The Second Time Around

August 23, 2005 My audiologist called to tell me my insurance company approved a second CI.  To be honest, I was truly surprised.  I did not believe that they would approve a second CI.  But I’m excited, but scared.

August 24, 2005 I have my appointment with the surgeon on Friday, September 2.  My surgery date is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13.

September 14 - The day after surgery.  My surgery must have gone smoothly yesterday.  The anesthesia made me drowsy for most of the day.  I kept trying to wake up, but just didn’t want to.  It was a heavy but restful sleep.  Finally, about 4:45, I woke up when a friend came over with food.  I was starving and ate a lot.  I took this as a good sign, since the first time around I was nauseous and had no appetite at all.  I go to the doctor today to have my bandages removed.

Had the bandages removed…  I made a mistake this time.  I got my hair cut last week, and I got it cut too short.  So it is difficult to do anything with my hair.  It is spiking up in all directions..  So my advice to anyone contemplating getting a cochlear implant is don’t cut your hair too short right before the surgery date.

September 17, 2005 I am not having any problem driving the car.  The first time around I felt like I was going downhill when I would come to a slow stop.  I have not experienced that this time.  The stiff neck is starting to subside.  I am surprised that I am hearing as well as I am with just the one CI.  The tinnitus only acts up at night when I try to fall asleep.  I am ready to go to Austin tomorrow for training.  That will be good, as it will get my mind off my surgery and impending hookup.  Which I can’t wait for.

September 28, 2005   I got hooked up today.  I am so disappointed.  I was hoping to be able to hear the first day since I had good auditory memory in the right ear.  Everything sounds muffled and all I hear is the up and down cadence or inflections of speech.  I did hear the blinker in the car.  While driving around, I played Everly Brother’s CD, since I am familiar with most of their songs.  After about five or six times of playing the same song, I could figure out which song it was.  But I was not comprehending any speech sounds at all.  But it will get better!

September 29, 2005 I went back for some additional mapping today.  I have two Freedom™ processors, so the audiologist programmed eight different programs for me to work on.  I go back in a month.  Today I heard the banana drop in the bowl as I was cutting it for my cereal.  There is a lot of squealing in the sound that I hear with my new CI.  However, I am trying to hear with only the new one, so I can retrain that ear again.  The tinnitus is really bad when I am not conversing with anyone or when I am alone. 

I can hear the toilet flush, the oven buzzer, and a little bit on the radio (but not much).

September 30, 2005 On the way to work I kept playing Everly Brother’s CD, “Dream, Dream”.  I could only understand the rhythm at first, but after playing it about three or four times, then I started singing along with it and could make out some of the words.  That is the key to this dern thing, just keep retraining and retraining. 

October 7, 2005 Today I heard my co-worker (next door to me in the office) typing on his computer.  It was so clear, that I thought he was typing on a typewriter and really banging hard on the keyboard.  Also, when I am on the computer in the dining room, I can hear my husband in the living room.  The tinnitus doesn’t seem to be quite so annoying now.  I have been listening to the Everly Brother’s CD in the car and when I got home all night.  I’m starting to recognize more and more words.  I listen with both CI’s and then just with the right one.  Slowly, but surely………

October 12, 2005 Yesterday, I went in for a new map.  I told the audiologist that I wanted to listen without looking at the computer.  We did that for two maps.  The range was very limited and it turns out the maps were not that good.  She put in two other maps that I thought were much too loud.  It turns out that they were great.  Tonight at Yom Kippur services, I was able to hear and understand the services much, much better than last week.  What a difference a week and a new map make.  Wow!

October 20, 2005   I am hearing better and better each day.  Still not quite comfortable on the phone yet.  However, I am using a neckloop that enables me to use both ears with my t coil on the phone.  I start next week with Jennifer using auditory therapy.

October 27, 2005 Went to Jennifer for auditory therapy today.  We worked on sounds like mmm, ooo, eeee, etc.  It was hard, but she told me I did pretty good.  We did these with two CI’s and then with just the new side.  I will practice these some more.

I saw a gentlemen tonight who I had not seen in several years.  After we spoke, he said he had something he wanted to tell me, but he hoped he didn't offend me.  Of course, I said, "what?"  And he said, "Your speech is so much better now."  I told him he did not offend me at all, but that I was tickled to death that he shared that with me.

November 4, 2005 I checked out three children’s books/tape.  I have been listening to Clifford the Red Dog, Green Eggs and Ham, and Curious George Gets a Medal.  When I first listened to Green Eggs and Ham, it was all mumble jumble to me.  Then I read along with the book.  Then I listed with both implants.  Then I listened without the book.  At first, it sounded like just one speaker.  After about three or four times, I realized there were two speakers in the book.  Then just today, I heard the little beep that tells you to turn the page.  It is awesome how the brain works!

Also, today I spoke to a class at UH that is majoring in speech, but has to take a course on hearing impairments.  The teacher, Barbara Snelling, told me that she has known me about four years, and this time she really realized my speech has really improved.  That is two people in week who told me that.  I feel so excited!

Also, tonight I bought a new ‘50s CD and I’m listening to it along with the words.

December 14, 2005 It has been almost three months with bilateral CI’s and I really love having two of them.  I am pretty much localizing where sound is coming from and the quality of the sound is so much better and crisper.  I have checked out several more children’s books and tapes from the library and I really am understanding them so much easier now than when I first got books.  I would recommend two CI’s to anyone who asks. Isn’t technology wonderful!