As many of you already know, I received a cochlear implant last Friday, February 8. From time to time, I will blog here about my experiences as I start this new phase of my life. Most of the time this blog will have the usual deaf related information, news, and forum postings.
I have been told that everyone reacts differently to the surgery, so this is my experience and has to be seen as just that, my individual experience.
Following surgery, I had some minor pain (minor by day, worse at night), some minor vertigo, some fatigue, and thankfully no nausea. Also no bleeding or oozing. The worst part of the first two days was wearing the velcro-held protective outer cap dressing covering. Not only did I have to deal with pain while wearing it, my ear was extremely uncomfortable - it felt like my ear was folded backwards in half!
When the outer cap dressing was finally removed on Sunday evening, I felt so free! But then we discovered that unknown to me, because I had been distracted by other pain and discomfort, the velcro had created a bad bruise on my forehead. That bruise is still healing. Sleeping has been erratic, as it has been challenging to keep my head elevated to minimize pain.
My balance was also affected, as I knew it might be. When I went to vote on Tuesday, it was a wobbly walk to the polling station next door. My balance is improving and so is the remaining vertigo. My head is still sensitive and painful when touched in the surgical area.
Right now, the main discomfort I have is from a feeling of fluid filling my ear. It is like having an ear infection. The after-surgery document said that a feeling of fluid in the ear is normal. (Someone else who just got a cochlear implant a few days before mine told me that he is having tinnitus instead of the full fluid feeling). At first I noticed that my sense of taste seemed a bit different, but now it seems to be returning to normal. I've also experienced the dry mouth that is a normal response to the surgery.
My hair is starting to grow back already where it was shaved for the surgery, so hopefully I won't look too odd when I return to my day job next week. My activation (hookup) date is set for March 10.
Hope things go very well with you and that you heal quickly. I’ll be looking forward on reading your blog to see how your activation went. And I SINCERELY hope that the Deaf community will give you their full support for you as well.
Jamie,
Everything you are experiencing happen to me as well. I had balance and dizziness issues for a few months after surgery. 6 months later I am finally back to normal. Except my tinnitus was so bad after surgery, I could not get it stop until activation and finally gone for the most part.
I look forward to more information on your activation. Just rest and relax until you go back to work.
Good luck, Jamie.
Do let us know how it works out….
That’s kind of sad, McConnell worrying about the deaf community. It’s like someone baptizing a child and saying I hope the world religious community accepts the child, when it is clear what the reality of the situation is. If a woman gets breast implants, do I have to show support? Do I have to admonish that woman? It’s the same with people who get cochlear implants later in life, each to their own. Just don’t be one of those annoying cheerleaders of cochlear implants, and we’ll get along just fine. I don’t want annoying cheerleaders/advocates of breast implants going on forever about the benefits of it either.
I’m glad you are doing your part as a deaf person to stimulate the economy and make money for a few companies/individuals. Perhaps you will learn what commodity fetishism is all about. Good luck with your trip via the medical route.
all those reactions & pains all just for the ability to “hear”? you were fine to begin with. well, good luck with your journey. and, i do appreciate your sharing. thanks-
“I’m glad you are doing your part as a deaf person to stimulate the economy and make money for a few companies/individuals. Perhaps you will learn what commodity fetishism is all about. Good luck with your trip via the medical route.”
I rest my case.
Jamie, are you going to blog about this extensively on your progress after your 1st mapping?
I wish you all the best. You are very brave. I’m afraid of even doing the preliminaries for getting a cochlear implant. Maybe your story will encourage me.
Thanks again, you’ve been a great help!
Dorothy
I wish you the best of luck. My husband and my two children have Cochlear Implants. We’re doing super! I was dizzy for 2 weeks after my Cochlear Implant surgery. I had tinnitus for years but after surgery, I no longer have tinnitus! Everyone’s experience is different. Take care!
Hope you have a great result and are well very soon.
Wow! Jamie I had no idea. I do hope it goes well for you. I hope your journey is as good as mine has been. Living without one of our senses is extremely difficult.
Just remember switch-on is not usually a magic moment. You’ve had a big build up and you’re now going to hear and it’s an incredibly emotional moment. Even for those of us who have had full hearing and lost it our hearing nerve needs to wake up again (in my case 30 years since my hearing nerve had been stimulated). (It’s a bit like walking into a bright light your eyes need to adjust.)
