meet wherever would be convenient for you! Our kids are about the same age,girls are 11 (well 12 on July 2) and 13 (14 on August 3). So they might enjoy meeting each other too. Let me know if you think this is something you'd like to do.
Wendy
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Wendy -
Jan and I will both be in NJ - at the shore the week of July 12th and were planning on trying to get together. Where are you? Maybe we can have an AN party!
Lori
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Oh, and Jan, I would be happy to accompany your daughter on a shopping spree - just give me your credit card and I'll make sure we use it wisely. ;D
Lori
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Wendy -
as Lori says, I'll be in NJ (Spring Lake) from 7/10 - 7/14. I will be in NYC on 7/15 & 7/16 and returning to NJ on 7/17. My two children (boy/girl) turned 12 on 2/29.
An AN party would be great ;D I think Debbi is also somewhere in NJ and there may be others - I say the more the merrier. Maybe we should plan something definite.
Lori -
thanks for the offer to take the daughter off my hands for a short time :D I have to warn you though, the her attitude is less than stellar these days ;) Shopping will definitely perk her up though! And don't worry about the credit card; although mine are all maxed right now, Steve said he'd give you one of his. Wonder if that's part of the moderator expense fund plan ;D
Jan
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Jan & Lori -
I'm not sure of the exact date, but we are coming home from Florida probably the 15th or 16th . I might have to go for pre-testing on the 17th ot 18th, but maybe I can put that off until the following week. My tentative surgery date is the 24th. If it is at all possible I would love to get together with all of you!!! I'll talk to my husband and try to make this work! I live in Staten Island, NY which is not far from thr City (what we NYers call Manhattan) and not too far (maybe an hour or two)from parts of the NJersey Shore. What town are you going to be in again? It would be fantastic if Debbi could cime too. I have no idea of where she lives, but I think she'd try.
Wendy
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Sorry for the typos. I was typing one-handed and eating a dripping ice cream cone in the other. I actually managed not to get it on the keyboard.
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Oh sure, eat ice cream without us...
Well, I'll be in Seaside Heights from the 12 - 19th, but I'll be in various parts of South Jersey a few days before and after those dates. I haven't figured out where Spring Lake is yet, but plan to look that up one of these days. I think Debbi is up North, if I remember correctly.
Heck, everyone come on down to the beach - we'll find room for everyone!
Lori
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I WANT TO COME!! I'll be in Baltimore then - that's a LOT closer than Texas, but I am afraid not close enough!
K
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Lori -
my brother lives in Summit and he says that Spring Lake is about an hour away from him - although knowing my brother he drives VERY fast. He's always doing dangerous things, so we like to joke that he has a death wish ;) I also know that Spring Lake isn't too far from Sea Girt - if that helps.
I've heard of Sea Girt - actually know someone from college who lived there - but I have no idea where it's located ::) As you can tell, I'm geographically challenged :D
K -
wish you could come. I've been dying to go to Texas, but don't see it happening anytime in the near future. I'm taking the kids to NJ/NYC in July and going to MN myself in August. If nothing else, hopefully we can all get together in August 2009 at the ANA Symposium.
Jan
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Hi Alll-
Maybe we could meet up in the City for lunch?? I am about 90 minutes away (sometimes less, depending on how the traffic Gods are feeling) It would be SO much fun to meet eveyrone!! We could show off our scars, bahas (for you lucky dogs who have them) and just get silly (not much of a trip for some of us...) As a former Manhattanite, I could probably recommend something easy and central for lunch (really no such thing as "cheap" in Manhattan, but we can keep it reasonable...)
Oh, I'm liking this idea!!!
Debbi
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Debbi,
Sounds great! Let's just wait until this heat wave is over! By the way, I plan to show off my Transear. I hope you are Ok with that! ;D
Eve
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Oh, Eve, you showoff, you! :D
Jan, if your brother is in NJ and doesn't drive fast, then I'd say he had a death wish. Driving fast in Jersey is merely a survival tactic known by few. Gosh, I miss that...
I know where Summit is - my Dad used to work there. I don't think I'll be able to make the trek to the city because then I'll be leaving my family with no car and leaving my husband with all the kids! While that sounds like heaven to me, he may not think so. But, you never know....I'll keep my options open.
K- Baltimore is only about 3 hours from Seaside!
Lori (I feel like a travel agent...)
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Hi Lori -
I would have shared my ice cream, but it wouldn't go through when I tried to send it. I'm not sure where Seasiide Heights is, but I think Seagirt is about 1 1/2 hours away from me. Not a bad drive. If Spring Lake is close by, I should be able to make it for at least one day. I spoke to Dr. Choe today and will need to get the pre-testing done ASAP upon my return from Florida so that, unfurtunately that needs to be done first. My insurance company is refusing to accept his first choice of neurosurgeon (Dr. Bederson) as he is out of network, so now I have to go see yet another doctor. I googled the latest choice, Dr. Chun Chen, and he sounded just as qualified and maybe even more so. I'm seeing him on June 19. Hopefully things will come together pretty quick after that.
