HAVE BEEN LOOSING HEARING FOR 10 PLUS YEARS. ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO, AN ENT DOCtor ASKED ABOUT THE LOSS ONLY ON ONE SIDE. HE STATED THAT HE COULD RUN TESTS, BUT THEY WOULD SHOW 0 SO I SHOULD JUST ACCEPT THE LOST HEARING.
3 YEARS AGO, I WAS FITTED FOR AN HEARING AID. WE TALKED ABOUT THE LOSS ON ONLY ONE SIDE. SHE FITTED ME WITH THE AID AND THAT WAS IT. she worked for teh office of the ENT seen years ago.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE AUDIOLOGIST WAS ON VACATION AND DID NOT CHANGE HER VOICE MAIL. AFTER TIME, I CONTACTED ANOTHER AUDIOLOGIST AND THEY REPAIRED MY HEARING AID AFTER A TECH AND I TALKED.
AS I HAD NOT HAD MY AID REPROGRAMMED IN 2 YEARS, I NEEDED IT ADJUSTED TO COMPENSATE FOR LOST HEARING AGAIN. TO THE NEW AUDIOLOGIST'S OFFICE AND I MET HER. SHE DID THE NORMAL hearing TEST AND ASKED ABOUT THE ONE SIDED LOSS. THEN PERFORMED A TEST WITH PROBES ON THE NECK AND FOREHEAD WITH NOISE BEING BROADCAST IN MY EARS. ABNORMAL!
SHE ARANGED A VISIT WITH ENT - THE NEXT DAY.
THE ENT, TALKED about hearing AND SET UP A MRI. I HAD A HARD TIME WITH CLOSED IN FEELING OF THE MACHINE. LESS THAN FRIENDLY TECH ALSO. it was late in day and i had feeling that he wanted me to say i can't do it? he offered a blindfold.
GOT CALL FROM ENT AND HE SAID THAT I HAD A GROWTH. NON MALIGNANT. HE TALKED TO MY GP AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I TALK TO a CYBER KNIFE facility. THE MACHINE IS NEW IN The Tulsa , OK area and both are associated with the supporting hospital.
Oct 7 - TO CB AND I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD AN A.N. THE SIZE IS 2.9 * 1.6CM. IT IS CLOSE TO BRAIN STEM. CK DR TALKED ABOUT THE TUMOR, SAID CK WOULD KILL THE CELLS, DESCRIBED MIMIMUM SIDE AFFECTS FROM RADIATION, SAID THAT I WOULD LOOSE SOME HEARING, GAVE TOUR OF FACILITY. ETC. SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD PERFORMED 30ISH OF THESE PROCEEDURES ON THE CK. SHE IS DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM. SHE HAS SEVERAL YEARS WITH OTHER MACHINES.
I KNOW THAT I DO NOT WISH TO HAVE THE SURGERY ..... TIME IN HOSPITAL AND PLAIN FEAR. I LIKE THE IDEA OF NON INVASIVE PROCESS.
SHE SAID TO GO OUT AND GET EDUCATED. TO GO ON TRIP TO HAWAII THAT WIFE AND I HAVE PLANNED FOR 2ND WEEK IN November. SHE SAID TO GO ENJOY LIFE. SHE ALSO TALKED ABOUT NOT LOSSING THE HEARING TOTALLY.... I HAD THOUGHT THAT SHE SAID THAT I WOULD UNTIL I LISTENED TO TAPE RECORDER TONIGHT. WIFE TOOK RECORDER AND GOT PERMISSION TO TAPE THE MEETING.
MY ONLY REAL SYMPTHOM TODATE IS HEARING LOSS anf the ringing in the ear..... SOME BALANCE ISSUE AS I FIRST STAND and a little as i walk.
I HAVE DECIDED 99.9% TO TRY CK? I AM 56 YEAR OLD MALE IN PRETTY GOOD HEALTH - OVERWEIGTH - GOING TO WEIGHT WATCHERS AND HAVE DROPPED 35 POUNDS SO FAR. TAKE BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS.... SAME SCRIPT FOR OVER 5 YEARS. I HAVE MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DENTIST AND GP..... GET A FULL PHYSICAL, FLU SHOT?, GET TEETH CLEANED , AND ASK FOR ADVICE. THIS IS set for the LAST OF OCOTBER.
I HAVE READ A LOT ON THE INTERNET.... i see that every site is sponsored by a group that pushes what it supports ... i am referring to those associated with dr offices or hospital. none of these "commercial" sites give an even account? or am i wrong? so i know if i go to surgeon, he will most likely say to have the surgery .... if to ck dr. the bias will also show?
??
so given my present state of mind..... i think that i have made up my mind for the CK. to have it done in Tulsa - yes i know of Dr Medley in OKC. The Ck dr her impressed me. or more so, she impressed me.
also going out of town means lost days of work. i need to feed the family. i
--- i have united health care insurance.
the ck dr said 5 treatments.
the dr said that she would schedule 4 mri's for the first year... she did not talk about other visits - immediate care or anything else ....
i have scheduled another appointment with the CK dr on the day after we return from our trip. i still have questions ... but giving CK a shot makes sense to me.
sorry this post has been so long...... writing it out helps my nerves?
and i have to say thanks to the audiologists that had to question the hearing loss - thanks DR. Vikki!!!!