IP-Relay, has been around a long time. IP-Relay is a great service when you have companies that teach their employees how to use it. Right now, the only way I can make a phone call is by IP-Relay because some sounds are just too loud and I can't hear 95 percent of words.
Today was not my day for IP-Relay. I had two companies today hang up on me. The first one was a hospital and the other one was a bill I had to pay. The problem is some people just don't have the patience to go through an IP-Relay call so they hang up.
Here are some tips:
1. If you get a TTY user (someone like me) please be kind to the Operator.
2. Speak slowly (not loud - since the Operator can hear fine) and make sure the words are clear.
3. Please make sure there is little background noise or distractions when speaking.
4. Thank the Operator for their service.
And I know you can follow 4 EASY TIPS. I wonder if companies should make IP-Relay training mandatory for employees.
I spent a lot of time today looking outside my window and just thinking about life; what is going on with my hearing, how my family feels about all this mess I am going through, and even wondering what is the next chapter of my life.
BUT . . . . . Then something caught my attention.
COLORS! It's as though God took my attention away from myself and on to what He created - colors. Different kinds of colors.
We see life through our experiences, our temperament, and what we are told. We have different skills, talents, and genes. I don't want to get too much into the science of it but we view things differently than one another. I belong to some "deaf/hard of hearing" groups online and even in that group we see things differently. What I am trying to say is, the color of a tree isn't just brown and green. I see different shades of browns and greens - you just have to sit still for a few moments and look.
Try it! Sit still for a moment and look at all the different shades of colors.
Today I am on a quest to find out what helps you sleep and what keeps you awake?
For me, last night, after going to dinner with my family at a very loud restaurant, my ears hurt me ALL NIGHT LONG. I didn't get much sleep. The restaurant was not the type of place where you bring young kids to eat so I didn't expect the noise level to go beyond what I could handle with ear plugs. But, I guess that wasn't the case.
Here are a few things that help me relax:
1. Dark room with no noise and laying still on a comfortable bed.
2. Writing my blog.
3. Meditation
4. Eating licorice
Now it is your turn. Tell me what helps you relax? I look forward to your comments.
It's movie time! The older folks will remember this version but there are several out there. I love the black and white version of . . . . . .
I saw the ENT and Infectious Disease (ID) doctor this week and discussed what the next few steps are going to be.
ID doctor said - 3 more weeks of daily IV therapy. The infection I had was really bad. The oral medication I have been taking forever has stopped working to kill the infection. I have a PICC line for daily IV therapy. The ID doctor said the typical length of treatment is 4-6 weeks but some it is longer. I heard of one story where one person needed IV therapy for a few months because of a sinus infection. Here is a picture of a PICC line. It doesn't hurt but can be a pain the the butt when trying to sleep.
ENT - Before my ear tube surgery he did an otogram to determine loss of hearing which was really bad. But I don't think the test before the surgery was a good baseline because I was heavy drugged. Today, he re-tested to determine a few things:
1. Why am I not able to hear words but only sounds and only tolerate certain sounds at very low decibel. 2. Why I have so much pain in my hears.
3. Get another baseline since my ears do not have fluid in them (YEAH!).
ENT was concerned with my otogram scores and level of pain. The
test scores showed, in my left ear I am severe to profoundly hearing
loss and in my right ear I am moderate to severe hearing loss. He wants
to do further test like a lower level 3-D CT-scan (but in his office with
his equipment) and an ABR.
I will have the ABR scheduled soon. The purpose of
doing these test is to see where there might be nerve damage or possible cholesteatoma.
He has not ruled out Mastoiditis nor Mastoidectomy either since they are difficult to diagnose. I really like the ENT. He is taking things slow and ruling out everything before jumping into surgery. The problem with having surgery for anything near your ear is you have your brain but also facial nerves.
My spirits are better than before all this started. It has been around 3.5 months since I lost my hearing. I was really depressed with losing my hearing in the beginning but now much better.
I just want to get better and get back to work.
Blessing to all my blogger friends and family who have left comments and passed on my story.
As always to go along with my theme of "World of Silence" I present another movie clip to watch:
Let's talk about my "hate" word and what makes me turn into the "Decibel Hulk".
What is a decibel?
From HowStuffWorks.com, "The decibel (abbreviated dB) is the unit used to measure the intensity of a sound. On the decibel scale, the smallest audible sound (near total silence) is 0 dB", which I love because there are some sounds that make me scream. I don't really hear words right now without a hearing aid but I do hear sounds. Here are some figures of dB and how loud things are.
PARENTS please pay attention:
Near total silence - 0 dB
A whisper - 15 dB - this is what I can probably handle right now.
