I'm hitting the proverbial wall! I haven't been able to increase to C 3 yet and it's been 2 weeks, whereas I've been able to increase in 5-6 days all other times. The sound of the radio or TV is too loud for my ear on C 3 and it starts to create a staticky feedback of some sort. I don't really know how to describe it. A few days ago I woke up with my right ear feeling really full, so I think my ear is filling with fluid again. So I'm back on the Zyrtec-D and Afrin nasal spray full time again. I'm noticing a bit of a difference, thankfully.
I have my yearly check-up with my audiologist next week so I'm excited to see what she thinks of my Esteem implant! I'm also hopeful she can program my left hearing aid to perform a little better too.
At 7 weeks since being activated, I've noticed I'm now automatically relying on my right ear for the phone and I don't have to turn the volume up to maximum to hear either! Before, my left ear was my "dominant" ear and now I find I can hardly hear out of it on the phone! How did I get along before?! It's pretty amazing:)
So despite the fact that I feel like I've stalled out on increasing the programs, I think I'm still doing pretty well!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Much To Be Thankful For
This week we celebrated Thanksgiving and of course reflected on all we are thankful for. I am going to state the obvious! I'm so thankful for hearing courtesy of the Esteem. But I'm also thankful for those who helped to make the implant happen! I'm thankful my husband and I have the means to be able to pay for the device. I'm thankful for a surgeon who went above and beyond the requirements to make the Esteem work for me. I'm thankful for the sound of fizz!!! :)
I'm still at C 2. I don't really know when I'll be moving up to C 3 yet. I like the way things sound right now. It's comfortable. I also am trying to stop itching at the incision so much because I think it's not healing as quickly as it should when I keep digging at it.
What are you thankful for?
I'm still at C 2. I don't really know when I'll be moving up to C 3 yet. I like the way things sound right now. It's comfortable. I also am trying to stop itching at the incision so much because I think it's not healing as quickly as it should when I keep digging at it.
What are you thankful for?
Saturday, November 19, 2011
"C" What It Is All About
I've decided to stay at C 2 for now. I bumped up to 3 but felt some noises are just too loud and almost sound slightly staticky. Hopefully it's just a matter of me needing to adjust and not a feedback issue. Michelle said that one spectrum of feedback was reported as sounding almost like waves crashing, I think. It's hard to remember now. Maybe a low buzzing? Anyway, the static sound could be that and maybe I still have some fluid in the ear affecting the implant. I occassionally take a decongestant and antihistamine combo still just to help with that. Oh, and good news! The tinnitus in my right ear is really minimal!
There isn't much exciting in the last week in hearing new sounds. I find myself getting a bit annoyed at night time when I'm trying to sleep though. I don't like hearing noise when I'm falling asleep. I'm a very light sleeper, so now that I can hear most things it startles me awake. And the white noise machine my husband uses to relax him distracts me from sleep! I've been sleeping on my right side now so my "bad" ear is up to the room and then I don't hear hardly anything, just the way I like to sleep:) I don't want to turn the implant off at night because then I can't hear the alarm clock go off in the morning for work.
One thing I wanted to mention for those of you wanting info about the Esteem financing payment plan is that they give you two choices for monthly payments. 3 and 4 years to pay off the borrowed amount. Typically they expect half down and half financed. My situation was a special one and since I was asked to make a split decision on having this done, they allowed me to finance 100% of the cost. However, my husband and I did have $4000.00 to put down and then financed the rest. But there is also a $750.00 finance fee you have to add to the cost as well. We got an 8% medical loan interest rate, which isn't great but not bad either. We're hoping to be able to save enough money to pay off the balance by late summer, early fall 2012 now that I'm working again. We'll see!
And we'd also like to be able to pay my mother-in-law back the money she gave me to get this done even though she says it was a gift.
Something else I have to write about is the itchiness of the incision and the whole area of skin over and around the implant. IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! I scratch at it all the time and the incision is still tender so once the itch goes away, then the area around the incision throbs because I've irritated it. It's a vicious cycle, because I just can't leave it alone.
