A New Me Blog

#68 AN Facebook Group
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 by Deb Vellines

In blog # 62  I briefly mentioned the AN Facebook Group. It’s a super place to ask questions and get help. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the answers can be confusing because they frequently are contradictory. What this means is what works best for one person may not be good for another person. This is especially true when it comes to questions about treatment.

Some people swear that surgery is the one and only answer for the treatment of an acoustic neuroma. Others say that radiation is the way to go. Still, others say do nothing with it. That last option can be best if your tumor is very small and you have had only one MRI. Good advice here is to wait 6 months and have another MRI to see if it is growing.

A wise person told me shortly after my diagnosis when I was getting conflicting advice, “You’ll know when it’s the right doctor and the right time.” After seeing surgeons and radiologists, I had always left their offices either in tears of frustration or with more confusion than before the appointment.

Then, one time I left an office feeling peace and ready to move forward with treatment. It all felt right.

Back to the Facebook AN Group questions and comments. I have included three links within the group to some general information. But first here is the link to join the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/78633792319

As we start to socialize more with our vaccinations this article has some great tips to help us hear better in social situations. https://blog.medel.com/5-ways-to-make-dining-out-easier-with-hearing-loss/

This next link will take you to the acoustic neuroma video library with videos under the following topics. When you click on one of the topics, a selection of videos is offered. Whatever your interest, question, or problem, one of these topics will give you a lot of info. https://www.anausa.org/learn-about-acoustic-neuroma/video-library?fbclid=I

  • AN Studies
  • Balance Issues
  • Cognitive/Emotional Issues
  • Decision Making
  • Facial/Eye Issues
  • General
  • Headache
  • Hearing/Audiology/Tinnitus
  • Microsurgery
  • Quality of Life/New Normal
  • Radiation
  • Regrowth/Post-Treatment Issues
  • Treatment Options

Have you ever heard of spoon therapy? It’s a clever way of thinking about energy. It demonstrates how each activity we do requires a certain amount of energy or a certain number of spoons. If you are totally healthy, you have an unlimited number of spoons. The article suggests that counting our spoons can help us with our energy expenditure. https://www.facebook.com/groups/78633792319/search/?q=spoons

I don’t agree with the number of spoons needed for various activities; for example, I don’t need any spoons for ironing because I don’t iron anything. Also, I don’t need any spoons for watching TV. But when it comes to exercise and social interaction I need maybe 8 to 10. The idea we only have so many spoons and be careful how we use them, is good.

These three links give you an idea of the information available in the Facebook AN Group. If you ask a question, again be prepared for lots of answers. Some of them will be opposite a previous answer.   

*****

Readers: wishing you lots of spoons.

*****

Dear Jesus, I pray for more energy. Help me to use my available energy in wise ways. Help me to say, “No thanks” if an activity is more than I can handle. Amen.

        My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

Previous Posts

# 77 – 21 Stress Busters
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

# 76 Claustrophobia
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#75 Facial Issues
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#74 Phantom Sounds
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#73 Walk Without Falling
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#72 AN Awareness Week
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

# 71 Hearing Loss
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#70 Understanding Changes
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#69 Is It Growing?
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#68 AN Facebook Group
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#67 Turn Off Anxiety
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#66 Decisions & Stress Busters
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#65 Control and Choices
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#64 Surgeon Questions
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#63 Virtual Education Event
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#62 Three Ways to Connect
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#61 Reminders
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#60 Grocery Shopping
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#59 9 Conversation Hints with Masks
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#58 A New Me & New Ways
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#57 Irritable?
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#56 11 Reasons to Try Chair Yoga
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#55 Hints for the Holiday
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#54 Treatment Ideas for Headaches
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#53 Headaches
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#52 Hyperacusis
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#51 ** 5 Ways to Prevent Falls
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#50 Closed Captioning (CC) at the Movies
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#49 Hearing Loss Advice
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#48 Networking8 Networking
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#47 Help Me Hear
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#46 4 YouTube Videos
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#45 Get Connected
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#44 Signia Hearing Aids
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#43 Improving Balance
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#42 Treatment of Depression
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#41 Depression
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#40 ** 7 Ways to Fight Brain Fog
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#39 ** 5 Fatigue Busters
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#38 Tinnitus
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#37 Phonak CROS Hearing Aids
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#36 Hearing Devices
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#35 Single Sided Deafness
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

# 34 Post Treatment
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#33 Treatment
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#32 A Hit Over the Head
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#31 National Symposium
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#30 Knots with Purpose
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#29 A Time to Kill
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#28 A Letter
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#27 Peace With Trust
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#26 Joy is a Choice
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#25 Flat Emotion
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#24 New Thoughts
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#23 Acceptance?
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#22 Help!
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#21 Crying
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

# 20 Full Plate
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#19 Concentration
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#18 Worry versus Trust
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#17 For Healing
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#16 Who’s in Control?
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#15 Depression
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

# 13 Doctor (specialist)
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#14 Different Treatments
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#11 Support Group
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#12 Thank You
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

Step # 10 Questions
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

Step # 9 Bargaining
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

Step #8 Energy
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step # 7 – Reactions – of others
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #6 – Do I share my News?
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #4 – To stay calm waiting for test results
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #5 – Why?
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #3 – Courage – to make an appointment for a test.
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #2 – Wisdom – for the doctor
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #1 – Wisdom – to know when to call the doctor
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025