I went to Nashville for my 3rd mapping today. I can tell a little difference, but nothing major. Susan also remapped my right processor and I can tell a big difference in it. I got the Music program added to both processors. I haven't really tried it out yet because it was so noisy in the truck.
After Susan mapped my older processor, I was surprised at how "bass" everything sounds compared to my newer processor. I am hearing higher frequencies in the new processor. There is a very distinct difference in the two, but when I turn both of them on...WOW! It just sounds so much better! With both on, I can't tell that one side is getting the bass and the other is getting the high frequencies....it just blends together!
I turned my bluetooth neckloop on after I left her office and called my daughter. It was very loud and I had to turn the volume down! :) It was a little clearer too. My true CI moment came as we were driving down the interstate. It was very noisy (especially since I was hearing more sounds) so I put both processors on the ADRO w/Sensitivity program. It is so cool how it turns the road noise down! It's as if I am turning a volume knob and the wind and tires gradually decrease and the voices increase! James uses his right ear when talking on his cell phone and when we are in the truck, I can't understand what he is saying because his hand blocks his voice and lips. Well, not today! He was talking to our daughter and I heard everything he said! I wasn't even looking at him either!
The HLAA had a convention at the Opryland Hotel this weekend and I stopped by to check out the Exhibit Hall. Some really cool gadgets there! I also signed up to receive a free neckloop which will be cool because I can use it with my work cell phone (it doesn't have bluetooth.) I tried to get some help with my Clearsounds blue tooth loop (I can't get it to work with my blackberry mp3 to play music) but it seems there might be some technical problems that won't allow it work. I need to contact Clearsounds. I did get to see my friend, Laurie, at the convention and she gave me some good tips on keeping the processor on and listening to music. I also met some of the gals from Cochlear at their booth. I had forgotten about listening to the CD that came in my kit and they really encouraged me to do this to improve on my listening and understanding.
I also had a wedding to attend in Brentwood this weekend, so it has been a very busy 4 day weekend for me. I'm glad to be back home, but not looking forward to going to work tomorrow.
I'll keep you posted with my new sounds and experiences!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
My Hook Up
Yesterday I had my follow up doctor appointment with Dr. Haynes. He said everything looks good. There is a place at the top of my incision that has not completely healed. He said my body might have rejected the stitch and it has opened back up. It is now scabbing over and should be healed up soon.
After the doctor appointment, I went to my audiologist appointment for the hook up. After Susan went throught the T & C levels and turned the processor on, it sounded much like when I got the new Freedom processor for my other ear in February. At first, there was this long screetching sound. I think it was the fan or air conditioner. Next I heard the "robotic" voices. The voices sounded kind of far off, but I could understand them. I noticed the higher frequencies immediately because they sounded like wind chimes (like in February.) When I turned the old processor on, it was really cool! I could tell a big difference, even though the new implant wasn't understanding much at this point. This appointment only took about 2 hours. Susan told me to wear the new processor that afternoon and evening and to also wear the old processor with it occasionally.
We left her office and went to check in our hotel. After we checked in, we walked down to Music Row (Nashville.) The CMA Fest started today so many vendors were setting up and it was started to get crowded. Walking downtown, I had only my new processor on. The sound wasn't very loud. We went into the Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grille to eat. There was a couple singing and it was very loud. I turned both processors on because it was so noisy in there and I wouldn't have been able to hear James with just the new processor. I thought the music sounded loud and blaring and James said it sounded that way to him also. I couldn't understand the singer when he talked because it was so loud. Later that night, I watched tv with just the new processor. I was able to hear the voices and match them up to the closed captioning. Everything still sounded really soft though, much like it did when I first got hooked up to the Freedom in February, so I figured I just needed more volume.
This morning, I went back for my 2nd appt. I told Susan I thought we needed to turn the volume up. She went through the T & C levels. She said I did better on the T levels (could hear more of the faintest beeps.) I was really shocked when she did the Comfort levels. The level she started out with is where my "maximum comfort level" was yesterday. I could barely hear the beeps! In less than 24 hours, my brain had adjusted to the sound levels and I already needed it much louder! Once she turned the processor on, it sounded too loud. She kept adjusting it until it sounded better, but still kind of loud. My voice sounded really loud. She backed away and put a cover in front her lips and talked to me. I could understand everything she said with just the new processor! The sounds are still a little different to me though. The higher frequencies are going to take some time. The best way to describe it is that it sounds like someone is using a voice distorter that makes your voice sound robotic. There is a lot of "s" sound in every word. When I turned my old processor on with the new, it was really loud, but I could hear sooo much better!
