The day before 15/9/11
Havent had the chance to update this till today been soo tired and busy, but today ive decided I must update you all and stop some of you waiting in suspense! So how am I ? Im ok very tired but the scars are all healed ! Tinnitus a little wild but I suspose thats to be expected - not been sleeping to great but thats probably worry.. Its such alotto take in - gosh to think i may hear something in a day or so wow!
So here it is the big day ?! 16/9/11
Travelled up by train with my lovely mother - arrived safe and well. A gentleman said hello to me at reception but i didnt know who he was and found it hard to hear him. He must of thought i was soo rude - but i was nervous - i thought id be excited but i think i was scared with butterflys in my tummy - i kept having this thought thinking what if it doesnt work? crazy i know.. anyway my lovely mother recorded the activation for you all to see
Part one: Dr Helen Cullington ( Audiologist scientist) and Bradford ( Neurelec Technical Expert) Explain what i am to expect and what will happen :
I suspect your all wondering how did it feel after helen placed the CI on my head? i was amazed, as it was soo light to wear and i didnt even feel it - they felt lighter than my old hearing aid! I was even happier when i saw i got the purple colour i requested ! Yay Im now a Purple Princess!!
The gentleman i met at reception in fact ended up being a technical expert from neurelec so it was nice to meet him and he offered to type down what Helen was saying as i forgot to book a interpreter - he was a nice guy and I was very happy to have him there to help me.
Part two: The Activation/Switch on !!
This whole session was intense - I was feeling very emotional afterwards - didnt know what to feel - WOW i had finally heard something but it wasnt perfect it sounded like everything was a cross of being on helium and the character R2D2 in starwars! but they were pleased - the electrodes were working - i was hearing some things - and i needed to ensure iwore them everyday so my brain could adjust! When i finally arrived home i felt like i was on top of the world- if it meant little steps each day then so be it - i had to remember I was like a baby learning to hear again.. So this was it - it was my moment - something that will probably stay with me forever.
A LOVE SONG I USED TO LOVE - PERFECT MOMENT : THOUGHT ID ADD IT AS IT CERTAINLY IS HOW I FEEL NOW - LOVING THE FACT I CAN HEAR SOMETHING AT LAST!!!! ( IT MAY NOT BE PERFECT AT THE MOMENT: BUT AFTER LOTS OF HARD WORK IM SURE IT WILL)
****Special thanks to my mother : Margaret for coming with me, also my dearest friend Angie for lending me her camcorder..and to all the staff at Southampton they have been fantastic ****
PS, if your wondering who R2D2 is here he is- see below
7 comments:
haven't had the chancetoview the video and plan to. Do keep updating
Happy for you thanks for sharing
thanks for sharing happy for you friend
Lovely to read in full, the ins and outs.
I think you are VERY brave. But then, only the brave win!
And yes, your Mother is lovely!
Thank you for sharing your switch on that was a personal moment to you. Its brilliant you heard something, so I take that a good sign.
As you say, its baby steps now. Every day you are going to hear and learn from it something new. I look forward to hearing your progress as time goes along.
I wear hearing aids at the moment, and I wear Ear Gear over them, in which I have different colours. I want purple ones too, so whenever Ear Gear decide to do them in that colour, I shall get them.
I'm no where near for a CI. But I do know that if I ever got that deaf, that it was time for one. I would take it, so its nice to see what actually goes on, and also explaining how it feels, as I have wondered that myself.
liz - im pleased to be of some help - this is my purpose of setting the blog up so i can help other people through thoughts of if they would like one or not and their personal journeys too - we are all individual and noones experience is the same. To be, kathy and sarah thanks you Everyone has been so supportive and i am blessed to have you supporting me xxx
Hi Lisa
Fantastic videos - it is very hard at the start of the cochlear implant journey so it is important to allow yourself to be patience and your brain will adapt. Remember the more auditory rehabilitation you do the better your brain is learning to adapt to those different words/sounds/noise etc.
Tinnitus will hopefully get easier to manage with but it does take time.
If you like I'm at SOECIC on Saturday 15th October at 11.00am - 12.30pm where we meet other cochlear implant users but it is also our AGM which will be short but there will be time to have a chat as well. I'm also Newsletter Editor to SBB (Southern Bionic Buddies). Do let me know if you can make it and don't worry there will be an electronic notetaker there as well. And I can give you a copy of our newsletter when you come.
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