"The Hammer" movie

Matt “The Hammer” Hamill is a deaf American amateur wrestler and MMA fighter. He was a three-time NCAA Wrestling Division III National Champion (167 lb. class in 1997, 190 lb. class in 1998, and 197 lb. class in 1999) while attending the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.


Synopsis:
This movie is a real life story about Matt's life. 


The movie " The Hammer" is  Inspired by the life of deaf UFC fighter, Matt Hamill. "The Hammer" tells the story of what it takes to be a champion, on and off the mat. "The Hammer" is a coming of age drama depicting the struggles and successes of what it takes to become a champion. Raised among those with the ability to hear, Matt later finds himself no less an outsider amidst the Deaf Community. But through sheer determination, he uses his 'perceived' disability as an asset, and becomes not only the first deaf wrestler to win a National Collegiate Championship, but an inspirational force to both hearing and deaf alike.


Today January 31st, 2012 " The Hammer" is now available to buy at Walmart and Best Buy
for those that didn't pre-order the movie. Also available to Canadian fans through Amazon  and it is available at your local Blockbuster store to rent.

A few days ago I received the movie in the mail and watched it immediately. I pre- ordered it online a few months ago. I really enjoyed watching this. The movie has subtitles already on the screen which I like. I also love the behind the scenes.  Definitely worth buying, something I can watch over and over again. I  had the pleasure meeting Matt a few months ago at deaf expo. He was so nice. We took a picture together but I wont show it here because I dont like how I came out in the picture.  Pick up your copy today!





© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

Not so good news... Saw my surgeon today

I have a lot of crazy symtoms going on. I called my surgeon so many times in the last week, I felt so bad. So mom took off and took me into the city today to see him. I am still very dizzy but I am on Meclizine to calm the dizziness down. This seems to be working so so. I just started it three days ago. It is is going to take awhile to get better.

So Dr A. said I have unusual cervical swelling. Of course its unusual. He said I shouldn't be having any of the symptoms AT ALL. Great! Then on top of an infection I had last week from antibiotic,  I felt a really bad pain about four days ago in the back of my head. The pain woke me up in the middle of the night. The pain is no where near my incision. It hurts like hell its called a lymph note.

 Dr A. knew tried to correct the dizziness. I had to lay all the way back in the chair. As soon as I laid all the way down. I felt so sick. I thought I was going to puke everywhere, then I started to get very hot and cold, then really hot and my entire face turned red. He was doing something with my eyes. Saying something after surgery crystals can be someplace that they shouldn't be and can cause dizziness. Something like that. I dont remember because I couldn't function.

I am on two new medications one is an antibiotic to get rid of the swelling and the lymph note. I am still taking Meclizine two times a day. Then I am on Difulcan to prevent me from another infection. Last week on top of all this I had an infection and it hurt like hell. Thank god that is over with.  So to prevent the same infection i have to take another medication! So I am on four medications for all this drama. Then I got to go to GNC to get Acidophilus because my luck ill end up with another infection!

I am exhausted. I can sleep forever. The entire room is spinning as I speak and I feel so nauseous. I cant take it. I am trying to stay calm. This is the worst experience ever. The only good news out of this is I asked Dr A. If I could move up my Activation date so now my activation date is February 13, 2012.

Dr A. also peeled a lot of scabs off my scar. It was so grose by the look of my moms facial expressions.  The incision feels better it felt so heavy. So now the incision looks the way its suppose to.

I had to cancel class today so I wont be going for this semester. I am very upset over this. I pushed myself so hard to go to school three days after surgery honestly, I couldn't do it. It is going to take me awhile to recover especially with my real illness. So it sucks I am not a happy camper at all. Ill go back in the summer....


Dr A. said I  have to this exercise 3x a day! To get rid of the dizziness. I have to lay flat without a pillow on the bed.Then turn my head all the way to the right as long as I can I have to stay there. Then I have to straighten my head. Repeat again for several times.  I just tried it and it was the worst..... this is going to be FUN!!!!


All of this is a major set back for me but hopefully I will be up and running soon!


This is what my incision looks like after Dr. A cleaned it. He also put ointment on it.

© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

Hanging in there...

