ACTIVATION RESCHEDULED

Activation was rescheduled for dec 30th due to weather.

Merry Christmas
DC

ACTIVATION DATE

My activation date for my 2nd implant is december 23rd. So it's an early christmas present. I decided to get the same brand device(advanced bionics) but in a different color so I could tell the left from right ear without any problem .I have beige for the right ear and will get silver for the left ear. Hopefully this time I will be able to hear on the phone better than with the right ear. There was a lot more scar tissue this time and the surgery took almost 2 hours longer than normal. We'll find out the 23rd how things might work out for my left ear. Thanks for all the kind words and support. I'll post the same day on how things go.

Till then, have a safe holiday

DC aka Jim Cone

BACK HOME

Well, had the second implant put in Monday. Had to stay overnight per doctors orders. Now I'm back home and sitting around recuperating. No nausea this time around, but initially more pain. Go back for checkup in 3 weeks at surgons office then it's onto getting it turned on. Tried to use my current processor on my new proccessor but it didn't work so apparently it's turned off and needs to be turned on. Oh well!! I'm taking a week off of work to heal!


DC

THIS AND THAT

Been a while since I posted. Recently went through bankruptcy and moved from hobby farm into a small city closer to work. Settled in although I can't stand the city. But it was best financially.
I entered a hommade beer, a sweet stout, into a local homebrew contest and it took 2nd place in the stout division. First time I ever placed and only 2nd competition I ever entered so pretty cool. With the holidays coming up I made a pumpkin pie ale and it is ready to drink. Tastes awesome. Made more of the stout, and a mild ale, and have some Dandylion wine bottled and some elderberry wine in the fermentor so by the time I have my surgery I will have a good stock of "painkiller" on hand!
Surgery is set for monday Nov 24th with one day stay in hospital.
Meamwhile it's football and beer till then!

Deafcone

GOING BILATERAL

Just recieved word that implanting the other ear was ok'd by insurance company. So right now the surgury date is Nov 24th if it's not moved up sooner.

DC

PROCESSOR DIED

I started having problems with one of my processors a few days ago. It would cut out and come back on. Then it would cut out and stay off for a long time. Finally it just quit and wouldn't work anymore. Luckily it happened just before my last follow up with audiologist and she kept it and is sending it to advanced bionics and getting a replacement. I thought it was from sewating at work. No AC in plant and it gets very very humid there. She said that shouldn't bother it and there is something else going on so it can be replaced free. So for now I have one processor.

DC

IMPLANTING OTHER EAR

Went to see the Surgeon today about getting the other ear implanted. He doesn't have a problem with it. So they are submitting the request to insurance company and we'll go from there. Most likely, if approved it would be around thanksgiving. Should know something within a couple weeks.

DC

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Heard a good joke yesterday and had to share it (I really did hear it too!).

A minnesotan and a texan were having drinks. The minnesotan turned to the Texan and said "So where you from then?" The Texan ignored him. He asked the texan again "so where you from then?". The Texan said "I don't answer questions ending in an adverb" The minnesotan replied "So where you from then, asshole?"

WAITING ON INSURANCE OK

We called the hospital and told them to go ahead and try to get approval to have my left ear implanted. They said they will submit the paperwork. So now it's wait and see.

tic, tic, tic.....

DC

CLOSE CALL

While driving through a small town in Minnesota my break warning light came on and a audible alarm sounded. Not wanting to stop right away and add break fluid I took off my implant so I wouldn't hear the alarm with the intention of filling the break fluid when I stop again. I had put the implant on my lap. I stopped at a grocery store to get some things and forgot about the implant being on my lap. It had fallen onto the parking lot. I drove about 20 minutes before realizing I didn't have my implant with me. I looked for it on the seat and only found the ear hook. AHHHH! I turned around and drove back to the grocery store and there was a big truck parked in the same spot I had been in. UH-OH! I looked and saw the implant in the center of the parking space under the truck. I had to crawl under the truck to get it and it was not damaged. WHEW! I though I was going to see an implant pancake in the parking lot because when I left, I had backed up, pulled forward, and backed up again turning to be able to get out and through it all I didn't touch the implant. Talk about LUCKY!

