My Cochlear Implant - a journal

I had a fun meeting with some other CI folks the other day, I told my tale of the meeting with the surgeon and guess what? Both of the people I was speaking with thought their surgeons were ‘jerks’. We all realized that the surgeon is the last gate keeper to make an assessment. I respect the surgeon now, for his experience and caring.
I’m two days from surgery and have anticipatory nerves. Step by step I am moving forward toward better hearing and understanding.

@lizzy102, anticipatory nerves for a CI implant is normal. You're right to taking everything step by step and coax your mind back to the present instead of letting it wander to fabricated "what if's."
I'm bringing in some other CI members to share their support and experiences, like @katherinebouton @edschickel @joee @hlaasdan @dstell @angus @julieo4 @christinahaire

Lizzy, trust your decision. You did a lot of research and questioning that you can rely on. What last minute questions or concerns would you like to share?

I woke up this morning tingly, giggly and filled with joy. The wait for the first step toward understanding and hearing was so difficult for me! Per other CI recipient stories, I’m in for an even more excruciating wait in the next two weeks until my activation appointment. I am certain the decision I made is the correct one - the joy tells me so.
Last minute? What are the odds I’ll have to stay overnight at the hospital?
Has anyone had a CI and NOT come out of it with balance problems and dizziness?
How do I best handle the days right after surgery?
Thank you, in advance, for any guidance.

Surgery was today! It went just great! My surgeon was a peach and the staff very caring. I popped out of anesthesia with no dizziness or other issues. Pain is manageable. I do have a grapefruit sized bowl over my ear that has 4 x 4 dressings in it.Got a little bruising and my neck is sore from my head being turned on the side.I don’t notice an increase in tinnitus at this time.
Thoughts about “How to get ready for your surgery”.
Do neck stretches - looking over your shoulder with your shoulders down and back, for a couple weeks before the dare.
Eat extra protein before surgery and bring some for the evening after. I did protein drinks and ate my usual healthy diet.
Bring socks.
Bring your positive attitude.
Bring Gatorade or a better electrolyte replacer for after surgery, hospital gave it to me and I had some in the hotel room.
Questions?
Thoughts?

Court Reporter - I'm sorry.

Hi Tony, I have three main reasons for choosing Cochlear America. The company has the longest track record, about 40 years since the original owner pioneered the implant procedure. They also provide a LOT of support: from the first contact - they offer mentors and meet-ups to the time you make your decision and go for the implant to activation and the enormous amount of support they offer for learning to hear and understand again. The other companies did not answer when I reached out. I really liked feeling like one of a community.
Also, I had spoken to a CI recipient who chose one of the other implants and was very unhappy. He had moved to a different state and there was no audiologist nearby that worked with that particular implant, he needed adjustment and was very unhappy. Because I travel so much, I need to be able to find providers easily.
Third, I use Resound HAs and am going for a Hybrid Hearing solution to my discrimination problems - Cochlear and Resound are partners so my remaining HA will work perfectly with the CI processors. I’m accustomed to using my iPhone and the Resound app to manage my HAs - the app for the CI isn’t much different and will work seamlessly with my HAs.
I also appreciatthe accessories that Cochlear offers. I’m getting the swim cover for my main processor, the second processor - the Kanso, the mic (I have one but it’s been in near continuous use since I got it), and the phone streamer for the Kanso and my audiologist ordered an extra battery - I’ll have three.
I hope this answers your question, Tony.
Liz

I chose Advance Bionics for very similar reasons. I liked the idea of the T-mic and I liked the ability to pair with my Phonak hearing aid. I participated in 4 research projects with AB and learned more about how and why of the costs of implants and aids.

Iizzy102, I would like permission to post your journal directly onto our website, http://www.hearinglosskentucky.org . We currently have one CI Journal posted there. Your journal would give another view. Our website has over 2000 real person visits each month. Please contact me. Thanks

Experienced some balance issues this morning but they have resolved. So far so good. I wear the protective gear for one more day then get to wash my hair - joy! Incision is not “little” it runs along the back of my whole ear. It is healing nicely and pain is still minimal, for me. Nobody mentioned that the muscles in my neck would be so sore! I’m using Bio-Freeze on it and Arnica Cream on the bruising. Will upload photos this afternoon.

Jan 25. I'm driving, running errands, picking up materials, doing yard work (trying not to lift over 10-20#), cooking and trying to hold up my piece of the sky!
This is a unique situation, I'm sure. We are in the midst of preparing our house for sale and packing up our things. Today, I realized that having the surgery and expecting to recover quickly enough to get on with the work I need to do is CRAZY! Yipes. There are four weeks left until we "go live" with the house on the market - crossing my fingers.
I'm still in pain. My surgeon says it's likely because they have to use 'packing' in there and use a gel that absorbs back into the body - and because it is major surgery, tiny surgery but still significant. The pain feels like a terrible case of swimmers ear with someone intermittently poking that area with an ice pick. I do not like it. Pain meds knock it back though and I do not like that either.
I realize I may have somewhat unrealistic expectations for post-surgery recovery. I've had two kidney transplants, a parathyroidectomy and an upper eyelid/forehead lift (to correct and give me back my peripheral vision). I was off pain meds within the first 4 days with all of them. Counting the days until pain goes away.
Did I already mention that my taste buds are affected? Apparently those nerves are close to the facial nerve. My surgeon prefers to lean over toward taste buds and away from that facial nerve. Thank you, Dr. Blythe! My taste buds will grow back and I'll be okay again. That's one thing I don't need to worry about!
A good thing is that when I put my right HA into my ear, looks like I have some some residual hearing there, I heard the start-up beeps! That will help with aural rehab.
We met with my audiologist on the 23rd. and got a lot of reassurance. Looks like we will activate early. My audiologist wants to start with the smaller processor, the Kanso. She'll activate that one and then the OTE processor. I am so excited. Since I've been disappointed about post-surgery recovery, I am hoping madly that I won't be disappointed when we activate.
I'm working to get MyCochlear account going so that I'll have individualized attention from Cochlear should the need arise. I'll have access to the Cochlear Rehab site. Likely, I'll use the Advance Bionics and Med-El rehab sites and Angel Sounds. Anything that will shoot my rehab to the stars! I want so badly to be able to understand my family, especially my four grandchildren.
If you're reading along here, please let me know. I would love to know you're out there. Nobody around me is HoH or ever needed to even think of something like a CI. Sometimes I feel a little isolated.
Thanks for reading.