surgery description

This will be pretty basic- from my memory of what my surgery will entail- it could have "wrong information" but it's whats in my head right now... yeah that basic ;)

Getting a Cochlear Implant (CI for short) it's a relatively easy surgery that takes about 1-3 hours and I would be considered an "outpatient," now that's where a large majority of the anxiety sets in, being "put under" when I had my wisdom teeth out and was "under" for 10 minutes I did NOT like the feeling afterwards... or the vomiting or the shakes/ shivers. ANYWAY, the surgery is just a small incision on my scalp just behind and a little up from my left ear- they put the "computer chip" there resting on my skull under the skin, they then put a TEENY TINY electrode (Actually I think there are several on there) into my cochlea which is the size of a pea and resembles a snail shell. I have full trust in the surgeon and am not afraid of the SURGERY part just everything surrounding it. Also, with this surgery there is no guarantee that it'll work well and due to the electrodes into the cochlea it'll damage any residual hearing I actually do have. - so thats a risk I'm willing to take.

Planning=anxiety

Hey all!

The surgery date is set August 12th! I was hoping for sooner to guarantee that I could start back to school on time but on the 12th might be cutting it close. It just may be too overwhelming to re-train my brain to hear in a short amount of time. People have told me that they have great success and can return to some form of normalcy within days of the surgery. Now, I'll be deaf for the recovery period (2-4 weeks) and then I get "switched on" thats where I get completely hooked up- and start re-learning to hear. They say people sound a lot like "mickey mouse" or some mechanical voice, but given time it gets better. I've been told I won't even need to lip read anymore... it's really up to me to give that up though, it's a GREAT evesdropping tool ;)

I've been having a lot of "ups and downs' and of course this all coincides with buying a new house, planning a wedding, GOING THROUGH with the wedding ;) starting a new summer job, then the appointments leading up to the wedding... it's pretty ridiculous- Josh is marrying into my new medical bills- lucky him! So the anxiety is really surrounding the surgery, not the wedding- that will all fall into place even if a lot of people ask me lots of questions that I don't care to answer more than once- that might be the teacher in me. Believe it or not, I've found I have little patience apparently! :) Who'da' thunk it?!

Anyway, that is a little emotional update for you all... :) it's a crazy experience to say the least I'm sure many of you have had made decisions similar to this- it's weird to think that at 24 I need a CI, or hearing aids in general? Isn't hearing loss for "old people?" just kidding. but really that thought has crossed my mind SEVERAL times throughout the years!

The next post will be more about the surgery for those of you who don't know much about it.

OFFICIAL

It's official. I qualify for a Cochlear Implant (CI) for both ears. It was slightly sketchy on whether or not I would qualify due to my testing. Separately my ears are horrible. I scored a 0% word recognition score in my LEFT ear and a 22% in my RIGHT ear, but together I scored about a 50%. but in the end I qualify and to make a long story short, yes I want to get one, yes I'm nervous and excited. I could get it as early as the end of July. How exciting is that? I shouldn't have to miss any work! Be a personal attendant in a wedding towards the end of July, and then be well enough to be a bridesmaid by the end of August and start school soon after that!

My medical evals and things have been through Mayo, I have gotten really excellent care there! :)