Feeling Good!

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