 I'm so dizzy that I have to hold onto the walls and sometimes I fall. I also see a lot of stars in my eyes every time  I blink and feel like im off balance. Three days ago the surgeon said this is "normal'. but I feel like this has gotten worst in the last few days. Tomorrow I had an appointment to see my surgeon for a 7 day check up, but it is way to much for me to go into NYC by train alone when I can barely walk around the house.

Today was a very rough day on top of the rain all day. I felt like I wanted to give up today because I am pushing myself so hard to go to school to finish. Physically and mentally, I know I shouldn't of went back. This class is three days a week. But, I wont GIVE UP!!!! If I cant handle it by next week then I am going to have to drop.... I pushed myself to far today.

 For the weekend I am just relaxing and sleeping as much as possible. Hoping monday will be much better so I can focus in school.

The incision looks thicker this time :(

Have a good night!

© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

1 week since surgery..

Wow. Time flies. Today is already one week since surgery. This recovery was the hardest believe it or not. The first time around was easier. The first three days I couldn't stop vomiting, then out of nowhere my nose just kept running like a water foundation and sneezing too! Boy that hurt. My god for the last 4 days I been sneezing every 10 seconds and I cant stand it. I was told to sneeze with my mouth no nose because If I dont it will strain the ear. Then wait it gets better I started to get a Low grade fever on Jan 19th and 20th. Shaking shivering. What a nightmare thats all I got to say!  Oh I forgot to mention I am so dizzy its pretty bad. This took affect when I came home.  My Dr. said its normal but seriously I never experienced anything like this ever. Im holding onto walls...

Last week on Wednesday Jan 18Th., when I came home after surgery that night, I started feeling some pain. After that I had no pain what so ever. THANK GOD. Two days ago I started to get overwhelmed and upset because I was hoping I wasn't getting sick. There is way to much going on at once and this is something I dont need on my plate right now, after everything I been through.

Next week I have an appointment to see my surgeon so he can check the incision. I am suppose to see him this week 7-10 days after surgery, but I cant get there because I just started class again. Right now the incision looks a little crusty and bloody. This better be normal. The first time around the incision was not like this at all. I'm a bit worried but I'm sure it is nothing.

I started class on Monday I literally pushed myself to go to school.My entire family kept telling me I was crazy for going. I slicked my hair back and was a wreck my hair looked like bozo the clown. I was dizzy on top of it all. I wanted to get there and get right home and sleep. I didn't want to miss the first day. Monday was a lot for me especially right after surgery.  I only have one class this semester so it was only an hour and I came right home and slept.

Yesterday I started to feel so much better. Yes I know things take time and my recovery takes so much longer because of my illness on top of it all. I have no more runny nose & sneezing just magically stopped. My nose is so red, I look like Rudolph. So I am just dealing with the dizziness. Phew. Its over!

Honestly this is just my opinion.... I dont think I can go through this ever again. Most of it is part of  my illness. This was a lot for me. I am exhausted and I have slept so many hours in the last week. But, this will all be worth it so I can hear my niece again.  I cant wait for activation because my niece keeps talking to me. I have no clue whats she saying and it breaks my heart. I just want to hear how her day was at daycare and I cant yet no matter how close she gets. I hear nothing.


Thank you once again for all the support....



© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

Surgery went well

My parents and I arrived in NYC around 6 am yesterday morning. I asked for my interpreter and no one had a clue what I was talking about. Finally the manager comes out and said's hell do his best to get an interpreter. At 7am while I was in the waiting room the interpreter comes. I was relieved. I was so afraid that I wasn't going to understand what was going on.

Surgery went well my mom said. It took three hours. I was done early. In recovery the nurse was annoying she kept waking me up and I just wanted to sleep. I kept saying another five minutes to keep my eyes shut. " If you dont get up then you cant go home." I remember reading her lips.  I remember getting home at 7pm last night. I was very nauseous and vomited the entire way home and all night long, I was scared and afraid too. I was shaking all night. It was tough to do this all over again less than a year. I kept saying I rather be deaf. Really it was just a lot and a bad day. Glad its over....

Today is a better day. I woke up at 9am because I slept all night. I was starving needed something to eat. Finally I was able to keep down my english muffin. The tinnitus is really bad. My Dr called and he said its normal. Every time I move the ringing begins, but if im sitting my I'm fine. I am mostly stiff with no pain. I can use a really nice neck massage right about now.  I am glad I have no pain.