Two implants vs. one:
When I turn the new processor on, everything is raspy and I am hearing ALOT of environmental sounds (maybe more than I hear with my old processor). I can tell a difference with voices, but they still sound kind of robotic.
When I add the old processor, it really makes everything sound so much fuller. Everything is much louder and I can understand voices and environmental sounds better. With both processors, I don't even notice the raspy robotic voices. I know the new side still has a lot of learning to do, but I don't even notice it with both processors on.
Now, when I turn the new processor off...I really notice the difference! Even though I am still learning sounds with it, there is a huge void with it off. I especially notice it when listening to music. I think I hear more instruments with the new processor.
I am due for a new mapping in the older processor and I think it will be much better after that. I am going to be patient with the new one because I know it will get better. I have also been using my new bluetooth neckloop and there is a huge improvement with the new processor. Last week, everyone I talked to had to repeat about every other sentence. With the new processor, I can hear almost every word.
So far, I am thrilled with the new implant and know I made the right decision to get it!
After the doctor appointment, I went to my audiologist appointment for the hook up. After Susan went throught the T & C levels and turned the processor on, it sounded much like when I got the new Freedom processor for my other ear in February. At first, there was this long screetching sound. I think it was the fan or air conditioner. Next I heard the "robotic" voices. The voices sounded kind of far off, but I could understand them. I noticed the higher frequencies immediately because they sounded like wind chimes (like in February.) When I turned the old processor on, it was really cool! I could tell a big difference, even though the new implant wasn't understanding much at this point. This appointment only took about 2 hours. Susan told me to wear the new processor that afternoon and evening and to also wear the old processor with it occasionally.
We left her office and went to check in our hotel. After we checked in, we walked down to Music Row (Nashville.) The CMA Fest started today so many vendors were setting up and it was started to get crowded. Walking downtown, I had only my new processor on. The sound wasn't very loud. We went into the Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grille to eat. There was a couple singing and it was very loud. I turned both processors on because it was so noisy in there and I wouldn't have been able to hear James with just the new processor. I thought the music sounded loud and blaring and James said it sounded that way to him also. I couldn't understand the singer when he talked because it was so loud. Later that night, I watched tv with just the new processor. I was able to hear the voices and match them up to the closed captioning. Everything still sounded really soft though, much like it did when I first got hooked up to the Freedom in February, so I figured I just needed more volume.
This morning, I went back for my 2nd appt. I told Susan I thought we needed to turn the volume up. She went through the T & C levels. She said I did better on the T levels (could hear more of the faintest beeps.) I was really shocked when she did the Comfort levels. The level she started out with is where my "maximum comfort level" was yesterday. I could barely hear the beeps! In less than 24 hours, my brain had adjusted to the sound levels and I already needed it much louder! Once she turned the processor on, it sounded too loud. She kept adjusting it until it sounded better, but still kind of loud. My voice sounded really loud. She backed away and put a cover in front her lips and talked to me. I could understand everything she said with just the new processor! The sounds are still a little different to me though. The higher frequencies are going to take some time. The best way to describe it is that it sounds like someone is using a voice distorter that makes your voice sound robotic. There is a lot of "s" sound in every word. When I turned my old processor on with the new, it was really loud, but I could hear sooo much better!
Two implants vs. one:
When I turn the new processor on, everything is raspy and I am hearing ALOT of environmental sounds (maybe more than I hear with my old processor). I can tell a difference with voices, but they still sound kind of robotic.
When I add the old processor, it really makes everything sound so much fuller. Everything is much louder and I can understand voices and environmental sounds better. With both processors, I don't even notice the raspy robotic voices. I know the new side still has a lot of learning to do, but I don't even notice it with both processors on.
Now, when I turn the new processor off...I really notice the difference! Even though I am still learning sounds with it, there is a huge void with it off. I especially notice it when listening to music. I think I hear more instruments with the new processor.
I am due for a new mapping in the older processor and I think it will be much better after that. I am going to be patient with the new one because I know it will get better. I have also been using my new bluetooth neckloop and there is a huge improvement with the new processor. Last week, everyone I talked to had to repeat about every other sentence. With the new processor, I can hear almost every word.
So far, I am thrilled with the new implant and know I made the right decision to get it!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
3 More Days!
Just 3 more days til I'm hooked up! I am getting excited and nervous. I know what it can be like, but I am hoping it will be better than the last time! I'll keep you posted!
