Yes, through violence though, not infection

yes, but it can still be problematic. No further ruptures, but I am
EXTREMELY careful cleaning it, even after so many years.

Loud noises cause static. Even loud conversations around me, say at a
dinner party. If I join in the conversation with a raised voice, it
happens faster. Watching terminator III in the theatre set it off a lot!

it gets tripped.

Only at one extreme, and it is just a dip in my normal curve. It is
permanent, though it can only be detected using sophisticated testing.

The static sounds, though, get progressively worse each year.

Regards,

Ari

We have a friend in Maryland who has been in and out of the hospital, too,
with the pneumonia and other associated breathing problems. She was just
finally diagnosed with Legionaires Disease. YOU BE CAREFUL!! Make sure your
doctors stay on top of this one, kiddo.
We are going back to Maryland for a week this coming month to visit with
her. As soon as she's out of the hospital this time, they're moving to
Kentucky to get away from the high polution of the DC area they live in.  I
can't wait to see her even if I have to wear a mask to do it.

You take care of yourself, Donna.....we love you.

DeeTee

Donna - Major gentle hugs to you!  You'ver really had a hard tie of
late, haven't you?  When I was in the hospital in Dec I was given both
of those IV abx. They made me very nauseaus and I had to have an
additional drug IV before they gave them. I had the vanco 4 times a day
and the other 2 times a day. I think it was the vanco that caused the
nausea because I had the cepheme.fir my sinus infection last year and
it did not make me ill. Worked great on the infection tho. Just be glad
you have a pic line because the vanco burns your veins bad!  I had one
dose and insisted on on pic line. They couldn't even touch my IV
without it hurting. Not to mention that it's not so good on your veins
general health.  Vanco is hard on your kidneys. My kidney enzymes are
still slightly (1 pt) elevated but the dr said it should return to
normal in about  a year.

Are you being treated by an ID or by an E & T?  I was treated by and
astute Infectious Disease doctor who tested my IGG levels to see if
they were low. He said that people with low IGG are suseptable to upper
respiratory problems and perhaps that was part of my problem too. I had
tossed it up to years of steroids, Enbrel, etc and really didn't think
he would find anything out of the ordinary. So when he asked, "Do you
mind if we run some tests on your immune system?" I said, sure, why
not? know full well they would come back normal or inconslusive like
they had for every other doctor. He ran the standard lupus panel, etc
with the addition of this IGG test.  He also ran the IGA I believe.
Surprise of Surprises, it came back low and I was diagnosed with Common
Variable Immunodeficiency.
http://www.primaryimmune.org/pubs/book_pats/e_ch03.pdf
You can imagine after all these years how surprised I was that
something finally showed up. There are 4 sub-classes of it and while
most people are only deficient in 1 or 2, all four were low for me. One
of the sub-classes cause your body to make auto-antibodies instead of
fighting what they are supposed to. Wow. So as the ID said, the good
news is that it is treatable with Intravenous Gamma Gobulin. Once a
month IV's of IVIG were not enough to bring my numbers up so now I get
it every three weeks. After 6 months my numbers were almost normal and
I haven't had ANY URI issues in over a year. Apparently if you don't
find out about it as a child, it usually shows up in your 50-60's when
your immune system naturally slows down.

So, not that I want to wish another dx on you, you might want to check
this out. My E & T was very negative about this whole idea when I went
back to him after I was treated by the ID. I had been seeing him for
two months before my rheumy sent me to the ID because I had the
infections for 4 months and nothing was helping. When I first saw the E
& T I had asked for IV abx and he pooh-poohed the idea saying that if I
was on oral abx long enough it would work but guess what? We know what
works and doesn't and oral abx just doen't cut it with me anymore.  I
couldn' t believe that faced with proof that the IV and IVIG had helped
he stood there and told me it probably a coincidence. Some kinda ego.

Anyway...Hope you feel better soon. Cyberhugs-DianeW

orencia  (abatacept) is not [afaik] included in the BMS foundation
assistance program - but to find out for sure:

Pharmaceutical Company  Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Program Name  Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation
Program Address  PO Box 1058
Somerville, NJ 08876
Phone Number
800-736-0003

Donna, have they named that hospital for you yet?  Surely they should by
now!  So sorry you are still going through all this hard stuff.  Do pray the
IV antibiotics will completely clear up all the infections and you will one
day really feel good again.  Surely hope you can get financial help for the
orencia so you can try it; it just might be your magic bullet.  Please take
care of yourself as much as possible; we love you and miss you.
Gwen

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Donna}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Duckie

No wisdom, just hugs. As many as you want.

Do you have any Lemon Zinger Tea (a Celestial Seasonings product)? Good
diuretic.

Adelle

((((((((((((((((((((Donna)))))))))))))))))))))))

My sister has had both eardrums pop from ear infections, though at different
times.  No permanent hearing loss either time, she healed up just fine.

I remember one of them popped overnight after Mother had to take her to the
ER the night before for pain medication until the ear infection meds kicked
in because the infection was so very painful.  It was a major relief to her
when it popped.

Donna,

I hope you stay home from the hospital this time. I am always thinking of
you. I sure hope you are getting well this time and healing right up with
all and that you are headed to the great road ahead.

I hope you will be able to get the med.

Here come some strawberry margaritias just for you. With a side of choc.
too.
Take care sweetie.