6 Month Mark

I am at the half year mark for my post op period with my Esteem! I think things are relatively on track for healing and I know there's lots more healing still to come in the next 6 months. I'm only slightly discouraged that my hearing seems to have truly plateaued. I'm still only able to use A 2. Even going up to A 3 is just too much for me. My own voice is the worst, then female singers (radio, TV, iPod...). My voice on A 3 or higher sounds distorted. But in a weird way. It's very clear sounding but yet almost like it could be coming from a blown speaker inside my head, which is really loud...I can't make sense of it. A 2 is good, it's getting me through slightly better than my hearing aid, but I want more power. Singers (higher pitched females, or any higher pitched sounds) just sound too tinny/sharp.
I have definately suffered through sinus fluid and drainage this year, so I'm sure that can't be helping things much. This is definately a trial and error process! At this point in time, I really can't make an adjustment appointment fit into my schedule. The soonest I can see myself being able to set one up is in June, when I will be at a post op hip appointment that is also in Detroit. And who knows, maybe things will be much improved by then?
- Still pretty itchy around the incision/processor
- Taste ability is about 90%
- Still some residual numbness at the top of my ear and my scalp
- I have not turned my device off at all since December (even with blow drying my hair)
- I haven't experienced any feedback at all since activated
- I'm still learning to associate correct sounds to certain words. So in a way, the conversations on TV don't always make sense, I still can't figure out lyrics to songs on the radio, and for whatever reason, certain people just have voice registers that I have to really concentrate on to make sense of what they are saying. I have had a few encounters still of the repeated "What?" when asked something and usually the question asked is a very simple one. For example: "Where did you work before here?" I could hear the man plain as day, but I just could not understand what he was saying. The third time he repeated himself (and bless him, he didn't raise his voice or speak irritatingly slow) I finally realized what he was asking me. It truly felt like I was hearing a foreign language, which is very common for hard of hearing people. I hope this will eventually stop happening.

My MRI dilemma was solved. I am not allowed to have MRIs at this time (much to the chagrin of my orthopedic surgeon). I contacted both my Envoy rep and Dr. Seidman about this and both have said the risks outweigh the benefits. On Envoys end, the FDA still hasn't approved MRIs yet, so they can't endorse doing it. Until then, I am allowed CT scans and ultra sounds. Also, my upcoming hip hardware removal is a month from now, and I will post on how that goes in regards to the Esteem. I was advised to turn the Esteem off during the surgery to be on the safe side (bipolar cautery is safe with the Esteem, but just to be sure, they recommend the device be powered off during any surgical procedure). Then when I recover I will be taken to the imaging department for the CT scan.
I have to admit, I'm a little nervous handing off my remote to the OR team while I'm under anesthesia as the darn thing costs $500 to replace if broken or lost! I would normally leave my hearing aids with my husband and then put them back in when he was allowed to see me after the recovery phase, but since I'll have my hearing aid out in my left ear and the right ear will be completely deaf when I wake up, I'd like to be able to turn the Esteem on right away in the recovery room to make communicating with my nurse easier. Hopefully I'll be coherent enough to work the remote!

Checking In

Time for a quick update I suppose! It's now been 5 weeks since my adjustment. In the grand scheme of things, it's going fine. Not impressive, really no better than when I had my hearing aid, but the convenience is still hands down 100% worth it. I have only used my A profile, and stay at level 2. Anything else is too "sharp" or grating on my ear. Blah, blah, blah, nothing new from last time. I don't want to sound discouraging, so I'll leave it at that. I can hear better so I really can't complain much. I just need to find time to schedule another adjustment.

I haven't discovered any new sounds lately. My incision seems like it's slowly and finally starting to heal and close up. It spit out a big chunk of sutures a couple nights ago, and although tender, no more wide scab! And my tongue/taste issue is definately improving! The 24th of this month I will be 6 months post op and that seems to be right in line with how long it was supposed to take for my taste to come back. I would say it's 85-90% better right now. And my feeling in my ear (top of my lobe/cartilage) and scalp is getting better too. I can just about wiggle my ear again:)
The hair is still taking awhile to fully fill in. It grew in really wiry and choppy. My hair dresser had to cut the ends off twice just to get it to grow healthy and correct. I cut my hair to chin length just to help that section grow in faster. It was hard to do since I did have hair past my shoulders. Oh well, the style is cute! Fresh new look;)

I can say I'm used to hearing 24/7 out of my right ear now. Although I am still in awe that it's working as well as it is, the novelty has worn off. But I'm still one proud chick when someone asks about it or wants advice/info. It's life altering. I can't stress that enough!