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.