WENT IN FOR SCHEDULED TESTING

I went to the audi for some scheduled testing on tuesday. First test was a series of single sylable words I had to repeat back that a recorded voice said while I was in a soundproof booth. I scored about 42% on that. In 2005 when I took same test with hearing aid I scored 0%. Next test was same voice, saying a series of sentences. I scored 63% on that. 2005 0%. Lat test was different males voice, a series of sentences, but said "Ready" before each sentence and talked a little slower I scored 98% on that, and 0% in 2005. Pretty good. So to better understand what's being said i'm telling everyone I know that when they talk to me thay have to say "Ready" before each new sentence they say. LOL.
Last visit I has the fidelity 120 program activated with mixed results.
Things sound more normal but my comprehension suffered a little. Using the cell phon I actually heard better from the program before the 120 was activated so I had the audi put the pre 120 program back on one position for me to use for telephone use. So now I don't go back until July for final testing.
I'm busy moving into a different city so things are hectic right now. closer to work and will save some in gas which is getting insane price wise.
Still not sure about doing the other ear. Mainly depends on insurance approving it and then whether I want to go through it again. Undecided at this point.

Homebrew post

Here's a picture of an IrishRed Ale beer, on the left, and a Plum Wine on the right. The wine has been fermenting a week and the beer one day.
The beer will be ready to drink in a couple weeks, the wine wil ltake several months at least.

Below is a short video of an irish red ale I have fermenting.
This is yeast action only. No stirring, no heat just good old fashioned fermentation action.

THIS AND THAT

Going back in for another mapping on the 11th. I could use some advice on a few things.
One is, which cell phone and service so you use and are you happy with it as far a compatibility with your implant?
Also, as far as hearing the radio, do you hear music ok, or is it a lot different than you remember it. Specific songs I heard before sound totally different, and some words and musicical sounds aren't noticable. If that WAS a problem with you and it isn't now, when and what changed it? I asked my audi about the fidelity 12o programming and we wil lbe starting that this next visit. I assume that wil lbring big changes in the music and voice problems.

MUCH BETTER AFTER REMAPPING

Went to audi today. Told her I didn't care for either program as they are. She asked why. One program peoples voices sound normal but I had trouble understanding them. The other I could understand what they said fine, but everyone sounded like they had a cold. Low nasal voice and it drove me crazy. So she went back to the drawing board, I listend to the beeps and let her know when it sounded comfortable, and then she tweaked the programs. I had her increase the volume and on on switch on the processor I had the volume increased even more to use with the phone. Night and day difference on the phone. Then I was put in the sound booth so she could see what frequencies I was hearing. Before the surgury I was hearing at about 110 dbs if at all. Now, I can hear between 30 and 50 dbs. Huge difference.
I go back in early april. Meantime I have a different program on each processor to play with to decide which one I like then it's on to the fidelity 120 program.

PEAKED OUT

Improvement with the implant has pretty much peaked. Still can't understand on the cell phone worth beans. Radio sounds different by the second and can't make much out of it. Asked the surgeons secretary to go forward with trying to get approval for the other ear but audiologists wants me to wait till 6 months after the first one to allow the first ear to get acclimated. Now I'm going back and forth as to whether I'm even going to do the other ear.
Audiologists submitted her first bill to the insurance company. $275 for the first visit. They paid $155 and I pay nothing. So that is a relief. I have 4 more mappings scheduled. Last one is in July. I'll wait to see if there's any more improvement before deciding on the other ear.

TODAY SUCKED!

Got home from work to discover that Victoria, the alpaca in our kitchen, had lost control of her neck muscles which to an alpaca is everything. So a friend came over, helped me carry her outside and we put her down. She was 19 years old. They age like dogs, 7 years for every one human year so she was 133 years old. Crappy weather, crappy day at work, and then this.

GOT MAPPED AGAIN

Went to audiologists today to get tweaked. Problem with phone program was it wasn't there. program slot was empty. It's there now. Haven't tried it yet. Tweaked two programs, improving sound and quality in both. Now I need to use both programs and next time I go back we will use the one I like best as a permanent program. She tried covering her mouth and saying whole sentences. I skunked it. Then tried saying part of a saying and I finish it. Got about 80% of those right. For example she would say "Little Bo Peep lost her _ ? Virginity is not the right answer.
It'd dam cold here AGAIN! Our oldest Alpaca, Victoria, is having problems. She hasn't been able to stand up. She lays on the barn floor (hay bedding) and tries but can't get up. She's very skinny and we think she's weak from eatinh poor quality hay and not being able to maintain her weight. She had hypothermia last winter and spen a week in our kitchen. Well she's back in the house again. Hopefully with a few days of being in the warm house she can regain her strength so she can get up on her own and go back out with the other Alpacas. If not, then I'll have to put her down. Not looking forward to that. We've had her for 10 years. She's the sweetest animal on the planet. So lots of oatmeal, good hay, and suppliments hopefully will do the trick.

