One month since cochlear implant activation

The last two weeks flew by before I had a chance to sit down to give an update.  I went to the Mayo Clinic on Sept. 14 for my check-up and mapping appointment.  The next day I had to take my 5 year old son, Luke, to the ER because he was coughing and having trouble breathing.  He was probably allergic to something in the air (this is harvest time up here- we live in a farming community) and had a reaction.  The doctors put him on prednisone and antibiotics and a nebulizer.  He is doing much better, but still has the occasional cough.
Fred's mom came up here a few days after.  She took care of the children while Fred and I went down to Dallas, TX for 6 days for a pastor's and wives encouragement conference, which happens to be at our brother-in-law's church.  Fred's sister and her family live there, and it was such a treat to visit with them.
We just got back 3 days ago.  So it's been a whirlwind for me with adjusting to the cochlear implant, working, Luke's ordeal, getting ready for our trip, spending time with family, and school events.

My appointment at the Mayo went well.  I told my audiologist how everything was so loud and had to resist the urge to take the CI out at times.  But I told her I was able to hear sounds so much better.  I told her about the crickets and being able to hear the ''S'' sound.  She did more mapping and turned down the volume of different tones a bit.  She changed the settings on my remote so that I could control the background noise when people talk to me.  After she finished the mapping, she did a hearing test to see how I hear with the CI as compared to my hearing test done in May with my hearing aid.  I could hear just about every sound on the test and did WAY better than I did with my hearing aid.  That was exciting to me!

However.  I find that I have an even harder time trying to understand people.  I think its because the middle tones are too low and the higher sounds are louder than the sound of people's voices.  So it seems like I can only hear people when there's no noise around.  I was trying hard not to feel discouraged the last 2 weeks.  Especially at school and at the conference we went to, where there are many people and conversations going on.  When there's a lot of noise, it all sounds like a loud hum and its very distracting when I'm trying to understand the person talking to me.  I have to rely on reading lips even harder.  So I am even more exhausted by the end of the day.

I was very pleased with my new "map" at the Mayo, but after I got home I realized I didn't like the new map.  It's hard to know if it's going to effective when it's done in a quiet room.  I think I'm going to bring my family to the next appointment so they can all talk at once and see how I do when one of them talk to me.  My next appointment is not until November, but my audiologist said I can change it to earlier if I want to.

I had a great time at the conference, even though I had a hard time hearing.  Each year, the church in Texas invites 10 pastors and their wives to the conference to encourage them and lift them up so they feel refreshed and recharged by the time they go back home.  Fred and I were honored to be one of the ones they chose this year.  It was a real blessing to be there.
I especially enjoyed listening to the guest speaker's wife during the women's sessions.  She was easy for me to understand (we were in a quiet sunday school room), and she was a dynamic speaker.  Her love for Jesus is so real and infectious.  The joy of the Lord just spilled out of her, and I wanted what she has!  The key to having such a relationship is to spend time with Jesus everyday, and treat him like he's right there with you all the time...spend time reading His Word and talk to him.  Make him priority, and everything will fall into place, no matter what situation we are in.  I knew this already, but I am not always consistent in my quiet times, especially when I am so busy.  But if we don't "keep our eyes on Jesus" we will sink.

2 Week Update

Well it has been two weeks since my Cochlear Implant was activated.  It seems like longer than that!  I have had ups and downs, but I'm hanging in there!!
I am still hearing new sounds I've never heard, and each time I find out what I'm hearing, it's exciting!  Noises such as hearing keys jiggling in the hand of someone walking in front of me and birds chirping in the morning as I walk from my car to the school.
Last Monday night I read Fred's lips while he prayed for our kids, and it dawned on me I was hearing the "s" sound in his words.  They were so loud and clear.  Before, I could never hear that sound because it was so high-pitched.  I have always struggled with this sound because I could never hear it, but could only see the lips moving.  I couldn't believe I was hearing this sound, and it's SO loud!!  I decided to try making the "s" sound, and I could hear myself making the sound once I got it right!!!  It was no wonder people thought I was talking with food in my mouth (those who didn't know I was hard of hearing), or if I was from another country.  Ha!!
I was so excited, I got on Skype to tell my parents about it.  They were so thrilled with me because they know how I have struggled with this all my life.  They told me to say several words that have "s" in them.  The name "Jesus" is one of them.  After a few tries, I was able to perfect it!  I was sure that Jesus was smiling at my attempts!
I won't be going around emphasizing the "s" in my words because I still have to practice until it flows smoothly.  Right now it would sound like I'm trying to learn English, saying words slow and with lots of concentration.  Also, it's hard for me to hear this sound with a lot of background noise.

Thank you to those who prayed for me as I went back to work at school last week!  It has gone a lot better than I expected, even with all the loud sounds.  I think my brain is starting to adjust to the different sounds a little bit.  There are so many sounds at school.  So many students talking and laughing, footsteps, doors closing, humming and beeping of different electronics.  I have a hard time knowing what I'm hearing at times, but that's ok.  My brain is still adjusting.
By the end of the week, I was emotionally and mentally drained.  I went to bed early on Friday night, took a long nap on Saturday and went to bed early again on Saturday night.  I felt much better on Sunday.

The ringing and clicking noises are still there periodically, but now I'm noticing high feedback sounds like my old hearing aid would make.  My CI does not make any sounds.  My brain is still working out the kinks.  This feedback sound is very very annoying.  I used to dislike this sound when I wore hearing aids that had feedback problems whenever I smiled or hugged someone.  Hopefully this won't last too long.

Speech is still unclear.  People still sound like "waa waa" when they talk.  I still need to be patient and hope that this will pass soon.  Wearing a hearing aid in my other ear helps balance out the sounds of peoples' voices.

I have my 3rd mapping appointment this Friday at the Mayo Clinic.  My audiologist will make some adjustments and hopefully she will notice some improvement in my hearing test.  I will post an update after this appointment.

New sounds

It has been 6 days since activation.  It seems like it has been 2 weeks!  It has been quite an adjustment.  I have worn the cochlear implant everyday for as long as I can without taking it out.  The "clanging" and "ringing" sounds have been changed to "beeping" and "clicking" sounds, but with very loud muffled speech.  Speech sounds like "waah waah waahh," like the teacher from Charlie Brown.  I read somewhere that this is what it sounded like to someone who was activated, and I thought that was a perfect description of what I'm hearing.

I will have to be honest and say that I am very tired and worn out before each day is over.  My brain has been working overtime with all the new sounds.  Especially where there is a lot of talking.  I went to school on Thursday with my kids to meet their teachers.  There were people talking in the hallways and occasionally the intercom come would on...my head was spinning by the time we left the school.  I was wondering how I'm going to do when I go back to work on Tuesday.  I work as a teacher's aide at the same school my children go to.  My audiologist told me if it gets too uncomfortable or if it interferes with my job, I can just take it out for a while.  I absolutely love my job and I look forward to it!  But I don't want to get headaches or feel overwhelmed.  I would appreciate your prayers that I would adjust quickly to a noisy environment.

On a positive note, I am starting to hear certain sounds and understand some speech!  I first noticed the sound of crickets outside when I needed a break from the "clanging sounds" in the house.  At first I didn't know what it was, but then I remembered when Fred made a comment about how noisy the crickets were.  It dawned on me I was hearing crickets.  I was delighted to hear this new sound, even if it was annoying.  Haha!!

The next day I went to visit a teacher friend at her new school.  While she was showing me around the new building, I heard her flip flops clicking on the floor.  I heard wheels squeaking on a cart that someone was pushing.  Never heard that before!

That evening, I decided to take my hearing aid out of my left ear and just wear my CI for awhile.  Allan, my oldest son, started talking to me, and I realized that I could hear the different tones.  I couldn't hear the difference when I was first activated.  It's still very loud and muffled, with beeps and clicks, but at least I'm able to separate a few different tones!  I got excited and told Allan I could understand him a little bit.  He covered his mouth and said a few words...I was able to get a couple right!  Fred joined in on the fun and said a few words under his shirt.  I was so encouraged when I got some right.  I'm definitely taking some steps in progress- it's slow, but nonetheless it's progress!

While I was making lunch the other day, I heard a rapid clicking in the kitchen.  I couldn't figure out where it was coming from.  I said to Fred, "What IS that sound??"  He said it was the toaster oven.  It makes fast ticking sounds like a clock.  I had no idea it did that!  Ha.

I went to church today, and it was the first time hearing music since getting the CI.  It did not sound good.  It was very VERY loud.  And when the speaker used the microphone, it echoed in my head.  BUT...I was able to understand every word that he said!  Even with all the echo, beeps and clicking sounds.  I still had to read his lips, of course, but I didn't have to concentrate so hard! 

I so look forward to when speech is clear.  God is teaching me patience and perseverence.  I'll have to say, I feel closer to God then ever before.  I need Him to help me get through each day.  I need His strength, only the kind He can give.