Archives
November 2004
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
2:39:00 AM EST
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing late late news
Dr. Moore confirmed that the MRI was negative for tumor and stroke, though he could not see
on the scan whether I had a patulous eustachian tube. His diagnosis of elimination? Atypical
Meniere's Syndrome--"atypical" because of the lack of vertigo, dizziness, nausea and only mild
tinnitus. Meniere's typically produces unilateral hearing disturbance, lower frequency loss
(acc. to Sensaphonics' audiolologist, mild at 100-250kHz, w/in the normal limits for a non-musician)
--all of which I have. The week before I saw him again, I had to fight tooth and nail to get him to give me prednisone--at 28 days into
my sudden loss, just inside the wire. It wasn't helping much, so I followed the advice of researchers
in "The Lancet" and added Vit. E. Had some mild improvement. He insisted I gradually cut out caffeine, way
down on sodium and alcohol (with my low carb diet, was already doing that), get >8hr. sleep/day, and drink half a gallon or more of water a day. Still not much
improvement, so I did some more sleuthing and found that ginkgo biloba and alpha-lipoic acid
had been shown to regenerate cochlear cilia in mice. I began taking them--and within two days my hearing was
normal! I continued to cut back my caffeine to 1c. per day, and salt below 2gm. Slept like a baby--
the easiest part of the regimen.
Ah yes--the "Give Peace a Chance" session went swimmingly! My dulcimer fit nicely into the mix and I got to
sing both as part of the general large chorus and part of the harmony quintet (I sang second soprano).
It was organized by Cathy Richardson--and I got to work with her, Jim Peterik, and Alice Peacock too!
The following Wed. we got to sing it at Daley Plaza--the city gave us a stage and PA. I was in
the front row, miked, singing and playing tambourine between Jim and Alice! There was a video shot
'of the song in the studio and at the Daley Center, and interviews as part of a documentary
on the making of the remake. At the Daley Center, a reporter stuck a mike in my face and interviewed
me. I figured she was a journalism student (carrying an inexpensive reporter). Imagine my
surprise when folks came up to me at FARM and complimented me on the neat interview with
me they'd heard on NPR!
Decided to go for the Bar Show after all--this time, with my health scare and all the gigs I've had
this fall (last one till after the show is Nov. 26), I wasn't going to push too hard for any major solos.
Solo auditions didn't go too well; nerves and fatigue got the better of me (I'd driven to and from
Madison for the Kerry rally that day). But I had a great time that night at the open mic at
Metropolis--figured it was my last time to sing "The Shrub" before the election. I've been asked
to be part of their "All-Star" open mic this week and will do two solo sets next Mon.
Election? Too depressing to talk about--especially with the Bush Putsch of 2004 at the CIA and
Cabinet. But latest reports are that Kerry is quietly monitoring the NH and Ohio recounts--and
gathering evidence; if in his prosecutor's mind he finds sufficient evidence the election was stolen,
then his concession speech (which isn't binding anyway) will be retracted and "let the games
begin." Would be sweet indeed to see Bush et al slink away after originally claiming a mandate
and further deforming the fed. gov't. Meanwhile, I have kept singing "The Shrub" in hopes of
at least impeachment (changed the punch line to "at least we tried to trim the Shrub."). And I
just wrote a parody of "Carmelita" ("Condoleeza;" I understand someone in Austin,TX did too,
but since I haven't heard any of it or seen the lyrics, mine's not plagiarism).
Had a great trip to Ft. Madison, IA for the last-ever public tour of the Sheaffer factory and came
back with lots of pens. Had a nice little gig up in Madison at Urban Market (with some great live
cuts done on minidisc and transferred to Nuendo). Productive recording session the next day, too.
FARM was terrific too--my songs went over well, made many new friends, and was elected
Registrar. (Will be going to NAFA in Montreal this Feb.--waiting to hear if I got a showcase slot in the
lottery). And Steve and I did very well at 8th St. in Escanaba this past weekend--small crowd
(hunters were away in the woods, and walleye season hadn't yet started--so the influx of
fisherman had not materialized); but had friends come all the way down from Marquette and
Houghton. We still made $70, and Rob really likes us!
Susan & I are also really getting SASS off the ground. We've done several Borders, and Chase
Cafe too, and will be going into the studio after Christmas. Retook photos as well. We will be
gigging like crazy in Jan. & Feb. and may be traveling to L.A. in Mar. for a UU service!
Had a brief relapse--discontinued the Vit. E after the NEJM scare; and with all the traveling (4 trips to WI in 2 weeks), little sleep, too much coffee
and sodium (road food) and playing the iPod too loud and long in the car. But it's mostly pianos
that sound flat--guitars still sound rich and full and not out of tune. (Also being very careful to
use my custom earplugs whenever there are high sound pressure levels--even at "acoustic"
concerts). Immediately resumed the E, went back to original doses of the A-lipoic acid and ginkgo
(added quercetin and will add vinpocetine), increased water and decreased coffee, and gotten
insistent about sleep. I'm improving again.
