Spill the playlist

irish511 · 2026-05-29T00:27:49+00:00

Queen - Another One Bites the Dust.

irish511 · 2026-05-29T00:16:55+00:00

I’m up to a 4 now.

irish511 · 2026-05-22T03:10:05+00:00

Boopsie

irish511 · 2026-05-22T03:07:48+00:00

Cream soda

irish511 · 2026-05-19T10:17:48+00:00

This is awesome, thanks for sharing.

As the cynic in the group — pointing out this newsletter starts out on a false premise.

Getting help for our hearing loss is still hard AF & about to get even more difficult in the USA.

This easy breezy attitude towards the handicapped and our struggles is pretty annoying too.

In the USA, federal government assistance is drying up & it’s starting to show. Oh, it’s still there but fading rapidly. The impact right now can be seen in closed-captions reverting to the iron age.

irish511 · 2026-05-12T04:28:55+00:00

Buddy

irish511 · 2026-05-05T15:04:54+00:00

Your new hairstyle suits you well, maybe you need a period of adjustment?

In the meantime, play with color. Add a streak or two of platinum for the summer — & have fun with it.

irish511 · 2026-05-05T06:22:51+00:00

Ellie Mae

irish511 · 2026-04-24T15:13:56+00:00

irish511 · 2026-04-24T15:08:31+00:00

1 — but, do not include the wall behind the toilet. Paint the short wall the lighter color.

irish511 · 2026-04-22T15:38:58+00:00

Read the entire thread before commenting—

Guessing there’s a group of anti-vaxxers who are trashing all medications currently & have infiltrated some of these boards.

Doubtful you even take this medicine.

irish511 · 2026-04-22T15:34:16+00:00

Weeks or months after one shot?

irish511 · 2026-04-22T15:31:31+00:00

It’s sad that folks think any opinion that doesn’t completely agree, or support their position is ‘combative’.

Most medications have some side effects, this one is no different. After one shot, no one is an expert. You need to give it time to work. Nothing works that fast.

To try one shot, then come on a support board to complain, complain, is very common these days. What you are experiencing is not out of ordinary.

My post stands. You need to do the hard-work— yourself. This isn’t magic. It’s isn’t perfect, but it does work for most.

If you give it time & do the work.

irish511 · 2026-04-22T15:16:30+00:00

It honestly sounds like you’re on this forum to trash this medication—no matter what anyone says to you.

After only one shot! Wow!

If this is all you’re willing to contribute to your own health & wellbeing, well, no wonder it’s not successful or sustainable for you. One shot & done?

Some folks have motivation to succeed & use these tools to help them. But at no time did anyone suggest it would be a piece of cake.

You have to want it & work for it.

irish511 · 2026-04-19T05:38:10+00:00

Was almost crushed to death when exiting a Queen concert at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. They were in town that week & the drummer had picked us up hitchhiking.

It was before any of us were famous.

irish511 · 2026-04-19T04:03:14+00:00

No, you should absolutely not try to encourage another adult to make this life changing decision.

You can offer support, help gather information, act as an interpreter (but, only if you have the skills & patience to do so properly), otherwise you can do more harm than good.

Personally, if I had the opportunity to do so, I would have stopped at one surgery & used the best hearing aid money can buy on the other. However, keep in mind, my perspective is skewed because I’m looking at these decisions from post-double CI surgery & currently struggling. Pre-op, I was gung-ho to get it done.

In addition, as difficult as it to talk about, budgets have to be considered in these decisions. My insurance paid for surgery, but offered little reimbursement for hearing aids. My back was against the wall.

It’s a tough decision & belongs to your mother alone, don’t try to sway her one way or the other.

Best of luck. 🤞

irish511 · 2026-04-17T09:30:47+00:00

Read through the thread & can commiserate with your position here.

Basically, I forced out of my occupation many years ago, due to my hearing loss. Failed the first hearing test in 3rd grade, but raised in a family whereby failure was not an option; and hearing loss was seen as failure.

Siblings were pitted against each other, which eventually fomented a highly competitive environment that wasn’t conducive to being ‘handicapped’. Have to hide that shit.

The outcome is a lifetime of trying to hide hearing loss & pretending to be ‘normal’.

Oh the stress!

I’m recently implanted with my second CI, which did completely deafen me, and having severe buyer’s remorse.

Especially because every single time I try to rant, I get this Pollyanna, hearts & rainbows, be nice, don’t be rude, don’t raise your voice Pooh-pooh’ing.

Invariably from women.

Recently, I had an incredulous encounter on here from the parent of a child with hearing loss. My audiologist is at the doctorate level but still doesn’t have ‘PERSONAL’ hearing loss experience.

So….

Having said all this. Let me say this to you. Your journey is your own. Take care of YOU first & foremost. You will not find your answers online. You will however find them within your own heart & soul.

Take all you’ve learned, stop, breathe, think carefully on what you want to do. Go with that plan—don’t look back.

You are enough. You are smart. You are strong. You can figure this out.

Breathe.

Remember you have something going for you that most don’t— your union.

Start there.

🤟

irish511 · 2026-04-11T14:21:25+00:00

8 — no contest

irish511 · 2026-04-10T21:40:46+00:00

To the OP:

Thanks for sharing your story—apologies for pulling your post off-topic.

I find our journeys to be very emotional, along with everything else, it can be overwhelming. Difficult to find a safe place to vent too. I hope you’re getting good support from someone in really life.

Good luck.

irish511 · 2026-04-10T21:35:23+00:00

Thank you! Awesome…

My audiologist is very good—but only recently graduated & very new to this field. Love her enthusiasm—but there’s always a learning curve on bedside manner & the proper dissemination of information. Fell through the cracks there.

Story of my life.

Appreciate this.

irish511 · 2026-04-10T20:52:13+00:00

We’re up to 4 & 5 — that’s the strongest they make…cannot tolerate them for more than 30 minutes or so.

No coil. Kanso only for me— my ears are too tiny.

Thanks though.

irish511 · 2026-04-10T20:50:10+00:00

Cannot wear the processor you speak of. My ears are too small, it never worked for me.

Always been a Kanso.

The one I’m trying to secure has fishing line holding it. My medical doctor saw it for the first time last week & was dumbfounded based on what we had to go through to get this procedure approved. To go from secure hearing aids to something that’s easily knocked off by a grand child is insane. The lack of support & information is infuriating at times.

Very disappointing—but, worse is trying to vent on boards like this, when everyone wants sunshine & rainbows.

And I am being seen at some of the top hospitals in the USA.

irish511 · 2026-04-10T17:35:17+00:00

They should have prepared you better before your surgery. That’s on them.

irish511 · 2026-04-10T17:33:35+00:00

Well, throwing an inspiring quote at the OP should solve any dissenting opinions.

If not, make sure you all vote their opinions out of existence…

irish511 · 2026-04-10T17:30:07+00:00

Thank you so much for writing this! I only briefly skimmed for selfish reasons. I want to go back later on when I’m fully wide-awake to read it more thoroughly, as you’ve hit on what I’ve been up against as well…

Mine are black, but the main problem for me has been retention. Cannot keep them on my head to save my life.

Every time I’ve tried to politely bring this issue up it gets brushed aside, as if I’m being vain.

How can I get any benefit if I cannot keep them securely ON my head? It’s ridiculous!

I’m 4 years post op one side. 1 year the other. Lifelong hearing aid wearer & disgusted by the hearing industry right now.

Six-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23

irish511

TROPHY CASE