Remember what you hear at first will not be the best it gets….
Regards Felicity
That is so great. Just wait until the hook up. I received an implant in October and it is wonderfull. The only thing that I had was the loud noise for 4 weeks. But is one of the most wonderfull thing to be able to hear again.
I just wanted to say how interested I am in reading about your experiences. I am a hearing Mum to a profoundly Deaf little boy who at the age of 2 has just received a cochlear implant. He is too young to tell me much about his experience so it ’s lovely to be able to get a bit more insight. Thanks for sharing it with us all.x
I had cochlear implant surgery a year ago on Jan. 25th and was activated March 2, 2007. What an incredible year it’s been. I know that everyone has a different experience based on their own unique starting out point and I wish you all the best. A year later and my hearing is still continuing to change for the better. I can remember driving home from my activation and my husband asking me “can you hear the car radio” and me saying I just hear a bunch of noise and now turn it off because I have a head ache. A year later I listen to the radio everyone morning on the way to work and understand every word. I feel so blessed.
I look forward to following your progress.
I’m surprised that you went that route. Hmmm I’m confortable being Deaf. I know Marlee Matlin was asked, “Have you thought about ever getting a cochlear implant.” She replied, “No, I’m comfortable with who I am, a Deaf person. However I’m not against someone getting a Cochlear Implant, to each their own.”
I agree with Marlee. However in my case I’ve been trying to teach my co-workers during our annual Diversity Day celebration that the Deaf can do anything a Hear person can do except hear.
Now how would it look if I was preaching that belief, while getting a Cochlear Implant?
Well good luck with the implant.
You are definitely a real TRAITOR to the deaf community especially your deaf blog!
I was totally RIGHT about you being a turncoat to the deaf community.
Why in the world you get the CI? What for?
Please ignore the basher above.
Jamie has never been a traitor to the deaf community. She has offered a lot to the deaf and hard of hearing community. “Gasp for Air,” learn to respect adult’s choices if a person decides to have a cochlear implant of their own. People like you, “Gasp for Air,” are what makes the community look bad. Respect diversity.
A CI is just a tool, like a hearing aid, glasses, a cane, crutches, etc. You use the appliance when you want. Take it off when you don’t.
Bottom line is using a “tool” does not change the person. A cane does not make a person an Olympic running contender. A CI doesn’t make a person “hearing”. Any big D deaf should recognize that and I’m always amazed at lack of logic that surrounds one type of tool that each individual has a right to use or not use.
Best to you Jaime with your activation.
To Each their Own
It is so nice to read that someone is sharing their experience of the CI, naturally, I am awaiting an insurance decision to cover me for the CI, and I cannot wait. I was deafened late in my life, and my co-workers are mean and cruel to me, because they dont have any education on deafness, or perhaps they dont have any at all.
It is because of the cruel and inhumane treatment of deaf people in my country, I want to hear again, after 18 long years, and the decision is not coming fast enough for me. YOu all will know if and when that happens.
Jamie, my congratulations on your courage and wisdom in taking this great step. We can wax eloquent about how wonderful deafness is, but in the long run, FOR SOME OF US (emphasis deliberate), it is just not enough. We who feel that way need sound in our lives.
This is not to denigrate others — just to celebrate the diversity of people who are deaf.
Jamie,
I am pleased with your progress. Happiness is being healthy. I know that your vertigo will gradually go away as soon as the equibrium in your ears builds up well-balanced fluid because I have not had any attack since I began wearing hearing aids in 1978. Please keep us posted about your ongoing progress. Which instrument will you play first — the violin, the cello, or the piano? Try Beethoven’s “Ode of Joy.” Jean Boutcher
Jamie,
I look forward to you telling us more about your activation. Congratulations on
going through with the surgery!
Sandy
good luck jamie,
I will watch your comments with intrest, I am down to have a CI before summer if all goes well. nice reading some of the other comments about their experiences too
Jamie . . . I remember when we met through a local professional women’s technology association and had lunch together. And over the years i’ve been thinking about you from time to time. I wish you the best of luck! Remember . . . take it easy and give yourself plenty of time.