Recovery

As I write this post, it has been 4 1/2 days since I had surgery for my 2nd cochlear implant. I feel pretty crappy to be honest, but less crappy than yesterday and definitely less crappy than the day before. Baby steps!

The morning of surgery felt like it dragged on forever. As the nurses hooked me up to my IVs and prepped me for surgery, I found myself focusing on the fact that very soon, I would be totally deaf and 100% dependent on man-made technology in order to hear. I've always used hearing aids to hear but I also always had a little bit of natural hearing just hanging out, ready to be used whenever technology got to that point. When I imagined future "cures" for my hearing loss, it never involved destroying the natural hearing I did have. Thankfully, my medical team whipped me away to surgery before I had too much time to psych myself out. Surgery itself went well and they tested the electrodes while I was in there to make sure everything was working mechanically before stitching me up.

The medical staff was terrific, especially when I woke up. I was in pain and gradually, nausea set on (and would remain for several days). After stabilizing me, I was sent home and plopped down in my big red lazy-boy chair. The pain was controllable with lovely la-la land drugs, but the nausea was my enemy. My taste buds have retreated temporarily so whatever food goes down, is tasteless to begin with. But upon settling in my stomach, nothing agreed to stay. Consequently, for 4 days, my food intake was akin to an anorexic Hollywood super star. On top of that, the morning after surgery, I started itching all over. After discussion with the docs, I was taken off my antibiotic because I was having a bad reaction to it - the medicine was is a different family than penicillin, which I'm allergic to, but apparently my body disagreed with it anyway.

Today, Sunday, I have turned a corner! Frankly I was tired of feeling stoned so I've been weaning off the pain medicine. I had my first full meal at lunch: a tortilla with cheese and an apple. Small victories! Then, since I had a serious case of cabin fever and my back was taking on the shape of the lazy-boy chair, Matt and Jane took me on a car ride to a local park where I sat at a picnic table and enjoyed some fresh air and sunshine. Vertigo only happens when I look down so I try to keep my chin up! I made it a point to move around today and I can feel it; I'm pooped. Its 6pm and the rest of my evening will be spent watching tv and dozing.

I appreciate all the well wishes and cards/flowers/plants/brownies I've received from everyone. I was dreading this recovery phase like the plague but now that I'm over the hump, I'm starting to get excited for activation on Friday!

Love,
Becky