But on a positive note, my taste is still improving. There is one spot on the side of my tongue on the right that is completely devoid of taste, but the rest of it is getting better! I'd say it's at least 40-50% normal now.
There isn't much exciting in the last week in hearing new sounds. I find myself getting a bit annoyed at night time when I'm trying to sleep though. I don't like hearing noise when I'm falling asleep. I'm a very light sleeper, so now that I can hear most things it startles me awake. And the white noise machine my husband uses to relax him distracts me from sleep! I've been sleeping on my right side now so my "bad" ear is up to the room and then I don't hear hardly anything, just the way I like to sleep:) I don't want to turn the implant off at night because then I can't hear the alarm clock go off in the morning for work.
One thing I wanted to mention for those of you wanting info about the Esteem financing payment plan is that they give you two choices for monthly payments. 3 and 4 years to pay off the borrowed amount. Typically they expect half down and half financed. My situation was a special one and since I was asked to make a split decision on having this done, they allowed me to finance 100% of the cost. However, my husband and I did have $4000.00 to put down and then financed the rest. But there is also a $750.00 finance fee you have to add to the cost as well. We got an 8% medical loan interest rate, which isn't great but not bad either. We're hoping to be able to save enough money to pay off the balance by late summer, early fall 2012 now that I'm working again. We'll see!
And we'd also like to be able to pay my mother-in-law back the money she gave me to get this done even though she says it was a gift.
Something else I have to write about is the itchiness of the incision and the whole area of skin over and around the implant. IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! I scratch at it all the time and the incision is still tender so once the itch goes away, then the area around the incision throbs because I've irritated it. It's a vicious cycle, because I just can't leave it alone.
But on a positive note, my taste is still improving. There is one spot on the side of my tongue on the right that is completely devoid of taste, but the rest of it is getting better! I'd say it's at least 40-50% normal now.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Fizz On The Brain!
I LOVE the sound of soda fizzing in my mouth so much, now that I can actually hear it, that I'm drinking way too much pop! Hearing has developed a bad habit! :) I really had no clue it made that noise in my mouth!! And to think I can hear it with my mouth closed! Favorite new sound, FIZZ!!!!!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Celebrating A Month Of Hearing
Another week has passed and I just realized that Monday will be one month since my ear was activated! On one hand I feel like I've been hearing without an aid forever, and of course, on the other I'm still in awe and hearing new sounds almost everyday.
Two things I noticed just this week; I can hear the fizz of soda in the glass and my mouth when I'm drinking it and I also heard my phone ringing in my purse, over the sounds of the car and radio!
I am also finding myself forgetting to put my hearing aid in my left ear in the morning since I'm hearing so well out of the right ear. This is a nice revelation. I could function with just my right ear if I need to!
I'm up to C 2 as of tonight. The process of increasing levels has been really easy and although not as satisfying as I initially hoped, I do have faith it's going to get much better as the year goes on. I know I'm already hearing more than ever before. I'm just really impatient and expected perfect hearing from the get go!
Actually since I increased up to the C profile I've noticed the sound quality of my right ear is just so much better than my left ear that has the hearing aid. I now really dislike the way my hearing aid sounds. It is night and day!
Oh, my tinnitus seems to be a lot better lately too. Keeping my fingers crossed it's going to stay that way!
Two things I noticed just this week; I can hear the fizz of soda in the glass and my mouth when I'm drinking it and I also heard my phone ringing in my purse, over the sounds of the car and radio!
I am also finding myself forgetting to put my hearing aid in my left ear in the morning since I'm hearing so well out of the right ear. This is a nice revelation. I could function with just my right ear if I need to!
I'm up to C 2 as of tonight. The process of increasing levels has been really easy and although not as satisfying as I initially hoped, I do have faith it's going to get much better as the year goes on. I know I'm already hearing more than ever before. I'm just really impatient and expected perfect hearing from the get go!
Actually since I increased up to the C profile I've noticed the sound quality of my right ear is just so much better than my left ear that has the hearing aid. I now really dislike the way my hearing aid sounds. It is night and day!
Oh, my tinnitus seems to be a lot better lately too. Keeping my fingers crossed it's going to stay that way!
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Remote That Does It All
This is the remote to control the Esteem device. It's just a little bit bigger than the size of a credit card, or in this case, my device implant card, which all Esteem patients receive after implant for places like an airport. It is much thicker than a card though! And also very expensive to replace if broken or lost ($500.00) so note to self, check your pockets before you do the laundry!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Almost normal
The week went well on B 4, no issues with feedback or noises being too loud (other than the hair dryer). I decided to skip B 5 and turned up the Esteem to C 1 on Saturday morning. It sounds so great! However it's starting to make me realize just how poor of a quality sound my hearing aids have given me! I still wear the hearing aid in my left ear and the sound and volume of sound is so inferior to the right ear now. And just think, I have more levels to increase the quality too!
My hubby and I went to a semi-pro hockey game last night and to a bar for a drink before and both environments were WAY to loud and confusing for my right ear. I ended up turning the Esteem down to B 1 and was surprised to find it filtered out much, if not most of the background noise! Seeing that I didn't spend much time in the B profile (6 days) I was pleased that B was able to make the evening tolerable. But there were still moments where I needed to plug my right ear during the hockey game because it was just too loud. I remember Michelle telling me that for sporting events and concerts I'd probably have to turn down the implant. She be right:) We rode to the game with another couple and we sat in the back seat. Sad to say I still have trouble hearing what they were saying if they were facing the front of the vehicle. Must be the road noise in the car is still just too much background noise.
I'm back to C 1 now, and am happy with it. I finished my course of antihistamine/decongestants and think the majority of the fluid is down for now. I'll take more again if I need to. I'm sure I'll have a few more "bad hearing" days.
I still have tinnitis too, I guess it isn't going to go away. Most days it doesn't bother me any more than usual though.
What is truly amazing to me, is that I have been turning the TV down to much lower volumes than I've ever been able to hear it! My usual volume setting was 40-50 and now I'm able to set it at around 25-30!! And I understand the majority of what's being said!
Having the Esteem has been the coolest thing. I'm so happy at the comfort and ease of it vs a hearing aid. I still have moments where I forget I don't have an aid in my ear and when I get in the shower I panic for a minute thinking I'm getting it wet or when I'm in bed, I reach to my right ear to take out my aid for sleep and it's not there:)
I'm liking this normal hearing thing!
My hubby and I went to a semi-pro hockey game last night and to a bar for a drink before and both environments were WAY to loud and confusing for my right ear. I ended up turning the Esteem down to B 1 and was surprised to find it filtered out much, if not most of the background noise! Seeing that I didn't spend much time in the B profile (6 days) I was pleased that B was able to make the evening tolerable. But there were still moments where I needed to plug my right ear during the hockey game because it was just too loud. I remember Michelle telling me that for sporting events and concerts I'd probably have to turn down the implant. She be right:) We rode to the game with another couple and we sat in the back seat. Sad to say I still have trouble hearing what they were saying if they were facing the front of the vehicle. Must be the road noise in the car is still just too much background noise.
I'm back to C 1 now, and am happy with it. I finished my course of antihistamine/decongestants and think the majority of the fluid is down for now. I'll take more again if I need to. I'm sure I'll have a few more "bad hearing" days.
I still have tinnitis too, I guess it isn't going to go away. Most days it doesn't bother me any more than usual though.
What is truly amazing to me, is that I have been turning the TV down to much lower volumes than I've ever been able to hear it! My usual volume setting was 40-50 and now I'm able to set it at around 25-30!! And I understand the majority of what's being said!
Having the Esteem has been the coolest thing. I'm so happy at the comfort and ease of it vs a hearing aid. I still have moments where I forget I don't have an aid in my ear and when I get in the shower I panic for a minute thinking I'm getting it wet or when I'm in bed, I reach to my right ear to take out my aid for sleep and it's not there:)
I'm liking this normal hearing thing!
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