hello

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ted, I appreciate the welcome and the words of wisdom. All are

helpful. This has been, and will be, quite a journey.

**************You Rock! One month of free movies delivered by mail from

blockbuster.com

(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212639737x1200784900/aol?redir=https:/\

/www.blockbuster.com/signup/y/reg/p.26978/r.email_footer)

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dolly and that is so cute. , I know, appreciate is as much as I

do. I think I want to join her on cloud 27! That is a great result for

her. Have a good one guys.

Ben

**************Check out smokin’ hot deals on laptops, desktops and more from

Dell. Shop Deals

(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1213345834x1200842686/aol?redir=http://\

ad.doubleclick.net/clk;209513277;31396581;l)

[Guest guest]

Hi Ben,

I've heard of your law firm, and when I looked it up saw that the firm has

an office in Mobile. Looks like one of your attorneys was a former boss of

mine for a short time a number of years ago. I lost my hearing over about

10-15 years, but have never been completely deaf. I had a steep ski slope

loss and gradually lost my ability to understand speech very well. The phone

was becoming increasingly difficult and frustrating. It took several

evaluations before I met the criteria to receive the CI. I have not chosen

to go bilateral yet because I don't want to be completely DEAF without my

processor on. I still have enough hearing in my unimplanted ear to wake to a

clock radio, hear some environmental sounds and have a little conversation

without my CI on.

I chose Dr. Grayson Rodgers because he was recommended to me by another

doctor. Dr. Rodgers gives you two speech processors, which is very important

if a repair is needed. I always know that I have a backup. I have traveled

to Birmingham for my mappings, but have never done any formal rehab other

than listening to some books on tape during the first couple of months. I

tried the CI center in Mobile for a couple of visits, but ended up with a

bad map and went back to . She re-mapped me and things have been

fine since. I was very fortunate in that I was able to hear and understand

speech immediately upon activation. Everything was very robotic at first,

but in about a month or so, voices normalized and sound just like they are

supposed to. It also took a few weeks to get used to all of the

environmental sounds I hadn't heard in some time. I was also able to hear on

the phone right away.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery. I'll look forward to hearing how

everything turns out for you.

Lynn

Fairhope, AL

Nucleus Freedom

Surgery date 9/6/06

Activation date 9/27/06

Re: Hello

Hi Lynn, thanks so much for the note and good to hear from you. I am with

a firm that has several offices in the southeast and I practice mainly

workers' compensation defense and Medicare law. Its the firm of Carr,

, Pugh, etc. I am in Vestavia. Thanks for the update on your new

CI and I am so ready to have this surgery done. I chose the Shea Clinic

since I was treated there a couple of times in the past and had a good

relationship with the doctor. I know of Dr. Grayson and he has a wonderful

reputation. I think the other doctor in town that does this procedure is

Dr. Pappas.

Did you do your rehab in Birmingham? I assume you only have one CI now,

but I plan to try to do both at one time so to avoid a second surgery.

I'll keep you posted and should know today or tomorrow the exact date of

the procedure. Wising you a good week and warmest thoughts,

Ben

[Guest guest]

What a lovely bubbly personality you have! A lovely email! Keep it up

as you have a wonderful spirit within you. :-)

I just had to write as I think it's great to see such a positive posting.

God bless

Elaine from the UK

Gayle Northcott wrote:

>

> Good Grief , are you still up on Cloud 27!!! Now young lady you

> come back down to Earth or I will flaps my long fins up to pluck you

> off white clouds and bring you back down myself.

>

> Welcome Bennet to . You will get all the wealth of information

> from many folks on this list.

>

> I just have one CI in my good ear (left).

> My name is Gayle Tiana Northcott but I am known as Dolly Dolphin on

> all the lists. I hailed from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

>

> I hope you will hear from your surgeon quickly.

>

> Dolly Dolphin waving my fins/tail to and Bennet

>

>

[Guest guest]

Good Grief , are you still up on Cloud 27!!! Now young lady you come back

down to Earth or I will flaps my long fins up to pluck you off white clouds and

bring you back down myself.

Welcome Bennet to . You will get all the wealth of information from many

folks on this list.

I just have one CI in my good ear (left).

My name is Gayle Tiana Northcott but I am known as Dolly Dolphin on all the

lists. I hailed from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

I hope you will hear from your surgeon quickly.

