2ND Mapping

well, i had my second doctors appointment since being turned on today. Everything went well, My Audi turned my volume up some, and made sure all the electrodes were at the same volume level, I spoke with her on how everyone is starting to sound like robots, and she suggested doing some word recognition exercises. As an example she did the days of the week with me, all though i understood her better than i would have the last week I was only able to get Saturday correct. After thinking about it and having each ding (now a more robotic ding) sound off for each syllable, I was only able to get Saturday cause it is the only one with 3 syllables. other than that its still the same as yesterday,

The bell's Palsy is subsiding, and i am no long droopy, but i can't close my eye enough to work yet. God i can't wait until i can, i actually miss work. well other that that life is just still one bug paralytic ding.

robots on the loose

this title means exactly what it says. In my little world of electronic sound the dings have some what subsided. OK here is what i mean: People sound more like robots, programed with a bad voice box. but things like the keys on my keyboard still make the ding sound. so yeah.....

I noticed it when putting my 3 yr old to bed, that his love you daddy sounded a little funny on the CI side. I took my HA out and had him repeat it, and noticed he sounded like he had a voice box, that was not "speaking" clearly. I am not hearing words, just the syllables sound more distinct than a simple ding.

even a silent prayer is belly

well today i went to church to become the official godfather of my little nephew. Basically, it was my family versus the Brennick family. They all talked and they all wanted to know what the bells sounded like. It was interesting explaining it thought most everyone got it and understood. although i just got ding ding ding in response, that made it even funnier. well most people talking to me including a friend who has seen me go deaf practically, said i seemed to be doing better. I don't think it is the CI allowing me to hear since it is all ding ding ding, but i think the CI forces me to focus more on the HA side when it is in, therefore helping me understand more. If this is the case this is a bad thing, and i need to stop wearing the HA. Does anyone know where i can find a ding to English dictionary? well that's it for today, we shall what kinda dings tomorrow brings.

imagine if i wrote this in dings.....every syllable would be a ding. just think about.

bits of ding dongs

well it has been 3 days since i was turned on and i am still hearing bells. The good news is i am beginning to notice little differences in each ding with different sounds. I attempted to use a listening web sight, to help with word recognition, and was able to hear the difference in the ding for like words. No i didn't hear the words but i could tell the difference between ferry and very by the tone of the ding. I guess this can be considered an improvement but its still not words, it ding and out world does not speak ding. However, i may be able to communicate with and under water sonar?

24 hours later

well it has been 24 hours since i was activated yesterday, and i still hear bells.

saw the doc again today and he said it was normal, which i already knew. He also told me i can go back to work ....wait don't get too excited just yet,....when my eye is completely better. (doh!) It sucks i can't work and i can't do anything, i wanna do something.

I noticed with the CI when i take it out there is a lingering after affect on my left side, almost like that of the static they put in ur ear during a hearing test. it goes away afeter a few minutes, but is kinda annoying. I also noticed that when i out the Ci on in the morning or after extemded periods of not wearing it i get a constant ring, for about 5 min; then i get the ding ding ding ding per word. the longer i wear it the more distinct the dings seem to become, which means my brain is starting to distinguish the different dings. now if people only spoke ding. Neways i will be able to hear soon.

I had to stop by my work and explain to them what i sgoing on and give them the doc note, and pay them for my insurance. They are ready for me to come back but don't want me there till my doc releases me.

Thats about it for todays events, and changes on the Electronic hearing level.

Ding- DONG

well, i guess it is time now for me to blog everyday as i said i would once i got turned on. Yep, thats right i got turned on today. For those of you who may be think funny about that comment, it means my Audi gave me my processor and allowed me to connect it to the magnet in my head. First, i tell you about my day, then well keep reading you will see.

