[NFB-DB] New Member from VA

[kg 6sxy (kg6sxy)]

Hello Rox,

Thank you for the quick reply!

I had a friend a long time ago that I've lost touch with after so many moves around North America that has Ménière's disease.  At the time, she was only having trouble in one ear.

Kind of reassuring that others have experienced what I'm going through since the frequency and duration of my tinnitus has been increasing over the past couple of years.  I had no idea that it could  progress to complete deafness over time.  My ringing is more like an extremely loud steam whistle that is painful when it really gets going.  Since you've been full deafblind, have you still had to put up with the ringing and vertigo?

I spent quite a bit of time in physical therapy last year and continue to do the exercises every day but my atrial fibrillation and neuropathy often gets in the way.  Still, I do what I can without blacking out.  Plus I try to get a little further from home each time based on what I remember of the layout of the town I live in.

I devoted a lot of time to learning Braille last year as things were getting worse over time.  It helps me feel a lot less isolated knowing I can still keep in touch with people by text messages or Sprint IP Relay.  I used to know quite a bit of American Sign Language about 35 years ago but I've forgotten most of it except for finger spelling and a few words here and there.

It is still pretty nerve wrecking thinking about possibly being fully deafblind all the time but it gets a little less scary with each new person I've met.

Have a wonderful evening!

Take care,  
Tony May