Activation Video

Here's one of my videos from the activation day. Let me know if you have trouble running it.

HOLY MOLEY OLE!

Here's a good joke I got from a relative in North Dakota.

Ole and Lena.........Start Their Family

Late one night,Lena wakes Ole and says, "I
tink its time!"

So Ole fired up the Yohn Deere tractor and took her to
the hospital to have their first baby.

She had a little boy, and the doctor looked over at
Ole and said, "Hey, Ole! You yust had a son! Ain't dat
great! "

Vell, Ole got excited by dis, but yust den the doctor
spoke up and he said, "Hold on! We ain't finished
yet!" The doctor den held up a little girl.

He said, "Hey, Ole! You got you a daughter!" She's a
pretty little ting, too....

Ole got kind of puzzled by this, and then the doctor
said, "Holey Moley Ole, we still ain't done yet!"

The doctor then delivered another boy and said, "Ole,
you yust had youself another boy!"

Ole was flabbergasted by this news!

A couple days later, Ole brought Lena and their
three children home in the self propelled combine. He
was real serious and he asked Lena, "How come we got
tree on the first try?"

Lena said, "You remember dat night we ran out of
Vaseline and you vent out in the garage and got dat
3-in-1 Oil?"

Ole said, "Yeah, I do. Uffda!, it's a damn good ting I
didn't get the WD-40!

Have a good weekend all!

GOT MAPPED AGAIN TODAY

Went to the audi and got remapped again today. One program had a lot of vibration to it when people talked so she tried fixing it. She ended up expanding the pulse width and Bingo, no vibration. So I have two good programs to play with now. She added a 3rd for using with phone but it doesn't work or the phone isn't compatible. No biggie.
I do have a problem in that the processors are cutting off like the batteries are going dead. But I take the batteries off and put the same battery back on and it works. I had one processor do it many times so I switched to the backup today and it did it once and I was at the audi when it happened. She is stumped. I tried all my batteries and it does it with any of them so she wants me to change the power cord that the magnet is attached to if it happens again to see if that could be the problem. We'll see. Aced the first word test with: Airplane, Toothpaste, Bluebird, and 3 others. Then we went on to States, and I did pretty good, then we went on to weather or numbers and that was trickier but I did good on the weather but the numbers were harder since a lot of different numbers sound the same. I'm trying to wean myself from using caption on TV but I still can't understand enough to do that yet. A big problem is background music on programs makes it really hard. Going back in two weeks for more brain training.

DAY 3 AFTER ACTIVATION

Voices are becoming clearer little by little. Noises at work weren't as bad as I thought they'd be. I can understand some of what's being said on TV if I'm reading the caption. Without the caption it doesn't register. With it I find myself saying, hey I heard that word! In the morning I need to turn the volume down on the processor. After a while I can start turning it back towards the noon setting. As far as specific sounds, I heard a car starting clear as a bell leaving work thursday. First time in years. I can hear my Sheltie bark his butt off when I get home. Annoying little Sh*t! Car blinker, road noise, especially those mini speed bumps to alert you that you're coming to a stop sign. Music and the background music on TV are pretty confusing yet. All in all I'm doing pretty good. I like the Hires P program much better than the Hires S program so far. I did ok on some basic words from the audiologists but did terrible with colors and animals. Who know horse and mouse were so similar? After getting mouse wrong for the 3rd time I tild the audiologist I'm bringing a mouse trap next session and getting rid of that dam mouse!

Mapping number 2

I got mapped again today. Volume was doubled from last visit. 3rd program was added. 1st program is Hires P. 2nd is hires P with noise filter, 3rd program is hires S.
P sounds a little higher than normal for voices is softer than S. S sounds more normal but also seems like you're underwater. But that will change with time and mappings. The Jamaicans took there drums and left. No more weired drum beats. I'm hearing sounds and voices better but still having trouble with understanding a lot of it. It comes and goes as far as hearing well one minute and things sounding like garbage the next. But according to the audi everything has been right along with expectations.I go back next tuesday for mapping number 3.

Jamaican drums??

Hey mahn, things are really hoppinin when I hook up! I hear some voices weakly but there is a jamaican drum beat with every word or sound. Audi says that is expected and it will correct itself. Had volume on 12 oclock, but by time I got home (6:30) it was cranked up to about 2 oclock. That is expected also. I go back in tomorrow for remap and to crank up the volume. Right now I have just two programs. I have two processors with the same programs for now. Been back and forth between programs as "ordered" by audi. The implant is in the ear I haven't used an aid or heard in for about 15 years at least so the confusion with the signals coming in was expected. It's freakin cold here. It was near 40 yesterday but a cold front came in and it's well into the negative 40's with windchill. It was 16 degrees in minneapolis when I left there at 3 and when I got home (120 miles later) it was 15 below not including the wind so there was a big difference in the temp just a couple hours away. I will update again tomorrow with progress.

ACTIVATION IS TUESDAY!

My activation will be happening on tuesday. I visit the surgeon first for a quick looksee and then the Audi will hook me up and flood my brain with alien signals.
I go back wednesday again for same. I will post results tuesday night.

Pretty Pricey!

I looked at my insurance member billing status yesterday and the hospital billed the insurance company $117,000 for the implant! YIKES! They won't get that much but it's no wonder insurance companies reject things. The surgeon billed them 6k and only got a little more than half. I'm in the wrong business. Building busses for $14 an hour. I might go to school to become a surgeon. Let's see, I'm 50 now, so between college, interneship and the like I could be ready to actually make some serious money by the time I'm 65, work a year then retire. NOT! Maybe in another life. I'm stuck relying on the Lotto for my retirement! CMON POWERBALL!

STAYING INSIDE!

It's 19 below with the windchill factored in so I'm staying inside today! Went outside early and gave the alpacas their hay and grain rations, checked the water level in their drinking buckets and then came in to spend the day bottling two batches of beer. I have a Lemon Wheat beer and an Irish Red Ale I'm in the process of bottling.If all goes well I will try to get an apple wine and a grape-elderberry wine bottled today also.
Activation is on the 29th. Ear is doing fine.Now we just need to get rid of this cold front!!!

BRAIN FREEZE!!!

BRRRRR!!!!! This cold weather makes the implant area COLD!! I might ger Brain Freeze with windchills expected to reach 40 to 50 below friday night and saturday! Won't be sticking my tongue on any metal posts outside. "THIT, IT WILLY WURKS!"

It's C-C-C-COLD UP HERE!

Well, we're in the beginning of a cold fron that will be lasting at least a week. This morning it was -24 with the wind chill when I went the work. DANG! The actual temperature was about -10 below but we just had to have a wind for good measure, $@&%@#! This weekend it will be getting down to -15 to -20 for lows not including wind chill. My alpacas were laying down happily chewing their cud this morning and I just shake my head in awe that they aren't the least bit bothered by the cold. They prefer to stay outside rather than in the barn. It's always open if they want to go in but they usually stay out. For those who don't know what Alpacas are they are a smaller cousin of the Llama. Alpacas have the softest fleece you've ever felt in your life. I shear them myself in the spring, and sell their fleece on ebay and try to sell offspring every now and then.
The cold bothers my implant area a little but if I wear hoods (two) then it's minimal. Not a big deal.
I'm close to a crisis as I figured out I might be running out of home made beer soon and the next batch won't be ready to drink in time so I might have to resort to buying (GASP) storebought beer! NOOOOOO!!!! Oh well. Six bottles of stout left, a lemon wheat ready to bottle, and a red irish ale will be ready to bottle this weekend. So I'll have to suffer through some Samuel Adams but, that's the breaks! The irish Red wont last long. It's for a family get together in an couple weeks.
I'm also going to make a peanut butter cup flavored stout. It's only going to be a gallon as it's an experiment. Sounds delish eh?

Who's deaf?

