Culpable?

Finally got the dizziness taken care of. I believe the cause was sinus infection. The symptoms didnt show their face till after dizziness started. I had congested nose, sore throat, ear ache, then pus coming out of my eye - until the pus moment - i thought i was just having a bout with a common cold. so i went back to the DR and got Rx for antibodies and started to feel a whole lot better before christmas. Ahhhh!!!!

Vertigo continues

Today - i am working with a student not far from home... anna had to become my personal driver... still not yet 100% maybe not even 95%... 

I have tried to stay inactive in quiet room ... to putting on Ernie to maybe help stimulate the semicircular canals to restore my balance... hopefully time will tell..  Just don't like this feelings of helplessness... lack of balance is no joke.... makes lip reading harder ... let alone trying to comprehend situation at hand...

hopefully i will feel better sooner...

ARGH! Vertigo returns....

Vertigo blind-sided me since Thursday and right now I am only at about 85%.... I was Rip Van Winkle since Thursday. Today - finally awake for more than 2 hours but promised myself not to overdo it like last time. Will blog more when i feel better.

Ahhhhh....

Its been a week now and boy am I tired....   Yesterday was the first time i had to take off Ernie before 5 p.m.!  I was at a school working with a student in science lab with the heater humming! The humming made me dizzy and had to take it off... even with low volume. 

then this morning - i was making coffee and anna was calling me but i didnt have Ernie on - but actually i felt that my brain is hearing things and almost makes me feel that i have Ernie on - umm now i can see why sometimes student forgets to put them on and come to school prepared.

Still learning new sounds and now i just learned that our furnace makes a whooshing sounds that sounds like short beeps to me... and also can hear the fridge too..  (so far not too annoying)

Baby Steps...

Post - Op meeting:

Dr pulled off (or should I coin anna's term - ripped off) the bandage and took the stitches out.

Preliminary activation:

Turned on all 16 electrodes and tested 8 of them so far... the audiologists said that the nerves are responding well to Ernie.

First sounds:

It sounds like bees buzzing by my ear or Startroopers from Star Wars movie shooting at Skywalker and the gang (not the high pitch bloops). 

Initial Feelings:

In some way, I was disheartened about what I am hearing at this level after activating Ernie. But was excited to be able to hear the 's' for the first time.

Baby Steps:

I know everyone warned me that I will be hearing things differently but I didn't expect to kinda start over again from scratch learning to hear or listen to sounds digitally. right now, I am not able to listen to music or follow the beats - to me it sounds like a continuous humming. But was able to recognize that Radio DJ is talking not playing music. (with Ernie - i had set the volume with 2 or 3 bars -- previously with hearing aid, I had to set the volume at 6 or 7 bars--- shows how much Ernie is helping me not to wear out my speakers!!!)

I will be starting off learning to listen for short and long words -- basically listen at a broader spectrum -- then work my way toward listening to syllables.

I have 3 programs set up for Ernie and will be trying each out on daily basis and depending on situations... (Since I have 16 electrodes - there are 106 possible programs that can be set up for Ernie -- depending on situations ... and i can only have 3 at a time) :o(

Personal Note:

Today I am using Program 2. So far on one-on-one sessions - It wasn't as easy to lip read using Ernie (now relying on digital sounds) -- but lot easier than without hearing aid.

Hard to hear radio or music on radio while driving on the road (air and/or humming of roads)

Updates... updates...

This week on Tuesday and Wednesday - i will be heading back to omaha for post-op meeting and to activate my electrodes and receive Ernie!

What a week!

I stayed overnite at Boystown Hospital Monday night due to double shot of anesthesia .. Dr took extra time to make sure my facial nerve were not damaged.

Came home Tuesday afternoon... goggling/drowsy... 

Wednesday slept almost all day waking up every 2 or 3 hours...  

thursday - feeling little better - had a turnkey dinner with family

friday - felt good - hard to keep a man who does not have "take it easy" in his vocabulary - helped anna clean the basement and went over to cousin's house to watch the huskers beat the buffs even after that stupid fake FG play.. Hope Bo took it off the playbook. At least we get to watch them one more time on the New Years' Day Gator Bowl.

Saturday - crashed... didnt feel so good...

Sunday - finally learned to take it easy.. 

Monday - Today.. ahh  felt much much better..  got off my meds a bit and used tylenol instead - will try videochat with student and maybe drive to school in the afternoon

Tis the night before....

Ahhh...  I have been having mixed feelings all day... thinking if I am doing the right thing to anxious to get started...

if i may... i would like to share my favorite picture and comment with you all... 

If i doon't get back online before Thanksgiving... Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Surgery Update

Monday, November 24 at 9:00 A.M. is the tentative time for my surgery.

Hearing Aid for SALE!!! CHEAP!!!

Hi..  I am not sure if its premature to advertise. But I'm probably gonna donate my Siemens S3+ BTE (received Fall of 2002). And also some Walgreens 675 batteries to some organization.

I will keep you all posted about surgery schedule. 

Count down begins?

Well, I guess I can now start counting down the days I do not need to purchase more batteries (size 675) any more. My Ernie will come with 4 rechargeable batteries!! I am not sure exactly how I am feeling right now..  but getting anxious as the 24th approaches. 

Last week: I had my Physical Exam which is required prior to any surgery. Also had my flu shot too - that was a major ouchie!!

My Ernie will be a Harmony from Advance Bionics. I am hoping Red is available (Go Huskers!!)

Update for October, November, and December

October: My insurance approved my CI surgery.

 October: I went to the doctor to get my Pneumovax shot. (Ouch! Big needle! – just kidding)

 November: I will visit a doctor my pre-surgery physical exam.

 November 24: The day of surgery.

 December: I will visit LLTC at Boystown again after my recovery and get my Ernie. Then the hard part begins: Aural Rehabilitation.

Well, folks. I am excited about the prospect of having a new toy – I mean new technology. Knowing myself, I will get more and more nervous as the 24^th approaches. I am hoping the number of days to recover is less than 10 days (depending on the swelling). I would like to take the time to say thank you for those who wished me good luck and well-wishers.