I’ve got an interesting story to tell you about me and my CI! I went in today to do some follow-up testing on my implant, since they had trouble with it (a possible false positive) in the operating room. I had to go in to make sure that my implant was working correctly after surgery because they couldn’t rely on the first results from the surgery.
This was the first time my implant had been turned on. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and the expression says it all! They were doing something called an NRI test, which is what they do during surgery, not afterwards. And I still have my black eye!
This is what it looks like on my head. This is only for testing purposes.
This is so cool! I could hear “feel” the pulsing noises as each electrode was being tested. It was weird, but awesome to “feel” my implant in action (it wasn’t on).
Kim and I looking over the test results of the electrodes.
The problem came when we turned it on for live speech. I got sooooooo dizzy and practically fell out of my chair. I was trying to hang on to whatever I could, because it was a horrible sensation, like being thrown about underwater at the ocean, and not knowing which way is up. I’m talking to Megan and Kim about what it was like when they turned it on for the first time for live speech. My doctor came in after all the testing was done, and he immediately sent me for a CT scan, and it revealed that I needed to go back in for surgery the next day.
While on the way home, the monsoon clouds were building up for another storm. This is my neighborhood in Phoenix, and this is what it looks like during the late afternoon during monsoon season, before the storm hits.
You can see the wall of dust on the horizon. Definitely don’t want to get caught in it!
You guys better come out and visit me sometime!
I can just see it…next summer, we road trip across the country back home…or something like that. That would be a LOT of fun.
And there’s room here at my house, so lodging is all set!
I would like to do something for spring break this year. I think we should all go to Mexico or to an island in the carribbean. Maybe next year (3rd year).
Jess, you forgot, and eat REAL mexican food!
I can just see Stef and Jen’s faces as they attempt to try and eat mexican, LOL. Don’t forget my birthday this year…that was fun, corrupting them with psuedo-mex!
Jess…
RIGHT ON! haha…we’ll work on her some more this year…i have a few ideas for more mexican restaurants we can go to…and we could make it at my apartment too.
I have yet to see tequila in a soda can, but that’s awesome, haha.
Matt, I was referring to Rochester!
Steph,
well, the OR i was in was causing a lot of electrical interference, so they weren’t sure if it was the electrodes or the OR that was causing the false positives.
anyways, everything’s all good now, and that’s all that matters!
Christie,
heh, it technically wasn’t a “real activation” but close enough.
The REAL activation will be August 7th, if everything goes well!
I think it’s so cool you got to take road trips, I took my first one (That I remember) this summer with my mom! Sometimes when times change, it’s kinda sucky because we want to live in the past, but we have to embrace the future too.
Matt,
Well, if you’re doing surgery, and doing the testing, and everything comes back as looking pretty good, but some results you’re not quite sure of because of electrical interference, what do you do? You turn to other diagnostic tools to help you make your decision.
They went and got multiple X-Rays of my head and did some more testing, and at that point, based on all the information that they had at hand, they concluded that the implant must be working, and it must be the OR that was causing the problem.
So they had me come in a week later for a checkup on my scar and to do further testing in an non-interfering environment to check the integrity of it, and that testing revealed some issues with the implant. That’s why I went off for a CT scan, which revealed the problem.
you might get a better idea here, in case you missed it..
And yes, there is such a thing as bone-conduction which allows you to hear. You can feel sound.
Hope everything’s getting better!
Kevin,
I’m okay in general, as you can see from my post here, I said that
As for the CI working for me, I won’t find out for another 8 days, but I’m doing just fine now! Feel free to ask me questions anytime you want, I’d be glad to go over it with you!
You’re probably sick of hearing this but the scenary is so beautiful! I wanna visit you there. ^^
The spring break idea sounds fabulous to me! I’ve been meaning to return to Mexico and tune up my Spanish! Not to mention oogle at all the hot guys. ~_^
I think for the next two years my summers will be taken up with co-ops, which is very sad. It’s part of my program though. It’s not fair you guys don’t need as many to graduate as I do! X-P
OMG YES! HOW COULD I FORGET!
I love how each region of Mexico has its own unique cuisine. That’s what I love the most about it. And the fact that tequila comes in a soda can. ^_~
And I bet Stef won’t have a moment of it. ^^ We’ll just have to stuff it down her throat until she likes it, hehe!
Oooooo I’m all for the Mexican restaurants! I’m so happy I finally found someone who shares my hatred of fake Mexican food and continually searches for the real thing!!! Outside Mexico of course. ^^
The search continues!
so you knew from day 1 from the previous surgery that it might be false?
post pictures today! i am sooo bored.
I saw a comercial for Rice Crispies today and I thought of you
I so agree. I wish I could be there during the bulk of the rochester winter. Such a difference.
I am surprised that there isn’t a few good REAL Mexican places around you. Up in Rochester in understandable, but down right next to the boarder…
I was wondering how they figured out that something was wrong with the first shot at installing the implant (that’s the engineer in me speaking). I never thought of hearing as feeling the sound, but it make sense to some degree.
Well, I hope that everything worked perfectly this time.
And I am sorry for not commenting on previous posts, things have been crazy over here. I have tried my best to at least read them.
Alright, some of us need to go for our gym run and then off to research time!
^_^ Nice,
Just got to say few thing…
One, sorry i dont comment much but I always read the updates.
Two, are you okay in general? The reason why im asking this is because im because im planning to get a CI sometime soon. So does it work well for you? or?
I am writing some articles fort wiki and noticed some thing interesting on thi………
Never heard of bone-conduction before but learning is an on going process,thanks for telling us all about your experiences we can pass them on to other people in the same situation.
PeterB, where does it say anything about bone conduction hearing aids on here?
And yes, learning is an ongoing process. Glad you’re able to gain some knowledge from my website.