Written by sandina Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
2:39:00 AM EST
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing late late news
progress report
Dr. Moore confirmed that the MRI was negative for tumor and stroke, though he could not see
on the scan whether I had a patulous eustachian tube. His diagnosis of elimination? Atypical
Meniere's Syndrome--"atypical" because of the lack of vertigo, dizziness, nausea and only mild
tinnitus. Meniere's typically produces unilateral hearing disturbance, lower frequency loss
(acc. to Sensaphonics' audiolologist, mild at 100-250kHz, w/in the normal limits for a non-musician)
--all of which I have. The week before I saw him again, I had to fight tooth and nail to get him to give me prednisone--at 28 days into
my sudden loss, just inside the wire. It wasn't helping much, so I followed the advice of researchers
in "The Lancet" and added Vit. E. Had some mild improvement. He insisted I gradually cut out caffeine, way
down on sodium and alcohol (with my low carb diet, was already doing that), get >8hr. sleep/day, and drink half a gallon or more of water a day. Still not much
improvement, so I did some more sleuthing and found that ginkgo biloba and alpha-lipoic acid
had been shown to regenerate cochlear cilia in mice. I began taking them--and within two days my hearing was
normal! I continued to cut back my caffeine to 1c. per day, and salt below 2gm. Slept like a baby--
the easiest part of the regimen.
Ah yes--the "Give Peace a Chance" session went swimmingly! My dulcimer fit nicely into the mix and I got to
sing both as part of the general large chorus and part of the harmony quintet (I sang second soprano).
It was organized by Cathy Richardson--and I got to work with her, Jim Peterik, and Alice Peacock too!
The following Wed. we got to sing it at Daley Plaza--the city gave us a stage and PA. I was in
the front row, miked, singing and playing tambourine between Jim and Alice! There was a video shot
'of the song in the studio and at the Daley Center, and interviews as part of a documentary
on the making of the remake. At the Daley Center, a reporter stuck a mike in my face and interviewed
me. I figured she was a journalism student (carrying an inexpensive reporter). Imagine my
surprise when folks came up to me at FARM and complimented me on the neat interview with
me they'd heard on NPR!
Decided to go for the Bar Show after all--this time, with my health scare and all the gigs I've had
this fall (last one till after the show is Nov. 26), I wasn't going to push too hard for any major solos.
Solo auditions didn't go too well; nerves and fatigue got the better of me (I'd driven to and from
Madison for the Kerry rally that day). But I had a great time that night at the open mic at
Metropolis--figured it was my last time to sing "The Shrub" before the election. I've been asked
to be part of their "All-Star" open mic this week and will do two solo sets next Mon.
Election? Too depressing to talk about--especially with the Bush Putsch of 2004 at the CIA and
Cabinet. But latest reports are that Kerry is quietly monitoring the NH and Ohio recounts--and
gathering evidence; if in his prosecutor's mind he finds sufficient evidence the election was stolen,
then his concession speech (which isn't binding anyway) will be retracted and "let the games
begin." Would be sweet indeed to see Bush et al slink away after originally claiming a mandate
and further deforming the fed. gov't. Meanwhile, I have kept singing "The Shrub" in hopes of
at least impeachment (changed the punch line to "at least we tried to trim the Shrub."). And I
just wrote a parody of "Carmelita" ("Condoleeza;" I understand someone in Austin,TX did too,
but since I haven't heard any of it or seen the lyrics, mine's not plagiarism).
Had a great trip to Ft. Madison, IA for the last-ever public tour of the Sheaffer factory and came
back with lots of pens. Had a nice little gig up in Madison at Urban Market (with some great live
cuts done on minidisc and transferred to Nuendo). Productive recording session the next day, too.
FARM was terrific too--my songs went over well, made many new friends, and was elected
Registrar. (Will be going to NAFA in Montreal this Feb.--waiting to hear if I got a showcase slot in the
lottery). And Steve and I did very well at 8th St. in Escanaba this past weekend--small crowd
(hunters were away in the woods, and walleye season hadn't yet started--so the influx of
fisherman had not materialized); but had friends come all the way down from Marquette and
Houghton. We still made $70, and Rob really likes us!
Susan & I are also really getting SASS off the ground. We've done several Borders, and Chase
Cafe too, and will be going into the studio after Christmas. Retook photos as well. We will be
gigging like crazy in Jan. & Feb. and may be traveling to L.A. in Mar. for a UU service!
Had a brief relapse--discontinued the Vit. E after the NEJM scare; and with all the traveling (4 trips to WI in 2 weeks), little sleep, too much coffee
and sodium (road food) and playing the iPod too loud and long in the car. But it's mostly pianos
that sound flat--guitars still sound rich and full and not out of tune. (Also being very careful to
use my custom earplugs whenever there are high sound pressure levels--even at "acoustic"
concerts). Immediately resumed the E, went back to original doses of the A-lipoic acid and ginkgo
(added quercetin and will add vinpocetine), increased water and decreased coffee, and gotten
insistent about sleep. I'm improving again.
Written by sandina Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | digg this