Dolly Dolphin waving my fins/tail to and Bennet

[Guest guest]

I used to be a patient at Shea Clinic for years when I was younger. It had

an excellent reputation back then as I am sure it does now. I received my CI

in March and was activated in April this year. I used Dr. Pappas whom you

mentioned in one of your posts. Dr. Pappas did a great job on my surgery and

the audi in his office (Dr. Lynn Carmichael) is wonderful. Like Lynn

mentioned, she got two processors with Dr. Grayson and I only got one with my

surgery. I do not know if it is surgeon preference or insurance. Hope you

hear

from Shea Clinic soon and get a good report.

Vickie

Warrior, AL

Implanted 3/10/08

Activated 4/16/08

**************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks,

and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com

today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=h\

ttp://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp

%26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001)

[Guest guest]

Thank you Elaine (catching one bubble and gentling hitting it with my fins

across the ocean top and making sure none of my fellow dolphins don't break it

by giving them a stern looks that say " Don't you guys dare break my bubble! " ).

Dolly Dolphin still having fun hitting my bubble and while the bubble is in

the air I am waving my fins/tail to you

Elaine wrote:

What a lovely bubbly personality you have! A lovely email! Keep it up

as you have a wonderful spirit within you. :-)

I just had to write as I think it's great to see such a positive posting.

God bless

Elaine from the UK

[Guest guest]

Vickie - I'm coming in the middle of this thread, but just wanted to say

that I would think it is more to do with insurance preference. My audi,

just held my second processor for amonth, than gave it to me after

ordering the exchange of my 2 " coil to a 3 " . not sure of the reason for

it. Seriously, if one is working that no need to be concern.

Hope you can find out if your situation was insurance. I would

seriously doubt the same Dr. Would give one patient a processor and

another 2 out of preference, unless insurance refused to pay.

Just my two cents of logical reasoning smile.

On Wed, 19 Nov 2008 9:40 pm, vickiedavi@... wrote:

> I used to be a patient at Shea Clinic for years when I was younger. It

> had

> an excellent reputation back then as I am sure it does now. I received

> my CI

> in March and was activated in April this year. I used Dr. Pappas whom

> you

> mentioned in one of your posts. Dr. Pappas did a great job on my

> surgery and

> the audi in his office (Dr. Lynn Carmichael) is wonderful. Like Lynn

> mentioned, she got two processors with Dr. Grayson and I only got one

> with my

> surgery. I do not know if it is surgeon preference or insurance. Hope

> you hear

> from Shea Clinic soon and get a good report.

> Vickie

> Warrior, AL

> Implanted 3/10/08

> Activated 4/16/08

> **************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social

> networks,

> and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com

>

today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=h\

ttp://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp

> %26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hiya, Ben,

Just want to welcome you in to the forum and wish you all the best of

luck. Most of us have benefitted greatly from our CI and I'm sure you will,

too. Remember that no question is too small, silly or anything else to ask

here.

Someone always comes up with an answer or suggestion. Again - welcome!

Jackie - bilateral - )

**************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks,

and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com

today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=h\

ttp://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp

%26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001)

[Guest guest]

For what it's worth Medicare will only provide one processor. So if you

had your surgery done via Medicare, that's why you got one processor. I

had 2 processors with my first surgery paid for by Aetna or someone like

that 12 years ago. rs have changed many times since then.

____________________________________________________________

Visa, MasterCard, AMEX & Discover. Compare Offers & Apply Online. Click here!

http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw2Oq31355Ju7lKKgMSACHbJEPahoXn2\

q6tXCpLLCEcYuOsOP/

[Guest guest]

- I had surgery R ear Sept 2006 and received 2 processors and

then again L ear Sept 2008. I received 2 more processors. So now I

have a total of 4. So, I personal experiences says they do. I have

straight MediCare no supplement insurance.

Yes, I'm bilateral.

~ Kitty S. - Cochlear Volunteer ~

The Cat addicted to hearing, Meow!!!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/21/2008 8:00:23 AM Eastern Standard Time,

judy40@... writes:

I am covered under Medicare and received two processors.