That it for now. Here are some pictures.

In the waiting room.

After Surgery.

Bandage had to come off this morning. 

I'll be back in a few days....

    © 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

5 more days till surgery....

I am getting really nervous for re-implantation. Today I found out surgery is at 9am on Wednesday January 18th, 2012. I have to be at the hospital two hours early for pre op, no later than 6:45am.  On Facebook there is a CI group that I belong to and one of the parents was confused.  I  had mentioned that I have been having pain and cannot sleep on my implant side. She suggested that I take the Implant out. So I wanted to clarify this here.  The implant is surgically implanted into my skull, that cannot be removed.

These photos are taking from Cochlear's website.

Here is a picture of the N5 Cochlear Implant that will be removed on Wednesday.

I will be re-implanted with the Nucleus Freedom implant.

The outer part is called the PROCESSOR. I will continue to use the N5 processor once I'm activated again.

I should be back on Jan 19th depending on how I feel.  Have a great night!

© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

Trying to stay positive....

Yesterday, I found out that my insurance was terminated. NOT MY FAULT. My insurance company made an error. In between all that drama... I received a call from my surgeons office stating I have to get a medical clearance. I went to right to the Drs. office so I can get this over with. Of course when they pulled my file it said " INSURANCE TERMINATED".  This took forever because the office was packed and I had to lay out money because of the insurance situation. What a nightmare. I had to get blood work done as well. This morning, I get a call from the Dr's office saying that I have to come in because my white blood cells is slightly off. I started to panic and I called the Dr's office back and they said to come in ASAP. The nurse said its not a big deal and then she tells me we cannot give you medical clearance until your white blood cells are normal. I started to cry because surgery is just a few days away. So I went back to the office to get re take blood work again. The Dr. tested the blood work in the office and found out it was NORMAL. Phew. She said It could of been stress. YA THINK???

Seriously I need a vacation!  I just called my surgeons office and the secretary received all the paper work.  So I am cleared. Everything is set to go. Only a few more days till surgery. I am nervous. I cant stand being left out not knowing what is going on. Thank god I  have a hearing aid in for my left ear.


Time for a nap I had a stressful morning...



© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

A quote from Graeme Clark

 I wanted to share this quote with you that I found on Facebook. I have a lot of faith my surgery will be a success on January 18th, 2012. Now its just a waiting game. Things happen especially with Technology. This quote gave me some comfort.


A quote from Graeme Clark, who invented the cochlear implant..“In spite of the problems and criticisms, I just had to go on. A cochlear implant was their only hope of ever hearing.” -- Graeme Clark

© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

Re-Implantation Surgery Date

 On January 3rd, 2012 I went into the city to see my surgeon. He knew it was a failure because my audiologist called him ahead of time. I waited awhile to see him, my appointment was only 5-10 minutes. I didn't even leave with my surgery date although Dr A. told the secretary put her in ASAP. The secretary told me she would call me the following day and never did so I called them. They didn't do anything yet. Yesterday I called again and they were looking at dates and she promised she would call me Today. Still nothing and it was 2pm.. so I called. Finally after waiting fifteen minutes on the phone she comes back and said the only available date is the Jan 18th when they knew school was soon. Surgery is scheduled for the January 18th 2012. I dont know what time yet. They will get back to me on that. My parents and I decided to get a car service. It would be less stress since its very difficult to park in the city.

 I asked my suregon a few questions. How long will it take? He said 4 hours the same as the first time. I was surprised by the response because I found out in the UK it only took 1 hour for them to get re implanted. My surgeon did say it can be done in 1 hour but he cant just rip it out he has to take it out properly and put the new one in the right way.  I also asked how long do I have to wait till activation? Basically the same 4 weeks because it has to heal. If you turn the implant on sooner than that there will be problems. So I will wait the 4-5 weeks. Then I asked if I'm the only one that this failure is happening to and he said no there is quite a few people from his office.

I am okay I am just more nervous then ever. I am not worried about the pain, I'm more worried about infection. I am staying calm. This is just a lot to take in all over again but I'll be okay because I have so much support from everyone and I am worried about school now. Thankfully, I have interpreters in class and I should be okay to start school.


Thank you all for the support it means a lot....



To be Continued...



© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog