Thursday, May 14, 2015

One week post op.....

Well, it has been one week today since my right ear cochlear implant surgery! Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I really went through with this. The night before my surgery, I had a little bit of anxiety. Actually, a lot. I had many emotions....realizing I was getting rid of my hearing aid forever and the sound/hearing I've known since I was three years old. Even though I knew I was gaining something so much better, it was still hard letting go. I prayed about it before I went to bed and I had a peaceful night of sleep. When I woke up, I was a little nervous but I was ready! The surgery went much better than I expected. Although, the first day was rough with being sick from the antibiotic, I was able to get it changed the next day and felt much better. I am very grateful that I have no dizziness or balance issues. With my last surgery, I had numbness in my tongue and change of taste for several weeks. With this surgery, I had none of that! The implant is also thinner and smaller than my left implant so I have a much smaller bump behind my ear. It's amazing how much technology has advanced in two years. My doctor did an excellent job and I am very thankful. My Mom stayed with me for two days....there's nothing like having your Mom take care of you...I am never too old for that! Even though I was recovering and resting most of the time, I was very grateful for my Mom's presence. It kept me at peace knowing things were taken care of.  It also happened to be Mother's Day weekend. I loved having all four of my kids hang out with me all day Sunday in the TV room while I was on the couch. I think they all wish they could've done more by taking me out but just being with them and talking all day was the best gift. My children are growing up too fast and I cherish my time with them even more so. My one week post op appointment was yesterday. My doctor said it is healing very well and to limit my activity for one more week. My energy level has been very low all week but today was the first day I felt a little bit of my energy returning. So I have hope tomorrow will be even better! It has also been quite an adjustment hearing out of one ear. The last two and half years, my hearing aid balanced things out somewhat even though I didn't get much benefit out of it. Now that I'm just relying on my left implant, I feel like I'm hearing or picking up more sounds. It's been an interesting week. As I continue to heal, I am really looking forward to my activation date in two weeks.....June 1st!! I know I have a lot of work ahead of me but I'm excited to see what life will be like with two miracle ears! Amazing to even think about it....




Sunday, May 3, 2015

Another miracle I am about to receive.....

It's been a whirlwind! I haven't had time to process my thoughts until this week. With my last implant, it seemed like it was a long wait to get insurance approval. Almost six months. This time it only took two weeks for approval! And now, I am scheduled for surgery on May 7th.  At first, I was like, woah.....let's slow down! Last time, I had much more time to process my thoughts while waiting which at times led me to feel more anxious. I feel very much at peace this time around. I've had several discussions with my audiologist and surgeon about going bilateral. I feel very good about my decision. I have complete trust in Dr. Turner and he is an excellent surgeon. I am very happy he is doing my surgery again.  The butterflies in my stomach have started as I realized I am just days away! I am feeling excited about being able to hear out of both ears. Very excited. During my quiet moments when I reflect on my daily thoughts, I am always grateful for the gift of hearing. Words cannot even begin to express my gratitude. I love hearing all of the beautiful sounds in this world and hearing SO MUCH MORE. I am ready to do it again. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me but I feel like I will be better prepared with my second implant. I will know what to expect during the process of training my ear and brain. Plus, I have the best support system....my family! I couldn't have done it without them the first time and I am thankful they are excited to do it with me again. Ahhhh....it's almost here! I am so grateful God knows my heart and He is able to do more than I could ever imagine ~Ephesians 3:20