Monday, May 25, 2009
1 Week Post Surgery
Well, it has been one week since my surgery! Activation is only 2 weeks away! My family and I went up to the mountains for a cookout today (Memorial Day) and had a great time together. When I woke up this morning, I wasn't in any pain so I didn't take any medicine. On the way to the mountains, I went ahead and took some extra strength tylenol, but still had no pain! After we ate lunch, my ear started hurting so I went ahead and took a pain pill. It is still hard to eat because my jaw is sore.
After we ate, we walked down to the creek for pictures. My ear started hurting later but I didn't take anymore pain medicine because it was too soon. The pain wasn't continuous, it would just hit me every now and then. It feels like a sharp object is being thrust into my ear drum or something. I didn't have to take anymore pain pills for the rest of the day. I am about to turn in for the night and still no pain. Hopefully, the worst of the pain is over.
I have posted a few pictures of my family. I am so proud of them!
Day 7 Sunday
I went to church this morning. We were late because I had taken benedryl at 2:30 this morning and couldn't wake up. After church, we met Brittany and Chris at Olive Garden for lunch. We all went to Walmart afterwards and then came home to rest. My ear started hurting when we were eating lunch and I had to take a pain pill. I started feeling better later and the pain wasn't too bad for the rest of the evening. I talked to the pharmacist at Walmart and she said I shouldn't put anything on my ear and just clean it with peroxide several times a day. I am going to try this.
This was a good day for me and I didn't have to take as much pain medicine. I went ahead and took one before going to bed just in case it started hurting throughout the night.
This was a good day for me and I didn't have to take as much pain medicine. I went ahead and took one before going to bed just in case it started hurting throughout the night.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Day 6 Saturday
I rested most of the day today (including taking a 3 hour nap!) and feel much better. I am still taking my pain medication every 4 - 6 hours because if I let it go past 6 hours, I am in a lot of pain.
The rash around my incision has gotten worse. It looks and feels almost like poison ivy. There are tiny bumps all around it and on the back of my ear lobe. We called the doctor's office tonight and they said I might be allergic to neosporin. The doctor on call said she wouldn't have advised using neosporin on this incision. The nurse at the hospital told James to apply neosporin 3 times a day and it even has it listed on my discharge paperwork. I guess I'm allergic to it though. James went out to Walgreens tonight (or rather this morning) at 2:00 a.m. to get me a different ointment and some benedryl to stop the itching.
Other than that, I am doing great! Can't wait until my activation day....June 9th! I am trying to use the phone with my CI in the right ear (worse ear) and I am doing okay talking to family members, but sometimes I get stuck on a word or sentence and they have to repeat it several times. I do fine one on one because I read lips too. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it won't take long for my brain to relearn sounds in the left ear. I think being dependent on the right ear now is helping me to hear better in that ear though. I wouldn't have been able to hear as well as I am if I hadn't gotten the new Freedom processor several months ago. It is amazing!
I also bought a Clearsounds Bluetooth Neck Loop and can hear much better on the phone with it. The only problem with it is that I can't listen to music on my Blackberry phone and I am supposed to be able to. Not sure why I can't.
I took a shower tonight and washed all of my hair. I put cotton in my ear so that I wouldn't get water in it. I am planning to go to church in the morning.
The rash around my incision has gotten worse. It looks and feels almost like poison ivy. There are tiny bumps all around it and on the back of my ear lobe. We called the doctor's office tonight and they said I might be allergic to neosporin. The doctor on call said she wouldn't have advised using neosporin on this incision. The nurse at the hospital told James to apply neosporin 3 times a day and it even has it listed on my discharge paperwork. I guess I'm allergic to it though. James went out to Walgreens tonight (or rather this morning) at 2:00 a.m. to get me a different ointment and some benedryl to stop the itching.
Other than that, I am doing great! Can't wait until my activation day....June 9th! I am trying to use the phone with my CI in the right ear (worse ear) and I am doing okay talking to family members, but sometimes I get stuck on a word or sentence and they have to repeat it several times. I do fine one on one because I read lips too. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it won't take long for my brain to relearn sounds in the left ear. I think being dependent on the right ear now is helping me to hear better in that ear though. I wouldn't have been able to hear as well as I am if I hadn't gotten the new Freedom processor several months ago. It is amazing!
I also bought a Clearsounds Bluetooth Neck Loop and can hear much better on the phone with it. The only problem with it is that I can't listen to music on my Blackberry phone and I am supposed to be able to. Not sure why I can't.
I took a shower tonight and washed all of my hair. I put cotton in my ear so that I wouldn't get water in it. I am planning to go to church in the morning.
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