What was that?! 26-8-08

I picked up my keys and heard something, put the keys down and tried to find the noise.... gave up as it was completely silent... ummm.. then picked the keys up, realised it was the keys!! YAY!

My dog pestered me to play with his squeaky toys all day, I took it off him as it was driving me nuts. Poor Boris I had to hide his squeaky toys. He was wondering why as pre implant he used to play with them all day long.... Sorry, Boris I'll find you something else quieter!

So Keys jangling and squeaky toys to add on the list.

And oh the blinking indicator of my car.

The world is so noisy!!!! 25-8-08

Wow, the world is so noisy I had trouble working out what sounds they are. My brother Stephen went back to london and I had so many people over for the weekend due to local festival, and sailing.

It was my first sail since the switch on, sadly not this time I had heard anything I wanted to hear BUT could hear the wind faintly only if I had the microphone facing towards the wind, sounds like whoosh..

I was much happier with the setting, Sarah had given me and was able to wear the processor and HA 13 plus hours every day, I had very late nights at the weekend.

As everyone had gone home, today was Bank holiday Monday, I put the telly on mute. I tried to listen for things, I heard on P3 without HA... and never heard pre implant!

Computer tapping!
Water running (this is loud)
Rustling of plastic bag
Wind.
Slicing meat on glass board
Knife and fork on plate
Myself breathing!!
Rice being poured into empty sauce pan.

2nd map 22-8-08

Today was my 2nd map, Stephen came with me again.

I told Sarah that I wasn't happy and got upset with the sounds as it sounded like a constant whine, she changed the programs completely and tried different program, I have no idea what my previous program was but this time it was SPEAK. Ah.... so much better!, My faint feeling went with the old program. I was feeling alot happier. I could hear the cymbals! and people talking. It doesn't sound normal, just in high pitch squeaks but is clearer than before, I could tell when they stopped talking. Again Sarah setted this in 3 different levels so I can increase in comfort.

I had Rehab again, this time we had sylablles pratice. I got most of it right, Horray! I never heard words let alone sylablles before. I could tell the difference between one sylablles to multiple sylablles.

Yesterday I couldn't contain my excitement, I went out and bought ice blue Ipod even I won't be able to use it for while yet! I can play games on it though if anything fails.

Switch on day,

To be honest I was really nervous and was glad that my brother Stephen could spare his time off work (he works in london) and spent few days with me. My nana came along aswell. They have been wonderful.

The switch on was at SOECIC with my usual Audiologist Sarah. She started very low, slowly increasing the volumes as I wasn't hearing anything but started to feel faint which is signs of stimulation. She stopped and went back few steps... tried from high, I listened very carefully a faint beep beep came... But I was still having faint feelings, she tried, I tried so hard aswell. She setted the processor at low and with 3 programs which I can turn up until I am comfortable and not feeling faint/dizzy. I couldn't hear the drum or anything at all, just high pitch whine. It was very tiring day so we left as it is. I also had rehab after the switch on.

About 10 of my electrodes were turned on today. I was bit worried that I was doing it wrong as I can't hear a thing but a whine. But managed to wear the processor and HA for the rest of the day.

29th July - Got my Date of Activication

It's on 20th August, 5 weeks post operation.

I cannot wait until I am back on the waters... I am going to race in Cowes week next week but I won't be doing a thing just take it easy and enjoy the race.

2 weeks post Operation

I went back to Nuffield Hospital with my Aunt Deb (uncle Peter's wife and my dad's sister)
My steri strips came off and the ear wick came out, it stinks of antiseptic! eugh! The wound is so neat! Good job Mr Ashcroft! ;-) And at last I can wash my hair properly, In the last 2 weeks I had Laura or my mum to help me to wash my hair without getting the wound wet. I asked Mr Ashcroft when I could get back to sailing, he said give it another week and I could go racing (it was Cowes week) but I had to be careful and stay at the back of the boat.



Collected my new toys!!! But cannot use them until my Activication date.

21st July - Mum goes home.

I was bit glad of getting my house back but would miss my mum so much she was great. I took Boris for my first walk today since the operation, I was quite tired due to the drugs i was taking and the GA dissolving in my body, I often fall asleep at about 2/3pm every day since the operation for few days. Other than that I was in very good health.