February 4, 2003

•    Before I state my theory, I have to ask if anyone else can come up with a viable reason for what happened to me today.

  
  

     I was outside, doing laundry, when the phone rang. I ran inside to answer it, thinking it might be my computer consultant (VA new computer purchase, as previously mentioned), since he called earlier with a few questions. I picked up the phone, saying “Hello?” before the fourth ring. I heard a ‘beep,’ said hello again, heard another couple 2 or 3 beeps, not timed the same amount apart. I said hello 3 or 4 times in all. Okaaaaayyy…?

  
  

     I hung up, but long enough later to know that, had it been a FAX calling my number, it’d have disconnected before I did. I thought about the call for a few minutes, then went ahead and dialed *69 (at 75¢) to find out the number that called. I was from a local phone. I wrote the number down on the plastic container I’m currently using as a mouse pad & went back to my laundry.

  
  

       About a half-hour later, I went online to do a reverse phone number look-up. No results. I even tried rearranging the last 4 digits, in case my dyslexia caused me to write them down mixed up. Still no results.

  
  

     After about another half hour, I called Verizon customer service (they are our phone company now). The CSR I got was very helpful, looking up the number. He, too, came up with nothing. So, I specifically asked him about unlisted numbers. He said he would be able to find it, even unlisted. He said that number shows up as unassigned! What that means is that number should be completely unfunctional. Welllll…

  
  

     I called that number after hanging up with the Verizon CSR. An electronic device answered!

  
  

     Can anyone, with EXPERTISE greater than my own with telephone systems please answer me as to how this can be? As previously mentioned, I have my own theory.

  
  

     I used to wire teletype & phone lines while in the Navy, as an Interior Communications Electrician. I DO know what I am dealing with in this area.

  
  

  
  

  **********************************************

  
  

  
  

       I still cannot hear very well out of my right ear. It has been just over 2 weeks & it’s still plugged. I have run through the anti-biotics the local doctor gave me, been spraying Nasacort in my right nostril, as he recommended, but with very little relief.

  
  

       The doctor also suggested pinching my nose & gently blowing, hopefully to move the congestion. I have been doing that too, several times a day, as well as rubbing & thumping on the area of the eustation tube behind my ear. I can feel/hear the air bubbles against my eardrum, but the congestion just won’t drain away.

  
  

       This is very irritating & is driving me nuts! It isn’t bad enough that I have tinnitis, bad, in BOTH ears, but constantly hearing this amplified, along with my heartbeat & breathing (& swallowing!) is  driving me batty!

  
  

       I have been asked about my equilibrium. But with tinnitis as bad as mine is, I deal with inbalance most of the time, so this is really no different. I’m always cautious about my balance when walking & haven’t noticed this problem to have aggravated it much, if any.

  
  

       Any ideas how to clear my eustation tube? Short of poking a hole in the eardrum, which I’ve been tempted a few times to do.

  • 6:52 pm
  • 7 Comments