OTOSCLEROSIS - "What the _ _ _ _?"

Hearing Loss - I have been suffering from this otosclerosis for the past ten years. I have noticed this right after I gave birth to Thomas in 1996 (this is often the case with otosclerosis). I thought it was nothing to worry about at the time, just a temporary thing and don't want to know about it. I became aware and worried about it when friends, relatives and specially Kevin and the kids called it into my attention. I compensate for this hearing loss by inadvertantly learning to read lips. Dizziness and imbalance is a feature of otosclerosis, no wonder I fell one time and cracked my forehead, had concussion for few months.

Anyway, thanks to my GP and asked me to see an Audiometrist and find out how bad my hearing loss was. According to this Audiometrist, my left ear almost can't hear anything. I have to see the ENT specialist first before I go ahead with a hearing aid to be fitted. So I went to this ENT and he confirmed that I'm suffering from this disease. He gave me two options, one was this surgery called Stapedectomy, unfortunately he can't do this surgery. This procedure is technically difficult and only three surgeons can do it in NSW. The second one is to wear a hearing aid but you won't get good result and they are very expensive. He referred me to another ENT Surgeon close to home, Dr Melville da Cruz in Westmead.

Finally saw him and sort out this problem. He booked me in for surgery on the 9th of August this year at Westmead Private Hospital. It will be a 90 mins surgery and the worst part is I'll be awake and aware of what's going on under local anaesthetic. Bloody hell! I'm in trouble now.... so worried about this surgery and the risk of complications too.

WISH ME LUCK!

My Own Holiday

Holiday in Manila

I went for a holiday with no husband and no kids, last February in Manila. I went there with my sister, Beth and few girlfriends of mine. We stayed in the best area, Greenbelt Makati, thanks to our friend Ate Noemi for organising that and her family and friends looked after us during our stay. I met up with my old friends in high school and had a little reunion at Gerry's Grill, Greenbelt Makati. And also visited my Dad's graveyard at Holy Cross in Novaliches, met up with my two half brothers and their family and all the merienda and dinners with had. The shopping we've done, shop till you drop, the bargains. I'm glad that we did stop over in HongKong for two nights, on the way back to Sydney. Still three weeks it wasn't enough at all, a lot of things/places I didn't see, eat all my old time favourites, spend more time with friends/relos, etc. Next time, I will bring Kevin and the kids and this time we'll go around places that I haven't been, eg Baguio, Tagaytay and go back to my Mum's hometown in Bicol (first and last time I was there when I was only 5 years old). For sure I have to cut down my shopping time, concentrate on other things.