Greetings! It has been almost 3 weeks since my surgery and I feel great. Things have dramatically improved since last week. My energy levels, in particular, are getting back to normal. It is a beautiful feeling! Yesterday, I was a bad patient. While taking my dogs for a walk after work, I couldn't resist -- the weather was beautiful, there was a gentle breeze, my dogs were happy, I was happy...I felt so good, I took my walk up a notch and jogged for the 1st time...but just a little! My doctors told me to wait 4 weeks before exercising or otherwise raising my blood pressure. I don't think I elevated it that much. Besides, my spirit soared -- that has to count for something, right?
Sensations in my scalp and ear are gradually returning. My head itches these days from the glue slowly peeling off my wound (no stitches, just glue!). It feels like a scab-- you want to pick it because it itches and there's a little piece that can be pulled off so easily but you know you shouldn't. So I've been trying my best to leave it alone. Matthew checks it regularly for me to make sure it stays clean and continues to heal properly. My tongue is still a little numb on the right side and my taste buds are still kinda funky. But things feel better since last week...again, progress!
My biggest challenge these days is lip-reading. Since they severed the hearing in my right ear, I am relying only on my left hearing aid and even that sounds different. I feel like my ears are plugged -- so everything sounds more muffled than I'm used to. This past weekend, Matthew and I went to a wedding (which was the most beautiful event ever...congratulations Jesus and Heather!!) and while I had a great time, I quickly developed a headache from trying to lip read so many different people at the reception. Work is a lot easier because I work independently a majority of my day. When I do need to communicate with someone, the office is quiet so the environment is not nearly as stressful as a loud, dimly-lit reception hall. On Saturday, we'll be heading up to Penn State for my Lady Icer Alumni Weekend. I'm excited to see old friends but definitely worried about the communication aspect.
April 17th is "Activation Day." I'll head back up to Johns Hopkins and they'll turn on the implant for the first time! It'll be my first opportunity to experience the cochlear implant. I will return to the hospital the next day, on April 18th, for another appointment. The purpose of the 2nd day meeting is to review the first 24 hours of hearing through the implant and make the first "tweaks" to the device. These "tweaks" are called "sound mapping." A week after my 1st activation, I'll go return to Baltimore for my 3rd appointment and then my 4th is a month later. I go back up several times over the next 12 months.
Technically, my activation day should have been in the next two weeks. However, my audiologist will be on vacation! So I have the first appointment for when he returns. I'm so excited for activation day, I hope the next 21 days go back quickly!!!
Love,
Becky
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Recovery is Hard...
Today, I'm back at home on my couch.
Tuesday, I moved around the apartment a lot and was productive. I loaded the dishwasher, read a few pages in my textbook, and made dinner. Based on my successful day at home, I decided to go to work on Wednesday. I was so excited to get out of the apartment! Cabin fever had set in.
Wednesday morning was tricky. I was running late because I couldn't figure out how to make gauze stick to my head and cover my wound. The headband I had purchased for this purpose was not working out as I hoped. I finally got it set in place and rushed out the door to my ride. My friend, Stephanie, an old college friend and teammate, was kind enough to offer to drive me to work! (Mental note to self -- buy head scarves this weekend.)
The morning went well. I was very productive. Work had piled up for me while I was gone but I was working through one thing at a time, enjoying being back in the office and being around other people again. During my lunch hour, I started to feel tired. I went back to my desk and worked for another couple of hours. At one point, I had to walk a form across the office to another desk and while doing so, I realized I was feeling light headed and a little unsteady on my feet. When I got back to my desk, I just sat there and slowly, a wave of complete and total body exhaustion overcame me. Worse, my head started to feel like a 20 pound bowling ball rolling around on my neck. My equilibrium was thrown off, and I felt like I did the day after I came home from the hospital. Needless to say, I was taken home from work early. I'm very grateful to two of my coworkers who drove me home and set me back up on my couch.
Last night, I was really depressed. I am not used to feeling this way -- so out of control and easily fatigued. Me? Tired? Never! I'm used to running at 6 in the morning before work, then working all day, then going to class at night, and doing homework afterwards! I'm not used to this extended period of feeling like I have so little stamina. I was not prepared for this. So I'm bummed out.
Today, I'm home. I'm going to take it easy. I'll work on my midterm paper and take my dogs out when they need to. I'm going to try to walk around my apartment complex for ten minute periods every now and then, just to get my legs moving again. Maybe tomorrow I can do a half-day at work. We'll see.
On a different note, my wound is healing beautifully. I'm starting to feel my skull and the skin around my wound again. I still can't feel my ear or the right side of my tongue. Something else has happened. Whenever I talk, or hum, I hear this low buzzing sound in my ear. The doctors told me this might happen but it still freaks me out! I feel like I have someone following me around with the emergency broadcast channel on the television! I now know for sure that the implant is in there! I can hear it! :)
Love,
Becky
Tuesday, I moved around the apartment a lot and was productive. I loaded the dishwasher, read a few pages in my textbook, and made dinner. Based on my successful day at home, I decided to go to work on Wednesday. I was so excited to get out of the apartment! Cabin fever had set in.
Wednesday morning was tricky. I was running late because I couldn't figure out how to make gauze stick to my head and cover my wound. The headband I had purchased for this purpose was not working out as I hoped. I finally got it set in place and rushed out the door to my ride. My friend, Stephanie, an old college friend and teammate, was kind enough to offer to drive me to work! (Mental note to self -- buy head scarves this weekend.)