On another blog I read that butterflies are deaf. Wow. I did not know that! But I do know that regular houseflies have their ears built into their wings. I did a project in jr high science class and proved it. I had a fly, took it in my hand and said "Shoo Fly" and the fly flew away. I caught the fly and pulled off half its legs and said "Shoo Fly" and the fly flew off. I caught the fly again, pulled off the rest of it's legs and said "Shoo Fly" and, you guessed it, it flew off again. So I caught the fly again and pulled off it's wings and said "shoo Fly" and the fly just stayed there. I said it again closer and louder "SHOO FLY" but the fly didn't move. The conclusion to the experiment was that a fly without it's wings cannot hear. I didn't do too good in science that year.
On the implant front. I'm healing much better. Almost done with the steroids and they did the trick. Only thing I'm not sure about is I'm still spitting up blood in the mornings and a few times throughout each day but that could be that it's only about two weeks post surgery so I'm not sure how long that is suppose to last. We'll find out I guess. Made some more homemade beer today, it's gonna be good. The wife says it's her favorite of the beers I've made so far.

UNDER CONTROL

Now i'm on antibiotic and steroids to stop swelling, blisters, and infection in operated ear. I had a bad reaction to the bacitracin ointment and things got worse quick but went to see surgeon yesterday and was put on steroids, need to sterile wash the area 3 times a day also. Found out I didn't get any antibiotics during surgury, so that will be a strong request if I have my other ear done. So unless things don't improve I'm still on target for activation on the 29th.

SCRATCH, SCRATCH, SCRATCH!

Will be going to doctor to address itching and redness. It's not receding, like my hairline is. Had problems in the past with skin reactions and were difficult to get rid of so this is no suprise but want to get it under control so as not to delay activation!

Cut it out!

I found out today from my wife that the surgeon said he cut about 1/8th of the cochlea off because it was so calcified and made it difficult to get the electrodes in. But by doing so he said he was able to get full insertion of all 16 electrodes which was important. Also, the ointment was causing a reaction to the area operated on. I thought it was yesterday as itching became intense right after putting the ointment on. So I quit using it friday morning and the itching subsided to almost nothing but the area remained very red. And throughout the day I would touch the area, and then maybe a different part of my head, or rub my eye. Well my eye started turning red, and watering and another spot I had touched slowly began itching so we called the ENT on call at the hospital and he agreed I was reacting to the ointment. So I showered and took a benadryl as advised. And yes, I did have a beer today Abbie. First one, but I made sure I hadn't taken any meds first and limited myself to the one beer, and it was GOOOOOOOOOD!!!! So itching is addressed, ointment is history, pain is under control, and my hemroids are finally clearing up. OH HAPPPY Day !!!!!!

OK I'M A WIMP!

IT HURTS! I thought I'd be feeling better and able to go back to work by today, 4 days after surgury. I'll type slower so you don't get too far behind from laughing.
Monday I got transplanted, spent half the day trying not to breath, the other half throwing up. Tuesday, I felt better, went home, and parked my butt in a recliner, popped some happy pills and went off to dreamland. Wednesday, I actually felt pretty good, not much pain,so I didn't take any pain pills, and I was on the computer most of the day and actually thought about going back to work thursday. HAHHAHAHAHAHA! Thursday proved me wrong. Head was throbbing, actually a little unsteady most of the day, so began the hobby of pill popping again. But I thought the worst was over and I'm wrong again, as friday brought a more pronounced pain, not terrible, but I thought it would be going away by now. Still unsteady and I stopped using the antibiotic ointment as it was causing more and more itching the more I used it. So my wife is calling about possibly getting an oral antibiotic instead. I'm taking short naps after popping a pill, and waiting patiently for things to improve. I have to be back to work on monday. Looking back on others blogs I should start feeling better as soon as tomorrow! Only other problem besides pain is redness behind the ear. I attribute that ot being only 4 days post surgury and possibly minor reaction to ointment. Itching has pretty much gone away since I stopped using it. Will be popping another pill in about an hour. It's groggy city if I take two, and one helps but not as well, so it's either live in a foggy state or be uncomfortable. I'm beginning to really like Fog!

Post op pics

Here are a couple pic of me with and without the pressure bandage. It's now thursday and the pain is managable. Flares up sometimes but the happy pills do a goood job!

OUCH!

It's janurary 1st 2008. Just got home form my implant surgury. Everything went well.
The first few hours after were PAIN! It was hurl city for 12 hours whenever I tried eating anything. After that things settled down and I was bored outta my wits. Spent overnight in the hospital. Pressure bandage was removed and no swelling,yet. Can't see the stitches at al, they were tucked under so they aren't visable. Surgury took an hour longer than expected. All in all it went ok. Now I'm home for a quick two day rest then it's back to work. Next time I'll remember to ask the "Gas man" for the anti nasuea meds. Thanks for all the support and happy new year everybody.