Judi, I am still currently under my retired state health care plan and will

turn 65 in January. I am scheduled to have bilateral, with my left ear

inplanted on November 25. Since my activation may not happen until first week

of

January after I am 65, I am curious will Medicare cover the mappings when

insurance changes.

Betty Lynch

Cape Cod

Right ear inplanted December 31, 2007 with Freedom

**************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks,

and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com

today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=h\

ttp://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp

%26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001)

[Guest guest]

I am covered under Medicare and received two processors.

Judy in Jax

>

> For what it's worth Medicare will only provide one processor. So if you

> had your surgery done via Medicare, that's why you got one processor. I

> had 2 processors with my first surgery paid for by Aetna or someone like

> that 12 years ago. rs have changed many times since then.

>

>

> ____________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks and also others who have responded to the post.

Betty Lynch

Falmouth

**************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks,

and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com

today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=h\

ttp://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp

%26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001)

[Guest guest]

Betty,

Yes Medicare will cover mappings.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried

in for eternity?

& Dreamer Doll ke7nwn

Newport, Oregon

N24C 8/2000 Hookup

rclark0276@...

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

[Guest guest]

Thank you, . Seriously.

-- In , " " <rclark0276@...> wrote:

>

> Betty,

> Yes Medicare will cover mappings.

>

> *-

[Guest guest]

You bet, Judy. I was also told that even if Medicare will not cover 2

CI's, they still cover mappings to either or both.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at

large.

& Dreamer Doll ke7nwn

Newport, Oregon

N24C 8/2000 Hookup

rclark0276@...

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

[Guest guest]

Hi Ben,

I am woefully behind in reading email but your note and the responses

caught my eye and I wanted to say welcome to the list. I had my CI

surgery in July of this year and was activated in August so it's been 3

months now. I really wanted to get the surgery done with once so I was

hoping my insurance carrier would approve simultaneous bilateral

surgery. They did, and I had both ears implanted during the same surgery.

I'm really, really glad I was able to do it that way and don't have any

regrets doing both ears at once. The surgery itself was 2-1/2 hours and I

was home the same day. The hardest part for me was having to sleep on my

back because it hurt to lay on either ear while they were still healing. I

slept on the couch for about 3 weeks, I think it was, since that was the

easiest way to keep myself from rolling to one side or the other in my sleep.

No matter what you decide to do, I hope your CI changes your life for the

better. I feel like I got my life back after I got my CI's!

Take care,

~Wendi in Illinois

http://suddensilence.wordpress.com/

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much, Wendi! This is good information. I am still waiting for a

surgery date and for Blue Cross to make the call on bilateral or unilateral.

Its a frustratingly slow process and the insurance clerk apparently sent the

paperwork to Blue Cross later than I realized. So, the chain reaction is

slower. I had our administrator call Blue Cross to try and push this along.

Oddly, they do not allow for outpatient surgery at the clinic and it has to be

at a local hospital, so that is yet another schedule to work around during

the holidays. Thanks to you all and have a good weekend.

Ben

Waiting on Surgery date

**************Check out smokin’ hot deals on laptops, desktops and more from

Dell. Shop Deals

(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1213345834x1200842686/aol?redir=http://\

ad.doubleclick.net/clk;209513277;31396581;l)

[Guest guest]

Hi Ben,

Sorry things are taking so long. My husband one time mentioned that if you

had Blue Cross and chose to go out of state that they would not pay as much

as they do for treatment at an " in state " facility. That may be my

particular policy. A very big disadvantage for someone who has a serious

medical problem and needs treatment at a major facility like s Hopkins,

M.D. or Mayo. I hope everything works out for you.

Lynn

Fairhope, AL

Nucleus Freedom

Surgery date 9/6/06

Activation date 9/27/06

Re: Re: Hello

Thanks so much, Wendi! This is good information. I am still waiting for a

surgery date and for Blue Cross to make the call on bilateral or

unilateral.

Its a frustratingly slow process and the insurance clerk apparently sent

the paperwork to Blue Cross later than I realized. So, the chain reaction

is slower. I had our administrator call Blue Cross to try and push this

along.

Oddly, they do not allow for outpatient surgery at the clinic and it has to

be at a local hospital, so that is yet another schedule to work around

during the holidays. Thanks to you all and have a good weekend.

