I'll welcome myself back after a brief hiatus

Sorry to hear that but I’m inspired about the way you’re handling your situation. I too worry about that more so as I move up in years and read about others in this forum who have lost some hearing. I think you make all of us audiophiles proud. Stay healthy my friend.

Welcome back.  Any music is better than no music.

I don't remember you, but great to hear you are finding a way to adapt to your new circumstances. The body is an amazing thing. If you mind allows for it, the body will self adapt to just about anything. 28 years ago I ruptured my femoral artery and they spent 6 hours rebuilding it with veins from the other leg. I was an hour away from them having to amputate. I now have a sock type paralysis and a foot drop but I can walk ok. My entire life changed in a split second. Used to be a world class athlete in speed skiing, but I have not run, jogged or been able to do anything sports related since 1996. But life goes on, if your mind lets it. I am simply grateful for what I have since I should not have survived that femoral rupture. I slipped on a river bank in Florida and impaled myself on a ground branch chewed up by a beaver in an arrow shape. They tell me my leg muscles were so strong from my speed skiing training that they closed up the wound after I pulled myself off the branch, so the blood ran into my knee instead of out. It was my deliverance experience. The beaver jokes from my friends back then were endless. We all need to hang in there no matter what, there is no other way.

@russ69 It seems to me you don't even have to go mono and enjoy panoramic stereo with just one ear. I've lost my one-ear hearing temporarily due to severe infection, but was still able to enjoy stereo and mono during that temp loss. 

Hey Russ, welcome back! Sorry to hear about the loss of hearing. Mind over matter my friend..stay healthy.