The morning went well. I was very productive. Work had piled up for me while I was gone but I was working through one thing at a time, enjoying being back in the office and being around other people again. During my lunch hour, I started to feel tired. I went back to my desk and worked for another couple of hours. At one point, I had to walk a form across the office to another desk and while doing so, I realized I was feeling light headed and a little unsteady on my feet. When I got back to my desk, I just sat there and slowly, a wave of complete and total body exhaustion overcame me. Worse, my head started to feel like a 20 pound bowling ball rolling around on my neck. My equilibrium was thrown off, and I felt like I did the day after I came home from the hospital. Needless to say, I was taken home from work early. I'm very grateful to two of my coworkers who drove me home and set me back up on my couch.
Last night, I was really depressed. I am not used to feeling this way -- so out of control and easily fatigued. Me? Tired? Never! I'm used to running at 6 in the morning before work, then working all day, then going to class at night, and doing homework afterwards! I'm not used to this extended period of feeling like I have so little stamina. I was not prepared for this. So I'm bummed out.
Today, I'm home. I'm going to take it easy. I'll work on my midterm paper and take my dogs out when they need to. I'm going to try to walk around my apartment complex for ten minute periods every now and then, just to get my legs moving again. Maybe tomorrow I can do a half-day at work. We'll see.
On a different note, my wound is healing beautifully. I'm starting to feel my skull and the skin around my wound again. I still can't feel my ear or the right side of my tongue. Something else has happened. Whenever I talk, or hum, I hear this low buzzing sound in my ear. The doctors told me this might happen but it still freaks me out! I feel like I have someone following me around with the emergency broadcast channel on the television! I now know for sure that the implant is in there! I can hear it! :)
Love,
Becky
Sunday, March 11, 2007
The Days Afterwards...
This morning when I woke up, I felt the best I have felt in 3 days. Matthew and my mom have been wonderful angels, helping me with everything. I'm very grateful for the both of them.
The surgery was a success, no complications and no unexpected surprises. For me, the worst was waking up from the anethesia. I got really sick and was in a lot of pain so they put me back under for two more hours. Finally I was able to be moved to recovery, much to the relief of my anxiety-ridden spouse and mom! Since they intubated me during the surgery, I woke up with dry, sore throat, which is still bothering me 3 days later.
I've spent the last 72 hours in my big, oversized recliner. Dr. Niparko was not kidding when he said I might feel dizzy or have vertigo...I've been unable to get around the apartment independently. So I've been watching a lot of "parts" of movies since I usually doze on and off all day. My pain medicine is wonderful but it definitely puts me in lala land. Today I'm going to try to wean myself off of it and see how it goes.
I have two other really weird side effects: (1) The right side of my tongue is numb and (2) I hear poprocks in my ear, just the candy. Tiny little poppys go off when I shift around my body weight too much, or turn when I stand up. Very strange!
Well, thats my update! I'm glad the surgery is over and now I get to work on growing my hair back! Thanks again, everyone for your wonderful emails and text messages! Love to you all!
Becky
The surgery was a success, no complications and no unexpected surprises. For me, the worst was waking up from the anethesia. I got really sick and was in a lot of pain so they put me back under for two more hours. Finally I was able to be moved to recovery, much to the relief of my anxiety-ridden spouse and mom! Since they intubated me during the surgery, I woke up with dry, sore throat, which is still bothering me 3 days later.
I've spent the last 72 hours in my big, oversized recliner. Dr. Niparko was not kidding when he said I might feel dizzy or have vertigo...I've been unable to get around the apartment independently. So I've been watching a lot of "parts" of movies since I usually doze on and off all day. My pain medicine is wonderful but it definitely puts me in lala land. Today I'm going to try to wean myself off of it and see how it goes.
I have two other really weird side effects: (1) The right side of my tongue is numb and (2) I hear poprocks in my ear, just the candy. Tiny little poppys go off when I shift around my body weight too much, or turn when I stand up. Very strange!
Well, thats my update! I'm glad the surgery is over and now I get to work on growing my hair back! Thanks again, everyone for your wonderful emails and text messages! Love to you all!
Becky
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Today's the Day!
Good morning! I slept well last night. I went to bed at a decent hour and got a lot of help drifting off to sleep from my wonderful text book on health care law. I went for a walk this morning, watched the news, and now Matthew and mom are eating breakfast. We'll be leaving around 8:30. Baltimore is only about 47 miles from here but rush hour traffic plus "patchy ice" will promise at least an hour and a half drive...then of course, there's always the risk of running into accidents or construction or cows crossing the road...ok, maybe not the cows part. Anyway, I have to be there at 11am. The surgery is set for 1pm.
Tuesday morning I finally received official confirmation from my insurance company that they will pay for 100% of the procedure and that my co-pay will be about $130.00! I'm so blessed. I was very worried about the co-pay...different insurance companies have different policies on their co-pays...we'll gladly pay the $130.
Thank you everyone, again, for words of encouragement and support. I've loved your emails, your comments posted on my blog, and your text messages!! I'll let everyone know how it goes as soon as I can. Love to you all!!!
Love,
Becky
Tuesday morning I finally received official confirmation from my insurance company that they will pay for 100% of the procedure and that my co-pay will be about $130.00! I'm so blessed. I was very worried about the co-pay...different insurance companies have different policies on their co-pays...we'll gladly pay the $130.
Thank you everyone, again, for words of encouragement and support. I've loved your emails, your comments posted on my blog, and your text messages!! I'll let everyone know how it goes as soon as I can. Love to you all!!!
Love,
Becky
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