Jan - I've heard of Summit but don't know exacly where it is - somewhere in northen New Jersey, I think. Tell your brother to slow down -- life is already too short!
Wendy
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Eve - Yes, I TOTALLY want to see your Transear! And, hoping to see a BAHA too (Jan???)
Well, I can meet in Summit if that is easier for everyone? Sea Girt is really far from where I am in the hinterlands of northwestern NJ, but noting is out of the question...
Wendy, I've heard good things about Dr. Chen - I hope you will find that you connect with him, as I know how important that is. Keep me posted...
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Hi all-
Sounds like everyone is in, hopefully including me -- I love it when a plan comes together. Hopefully by the end of next week or the beginning of the following week I'll have a definite date for surgery. That will tell me what time I have free to meet up with all of you! I really hope this works out!
Debbi - I've never heard of Dr. Chen before but Dr. Choe assures me he is a brilliant surgeon. I googled Dr. Chen and his credentials are very impressive. He also told me Dr. Bederson will still be participating in my surgery too. How lucky can a girl get? It sounds like I'm getting an all-star team at a first class hospital. I'm sure I couldn't be in better hands. I never did write to Dr. Bederson, I guess I should go do that now while I'm thinking about it. Talk later.
Wendy
P.S. Hope you are feeling even better today!
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Debbi and Wendy,
I cannot do Summit; it is too far from me unfortunately. I can definitely come to the city, though. I am also dying to show my Transear! Yes, Lori, when it comes to the Transear, I am a showoff! :D
Eve
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I'm in not matter what. Let's get a date as soon as you have your schedule, Wendy.
So, Willie had a question when I was telling him about our planned get-together - who is doing the seating chart? We'll need to keep track of who can hear out of what ear!!! ;D :o I was laughing so hard when he said that!
I'll scout out some places near Penn Station if that works for everyone?
Lori, any chance you could take the train up from the Shore? I can't remember how far south NJ Transit goes, so not sure if that works or not...
Well, gotta go - my lemon IV is calling me...
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Wondefrul! I can't wait to see all of you! Debbi, maybe you should post about NYC get together in AN Community section so that everybody can see it and hopefully many more people can join us. Just a suggestion...
Eve
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Hey, there's always a chance! I'll look into that. If not, I may be driving up to North Jersey one day to visit a friend in Wayne who just had a baby ( I was planning on saving that for a rainy day so I won't miss out on beach time!).
Yes, a seating chart would be a good idea - or we can all bring megaphones so we can make sure we're heard!
Lori
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Okay, I'm posting something on the Community section, so we can start planning a date/location. Thanks for that suggestion, Eve!
Get your Transears, BAHAs, crooked smiles, wonky heards, non blinking eyes, etc all warmed up!!
Debbi
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I"M GETTING JEALOUS...............do you see the green coming out of my ears???
K
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If you're going to be in Baltimore - any chance you could take the train up to NYC for the day? I think it is only about a 3 hour trip, and it leaves you right off at Penn Stn...
Debbi
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Hi all -
This plan is sounding better and better. I am going to be on needles and pins for the next week and a half or so. I t would be great if K could get a train from Baltimore and join everyone too. I'm so excited! It almost feels like a reunion even though we've never met in person! Now I have to tell you all about something that happended to me this weekend. I was at our community pool playing catch in the water with my daughters. A woman I'd never met came over and asked if she and her daughter could join us. I said sure the more the merrier. While we were in the pool she was on my right (AN) side and after saying what and excues me a few times, I just explained that I was hard of hearing in that ear, but not why. She was very understanding and didn't seem to mind all my whats and excuse mes after t heat. When we got out of the pool she introduced me to her husband. He's not an ANer, but has a BAHA. What are the chances of that happening? After we talked for a while I decided to tell them about my AN (this was when I found out he had a degenerative bone disease in his ear, not an AN) He actually knew what I was talking about though. In a strange way, it was almost fun to exchange stories. Anyway we really clicked. Who would ever think having a hearing problem would lead to making new friends besides all of my fellow ANers! When life hands you lemons make lemonade!
Wendy
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Wendy -
the man at the pool with the BAHA is probably a bigger coincidence than you realize. The number of BAHA users in the US is growing, but from what I understand, we are still a minority among deaf people.
Very "cool" story - and not just because of the pool ;)
Jan
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Debbi~
I was wondering if the train went there and how long it took...how would I find out the times? I see the Dr. on the 15th and have the 16th open, but CERTAINLY would not want it to be scheduled around me -- what dates are y'all talking now?? Interesting thought though...
K
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Hi Kay-
If you go to Amtrak's website, you should be able to find the nearest train station in Baltimore - you want to check times and schedules for Penn Station, NYC. That train station puts you right in the heart of mid-town Manhattan - very easy. I am not sure about times, as I think you may have some high-speed train options from Baltimore.
Hey, won't this be FUN??
BTW. I started a NY/NJ area Lunch thread under AN community, so let's all gravitate over there for this if possible - have already heard from the two Joe's on that thread... Looks like we may have a party on our hands!!
Debbi