Author Topic: Added BAHA Bonus!  (Read 8274 times)

lori67

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Added BAHA Bonus!
« on: November 25, 2009, 09:23:18 am »
It just keeps getting better!   :D

I live in the dreaded cell phone "dead zone". On the rare occasion that my cell phone works, I usually have to be standing outside and hope no fighter jets fly over.  The other day, my husband and I were standing next to each other, he was on my BAHA side and his cell phone rang.  He looked to see if he had enough "bars" to actually use the phone without running out the front door.  At first, he only had one bar and figured the call would be cut off, but as he moved the phone past me, near my BAHA abutment, he noticed his phone went from 1 bar to 5.  I didn't know what he was doing, but the whole time he was on the phone, he kept leaning over near my head.  (I thought he was just crazy!).

So he finished up his call and then told me that was the first time he was able to use his cell in the house and that it worked better when it was near my BAHA abutment.  Now, I was sure he was crazy.  So we did a little experiment, and sure enough, if you hold the phone in front of you, the best signal you get is one bar.  Hold it up near my BAHA - it goes up to 5 bars.  Apparently, I'm a walking antenna!

I can't wait to see if I can get a satellite signal and stop paying for cable tv!  The possibilities are endless - completely self contained GPS?  On-star?  Sirius radio?  High speed internet?   ;D  I'll bet everyone is going to have BAHA envy now!

Lori, wired for sound

Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.

Tamster

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2009, 01:09:58 pm »
LOL

You made my day!
6mm AN left side, diagnosed Sept 22, 2009
Middle Fossa  December 8th 2009,  Drs. Brackmann and Schwartz.
Facial nerve preserved, tumor out, SSD. tinnitus.

Life isn't t about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/Tamst

saralynn143

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2009, 01:33:45 pm »
Very cool.

Sara
MVD for hemifacial spasm 6/2/08
left side facial paresis
 12/100 facial function - 7/29/08
 46 - 11/25/08
 53 - 05/12/09
left side SSD approx. 4 weeks
 low-frequency hearing loss; 85% speech recognition 7/28/08
1.8 gram thin profile platinum eyelid weight 8/12/08
Fitted for scleral lens 5/9/13

wendysig

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2009, 02:00:08 pm »
Lori,

You cracked me up -- too, too funny!  :D   I'll have to check this out the next fume the cell phone only has one or two bars.  It just occurred to me that sometimes when I'm in the mall I used to have my cell phone service drop out in one area.  I haven't noticed it it has happened since I got my BAHA.  Hmm, guess I'll have to check this out!    ;D

Happy Thanksgiving,
Wendy

1.3 cm at time of diagnosis -  April 9, 2008
2 cm at time of surgery
SSD right side translabyrinthine July 25, 2008
Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Extremely grateful for the wonderful Dr. Choe & Dr. Chen
BAHA surgery 1/5/09
Doing great!

leapyrtwins

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2009, 02:25:04 pm »
Oh my dear God, Lori  ;D

You crack me up!!  :D

Hurry, call Cochlear and tell them of this benefit. 

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

Jim Scott

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2009, 03:20:33 pm »
Lori ~

This could only happen to you!  Actually, I think it would be a hoot if the BAHA abutment really did act as an antenna.  You're right, the possibilities are almost endless.  Have fun with it!  :D

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

Kiwi Don

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2009, 03:34:37 pm »
Hey Lori,

It just keeps getting better??? ::)

Don
24July09 Diagnoised with Left AN 2.0cm x 1.9cm
Translab Scheduled 7April10

"Received the Ticket, Boarded the Train, and now the Journey has begun??"

NancyMc

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2009, 06:25:31 pm »
Quote
Hurry, call Cochlear and tell them of this benefit.

No, no!  They'll raise the price or charge monthly fees!!!   Wait til I get mine so I'm grandfathered in.  
That's hysterical!
I am also in a dead zone unless I stand on a couch in my loft.
« Last Edit: November 26, 2009, 01:16:24 am by NancyMc »
Watch and Wait since 9/19/01
Increased from 1.1 x 1.9 to 1.9 x 1.9 cm as of 10/27/08
Right SSD, tinnitus, compensating balance
Dr. McKenna at Mass Eye and Ear and Dr. Barker at MGH
Translab April 8, 9 hours, 18 mm Tumor all gone SSD some facial weakness

saralynn143

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2009, 06:48:41 pm »
Lori, just don't take cover under a tree during a lightning storm, OK?

Sara
MVD for hemifacial spasm 6/2/08
left side facial paresis
 12/100 facial function - 7/29/08
 46 - 11/25/08
 53 - 05/12/09
left side SSD approx. 4 weeks
 low-frequency hearing loss; 85% speech recognition 7/28/08
1.8 gram thin profile platinum eyelid weight 8/12/08
Fitted for scleral lens 5/9/13

lori67

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2009, 08:46:17 pm »
Don, if you're going to have a bolt in your head, you might as well use it for all it's worth, right?   :D  Besides, I hate paying for cable since there's never anything good on anyway!

Sara, you bring up a good point!  I think I'll stay indoors during storms from now on!  Yikes!    :o  Now that would be a bad hair day!

Lori
Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.

Jeepers

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #10 on: November 27, 2009, 01:10:17 pm »
HAH!  This is hilarious! 

My co-workers had already been thinking up "accessories" ... fan, cb radio, bug zapper ...  ;D


Thanks for passing this on, Jan!!   :)
Diagnosed 2003-right side-1cm AN
Wait and watch for 6 yrs; 2009 showed growth w/balance issues
Translab 7/9/09 - Drs. Battista/Kazan (Hinsdale IL); SSD
Recovering well!

leapyrtwins

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #11 on: November 27, 2009, 06:50:16 pm »
No problem, Jeepers.  Need to pass Lori's humor along to others  :D

I love your coworkers' bug zapper idea; might be a very nice attachment for summer  ;D

Lori, I think we need to get to work of this new business venture.

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

lori67

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2009, 11:57:14 am »
Yes, I like the bug zapper idea!  Very functional.

My nephew gave me a cell phone antenna for Christmas the first year I had my BAHA.  Who knew he was actually onto something?

Does anyone remember the Partridge Family episode when Laurie got radio reception from her braces (or was it the fillings in her teeth?)?

Lori
Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.

Kaybo

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2009, 02:10:34 pm »
so now can I call you on your cell when you are home or should I call James so he can hold it near your head??

K   ;D
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

leapyrtwins

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Re: Added BAHA Bonus!
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2009, 02:21:22 pm »
so now can I call you on your cell when you are home or should I call James so he can hold it near your head??

I wonder if you call Lori in the summertime and she's outside if she can zap bugs at the same time she's talking to you on her cell.  ;)  :D

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways