Author Topic: Always look on the bright side of life  (Read 7317 times)

Brookes

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Always look on the bright side of life
« on: May 17, 2010, 01:36:35 pm »
Hum the Monty Python tune if you know it...

I've been virtually SSD since the day of the MRI that detected my AN (the MRI was for the "mild to moderate" hearing loss I had prior).  But in addition to adapting to the loss, there have been some gains:

 ;D

1. When I sleep on my non-SSD side, NOTHING short of an earthquake wakes me up.
2. I'm going to save loads on home theater (Dolby 5.1?  Heck, I don't even need Dolby 1.1)
3. You know how iPod/MP3/Walkman headphones always go on the fritz by losing one side?
4. Proper holiday meal seating strategy can avoid a lot of in-law annoyance.
5. My wife can no longer accuse me of selective hearing... EVEN WHEN I'M REALLY DOING IT!

Feel free to add your own.
« Last Edit: May 17, 2010, 01:53:37 pm by Brookes »

TJ

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2010, 02:22:23 pm »
6.  We can just shake our head during the most boring conversations, as we really don't know what is being said anyway.

TJ

moe

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2010, 08:20:09 pm »
I sang that tune in my head the minute I saw it!
Monty Python's the Meaning of Life.
Can't think of anything to add :)
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

Lizard

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2010, 08:30:56 pm »
7. Annoying co-workers are much easier to ignore.

I still have some hearing on that side, but no worries its enough to ignore them ones who are most disruptive

Thanks for the reference too....
Left AN 2.5CM,retrosigmoid 11/2008, second surgery to repair CSF leak. 
Headaches began immediately.  Dr. Ducic occipital nerve resection, December 2011!!!!!

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on"
-Franklin D. Roosevelt

carter

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2010, 11:25:48 am »
i got my hearing aid ... a woman that i work with asked me why i was mad at her ...


what are you talking about?

she then explained that as long as i had known her, i would stare at her intently as she told her story or talked to me.  Recently she said that i no longer seem to be interested as i may look off, continue with work, or not even look at her.  She said that she knows that i am angry about something and that she wished to fix our relationship ... she misses the old me.

she did not know about the hearing aid and that i had stared at her face trying to figure  out what she was saying -- she has a very faint voice .....

i had to remember to look into the person's face even though that i did not have to....

a big lesson!  and a cute story that i use in life.

carter
Diagnosed in fall of 2008 with 1.6 * 2.9cm AN on left side. 

Scheduled CK at Oklahoma Cyber Knife in December, 2008 and decided not to proceede on 2nd date that CK was scheduled.  I fired them.

CK performed at St John's Hospital (Tulsa)Jan 2009

moe

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2010, 12:53:14 pm »
That is an interesting story!
I get tired of sounding like a broken record with people but I do anyway.

"I'm deaf on the left so if I don't answer, it's not because I'm ignoring you!"

Then "Remember, I'm deaf on the left so if I don't answer, it's not because I'm ignoring you!"
Or
"Come to my good side."
It is hard work being SSD!
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

lori67

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2010, 01:41:36 pm »
Facial paralysis means fewer wrinkles.  At least on one side! 

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.

wendysig

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2010, 07:32:53 am »
That is an interesting story!
I get tired of sounding like a broken record with people but I do anyway.

"I'm deaf on the left so if I don't answer, it's not because I'm ignoring you!"

Then "Remember, I'm deaf on the left so if I don't answer, it's not because I'm ignoring you!"
Or
"Come to my good side."
It is hard work being SSD!


I could not have said it better.  My brother's girlfriend was standing on my deaf side and tried to whisper something to me.  She was upset that I seemed to totally ignore her.  UGH!!!  I get tired of constantly having to remind people I can't hear on that side if you whisper to me even if I'm wearing my BAHA unless you're talking directly into it.  My ear doesn't work!!!

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!

Brookes

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #8 on: May 21, 2010, 08:19:02 am »
Some of you folks are not fully embracing the theme of this thread.   ;)

nteeman

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #9 on: May 21, 2010, 08:25:23 am »
This is a great thread!

Yes, to all above.  I have gotten tired of telling the same people over and over again that I can't hear them on my left side. Now I let them ramble on an on then when they are finished I just smile and let them know -- I didn't hear any of that!  ;D

Sleeping with my good ear down -- this is almost like a super power. I often like to sleep on the RR train I take and sometimes after I find a nice comfy seat several loud passengers come sit near me. I have found that using an earplug (one I used to use when I practiced playing drums) in my good ear and then lean my head on my hand on that side does the job completely. Ah the silence is wonderful.

Loud crowded situations: I just give up even trying to hear what people are trying to say. I found that if there is something someone has to tell me they find a way, I just relax and enjoy the noise.
Diagnosed 12/16/2008
AN 2.4 X 2.0 X 1.6 CM
surgery performed on 1/27/2009 Mt. Sinai Hospital, NYC
Dr.Bederson & Dr. Smouha
9:30am thru 5:50pm
http://www.facebook.com/neal.teeman

Kaybo

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #10 on: May 21, 2010, 08:42:12 am »
When I taught school, I put the student that talked to me incessantly on my deaf side... ;)

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!

moe

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #11 on: May 21, 2010, 10:03:56 am »
Some of you folks are not fully embracing the theme of this thread.   ;)

I know_ it's called hijacking! Isn't that funny how the theme changes?
Okay, whenever I see that there is response on this post, I start singing that silly Monty Python song, and I can't get it out of my head!

SSD is a great excuse to NOT go out to social events, since I am a homebody anyway, this is GOOD :)
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

lori67

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #12 on: May 21, 2010, 11:41:17 am »
When I taught school, I put the student that talked to me incessantly on my deaf side... ;)

K   ;D

Kay, I do that with one of my own children.  I can't say which one though, because 3 of them can read!   ;)

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.

Brookes

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #13 on: May 21, 2010, 01:22:12 pm »
Some of you folks are not fully embracing the theme of this thread.   ;)

I know_ it's called hijacking! Isn't that funny how the theme changes?]
Naw, not egregious enough to call a hijack.  YET.  Plus, I was trying to avoid using that term for all these friendly folks.

Quote
Okay, whenever I see that there is response on this post, I start singing that silly Monty Python song, and I can't get it out of my head!
For your imagining pleasure...

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...

    And...always look on the bright side of life...
    Always look on the light side of life...


(Of course, the whistling's the best part but that's just to tough to describe for those who haven't heard it.  Found this, which gives a little taste.)

moe

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Re: Always look on the bright side of life
« Reply #14 on: May 21, 2010, 02:24:31 pm »
Gee thanks, now I get to SING the song in my head. But I probably won't be able to remember the lyrics so that's ok and good :D
Yes, it really wasn't a hijack, just an opposite take of your topic ???
Moe
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty