Wowza! After I got done with work, I drove straight down to my audiologist's office. Finally got the earmold tube replaced, and I filled out a release form so they can release my records to Rocky Mountain Ear Center. Then I came home, printed off the response email so my mom could read it and know what's going on. We talked about it some more, told her I'm still working on finding funding and stuff like that. She says she thinks she has a copy of my medical records from Sheridan Hospital somewhere, but she's not positive. I told her I knew where to get the hospital's release form online, I could just print it off, fill it out and fax it to them. I should have a copy of those records in my files anyway, you just never know! Printed off 2 copies of Sheridan hospital's release form, one filled out so the records can be sent directly to Rocky Mountain, and the other one with the same records sent to me so I had them for my files. I also emailed the Hearing and Speech Center at the University of Wyoming, asking if they had such a form that I would need to fill out. They are the ones who have dealt with most of my audiological needs since I was 2 or 3, outside of the local school district's audiologist (my current audiologist has at least 2 of my "recent" hearing test results from the school district). I just want to get all that stuff sent off to Rocky Mountain so that the doctor can review them, and then he'd know what I should do next.
Once they get all of my records from everyone and have reviewed them, hopefully from there we can continue on, repeat the hearing test, get the CT scans, and whatever else is involved in the process. Then I should be able to fill out the application for the CNI CI Assistance Program and wait for a response from them. And while doing all this and waiting, I'm going to work on figuring out the funding aspects.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Great, got a response!
Got a response from the person I've been in contact with about continuing with any sort of testings/follow-ups to verify my candidacy for a cochlear implant.
I still have my hearing aid money in my savings account (which I was going to use to pay for the Naida hearing aid, but didn't as I returned the hearing aid by the end of the trial). Perhaps I can use some of this money to pay out of pocket for any appoints with Rocky Mountain Ear Center, to pay for the CT scans. As for costs that doesn't include the actual implant device (that is, if the program should accept my application and help), I'm working on that. Have contacted a couple of organizations (the local Lions Club being one of them)... Have gotten a response back from 1, and she gave me some resources I could look into. Hopefully we'll get somewhere. I shall keep working on this, doing research, discussing with my mom, and trying to get going.
I've been meaning to stop by my audiologist's office anyway, as I do need a new tube for my earmold (the current one is stiff and just blah!). So I can have them fax over my files they have. I'm also working on getting my meninigtis records from the hospital that treated me (just need to finish filling out the request form and actually get it sent!). I had a copy of my meningitis records once, which I used for a presentation/project I did on meningitis in 7th grade; not sure what happened to them since then.
I have spoken to my office manager regarding this matter of the ct scan and follow-up here with the audiologist and the appointment to see Dr. Kelsall and this is what has to be done at this point. Dr. Kelsall will have to approve the ct scan and any future visits, since you are a self pay patient, this is a office policy. I see that you have been seen at Alpine Hearing Care, we will need you to request your medical records be sent to us so that Dr. Kelsall can review them and I will also give him your cochlear implant evaluation that you had with Allison Biever on 09-17-07 and then he will inform me as to what to do from there. I spoke to Allison and since your evaluation was in 2007, you will need to be seen again for a hearing test. You will not have to repeat the complete evaluation, but the hearing test will let us know how your hearing stands since your last testing with our office. If the doctor gives me approval to continue, you can let me know where to send the order for the ct scan and you will need to discuss payment with that facility, and I will need to know how payment will be made for the appointments that you will need from this office.
I understand that it has been explained to you from the assistance program that even with assistance, there is still a large amount of out of pocket that is due from the patient. I am not trying to discourage you, I want to help you to understand what all is involved so you will know what to expect.
I still have my hearing aid money in my savings account (which I was going to use to pay for the Naida hearing aid, but didn't as I returned the hearing aid by the end of the trial). Perhaps I can use some of this money to pay out of pocket for any appoints with Rocky Mountain Ear Center, to pay for the CT scans. As for costs that doesn't include the actual implant device (that is, if the program should accept my application and help), I'm working on that. Have contacted a couple of organizations (the local Lions Club being one of them)... Have gotten a response back from 1, and she gave me some resources I could look into. Hopefully we'll get somewhere. I shall keep working on this, doing research, discussing with my mom, and trying to get going.
I've been meaning to stop by my audiologist's office anyway, as I do need a new tube for my earmold (the current one is stiff and just blah!). So I can have them fax over my files they have. I'm also working on getting my meninigtis records from the hospital that treated me (just need to finish filling out the request form and actually get it sent!). I had a copy of my meningitis records once, which I used for a presentation/project I did on meningitis in 7th grade; not sure what happened to them since then.
Monday, February 16, 2009
CNI Assistance
I went back and looked over the application for the CNI CI Assistance Program, and for sure I would need to have all of the necessary testings to be deemed a candidate completed (hearing tests, CT scans, etc.) before I can even send in the application. And since it's been a year and half since I did the hearing tests at Rocky Mountain Ear Center, I don't know if I would need to redo the hearing tests or not, but I'll find out. The person I've been in contact with at RMEC keeps telling me to send in the application, then let her know of the result, but I can't as I need to get all the testing done. I don't know how much experience she has with the CNI's application process (Dr. Kelsall does, as he helped create the program). If only I could just get in direct contact with Dr. Kelsall. I'd contact the audiologist but I'm sure she's busy with other patients.
I'm sure all the testing will cost money, but I'll find the money to pay for them if I have to. I already have an estimated cost for the CT scans from when I made the relay call to the imaging center last year or so. I can always call them again and get a new estimate, just in case prices might have changed.
It's frustrating, trying to get all this figured out and trying to get on with the process. Hopefully we can get all this sorted out, and I can complete the testings to be deemed fully 100% a candidate (I was deemed a candidate just based off the hearing test results, but have not done any other testings yet). Then I can fill out the application, get all the paperwork necessary from the entire CI team, and send it all in. Then I would wait while the program went over the application and made their decision.
Right at this time, this method is the only possible method that could possibly work out and I could actually get the implant (that is, if the program accepts my application and will help me). If the program doesn't work out, then I'd work hard to find another solution, a way to pay for everything.
I'm sure all the testing will cost money, but I'll find the money to pay for them if I have to. I already have an estimated cost for the CT scans from when I made the relay call to the imaging center last year or so. I can always call them again and get a new estimate, just in case prices might have changed.
It's frustrating, trying to get all this figured out and trying to get on with the process. Hopefully we can get all this sorted out, and I can complete the testings to be deemed fully 100% a candidate (I was deemed a candidate just based off the hearing test results, but have not done any other testings yet). Then I can fill out the application, get all the paperwork necessary from the entire CI team, and send it all in. Then I would wait while the program went over the application and made their decision.
Right at this time, this method is the only possible method that could possibly work out and I could actually get the implant (that is, if the program accepts my application and will help me). If the program doesn't work out, then I'd work hard to find another solution, a way to pay for everything.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Randomness
Right on, I can see properly again! Yesterday, my mom and I had a girls day. We drove around, looked at a couple of houses (we're house hunting for my sister, as she and her husband [and little boy] will be moving back here in June), then headed over to Walgreens. Mom needed some random stuff from there. It was inside Walgreens when I realized my glasses were broken, again. The frame right around the lense broke. Same place as last year when it broke, except on the opposite side of the nose. Oh brother. Must be some weak frames or something. Went on the rest of the day without glasses on, which wasn't too bad. We went to the mall, had lunch and then saw "Marley and Me". Good movie, I enjoyed it! Good thing I read the book just in the last 2 weeks though, otherwise I wouldn't have understood it as well. Lately, I have been trying to read the books before seeing certain films (read the story before seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, read Marley and Me before seeing it, same with the Harry Potter series, etc... Films don't always follow the books 100%, but at least I get the general idea of what's going on whe I see the film in theater.. with the X Files movie, I read the book afterwards and it made a lot more sense to me!).
Am still figuring out how to go about getting back on the CI track. Got a response from someone at the CI center asking how I would be paying for the CT scans (out of pocket of course... when will I ever get insurance? Hm!). I'll just have to really save up some money. Perhaps part of my tax refund will be used to pay for the CT scans, who knows. For sure, part of that refund will be used to pay for new glasses (and to pay off the credit card bill... sorry Mom, HAD to use it!). I know I'll get enough money saved up though. Then we'll go from there I suppose. Get the scans sent off to the doctor in Denver, maybe someday make a trek down to Denver (I don't see this happening for quite a while though, unless I'm willing to pay over $100 to hop a bus to Denver and find some way to get around Denver... err confusing). Next month, mom and stepdad will be flying off to Ireland, then in April we may possibly be flying out to North Carolina (depending on what my sister decides). Then May, there's Mother's Day at the flower shop. June, sister and her family move back and we will surely be helping them with the move. I'll have to talk to them and see if something can be worked out though. I'm still too much a wuss to attempt driving down to Denver myself. If I could go with someone, and we had the GPS navigator, it'd be manageable.
Got my glasses fixed today, and will have a new pair ordered soon enough. I've had my current pair for a couple of years or so, and with two breaks by now, it's time for a new pair. My prescription (which I got last year after getting my eyes checked since I was extremely sensitive to lights) is good until 2010 so might as well get the new glasses. I definitelly needed to get the old pair fixed though, otherwise I would have struggled through work, skipping lines and messing things up, which would have been bad.
Am still figuring out how to go about getting back on the CI track. Got a response from someone at the CI center asking how I would be paying for the CT scans (out of pocket of course... when will I ever get insurance? Hm!). I'll just have to really save up some money. Perhaps part of my tax refund will be used to pay for the CT scans, who knows. For sure, part of that refund will be used to pay for new glasses (and to pay off the credit card bill... sorry Mom, HAD to use it!). I know I'll get enough money saved up though. Then we'll go from there I suppose. Get the scans sent off to the doctor in Denver, maybe someday make a trek down to Denver (I don't see this happening for quite a while though, unless I'm willing to pay over $100 to hop a bus to Denver and find some way to get around Denver... err confusing). Next month, mom and stepdad will be flying off to Ireland, then in April we may possibly be flying out to North Carolina (depending on what my sister decides). Then May, there's Mother's Day at the flower shop. June, sister and her family move back and we will surely be helping them with the move. I'll have to talk to them and see if something can be worked out though. I'm still too much a wuss to attempt driving down to Denver myself. If I could go with someone, and we had the GPS navigator, it'd be manageable.
Got my glasses fixed today, and will have a new pair ordered soon enough. I've had my current pair for a couple of years or so, and with two breaks by now, it's time for a new pair. My prescription (which I got last year after getting my eyes checked since I was extremely sensitive to lights) is good until 2010 so might as well get the new glasses. I definitelly needed to get the old pair fixed though, otherwise I would have struggled through work, skipping lines and messing things up, which would have been bad.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Thoughts
Just lately I've really been thinking of the cochlear implant path, and of wanting to get back on it. I've contacted at least 3 different contacts about getting back on track. Contacted the CI Center in Denver to see if it's wise to get the CT scans done, that way the doctor can look over the scans, then help me fill out the paperwork for the CNI CI Assistance Program (the application would need like a letter from the doctor, audiologist, etc.). Makes sense, right? Then I can send in all the paperwork to the program, and get word back from them on if they'll help. I also contacted the person I had been in contact with about funding for any part of the process (if the program will for sure donate the implant, person can help me find funding to cover the hospital/surgery/etc. costs). I still have the relay call from when I called different local MRI/CT imaging centers about approximate costs and still have that information. I just filed my tax return, and should be making a bit more money now that I can work up to 29 hours a week. So I would think I could afford the CT scans more easily now. So why not get going with the process?
For now, I'll just play the waiting game, waiting to get responses. Then get the CT scans taken cared of, and have the doctor look at them and find out if there's any hope at all of implating the left ear. If there's no hope at all for the left, I would consider the right, even though I know Mom worries the procedure won't work and I may be left completely deaf for life. I'm aware of that risk. I do want to at least get the scans done, and go from there. Get things figured out.
When I temporarily left the CI path to try out Phonak's Naida, the CI idea never left my mind, ever.
For now, I'll just play the waiting game, waiting to get responses. Then get the CT scans taken cared of, and have the doctor look at them and find out if there's any hope at all of implating the left ear. If there's no hope at all for the left, I would consider the right, even though I know Mom worries the procedure won't work and I may be left completely deaf for life. I'm aware of that risk. I do want to at least get the scans done, and go from there. Get things figured out.
When I temporarily left the CI path to try out Phonak's Naida, the CI idea never left my mind, ever.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Random Ramblings
I swear, I'm still here! I haven't vanished. I've just been keeping busy, and I also kind of forgot about this blog for a while there.
I'm ready to get back on the cochlear implant path again. The Naida just did not work out for me, and after doing some research and pestering some audiologists online, I felt other hearing aids like Oticon's Sumo probably won't make much difference. And I still want to find out for sure if there is any possibility of implanting the left ear. Now if I can just save up enough money for the CAT scans, and find the name of the imaging center that had given me the price estimate and whatnot... I just may have to make some relay calls again.
In terms of insurance, I still have none. But just very recently I have gotten to thinking of my future.. Do I even have a future with my current job at the newspaper? It doesn't seem like so. Since I am unable to use the phone, there's just not much else I could do at the newspaper. So I am considering finding a new job, a full-time job that offers benefits. That would really help with the process, for sure. And it would just be nice to have some extra money. I mean, there is no way possible I can even think of moving out on my own with my current earnings (which is barely $300 per paycheck which I get every other Friday and most is spent on bills/personal necessities/dog care). I'll be discussing this with my counselor on Wednesday, figure out what my next step should be in getting on with my own life, that sort of thing.