At about 6am my wife and i arrose out of our beds and began to do our daily morning stuff. Well, it was a bit different as today i had no kids they went to my mother in laws. After we got ready and 7am rolled aorund we left to go pick up my mother, whom i wanted to be there when i got turned on. We pulled up to her house and got her and proceeded to travel the distance between her house and my doctors. Once we go there, i signed in and waited, and waited, and waited for what seemed like forever. Once forever was over my audi finally came and got us and we followed her through the office to the little room where they hooked me up to the computer. Once we got chairs and stuff in the room for everyone my mom and wife sat down anxiously waiting to see me hear. (Ithink they had some sort of chore list they wanted me to do),

First the Audi put everything on and ran a couple test, then she ran a mapping to set my hearing at the right level. Once this was done she programmed the processor and turned it on. At this moment i heard what sounded like Cathedral bells ringing. At almost the same time my audi asked me can you hear me?, Nope. The my wife, Nope. Then my mom, Nope. Then they asked what do you hear. I told them i hear what sounds like bells clanging to the sound of each syllable of each word, and to each sound. I was told this was normal and to depend on my right ear now only. Well, there is only one problem, my right ear is kinda ringing really loud form the bells, so i am forced to use my HA in my left ear until my brain destinguishes the sounds. Funny thought that is, my brain actually having to work normal.....ok thats it i am screwed...lol. Once done with that, the audi went over all my goodies i got with the cochlear, i was like what no T-shirt? Well, no i didn't get one, but i did get a big box. After that i went to breakfast with my mom and wife, then home to listen to my bells ring all day.


Ok, now that you have gotten an idea of what happened today i will move on to another subject or two.

one- you can comment on my blog, do not be afraid to, if you do not have a blogspot account then comment as annonymous. Also, Feed back would be nice, and it helps me know who has the addy and who doesn't.


TWO- It has come to my attention that some people do not fully understand what i have, and i will now try to explain this. I have a device implanted in my head, that stimulates the nerves in my ears; allowing my ear to turn it into sound. For those of you who may like some pics better but don't' want to see the gooey gross stuff, i have posted some below. so enjoy.



This is what my processor looks like, the round thing has my magnet in it.



And this is what happens to be in side my head.

PICS

OK people, here are the pics i promised, some of you are probably scrolling to find them, but because they are much more graphic than the others posted i have enclosed a link to them, Please, view them at your own discretion as they are of the surgery in progress, so they are bloody and gory. if you can't get to them let me know here or in an email

awandersonII@hotmail.com

and i will send them or the link to u directly.

here ya go


http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=182830080&albumId=1534774

Doc visit, follow up #1 and CI Testing

Well, at about 3pm i signed into my docs office, for my 2 weeks follow up and for the testing of my implant. After about 15min the Audi assistant came and got me for the testing. I was instructed to remove my HA and then had the Processor (the external part of the CI) placed over my ear and the magnet took right away. I didn't feel the magnet at all, which was reassuring since i was afraid of it being immensely uncomfortable. The initial test took about 2 min and showed all the electrodes were working properly, the second test was a series of beeps, which to my sounded like a telephone was ringing, (one of those old ones that sound like a bell going off) they tested this i think 22 time, once per electrode. This was so they know where to start the level of sound on my processor when they turn it on on the 17Th of July. The sounds felt like they where coming from with in (which they where) but it was kinda weird, i mean sound normally would go into the ear and then you hear it; but this was more like i heard it and it traveled out of my ear. I was given a card to carry showing that i may set off airport security systems and as a warning for medical procedures in the event i can't respond to questions. i was also given the instructions video for the processor and Implant, which i will view later. After this I went back to the waiting area, where i waited for the doc. After a few more minutes, I was taken back so they could get my vitals and then given a room to wait in. while they where taking my vital i was given a copy of the pics they took during my surgery. I will try to post these later, since i have to scan them first. After a while the doc came in and we talked about what i can and can not due. Basically its all the same, no bending and no stooping, I can't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. No mowing the lawn or going to work as there are to many particles in the air that can damage my eye. You want to talk about depressing news.....Most people would welcome the time off work and enjoy it. I, However, am depressed my it, i have been home for two weeks now with nothing to do, i have two more weeks of nothing to do ahead of me now. and I am making no money what so ever. It has gotten to a point where if i hadn't had the testing part done today, i would probably regret even having this surgery; But hearing the beeps during the test reminded me of what the outcome is and how the benefit out weights the negative. Well that's really about it, so i guess i will leave you all to ponder the safety advice given in the movie "Volcano"

In the event of an Earth Quake, "stand in the door jam, put your head between your legs and kiss your A** goodbye."

Pics of the surgery will be up later, maybe not today but later sometime.