I Can Hear Again!!

Yesterday we spent the day in Omaha.  There might be more exciting things to do there than have two doctor appointments, but that's the way it was.  

I am now on yearly oncologist's visits and I passed that one with flying colors.

We planned on visiting Valentino's for lunch, when we got to the one we usually visit, it has changed into a party room place, but if we went next door to the carryout/lunch counter we could get a coupon to use for the buffet at another place.  So we did.  After stuffing ourselves we went shopping.  I prowled around Good Will, looking for a pair of brown boots and a brown sweater and finding none, I found myself eyeing a nice little backpack purse in far better shape than mine.  While I was debating someone else was making up their mind, and it was gone, so I came home with nothing.  Jim however was spending company money for an air hose reel, which he needed, and then after a little comedy in the parking lot, where I couldn't find our car without Jim hollering at me, even though it was right in front of me, we were off to the ENT clinic to get my BAHA.

I saw the doctor for just a bit while he inspected the post site for healing around the post and tugged on it to test how well it was grown in, then it was off to the audiologist for a long lesson on the BAHA, and it's accompanying equipment.  It was programmed after a little hearing test which proved I can't hear much of anything as the device is set to it's highest volume. Then we found out how to take care of it, use the batteries, which batteries to buy, how to store it, how to clean it, how to take it on and off, and not to get it wet.  It seems like we talked about lots of other things, that I can't really remember, but we asked lots of questions and felt like we understood everything we needed to.  

Whether we will remember it all is a different story.  

Now, my brain has to get used to a louder world.  Everything is louder; I can hear things I haven't heard for 5 years.  I can hear the toilet paper unrolling, and the fridge running.   Flushing, Jim's slippers on the floor and the dryer are too loud.  Crinkling plastic bottles, clinking silverware and setting plates on the table are just plumb annoying.  This the the time for my brain to relearn what it wants to hear and what it doesn't.  It takes awhile, anywhere from 10-12 weeks.  

It's not so bad, it's nice not to have to be right next to Jim to hear him.  

I think I'll get used to this new, louder world sooner than I expected. 

Healing Begins

More than a week has passed.  The plastic cover over my new BAHA post with snap fastener is exposed to the air. My doctor doesn't expect to see me again for three months when the hearing tests and device fitting will occur.  I won't see him unless the site gets infected, but they don't act like that is a big concern, although we were given explicit instructions on what to look for and how to react and when to call and get our bods to Omaha.  

This was our day on Tuesday.  

This morning our alarm rang at 4:45 and we left the house through intermittent fog for Omaha.  We would have liked to linger for a few outdoor minutes at our favorite Milford rest are, but as I didn't have enough jacket for the 50 degree temps, we decided to forego that and continued on our way. We got to to office at 8:30, and were ushered into the examining room at 9:10, and after a quick pull-off of the plastic cover and unwinding of the corn wrapped around the post and approval rating of 0 (which is good), we were on our way out fo the parking lot at 10:45 to get home at 1.  A long trip for a short exam.  I was VERY pleased that the area looks so good.  I know someone else, who had horrible problems with infection.  I hope I am spared that.  We have to watch and clean the spot of course.  I would really like to get by with no infection.  I've had so many other problems. 

I wanted Jim to help me with the first hair washing that hadn't been done per doctor's orders since the surgery.  I was a little bit nervous about the newly placed rod that isn't firmly grown in.  I have to, after washing, dry that spot with a hair dryer.  No more drip drying hair, ever.  That spot HAS to stay dry.  I wonder about swimming?  So, I went out and bought a hair dryer.  I haven't owned one for decades, although their presence has not been unknown in this house because I have two girls. 

So, the waiting begins. 

BAHA At Last

Several years ago, I wrote an exciting blog post about this BAHA thing.

(Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) on April 12, 2016 and then I wrote nothing because the insurance company denied me, twice, even after a couple of appeals showing that my hearing loss wasn't just happen-chance, but a series of unfortunate events starting with radiation and ending in destroyed

 ear drums. 

Well, a couple of years and a couple of insurance companies later, plus some enlightenment on the part of said insurance companies, the bone anchored hearing aid is becoming a part of accepted treatment for hearing loss, and we decided to try again.  

We were waiting for resolve and time.  I wasn't any too sure I wanted to start again and face more appeals and more surgery.  After Lorene graduated and didn't need me so constantly to watch the boys, it was feasible to think about it again and in July we started the process all over again with more hearing tests and waiting to hear from the insurance company.  

From there, things went quickly.  In a month, surgery was scheduled, pre-op physical done, and we were on the road to surgery.  

It's done, and I am home again, recovering.  I have very little pain in my head where the post has been put in, but my throat is very sore, since they had problems putting the breathing tube in.  That part of my anatomy has been compromised because of the radiation, and gives me plenty of problems. In three months, we will talk about fitting the hearing device. 

The white disc covers the incision site and the post, but you can see the area. 

This surgical center sends home a red rose. 

Learning New Things

One thing that happens weekly is a visit from Lorene and the two little boys, since Zane is in school.  Lorene left them with me for a hour while she was off and those boys must have had spring fever, since they were inside and outside and wanting to play one game for 5 minutes, and then another game for 5 minutes, then perhaps this toy would be the right thing....and on and on.  

I let them spray my plants with a little hand sprayer and that was the biggest mistake because then they went on to the windows and the kitchen floor, which is all well and good because they were all cleaner than when they started, but since they were willing enough to help wipe at first, that idea was much less appealing that running around spraying things.  I finally shoved them outside and they could spray anything out there except the windows.  

Before Lorene left Barry brought up my small stepladder from the basement,  (how he can manage that since it is taller than he is I don't know), with the intent of get the marshmallows I keep on the top shelf.  He can't get up there so I got the marshmallows and during this time the timer on the microwave rang to remind me I had clothes in the washer, but I forgot them because Christian grabbed the microwave door which didn't open and he was pulling it toward the edge of the counter! (He was on the stepladder.) Lorene jumped as only a mother can when her child is in danger and in the kerfluffle an egg full of glitter left over from Lynette's senior Spanish class crashed to the floor and we had glitter all over.  I was glad to be done with the thing floating around.  Poor Christian thought he was in trouble, but we were just all excited over the microwave incident.  

I'm sweeping up the mess while the boys finished their ice cream cones.  This was the first time they've ever eaten ice cream this way, so Lorene had to help them out by showing them how to take a bite and pretty soon they were all gone!

There is no much cuter than a little boy with a flower for his gramma.  One time while the kids were outside that morning, I was in the basement attending to the forgotten laundry when I saw Christian running full tilt to the house with something in his hand.  I went back upstairs so he could find and he held out his dandelion (with a long stem) for me.  I put it with the other flowers on my counter.  

I transplanted these dutch irises last year and I'm so pleased with the way they are thriving.  There were some of my favorite spring flowers when I was a kid and I took some roots of Mom's when I had a place of my own to plant them.

Yesterday I took a trip to Omaha again.  This time it wasn't because I had an infection.  This time it was because it actually looked like I would be able to have that BAHA evaluation done at last.  I was scheduled to have the evaluation done two months ago, but I had that horrible swelling mastoid infection and surgery instead.

The evaluation consisted of finding a foundation hearing level in my left ear by blocking sound in the right ear by putting noise in it.  In the first test I pushed a button when I could hear sounds; in the second test I was supposed to repeat words.  I couldn't hear half the words so I knew I wasn't doing well on that test.  

The next part of the test the audiologist put a headband type thing where the transmitter rests on the bone behind my ear and the other end just rest on the other side of my head.  Then I go through the same tests again, beeps and words and I did a much better job.  The audiologist said I improved from 50% to 88% using that headband which makes me a good candidate for the bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA).  As long as she kept the headband on my head could hear her speak plainly, but when she took it off, I was back to hearing the way I always do, like my head is covered in a pillow. 

The next step is to schedule surgery to have the titanium rod inserted into the bone.  But, first they have to talk to the insurance company.  

I'm reading this book.  I was interested because I was sure this massacre was mentioned in Janice Holt Giles book, "Six-Horse Hitch" a fictionalized novel the includes the Overland Trail, that ran a stage coach and freight lines.  It is basically a compilation of newspaper articles, personal stories from witnesses, stories that came from ancestors, investigations of the site and other historical articles  and insights that relate to the surrounding area and times.  

The next thing that is going to happen on this computer is that Windows 10 is going to install whether I want it to or not.  It's happening either because the mouse I use has a side button that clicks things sometimes that I don't want clicked or else I had 'automatic updates' clicked on my computer and windows is now automatically updating it and I can't stop it.  My computer guy thinks that latter is what is going on.  I will have 30 days to reverse it if I choose.  It will all depend on if my business accounting software will still work with Windows 10 installed.  

Arrgh.  

However, I don't see any little windows open and ready to pounce, so who knows?

Thoughts for the day:

"When your values are clear to you, making decisions comes easier." -- Roy Disney

"Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." -- Carl Bard

Scrambled Up

I seem to be lost today.  Lost in a sea of what to do next.  Yesterday we went to Omaha to another doctor's appointment.  I got a good report on my incision, new ear plugs, and another appointment in a month to be evaluated for a BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid) which is an external hearing aid that snaps on to an implant anchored onto the bone behind my left ear.  It is the only option unless I just have one ear to hear with and poor hearing at that.   The large hole in my ear drum that was exacerbated by the most recent infection, means stuff that usually drains down the Eustachian tube will drain out my ear and a 'normal' hearing aid won't work under those conditions. If my hearing can be restored to that ear, it will make a big difference. 

I spent Saturday baking and cooking and even though I had company the rest of the weekend. It seems like over Monday my 'things to do' pile has expanded.  There is nothing that tires me out so much as all the little things that need put away.  It's a mental thing, I think. 

I tried some new recipes this weekend.  I made a coconut cake that has boiled sugar water poured over it right after it's baked.  Jim loves it.  I can't eat coconut because it is too stringy and hard to chew up and I choke on it.  My other success was a scrambled egg casserole that can be made the day before.  The ham and onion needs to be saute'd before the eggs are put in.  Unfortunately, I forgot to watch carefully and they scorched.  I put the eggs in and decided I couldn't serve it for company so we ate it for lunch, picking out the burned bits. I used 28 eggs that day.  We ate 5 for breakfast, 9 in the casserole for lunch, 9 in the casserole for the company, 3 in the coconut cake, 1 in some sugar cookies,  and one down the sink.  

You know, when I added that up, I forgot the 2 eggs I put in the buns that were an afterthought.  That makes 30! It's a good thing that our chickens are laying well. 

Jim has been working on an old 'B' John Deere that belong to his dad.  It's one of those projects where "I'll just do this little bit to make it run better", that turns into one where one things leads to another.

Getting ready to paint.   

It was foggy on Monday.  Really foggy.  The barn (which you can barely see) is 280' from the house. 1/20th of a mile. 

The sunset is different every day.   

I love having such good views of the sunrise and sunset from our house.

These ear plugs should be called 'ear protectors'.  They don't go into the ear canal, they seal it off.  I cannot get water into the left ear.  The large hole just invites infection to come in.  I'm tired of the cotton ball/vaseline method. 

Resolution Report Card

Walking: 4 out of 7 with one office cleaning day

Clean office on Friday: done

Do office work in the office: done

Letters and Cards: 6

Blogging: done

Piano: not bad

March Forth

Oh, I should have waited a few days, since it's the first. 

Resolutions 2016

January--Good

February--Bad

March--Hopeful

This springlike weather we've been having inspired me to get out and start walking again a couple of days ago.  Another blog I follow had such a bad start to the year, they've chosen March 1st to be the New New Year and having chosen their resolutions.  I'm just starting again since I had other things to worry about in February.

Speaking of worrying, one of the ladies in my Tuesday knitting group keeps close track of my ear troubles. She always wants to know how I'm doing.  As a cancer survivor herself, she knows what it feels like to have cancer and treatment.  Last week, I was being my usual cheerful and deaf self and she was wondering how my post-op visit went and I told her it was fine, I'm fine, and she says, "no you're not, you're worried about what's next".  

Well, maybe I am about 4:00 in the morning and I can't get to sleep, but I wasn't worried about it then.  I am extremely thankful that I have been blessed with a fairly cheerful spirit.  I don't spend my time worrying about what's next because I don't really know what's next and there is no sense trying to imagine it.  Whatever happens next I will deal with and worry about it then.  

I decided to keep notes on things that happened this week that were different from the normal things I do every day.  

It was windy, it was springlike, I saw two robins, I hung clothes on the line, I made a strawberry pie in which the crust fell on the floor after I baked it (I had just scrubbed it) and the pie itself fell upside down on the floor last night (onto the plastic wrap thank goodness) when it was half gone.  

I made two batches of strawberry jam and one batch of grape jam from frozen fruit and juice from some frozen tomatoes.  (That's when I scrubbed the floor)

I also wore too short socks with my leggings and I have no idea how women (and girls) can run around sockless.  My ankles were freezing.  

I cooked a bunch of beef liver for the cats and dog and the ox-tail for the dog as part of my cleaning out the freezer project, but I'm not sure how interested anyone will be with that. 

Photos for the week:

Barry

This is Jim 

These are the first to come up next to the house on the west side. 

Fruits of my labor.

I didn't take any pictures of the liver. 

February 28th 

Christian and Zane 

'Ears to You!

We aren't going to discuss resolutions this week.  

Anything to do with keeping up with my normal life came to a screeching halt as those who read last week's blog may have an inkling. 

Because, that ear didn't get better, it got worse.  

The antibiotics made me sick.   I got new ones, the swelling got worse, I made another appointment.  

I laid around most of the week, tired from both the sickness and the oxycodone.

So, now I am sitting on a king-sized bed in a motel in Omaha waiting to have surgery this afternoon.  

That 'ear infection' turned into an enormous abscess in the mastoid area that has to be cleaned out surgically.  This sort of thing doesn't happen anymore due to the effectiveness of modern antibiotics.  However, my left ear has not heard of the advances in medicine and spends most of it's time thinking of new (and old) ways of turning my life upside down.
At one time, the doctor, the resident, the PA and three nurses were in the examining room, looking at my swelling. 

I don't have any photos of the swelling.  Suffice to say it was a good three times as large as shown in last week's photos.  

It was extremely uncomfortable, but not as painful as I expected.  In the doctors's office yesterday, he drained 10 ccs of liquid out of it (sorry about that for you squeamish folks), and that made a big difference, but it wasn't any fun. Neither was the putting in of the drain, which he knocked out the first time and I had to endure the putting in of a second one.  

All that HURT!

I sort of wish I had a photo of me wearing my glasses perched above my ears, so they wouldn't come anywhere near the swelling above the left ear, but I don't.

I have a few photos of the aftermath of our 16" of very windy snowfall from last Tuesdays storm, but they are safely at home in my camera.  

I'm starving to death.  Surgery time isn't until 1 pm.  

It's a Blizzard Out There!

I really fell down on the job with taking photos this week.  I did my usual living in this house things.

I wrote three letters, I played my piano, I worked my small amount of office things needing done the last week of the month...and I only walked three days out of the week.  

There is a reason for that.  

I worked so hard for an hour and a half on Friday cleaning the office in the shop building, that I figured it would account for an 'exercise' day. You know, up and down, on top and underneath, vacuuming and scrubbing.  Saturday I spent so much time making jello, and chicken pot-pie with homemade pie crust and chicken just cooked that morning and de-boned, that I forgot.

And from there....it's a medical issue. 

I woke up about 3 am Sunday morning with drainage from my left ear.  (That's the one that is defective.)  It rapidly turned into not just continuous drainage but incredible swelling and pain around the ear area.  So, I spent Sunday fighting the pain and thinking about all the 'what ifs'.  

We already had an appointment in Omaha scheduled for that BAHA hearing assessment, but it turned into a medical appointment instead.  We left for Omaha early since there was a blizzard heading our way.  We were hoping that we could get an earlier appointment, but that didn't work out.  Thankfully, the snow held off until about 30 miles from home and we were home before dark.  

I'm loaded up now with a high powered oral antibiotic.  The doctor put a wick in my ear to hold ear drops in, and I'm on pain killer.  The swelling hasn't gone down yet, but at least I feel better. 

And, there really is a blizzard going on out there!

It's Tuesday Again...

...which means I have two weeks post surgery behind me and one week ahead of me before I go to the doctor again.

With post-surgery packing unpacked my hearing should be augmented with some help from my right ear.  

Until then, I'm using--

THIS

--in large groups.

We had been thinking of a personal amplifier, perhaps not as seriously as we should have, partly because we kept thinking improvements were right around the corner and instead it is taking longer than we thought.  

Also, we are not the kind of people that just jump out there and do things.

Procrastinators I think they call them.  

hee hee

We were kindly given the loan of this and I tried it out Sunday.  

WOW!!

I could hear again.  I could adjust the volume to the volume of the speaker.

Of course, there are the difficulties that come with any amplifier.  It amplifies the toddler's complaint  as well as pages turning.  

It, however, is a vast improvement on a room full of mumbling friends.

I'm slightly tempted to wear it all the time, but it is a bit of a pain. I don't want to draw attention to myself and it does interfere a bit with my glasses.  The pressure behind my ear gets old after awhile.

I did have a few twinges of injured pride the first time I wore it, but

I swallowed it.

I don't know how things will be going from here, but they'll go somewhere.

There are options out there.