Normal conversation - 60 dB
A lawnmower and hairdryer - 90 dB
A car horn and babies cry - 110 dB
A rock concert or a jet engine - 120 dB - why the hell would you send your child to a concert without ear protection. I mean rockstars use ear protection on stage. They say 140dB you can have sudden hearing loss.
A gunshot or firecracker - 140 dB
I went to Hobby Lobby the other day with my family to get out of the house for a little bit. When I go outside the house I use regular earplugs but no iPod or cellphone attached to block loud noises. When we arrived at Hobby Lobby, I went to see if I could find something there and asked a person for help. When I was asking the question they looked at me in a unfriendly manner thinking having earplugs in my ears was rude but you can tell I didn't have anything attached to the other end.
Please note: If you see someone with earplugs in ears and nothing attached to the end there might be a reason not to look at the person with evil eyes.
Anyway that was an interesting experience and I hope my writing with help you learn something about the world of silence.
Enjoy your day and make sure you protect your ears, you only have one pair.
"Who's on First", you have to watch this film. It is a classic.
Actually, I am on first metaphorically speaking.
FIRST BASE
Getting out of the hospital.
Trying to ween off some of these drugs.
Receiving my daily IV therapy
Resting during the day since sleeping at night is not easy
Seeing all my doctors and get an idea what "Second Base" is.
Practicing stress relieving techniques when the pain is bad in my ear.
No more weird fainting spells
Trying to get through as many Netflix shows to take my mind off things (especially my favorite LOST).
I think I am doing really good considering I have been out of the hospital only three weeks. It is very likely I might have 1 or 2 more surgeries. One of them is to replace my Interstim device, the device battery is about to die since I have had it for 6 years. The new Interstim device will allow me to have an MRI of my head and look at my ears. The Interstim surgery should not be too bad but will be off my butt for one or two weeks. The second one are my ears. The ENT thinks there might be something else going on with my ears but wanted the fluid behind my ears to be clear before he examined further. I go back this week or checkup.
I made it to "First Base" within 3 week. I am looking to maybe steal to "Second Base" but I refused to just sit back and let my mind turn to oatmeal (a.k.a. mush).
Some of us have a road-map in life, like Dorothy with her, "follow the yellow brick road". There are some of us who need a GPS device to get from one place to another and some of us just don't give a damn and let each day be what it is?
Which one are you?
During my very long journey to Cartersville, GA yesterday from where I live (1.5 hours), my wife had me assist her with navigating. I am terrible at being the co-pilot. I have this need to be in control of the car and not someone else. Sorry, I am "dude" and I have to say most "dude's" don't like being in the co-pilot.
Anyway, sorry I got off topic.
Google Maps (not the best application around), was not our best friend yesterday trying to get back home because our GPS signal kept telling us to go somewhere that didn't make sense or GSP signal lost. I was thinking about my recent loss of hearing, terrible ear pain, and massive infection I feel as though Jeff's GSP signal is lost or just not found yet.
Almost 7 years ago I had a simple but life saving device put inside me called an Interstim. (see picture)
The device was used to help regulate my bladder and help with the bladder issue called IC. I haven't had bladder issues in a long time (someone please knock on wood). But, with my recent issue with my ears the doctors want to do perform a MRI. The issue with my Interstim device being old I need to have an upgrade in order to have an MRI (my device is old - just like me).
Tomorrow I am going to see the urologist to recommend we upgrade to new device, which it is time to do because the battery inside me only last 7 years. The idea is to take out the device and at the same time have a MRI done on my head to determine if there is nerve damage. The few ct-scan's I have had the doctors believe is okay but MRI would give a lot more information.
I am not sure what the urologist will say tomorrow but will let you know.
My question is, with having a device for my bladder and soon for my ears, does that make me a Robot, or Super Jeff?
I use to love to shop. I would go see what others are buying, see if "Justice" will ever take down there "40 % sign off" down because it seems as though they always have a sale, stop by the Godiva shop to get a yummy chocolate. I guess you can say I was a little bit unusual thinking spending time in a mall was fun.
NOW with my hearing gone and recent hospital visit - I get really bad headaches and and my ears hurt a lot. Saturday I took my daughters to the mall and as soon as we walked into the mall I had just bad ear pain and my almost felt like I was going to pass out. There is an actually medical terminology for those with hard of hearing and listening to sensitive sounds called recruitment. I can definitely say I will not be going back to the mall nor noisy places for a long time. I will just stick to the quieter side of life.
We live a world with so much noise. I wonder before Creation if there were sounds? I wonder what kind of sound are in Heaven? I sure hope Heaven is quieter than Earth (don't take that personal). I just think humans talk too much and need to spend more time practicing silence. I don't think I really appreciated silence before until now.
If you know who this person, you might as well move on to the next Blogger because the blog of the day will not give you nice goose-bumps. Joyce Meyes, a Christian lady who speaks around the world sharing her wonderful messages of love, life, love, life, love, life, positive thoughts, love, life, more positive thoughts, love, and life. . . .Well you get the point! Yes, if you haven't noticed my tone tonight I am a bit upset with positive people. People who are between the ages of twenty to forty, have this weird view of the world that if you don't say a positive word or smile every thirty seconds you are a lost soul from the island of Lost. I don't believe the world was created for us to always have this "happy face" all the time, especially when something has gone wrong. I recall our famous authors we have read in elementary or middle school were people of melancholy.
Just for laughs let me put on a show how skit how some people play their pseudo-positive attitude during a time of misery:
Scene 1
Max (the nine year old cat) eating at his bowl of yummy cat food. Max has an issue. He eats a lot and being nine years old sometimes Max doesn't know when to stop. But Max is happy because he loves his home and the good food his Master feeds him.
Master (39 years old male) - "Hello Max. Enjoy your dinner."
Master turns to Wife (we will be kind and say she is younger than Master): "Hello Honey! What a wonderful day it was today. I had yet another wonderful day at work, the music on the radio was awesome on the way home, my dinner is almost ready, and I can't wait to watch our TV shows together tonight."
Max: "I am so hungry but my tummy hurts from eating so much and so quickly. I need to spot I will get sick."
Wife to Husband: "I love you dear."
Max: "Oh no, my food is gone. I ate it all. I feel really sick. I might just get really sick and spit it up. Oh no. Where should I go spit up." Max says to himself, "Nice looking spot over to spit."
The spot was on Masters shoes.
Max: "Done! Stomach is better. I hope nobody noticed."
Master: "Honey, I am going to put my shoes away and get ready for supper."
Master looks down to see there is a lot of really smelly yucky spit up on his shoes.
NOW PAUSE for a moment and go back up and listen to the Joyce Meyers message. Do you respond back to Max, your beloved old animal, with positive messages like:
Scene 2
Master speaks to Max: "Poor Max. I am so sorry you got sick. You can use my shoes anytime. Max, God gave you such a wonderful tummy. Don't worry, Master will not never get upset with you ever".
I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, of course, you wouldn't kill your cat but any normal person would be pissed (unless you buy your shoes where I buy mine).
Here is my point: I believe as humans we are to feel emotions (all different kinds) and remember them. We were not created to have positive feels towards awful experiences. The point is if Max's Master is upset about his shoes being vomited on let him have that moment. At least don't say anything, in that moment, to alter his own experience of writing his own story.
Now, I am know I am not that old nor young to remember Charlie Chaplin. He has some of the most amazing movies. Now, if you haven't had a chance please search YouTube and just watch one or two. If you have, what is the one thing you find different from these films compared to the films of today?
Come on, Come on, Come on - think, think,think - you got it - actual words. Most of the films in the early 1900's were silent. I guess we forget sometimes how far along we have come in this entertainment world with using sound, special effects, and words.
In a world of a deaf person we watch silent movies all the time. We have to watch for specific details to understand the content. I get really upset when I can't understand a conversation because someone can't enunciate clearly by moving their mouth when talking. I understand there are some cultures, and I am not referring to them, that have not learned to enunciate words clearly. But it sure makes it quite difficult for me having to read lips and understand. But it is really frustrating when people hold multiple conversations, far away speaking to me, and people who don't directly looking at me when speaking.
Comment: If you are speaking to me don't be afraid to speak during into my face. I will not think it is offensive (unless you didn't brush your teeth or had too much garlic). Another quick comment, don't exclude me from conversation either because you are afraid I will not understand or speak to loud because I can't hear my own voice.
Okay, I am going to go back now watching Masterchef, using subtitles, and have a little bit of family fun.
So who the hell knows why I have these weird moments where my ears hurt so much my body just shuts down. Who the HELL cares! The body knows how to heal itself and adjust to normal levels. Yes, I guess it would be weird seeing me shake my left arm/hand and my head back and forth for a few minutes but I doesn't last forever. There is no neurological damage, as far the neurologist can determine. The only way to truly figure this out is to take out my bladder device so I can have an MRI. I have an old bladder device, which is not compatible with MRI machines, but the new ones are.
Who the HELL cares if I end of crying at times. I miss hearing. The world is silent without being able to hear. I found an interesting website today that talks about coping with hearing loss and how others can assist. Check out this website: http://www.deaftalk.co.uk/index.htm. With my previous educational background and years of wisdom I believe I am grieving well. I try not to spend too much time crying but enough and journalize the rest of the time - of course between dilaudid and things straight.
Anyway, I want this blog to be a hope for some, an update on Jeff for others, and for others a boring piece of information.