I've had my crazy dog since July. Adopted him from the Humane Society. He seemed like an alert and smart dog. He is pretty alert to sounds around him, and he is smart but I'm just clueless with the training process (still working on getting in contact with a dog trainer). Anyway, he does bark at me for attention, but he's realized that I don't always hear him bark, so he finds other ways to get my attention. He can be so obnoxious when trying to get my attention! In the mornings, I'm still in bed, but he's awake and bored. Finally he's decided he's had enough of waiting on me, so he starts bouncing on my bed to wake me up, and getting into my face. Urgh! And when I'm at my computer, he nudges his nose into my hip or jumps and bounces off the back of my chair and he even does this weird little... dance. He drives me crazy, and yet, I love him like crazy. He's my boy!
I'm ready to get back on the cochlear implant path again. The Naida just did not work out for me, and after doing some research and pestering some audiologists online, I felt other hearing aids like Oticon's Sumo probably won't make much difference. And I still want to find out for sure if there is any possibility of implanting the left ear. Now if I can just save up enough money for the CAT scans, and find the name of the imaging center that had given me the price estimate and whatnot... I just may have to make some relay calls again.
In terms of insurance, I still have none. But just very recently I have gotten to thinking of my future.. Do I even have a future with my current job at the newspaper? It doesn't seem like so. Since I am unable to use the phone, there's just not much else I could do at the newspaper. So I am considering finding a new job, a full-time job that offers benefits. That would really help with the process, for sure. And it would just be nice to have some extra money. I mean, there is no way possible I can even think of moving out on my own with my current earnings (which is barely $300 per paycheck which I get every other Friday and most is spent on bills/personal necessities/dog care). I'll be discussing this with my counselor on Wednesday, figure out what my next step should be in getting on with my own life, that sort of thing.
I've had my crazy dog since July. Adopted him from the Humane Society. He seemed like an alert and smart dog. He is pretty alert to sounds around him, and he is smart but I'm just clueless with the training process (still working on getting in contact with a dog trainer). Anyway, he does bark at me for attention, but he's realized that I don't always hear him bark, so he finds other ways to get my attention. He can be so obnoxious when trying to get my attention! In the mornings, I'm still in bed, but he's awake and bored. Finally he's decided he's had enough of waiting on me, so he starts bouncing on my bed to wake me up, and getting into my face. Urgh! And when I'm at my computer, he nudges his nose into my hip or jumps and bounces off the back of my chair and he even does this weird little... dance. He drives me crazy, and yet, I love him like crazy. He's my boy!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Cord problem solved!
I think I finally solved the extremely LONG cord problem of my Hatis Epic ear hook that I use to listen to music with... it works pefectly with my hearing aid and I LOVE it, but the cord is so freakishingly long it drives me crazy! But today, I grabbed some post-it sticky notes, rolled it up, then wrapped the cord around it. Then I taped it all up so it would stay on instead of unraveling. Now I don't have all this extra cord hanging down near my feet anymore (or having to wrap it around my iPod every so often, since I do use the ear hook with the computer and DVD player too). Problem solved! I think. I hope!
As for the Phonak Naida hearing aid, I have given up on it. I decided it just wasn't worth the time or money. I hate having to open the battery door to turn it off, and I hate how slow it is to switch programmings on it. On the Supero, there's the on/off switch, which I use several times a day (if I'm on program 3, which is Telecoil, and I want to get back to program 1, I just turn off then turn on the hearing aid, which is real quick! Quicker than pushing the 1 button on the remote too, even!). With the Naida, I'd have to fuss with the battery door, fight with it until it opens, then close it, then wait oh about 5 seconds for it to turn on. And switching programs, it plays this odd little tune in between and is just slower than the Supero. I'll stick with the Supero for the time being, until something else comes along that might be even better, and has an on/off switch!
Oh, and as for my tinnitus... I am once again hearing a dog barking in my mind when I don't have my hearing aid on, but it's not my dog barking.. My dog would be sleeping or just being quiet while I hear this "barking" going on. I used to experience this with my first dog too. It's kind of funny, and odd.
As for the Phonak Naida hearing aid, I have given up on it. I decided it just wasn't worth the time or money. I hate having to open the battery door to turn it off, and I hate how slow it is to switch programmings on it. On the Supero, there's the on/off switch, which I use several times a day (if I'm on program 3, which is Telecoil, and I want to get back to program 1, I just turn off then turn on the hearing aid, which is real quick! Quicker than pushing the 1 button on the remote too, even!). With the Naida, I'd have to fuss with the battery door, fight with it until it opens, then close it, then wait oh about 5 seconds for it to turn on. And switching programs, it plays this odd little tune in between and is just slower than the Supero. I'll stick with the Supero for the time being, until something else comes along that might be even better, and has an on/off switch!
Oh, and as for my tinnitus... I am once again hearing a dog barking in my mind when I don't have my hearing aid on, but it's not my dog barking.. My dog would be sleeping or just being quiet while I hear this "barking" going on. I used to experience this with my first dog too. It's kind of funny, and odd.
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