I'm back

Been in the hospital since 11/14. Was released from inpatient status 12/1. Had a full laryngectomy. So, I can no longer speak. Well I'm alive and very healthy otherwise. Nobody listened to me when I could talk so I'll be able to save my breath. My medical team is very enthusiastic about a full recovery.

I have chemo and radiation therapy to look forward to. At least that's done on an outpatient basis. Being without music for my hospital stay was bad for my mental health. I've got to get some sort of personal digital player. I just really, I mean really hate headphones.

Welcome back and sorry to hear about the surgery but happy that your team is very enthusiastic about your recovery. Wishing you continued return to health.

Wow Joe, that's great news that you're home and on the road to a full recovery. Do you think that you'll want to learn to sign or is it still too early to think about that? What hospital were you in?

Glad to hear you're back in circulation, Joe. You know we're all routing for your full recovery.

I've always hated headphones too, but other than that, my new iPod Touch is great.

Hope for quick recovery and good health. There is nothing worth more than good health. Not even all the money in the world :)

Thanks for the kind responses. I was at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Phila.
Learning Ameslan is an option. Currently I'm using a Lenovo netbook with a speech to text application. I don't have to learn anything new while using it and it has increased my typing speed.
My doctors have been mentioning some sort of electronic device. It's apparently not the same as that vibrator thing some use.
I've ordered some Grado SR80's and am looking around for a music player. I want something that plays FLAC files. Any recommendation would be helpful.

Keep the faith Joe! Sounds like you are one tough S.O.B.

I hope you enjoy those nice new Grado's you got :)

Glad to hear you are doing well Joe! Hang in there, that's a tough surgery to go through.

I'm happy to hear that you're on the road to recovery Joe. I hope that the rest of your treatments go well and that the time passes quickly so that you're back to full health before you know it.

Good to have to you back Joe! Soon you will be a master of facial, eye, and telepathic expressions :)
Stay strong Joe.

Thanks guys. That should have read text to speech application. I now sound like Stephen Hawking. I keep a lot of answers to questions I know my doctor will ask loaded and ready on a netbook.

Any suggestions for a portable player that plays FLAC files? There are plenty of iPod's available but I would prefer using FLAC files.

Glad to have you back, and wishing your life returns to normal as fast as possible.

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Originally Posted by JoeE SP9

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Any suggestions for a portable player that plays FLAC files? There are plenty of iPod's available but I would prefer using FLAC files.

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I convert my FLAC files to VBR MP3 using dBpoweramp Batch Converter, placing them in separate directory. I then link (but not move them) to my iTunes directory and let iTunes sync them to my iPod Touch.

This works well enough for me. It is only a tiny portion of my total music that I would ever want on my iPod. In any case, FLAC files would be quite a space hog even on a 32 GB Touch.

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Originally Posted by JoeE SP9

Been in the hospital since 11/14. Was released from inpatient status 12/1. Had a full laryngectomy. So, I can no longer speak. Well I'm alive and very healthy otherwise. Nobody listened to me when I could talk so I'll be able to save my breath. My medical team is very enthusiastic about a full recovery.

I have chemo and radiation therapy to look forward to. At least that's done on an outpatient basis. Being without music for my hospital stay was bad for my mental health. I've got to get some sort of personal digital player. I just really, I mean really hate headphones.

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Bummer. As a life long stutter, I know how difficult it can be to be speech deficient, in a speech driven world. Some advice: Try to keep a good sense of humor; if not you'll go nuts. I was at Home Depot tonight trying to get some help. Took me 10 minutes to get my point across..

Best Regards,
Stan

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Originally Posted by JoeE SP9

Any suggestions for a portable player that plays FLAC files? There are plenty of iPod's available but I would prefer using FLAC files.

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I, too use FLAC for my computer based music system, but simply convert them to Apple lossless for use with an iPhone.

Glad you're back Joe and sorry to hear about your health problems. As another member of the "double nickle club" I know that things start going south after a certain age. Here's hoping your medical problems are behind you (or at least manageble) and that you're on the road to a speedy recover.

Worf

Glad to hear you're on the road to recovery Joe. Take care.

cubdog

Joe, I second E-stats recommendation. I prefer FLAC, but I convert to Apple Lossless for my iPod.
Sometimes, as Feanor does, I'll convert them to vbr mp3 if I'm working out or traveling on a plane or something. For the most part in these situations, any degradation in sound quality from the filetype is negated by the activity consuming my focus (or the background noise) so the space becomes more valuable.

Glad to hear you're back on the road to recovery. Take care.

Thanks for all the kind thoughts. They are greatly appreciated.

I suppose I'll have to go with an iPod. There's plenty of them available on CL. I'll be spending time in doctors waiting rooms and will need some distraction (music) to make the time go faster. I've got a pair of Grado SR-80's waiting for one.

MS: I stuttered when I was younger. I finally stopped when I realized I didn't care what people thought of my stuttering. Stuttering is a lot better than having no speech at all.

I've loaded my netbook with a text to speech application and a lot of answers to questions I'm certain the doctors will ask me during my next appointment (Wed). I can't wait to see their reaction to my imitation of Stephen Hawking!

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Originally Posted by JoeE SP9

Thanks for all the kind thoughts. They are greatly appreciated.

MS: I stuttered when I was younger. I finally stopped when I realized I didn't care what people thought of my stuttering. Stuttering is a lot better than having no speech at all.

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You're the man Joe! Very good points. I appreciate the feedback.

Also, take care. I can only imagine what your going through now. But it must take a huge amount of courage. More then I've got.....

Best Regards,
Stan

Well good to have you back JoeE, I also hope the best for you with what you are dealing with.

I use a text to speech program called Jaws, just curious what you have? I hear Apple product (computers) have speech built in already but I have yet to switch. May be a good time if I can't get my home computer to where I can access AR when I wish.

Glad to see that you're ok and back at it.

Joe -

Good to see you back, but sorry to hear about your health difficulties. Since we all communicate by text on this board anyway, you're as good as new, as far as I'm concerned. :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

Well good to have you back JoeE, I also hope the best for you with what you are dealing with.

I use a text to speech program called Jaws, just curious what you have? I hear Apple product (computers) have speech built in already but I have yet to switch. May be a good time if I can't get my home computer to where I can access AR when I wish.

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I'm currently using Natural Reader 9. Any text I type in any application can be verbalized by highlighting it and pressing Ctrl+F9.

Hi Joe. Gotta say, I am truly humbled by your courage and upbeat attitude. I can't imagine what you're going through. As an owner of sr-80s for the past 4 years, I can say they're a good purchase. Very airy with a good sense of detail. I use them with an iphone 4 when i travel and am quite pleased with the sq. Apple products are designed to be geared towards music fanatics and have some of the best bang for dollar internal amps you will find in terms of portable devices, imo. I wish you the best in your recovery.