ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: Kathy M on May 06, 2009, 06:57:34 pm
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After 4 months of medical leave, I returned to work today. I can't believe it's been that long...and yet, it seems like a lifetime. While I was on medical leave, I've been offered a promotion, too - I have accepted and now it is awaiting final approval. Barring any unforeseen issues, I will be able to start my new job late this month. Until then, I'm back at my current job (whilch is great, too).
I am a worrier by nature (as many of you know very well), and I've questioned my ability to cope with work, cope with driving (a one hour 10 minute drive each way), cope with balance issues, SSD, and I've also wondered if I could ever expect to have the cognitive abilities to perform my job (let alone a new job with even more responsibilities). But guess what I found? I'm doing great!!!
Work - I felt very much on my game and hopped right in with both feet. I have over 900 e-mails waiting for me, but that's ok! Conference call within the first hour of coming back, and there was no slow down until 8 hours later when I walked out the door.
Driving - Thick fog this morning (I hadn't practiced that during my leave time!), did great, although I did have to pry my hands off the steering wheel when I got there. Driving home - torrential rain. Again, a white-knuckle drive, but no problem!!!
Balance - I wore my terrific peep-toe pumps with 3 inch heels and didn't topple over. Maneuvered my way from a parking garage, 2 escalators, and an elevator to the 28th floor. My building has tall tall ceilings, lots of visual input, I remained upright and could talk and walk to get coffee with my staff!!
SSD - that one might be a challenge, but I'll figure it out. Once I get some distance from my surgeries, I may consider pursuing the BAHA. Until then, folks will just have to be patient. I only picked up my phone 3 times today and held it to my non-hearing ear. Tomorrow, I'll rearrange my desk so I won't forget that I can't hear a thing on my left side!!! (...and, during a family get-together Sunday, I didn't hear my brother-in-law start to pray before the meal and I just kept commenting on all the great sales in the paper I was reading at the table. My family thought that was just hilarious but I was not amused!!! My husband has promised to cue me in next time but he got such a chuckle, I don't know if I trust him!!)
Cognitive issues - time will tell, but I felt very vital, relevant, and on my game. I foresee no issues. Short-term memory issues(especially names) have haunted me for a long while, but I manage this with making lists. Doesn't help with names, but ya can't have everything!!
The only down side - the scarf irritated my "wound" on the back of my head. It has finally started to heal, no more drainage, but it is ouchy tonight. My staff told me that they think it looks just fine (a bazooka gum pink bald spot about the size of a medium strawberry) and to not wear it at all. I might muster up the courage to do that tomorrow since I don't want the healing process to stop!!! Come this far, don't want to ruin the progress!!!!
All in all I am so very lucky. ANs are lousy. Scares one to death. I did not have an uneventful recovery, unfortunately. BUT - here I am, on the other side, feeling great, and very proud to be recommended for a new position to boot. I will begin playing clarinet in my local community band in the next few weeks once I get back in the routine of working long days. Life is really good.
Thanks for all you've done for me (and my family) throughout this journey. I would have been quite lost without you.
I'm not done here yet...just had to share this good news with you. If you're recovering from surgery - or preparing for it at some point, don't despair! Your life can be even better!!!
Love to all of you,
Kathy
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Darn, the way the subject line read on the main directory, I thought you were going to a big high school dance!
Thanks for taking the time to post all that about the return to work -- I and many others are very curious about what to expect when that comes around!
You are doing just great. I am extra-amazed by all of you who have 3, 4, 5 cm tumors and rebound so well! Going to proms and getting promotions!! :D
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Congratulations on the promotion.
Congratulations on the recovery.
Congratulations on the 3 inch heel mastery.. you'll have to show me how you do that, everytime I put on an evening dress and heels, I topple over.
Congratulations on the adapt, overcome, move on thing....
..take care.. tim b
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Way to go Kathy. I knew you had it in you. Very proud of you.
Patrick
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Kathy .....
For everything you have been through, you are amazing!
I think I might have been able to go back to work at 4 months out (now retired fortunately!), but definitely not the 3" heels!! :o
Congratulations on this significant milestone in your recovery!!
Clarice
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Hi Kathy,
Great news and congratulations! I'm glad you're feeling so well / doing so well.
I think AN's make us more courageous. Some things I used to be scared of, now I'm willing to try because I've had brain surgery and survived alright! (well, I'm not going to try skydiving or anything like that).
But.... I think I'd delete the emails and skip on wearing the heels!
It's so great that the things you were worried about you did something about anyway and that makes the victory of it all even better.
Keri
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Very awesome Kathy! Glad to see things moving along favorably for you! It may have been 4 months in the making, but stories like yours show the newer folks that life can return to something close to normal after AN surgery.
Ernie
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Ah, yes, there is life after an AN ;D
Glad things are going so well for you, Kathy.
Congratulations!!!
Jan
Tim, lots of us can help you with that evening dress/3" heel issue at the symposium ;) You crack me up! :D
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Awesome!... 8)
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Kathy,
Yes CONGRAT'S TOO..
I started back to work after about 2 months, against what the doctors told me. But I only worked what I could until I hit the wall and needed a NAP! I work in a noisy office and still am adjusting to only picking up sounds from one side. I had long swithed to holding the phone to my left ear(as I am right handed) but I still seams strange!! I think your doing good and will adjust to the new(old) sounds of work just in a different way. Keep it up! the Good days are out weighing the bad!!!
Dismas72
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WAY TO GO, KATHY!! ;D
K
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Great come back, Kathy. 900 emails? Sigh. Some days I am not so convinced that electronic marvels are all that marvelous. :)
Steve
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Kathy ~
I'll just slip in at the end of this conga line of congratulations that are rightfully coming your way in response to your categorically upbeat post.
Your adaptability and positive attitude when dealing with the everyday challenges post-op AN patients face, even those with few complications, is instructional as well as inspiring. You offer a cogent, comprehensive and informative account of the realities of your post-op experiences regarding your return to the world of work. Not everything is 'perfect', of course, but you appear to have successfully surmounted the obstacles and met the challenges head-on, and for this you deserve the kudos as well as our collective pride in your accomplishments. In short: well done! :)
Jim
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Kathy,
Superwoman! You've got a lot to be proud of, and you're an inspiration to many.
Don't be too disappointed if the clarinet thing has to be postponed for a while. I had a few false starts playing the saxophone after my AN surgery. The issues were:
1) easily tired armature
2) wind strength diminishes quickly
3) horn sound wears on your head
Start out with short, short practice sessions. Be patient...you'll get there.
Verl
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You make me smile. Bravo!
Still waiting for a picture of those shoes . . .
Nancy
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You guys are just the best. I'm all fluffed up like a peacock (in heels) and feeling great. I have just loved reading so many positive stories about overcoming challenges and what life can be like post-op. With so much crap we have to deal with as we follow our own paths, it's nice to share good things too. What a place this is...help with coping, advice, counseling, encouragement, and cheerleading.
BTW..thanks Verl for the practice tip. My fellow clarinetist dropped off a folder of music to me to start getting my chops back. Patience is not one of best traits!!! I'll lower my expectations...just a tad!!!
Lilan, you made me laugh - me and a prom at 48 painted quite the picture!!! Brought back some good memories...that 70's music, platform shoes, bad hair, no worries. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... Coincidentally....my daughter, husband, and I are going to an Aerosmith and ZZTop concert in July. We can't wait!
Well, it's 9:00 pm and I'm exhausted. Off to bed!!! Love you guys!!!
Kathy
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Verl~
Good to "see" you! - Missed ya!
K ;D
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Kathy, you sound great and I'm so glad you're having such a good time to boot. I think it's important to remind people (especially those waiting for surgery) that life does go on, and sometimes (promotion?!) it can get even better. What an inspiring post.
Thank you,
Marci
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Kathy
I'm glad to hear you're doing so well and getting a promotion to boot!! Congratulations-- you've come a long way in a very short time!
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Kaybo, I check in from time to time. But I mostly just "lurk", because usually someone else has already said the good stuff. Hope all is well.
Peace,
Verl
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Congratulations, Kathy!
What a way to go, back to work and those 3 inch heels (i haven't been able to do that one for awhile...! LOL!)
Wishing you all the best with your promotion.
Sincerely,
Sue
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Coincidentally....my daughter, husband, and I are going to an Aerosmith and ZZTop concert in July. We can't wait!
Hi Kathy,
Nice choice! I love ZZTop and Aerosmith. I know it's not until July, but if you remember, report back here on how the concert went for you. I don't do well in loud places anymore. I'm SSD also, plus I have a type of tinnitus that gets amplified by sounds coming into my good ear. Lucky me. I was at a baseball game last weekend and I actually ended up with pain in my AN ear. It wasn't constant, and it won't be enough to keep me away from another game in the future :).
Ernie
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"small hijack warning"......my son and I are also planning to go see Aerosmith and ZZTop in the Houston area in July. I'm also SSD and don't like loud places, but I try not to let this stop me from things I enjoyed(pre-AN).
I have found that if I use an ear plug in my good ear(I do this a lot at restaurants) it cuts down a lot of the background noise and I can still hear what I want to hear at the table.
I know it may defeat the purpose some, but I'll probably also do this at the concert as my good ear is really sensitive to loud sounds and can really increase the tinnitus on my SSD/AN side. May not work for y'all, but thought I pass on what works for me.
Enjoy.
Patrick
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Kathy,
Congrats!! Awsome news! I got a promotion within 2 weeks of returning from my leave so can relate with some of the worries of if I could handle the new position and only 8-9 weeks post op. I too work in a big building with very high ceilings and at the time a lot of noise. Although it was challenging at first, I think in the long run it actually helped me get better quicker. (I still won't do 3" heels, though...of course, I didn't before the surgery, either!) LOL
I know this forum is an awesome place, especially when one is having issues or problems or just needs someone who understands what they're talking about. But, I also think it's great when we share our successes, too. Shows that everyone is indeed different and although we may all go down similar AN recovery paths, there are little twists and turns in it that make it unique for each of us.
Cathy
HOORAY!! CONGRATS!!!
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Congrats (belated) to you too, Cathy!!! Here's hoping for lots of terrific new beginnings for you and yours as you go....
Patrick and Ernie - yikes! I never thought about how the loud noise might affect my ears! I'm so glad you brought it up - I will definately look into ear plugs. I've really not been exposed to many loud noises since surgery, but i'll surely have some great loud music to deal with at the concert. I will definately report back on the concert. I am so excited!!!
Kathy