Ben

Waiting on Surgery date

[Guest guest]

Hi Kitty,

Would you PLEASE tell us how you got Medicare to pay for 2 implants?

has been banging his head against the wall, both literally

and figuratively, trying to get a second implant paid for by Medicare.

did Medicare pay for BOTH implants, or were you implanted with another

insurance first. And we are talking Medicare, NOT Medicaid (which is

state funded).

Thanks,

Posted by: " Kitty S. " CharidaRose@...

Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:11 pm (PST)

- I had surgery R ear Sept 2006 and received 2 processors and

then again L ear Sept 2008. I received 2 more processors. So now I

have a total of 4. So, I personal experiences says they do. I have

straight MediCare no supplement insurance.

Yes, I'm bilateral.

~ Kitty S. - Cochlear Volunteer ~

The Cat addicted to hearing, Meow!!!

____________________________________________________________

Click here to find the rental car that fits your needs.

http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw2i4KpQsTsBmpjJ2YXkfRE32VNFh2WK\

HXELQFGk6YpSGjUxd/

[Guest guest]

- I know had been whacking his brains trying to get

Medicare to pay for the second implant for him and probably resents me

for being able to get mine. I pray that him and others will be eligible

to get their second implant via medicare.

For the stake of this discussion, I am very well aware of the difference

between Medicare and Medicaid. I have Medicare from the federal

government and no secondary insurance. Just as I mentioned in my

previous email.

I have had this conversation with Rob and a few others before. The

bottom line for me was quite simple, because I met eligibility

requirements of testing below 40% speech recognition with my first CI in

my right ear. I tested with 8% speech recgonition which is up from zero

over the past 30+ years. Despite my wearing hearing aids most of my

life, I was and still am pretty much dependent on lipreading. I am

relaxing slowly, on the dependency.

I've been trying to think of other ways that he may be eligible. I'm

very surprised, that they would not consider his blindness! And the

benefit of 2 implants would be better for Rob in terms of directional,

and being able to recognize things in his environment. The sound would

be so much more fuller than it is now with 1 implant. You would think,

if there was such an " order of selection " like they have in some of the

vocational rehabilitation programs that Rob would be the most eligible.

Again, I was very blessed, it was rather simple for me... - just met

the eligibility requirements.

I hope, and pray that the doors will start opening up and the

regulations will be adjusted and take into considerations other factors

and disabilities that would suggest the urgency of the need to get a

second implant.

~ Kitty S. - Cochlear Volunteer ~

The Cat addicted to hearing, Meow!!!

[Guest guest]

,

Dont mind Kitty, she is quite confused. I am not sure where she gets

the idea I resent her for going bilateral. I am not surprised that she

qualified under Medicare. And she is even more confused because she refers

to me as Rob when she has been told more than once the correct name. But

then, maybe she didnt understand me. She is just a cat after all. LOL

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?

& Dreamer Doll ke7nwn

Newport, Oregon

N24C 8/2000 Hookup

rclark0276@...

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

[Guest guest]

By the way Kitty, just asked you something simple. I could have

told her but figured you could handle it. You dont need to write a book and

throw in some off the wall notion that was not necessary. And for future

reference, since you seem to miss it every time, my name is .

Hopefully you got it now.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

You are depriving some village of an idiot.

& Dreamer Doll ke7nwn

Newport, Oregon

N24C 8/2000 Hookup

rclark0276@...

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

[Guest guest]

Lynn, thanks so much for the note and the update. I had not thought about

that but you are probably right, since the clinic is out of state. I also

learned that the insurance clerk was slow to get the paperwork to Blue Cross,

so

this has caused a slow chain reaction on their part. Our firm administrator

has been in contact with Blue Cross to prod them along and hopefully the

logjam will break this week. Ideally, we can get a date in December, although

that is becoming less likely. It will probably be in early January and I

hope, with the dealy here, they will allow both at the same time.

As I am sure you remember, the days tend to get long while we are just

waiting on an answer and focused on the procedure. I am sure those weeks

between

surgery and activation are equally as long? I hope you and your family have

a good rest of the weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Warmest

thoughts,

Ben

**************Check out smokin’ hot deals on laptops, desktops and more from

Dell. Shop Deals

(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1213345834x1200842686/aol?redir=http://\

ad.doubleclick.net/clk;209513277;31396581;l)