MOBILE MADNESS

The mobile pictured is not to favour any one over the other.  Just happened to be a picture I was able to capture about mobiles.

Truth be told I loathe mobiles.  My severe hearing loss may have something to do with it.  Rather think it goes much deeper.  Let me explain.

Whilst I love keeping in touch with mates, the mobile is not my most favoured way to do it.  Face to face is still a lovely way to chat.

Every time I go out to eat, I am gobsmacked at the number of people who sit at table with a fork in one hand and a mobile in the other.  Whole families, each checking to see if they are missing out on something whilst they dine with family.  You see them in queues holding the device and barely aware of the people round.  More wicked are the ones who get to the cashier and take much time to pay, as they are trying to do two things at once.

It is not just at the restaurant, it is everywhere.

When did the mobile take over?  When did we become so important that we had to be connected 24/7?

I have a mobile.  Rather cheap one.  It has so many features that I do not know where to begin.

One of the features is a camera.  I have yet to figure out how the bloody thing works.

The mobile has become so important that the government has a programme that allows poor folks to get one and be able to communicate with other poor people.

I did mention that I have a mobile.  Got the bloody thing so that I could dial 911 if I had a problem.  So far no problems.

I find that I use the mobile to check the time.  Ring up folks known who live far away.

I do not text.  I can but have yet not figured out how to do it.  Right, I am not daft, more than like could do if set my mind to.  I refuse to.

I have a mailbox.  Never bothered to set it up and it drives folks made when they can not leave a message.  What would be the point, I barely hear on the bloody thing and the last thing I want to do is wear meself out trying to figure out what someone wanted to tell me that was not very important in the first place.

I can use the device to surf the internet.  I do not.  Rather sit at my brilliant machine and see what I am reading on a full screen.

I am gobsmacked at folks buying a new device ever time there is a new one available.  The cost a lot.  What happens to the old devices?

The mobile I have is not the most advanced.  It is over a year old and was on sale.  I will more than like use it until it dies or I drop it into the loo.

I am still very much in love with the telephone in my home.  The old fashioned kind that is attached to the wall with a wire.  I favour this as it comes with a programme that makes the sould easier to hear, and it has a light that alerts me to an incoming call.  I try to get most who know me to ring me on it.

Mind, I am still impressed when mates put their devices to ear and say; "Where is nearest Italian Restaurant" or "How many miles is it to where ever".  Impressive.  Right, I almost forgot, they are able to take brilliant photos with their devices and email them to me.   Brilliant...

THE OLD GEEZER IS ON THE MEND

Tuesday saw MOI return to ENT doctor for a follow up visit.  Doctor wanted to see if the ear was healing proper.  Using his tools of trade, the good doctor checked his handiwork and announced that he was pleased with the progress.

MOI is also right pleased.  Went on to tell the good doctor that all that could have been got from the operation seemed to be granted.  The infection was gone, as were the headaches.  Vertigo was less and the ringing in ears and swishing somewhat bearable.

When asked if the old geezer was going deaf, the good doctor reserved judgement.  Said he would answer that question in 6 months.  Actually, the old geezer already knows the answer.  Hearing device works less now than before the operation.  Hearing ability is way down.  Might not be totally deaf but it is not good.

The doctor told MOI that he is impressed with my lip-reading ability, and my ability to read faces.  Thinks I get on rather well.  As to what the future holds, who knows.  Bottom line is that the hearing is going.

MOI has to apologize the the lovely lady who does these cake creations.  They are real cakes and am told they are quite good.  MOI uses the pictures of to express a thought.

Groceries are still off.  Not much turned on to things that can not be tasted.  That explains the snap, food is not very appealing of late.

The good news is that in 6 weeks, the old geezer is down 2 stone in weight, that is 28 pounds.  This has to be the best diet ever tried.  Why eat rubbish if there is no enjoyment?

Just think, in no time, MOI will get to see his tackle.......

READ THE SIGN!!!

The old geezer had the above sign made and placed above bed in room at Renown Hospital.

However brilliant the staff on the ward was, it is a sign of what was lacking.  All day long, folks would enter the room to do something to or want to ask something of the old geezer.  Some of the staff at hospital were aware of the need to allow MOI to read face, lips and they moved close and spoke loud and slow.  SOME.  There were others who did a creep up and expected MOI to know what the wanted of.  Got right upset when they did not get a reply, or up set that the old geezer has no volume control on voice and is known to be LOUD.  Wore me out it did.  So much so that when offered the ability to go next door to Renown Rehab, turned it down.

At first MOI was going to lay blame on hospital but got to thinking and came to realize that hospital is just like society in general.  Folks do not do deaf.

It is right hard to learn how to read lips and faces.  What with the ever changing cast at hospital it made it tiring each and every day.  Being deaf is not a blatant disability.  Without me device in ear, folks assume MOI can hear even if they are far from , or behind back.  Am clever but not that clever.

Right odd that even after the sign was fashioned and placed over me bed, the problem continued.  Came to believe that some folks did not want to deal with deaf, just like at home.  Was wrong of MOI to assume hospital would be different.

No clue how long the old geezer will be able to hear anything.  Too early to tell.  One wonders how folks will deal with total deaf old geezer.  Or for that matter how the old geezer will.  For now, MOI will just have to wait and see if device works better when the operation sorts self down the road.

MOI IS RENAMED - "AGEUSIA"

Robert, the New "Ageusia"

Leave it to an avid reader of me blog to find the name for what is going on with loss sense of taste.  The clever clog believes that MOI has Dysgeusia but further reading by MOI suggests it may well be Ageusia.  Truth be told, since last time looked neither of us has a degree in medicine, and MOI is the one with the first hand experience, am inclined to go with the first.  That being Ageusia or a combination of both...

Ageusia  is the loss of taste functions of the tongue, particularly the inability to detect sweetness, sourness, bitterness, saltiness, and umami (meaning "pleasant/savory taste").

Dysgeusia  is the distortion of the sense of taste. 

Ear infections, hypothyroidism, age, medications for Asthma and allergies, have all played a part in what the old geezer is now dealing with.  When the good doctor cut the nerve during the surgery to remove disease in ear, he just brought down the last part that was holding 'taste' together. 

Another, avid reader, struck a cord with the old geezer as they went through exactly what is happening to MOI.  The reader went on to tell that the loss revealed some interesting things.

After surgery, the very same as MOI, all of my experiences befell.  Being overweight, OK obese, like MOI, the reader wondered if the not wanting to eat was going to cause problems with recovery or worse.  During 4 months of not eating a great deal, the pounds flew off, 90 plus to be exact.  It was discovered that the 'normal' amount thought needed to be healthy was not the norm for them.  For years, amount of calories to control weight was much lower than believed.  With the complete turn off to food, the push back from the table was much easier.  The sense of being 'full' happened much sooner than before.  Whilst the taste of food is completely gone, so is the revulsion to the sight of food.  Meals are on the very small side and need to eat has replaced the want to eat.

Two weeks on from surgery, the old geezer has to struggle to eat.  Some things are more repulsive than others.  Seems, soups go down well.  Round 2pm is when the attempt is made to eat.  There are a few cups of coffee and juice is drunk throughout the day.   Tons and tons of water are had.  What is with the dry mouth?

I have sat at table whilst house mates tuck into plates of food and it does not bother.  Even have helped out with preparation of.  I feel fine.  I have no hunger.  My healing seems to not be affected.  Can feel the ear getting better and the scar behind ear is doing nicely.

Truth be told, MOI has more than a little fat that can be lost.  It was thought that the large of amount lost over the last two years was pretty much the limit.  The scales seemed to not want to go much lower.

That may not be the case any longer.  The old geezer refuses to weigh in until the day before return to see doctor.  But, HE knows that the pounds are coming off.  Can feel it.  May well be massive amount of water at first, but then that was the case in first attempt to lose weight, the real weight dropped off as well.

As always, much of this post may be of no interest to some.  Readers of me blog are not plagued by extra weight and seem to possess perfect bodies........and pigs fly.....

MOI, DEPRESSED? NOT BLOODY LIKELY!!

It was passed on to the old geezer that a personage known to was worried that MOI must be sinking into deep depression, what with all of the trials and tribulations of late.

My dears, MOI knows all about depression, have dealt with it the whole of me life, along with PTSD and other issues.

Winston Churchill called his depression 'the black dog'.  Too right...

The old geezer has been so depressed in the past that he could not get out of bed, for days and days.  Let alone shower, shave or change clothes.  Depression was the one thing MOI knew how to deal with, it fed me desire to pig out, lash out at others, and blame all of me troubles on.  The old geezer felt in a sick way that depression was me friend.  Helped feed the self-loathing...

We need to cue the lovely gentlemen of the orchestra, to provide a little music to go with what follows.

The concern for my mental health comes from an aging homosexual, one who is depressed due to his inability to stop the clock and stay 'young'.  He says he wants to enjoy life but does everything to keep the world at bay.  Feeds his depression he does.  Whatever helps one get through the night...

This old geezer, rises from cot, makes bed, showers, shaves and tries to dress smartly.  Reads emails, answers and tries to keep me fans informed on this blog round the world.

The folks, who follow me thoughts, know that my deliciously wicked sense of humour has not departed, and that I could not be further from depressed stated.  All things considered, am of the opinion that MOI is deal with the current situation rather well.

Want to thank all of the folks from UK, France, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Canada, OZ, NZ, and from across America who have sent  emails to and continue to peek in.  That makes MOI want to keep up all the more.  Sadly, skype, due to deafness, is not being turned on, no matter how hard I try to crank up the volume, it is too much for MOI to deal, perhaps down the road.  I do so love seeing and hearing the lovely folks   from round the world.

POST-OP DOCTOR VISIT A MIXED BLESSING

As the old geezer sat in the waiting room, looking  about the room, it came as a bit of a shock just how much sound was missing from me life.  The telly could not be heard.  Conversations going on round were not heard.  Small Children playing could not be hear.  Paul chatting with two patients waiting was beyond my ability to listen in on.  Point of fact, the room was very quite, although was told that there were many sounds at play.  I have entered a new phase in the downward slide to total loss of hearing.  Major effort has to be made to hear anything at all, and that is dependant on the co-operation of folks round.  I can catch sound, it just is a whole lot harder.

I had prepared a list of things to ask the good doctor and he was more than willing to answer all of me questions.

First off, the old geezer apologized for shouting when last in office.

First question asked was about the loud ringing and swishing sounds heard.  That noise is not real but coming from the brain.  The Tinnitus can be more pronounced after the surgery had.  In some cases, the ringing and swishing can be more severe after surgery and never go away.  My doctor believes that in time, and one must remember that it has been but one week since I had the operation, the Tinnitus may well sort itself out.  He pointed out, however, that that may not be for me.

Second question asked was about loss of sense of taste and the very strong metallic taste.  The good doctor explained to me that in order to do what he had to do to remove the massive diseased areas, a nerve was cut.  That nerve controls the taste on the tongue.  That means that sense of taste on tongue is lost forever.  The sense of taste, sweet, salty, sour and bitter are controlled by the tongue.  Meaning that there might well be some taste to come back on the very right side of the tongue.

I was also informed that smell plays a role in how things taste, and while there was nothing done to impair me nose, there could be other reasons for that being off as well.

Truth be told, the old geezer failed to ask the proper questions in going into this operation.  The good doctor reminded me that in order to bring the horrid disease under control, he had to do loads of cutting away.  The damage to bones and nerves was massive.  I have no doubt the the good doctor had a right hard time clearing up the damage.  He also did reconstructive surgery to ear canal and ear drum.

I was quite honest in telling the doctor that had I known just how severe the operation was going to be, I would not have done it.  The problem with that stand, as the doctor clearly pointed out, was that the damage was MASSIVE, not responding to treatment, and all the while, nasty things were eating away at everything in its path.  Rightly so, the doctor reminded me of just how huge the problem was, and failure to do the operation, would have more than like continued the decline and could have caused to to suffer brain infection that would kill.  In other words, I was damned either way.

I had to be reminded that I am over 60, take thyroid drugs and high blood pressure medication.  ALL of which play into the loss of taste and smell.

I keep coming back to my sense that the operation would be a 'piece of cake'.  Too wrong.

I have the good fortune of having a most clever ENT man.  He knew what had to be done and did it.  He never promised me miracles.  He just told me that when he was finished, the diseased parts of the ear would be gone forever.  Given the state of me poor ear, I have no doubt that he dug, cut and jack-hammered away to do it right the first time.

It may well be that I was told about some of the losses, but was so locked into me face dropping, that it never registered.  Mind, given that the old geezer loves his groceries, you would think I would have locked in on the loss of taste.

The plug from ear was removed as were the stitches behind the ear.

TIME will heal some of my complaints.  More time than I have allowed so far.  We are talking months.  Like the numbness of ear, all of the nerves were cut to peel it back and it is going to take months for that to sort self out.  What may have been lost or gained in hearing is also going to take time.  I have to face this one day at a time.  I need to not be so impatient.  Go with the flow...

The good news is that the nasty headaches are all but gone.  The pressure in head is greatly reduced.  The vertigo is way down.

My ears do not look normal inside.  The right ear suffered a major blow out last year and that has left its marks.  No doubt the left ear is quite different now.  Hearing tests have revealed that even with hearing devices, the level of hearing to be gained is never going to be anywhere near normal.

I still have some hearing.  Bit off at the moment, but am not completely deaf.  The trick will be to see if the operation keeps it a levels before the surgery or it drops further.  I am much better at reading lips, reading faces and getting myself placed correctly to help the sounds get to me.  My days using the telephone may well be limited.

All in all, I rather think that things are going well.  The surgery gave me the three things hoped for.  Massive win I should think.

While it is a quality of life issue not imagined, the loss of taste, does come with its good side.  More than like will drop a stone or two in weight.

I have had loads of time to get used to loss of sounds.  There are many things I will never hear again.  I will have to be more careful.  Will I miss the sound of a fart????  Or a mobile???

TUNE IN OR TUNE OUT?

The thing about hearing loss is that no one can see it. Most people are so impatient; they just assume that the person with hearing loss is being rude, or slow-witted.

Truth be told, the hearing device received on Wednesday past is not as massive as the one pictured above, but it feels like to this old geezer.  Although small, the device feels massive in me ear and feel as if all can now see how horrid hearing is.

When presented the device, it came in a bag with 'Life is on' printed on, as if  life would begin for the old geezer.  Has given me pause it has.

To be true, it has been most interesting to find out just how much one was missing due to severe hearing loss.  The old geezer can now hear things not heard for many a day.  Mind, one wonders if what was missed was so important.

Folks want to know how the new device is working, if the old geezer is OK.  How very kind folks are.

The cause of my hearing loss is still on-going.  Treatment during the last ten days have got things under control but the condition is still going to require more treatment.  Like the doctor said who fitted the device; 'This device is not going to restore perfect hearing, just improve what there is'.

Rumour has it, that the first 30 days with the device will be the most trying.  In time, one will have learned to adjust settings and learned to live with the new noises coming at.  I am still trying to get the programme in the device to tune out some of the sounds now filling me ear.  Still trying to learn how to use the telephone with comfort.  I have learned how to hear music and telly with some degree of comfort.

The loss of hearing was over time, many of the sounds not heard were so gradual, they were not missed at first.  In one day,  cacophonous  sounds have filled me ear and it has been too much to deal with.  One almost wished that hearing remained lost.  Almost...

It is lovely to hear more of what is said.  To be able to enjoy music without destroying the peace and quiet of all round.  Mind, life had become very visual for the old geezer and the loss of sound was made up for by what one picked up on faces watched or reactions caught.  One could 'feel' someone
coming upon from behind.

It took some doing to get this old geezer fitted for a device.  Resigned I was to not hearing.  Recent events have caused loss of hearing to speed up and without the device in, one clearly realizes just how profound the loss of hearing is becoming.  I am not completely sold on the new device.  See it more as a chore than a blessing.  There have been times in recent days, all one wanted to do is place the bloody thing in a box and forget about.

I am wearing the device a few hours a day.  I find that when there is no one round and one is not listening to music or watching a film, it works best to take the device out, turn off and enjoy the absence of many of the new found sounds.

Sorry, dear reader, the old geezer is a bit off game.  Just another challenge to face up to...

 



THE HEARING AID

Have a laugh on the old geezer...