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[CI-Hear] I decided to play it safe

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Hi All,

I decided to play it safe and send it now in case I screws up my new computer

and loose everything so I Copy/Paste my CI Surgery & Switch-on journey which is

below my signature.

It is about 7 pages long and might help some of you to fall asleep.

Dolly Dolphin :)

My Cochlear Implant Surgery and Switch-on Day

by Gayle Tiana Northcott

Sunday November 18, 2008.

Tessa my Intervenor and I left at 10 am on the WestJet 772. We arrived in Ottawa

1:22 pm and went to the Interns' Residence on the Ottawa Hospital - Civic

Campus. We had a two bedroom apartment on the 5th floor.

Monday, November 19

We were up early for my 8:30 am appointment at the Pre-Admission Unit (PAU) at

the Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus behind our Residence.

We arrived at our destination for a nursing assessment and pre-operative tests.

In my case the tests were blood tests: blood pressure, height and weight, and

cardiogram. The nurse then proceeded to ask me questions, giving me information

for the surgical routine that will be done the next day, checking to make sure

all the information that was sent to them was correct and to see if I have any

questions or concerns. The anesthesiologist came in to collect the information

needed, and then it was over about three hours later.

We went to my 4:30 pm appointment at the Civic Parkdale Ave. for a consultation

with Christiane Seguin (audiologist) and Dr. Schramm (surgeon). Christiane

and Dr. Schramm were very nice. We discussed what was to happen tomorrow morning

for the surgery.

Dr. Schramm let me decide which ear I wish the implant to be done in. In

Winnipeg it was decided since I wore the hearing aid on my left ear it would be

the best ear to be implanted. I believed my left ear had worsened to equal with

the right ear so I decided to stick with my left ear since it was stimulated all

these years.

We then went back to our apartment as we had to be up real early the next

morning.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20

At the hospital, Tessa and I were shown to a room where I changed into the

typical hospital attire. Then my belongings were put into a secure locker.

At my bed the nurse gave me the elastic stocking that goes from the foot up to

the groin. Man oh man were they hard to pull up!

Before entering the Operation Room Christiane introduced all the people to me

before they put their masks on for surgery. Dr. Schramm came up and I jokingly

reminded him that it is the left ear that is being implanted and he said " yes I

know " and promptly marked the left side of my neck with a black pen.

I was then wheeled into the operation room and Tessa remained behind, that was

the last thing I remembered. I never even felt them put the needle in. Boy they

sure worked fast.

The surgery, I was told later, lasted four hours and that I had 13 stitches. In

spite of the anti-nausea medication I did throw up twice. Later I felt someone

gently shaking me awake. It was the nurse to see if I was up to eating toast and

a Diet Ginger Ale or 7-Up. I did manage both.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21

The nurse once again woke me up in the wee hour of the morning, this time the

whole room was dark except for dim light at the other end of the room. The nurse

was saying something but I could not see her lips or hear her, she had wrote

something down on a letter size sheet and had her tiny pen light shining on it.

But gee whiz my glasses were in the locker so we gave up. I was awakened again,

the nurse said something but I could not understand her, she then gently put her

fingers under my right face and was gently trying to move it up. I then knew

what she was trying to do. She wanted to take my temperature from my right ear

so I turned my head for her and she also gave me medicine. Back to sleep I went

and was awakened again, this time it was Dr. , one of many who was with

Dr. Schramm in the operation room. She was checking to see if I was ok and asked

if I was in any pain. Believe it or not the only pain I felt was the left heel.

She checked the elastic stocking. I am not sure but I think the stocking was too

tight and just needed to be loosening up. The pain went away. I was awakened for

the last time around 5:30 am, the catheter removed, had a little breakfast, got

dressed, sat in a chair to wait until someone came with a wheelchair.

The wheelchair came and the nurse let us stay in the room until 7:30 am, then

Tessa wheeled me to the main lobby. We waited for the Pharmacy to open at 8 am

for the anti-biotic and the pain killer.

I took it easy for the rest of the day in the recliner chair.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22

We thought we might not make it to Dr. Schramm's office because of the nasty

weather so we left early and arrived on time.

Dr. Schramm was out of town that day so his assistant Ann Donahue removed the

band aid. Then we went to Dr. Odell's office for him to look at the wound. He

said it was healthy.

Back into Dr. Schramm's office where Ann put on some anti-infection ointment

(there was still little leakage but nothing to worry about) and the gauze to

protect the stitches. Ann then gave me instructions what to do until I see my

own family doctor.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 27

We went to the Civic Parkdale Ave. for the follow-up appointment and final

discussion and questions with Dr. Schramm and Christiane at 4 pm.

Dr. Schramm looked at my stitches and was quite pleased with it. After, Tessa

and I follow Christiane to her office where I received more information,

received an important card that I must carry with me as it was a proof of having

a Cochlear Implant and that I was not to have any MRI, etc., we then said our

good-byes.

Then it was packing our bags to go home next day.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28

Boy was I ever glad to be home.

10 days latter my own family doctor removed the stitches and he was very pleased

with the outcome.

SWITCH-ON TUESDAY JANUARY 08, 2008

Tessa picked me up to take me to the Central Speech & Hearing Clinic. Kristy

Schmidt and Petra gave me my Cochlea America (Freedom) CI box with

everything I needed. They showed me how to use the BTE (Behind the Ear) and the

Processor with cable and coil. They set a program for me to try out. I only

heard mumbled noise like in Morse code.

On the way to Tessa's car I heard the sound of my feet walking on the parking

lot to her car. I then heard a squeaking sound, it was Tessa's keys. Boy, are

they noisy. I heard the zipper of my coat and the tote bag.

We went through the Mc Drive-in to ordered lunch. Tessa put the straw

through the cap on top of her drink and I burst out laughing at the noise it

made. Just to be sure Tessa did it again and I did indeed hear it.

At home I heard crumbling up paper, putting items on the counter, taking items

in/out of my purse and tote bag. For the rest of the day I heard all these

squeaking, Morse code like noises.

Three days later I was talking to myself out loud hoping to hear the words

instead of all these Morse code. While in the bathroom I decided to try saying

names, all coming out in Morse code. Then I tried my own name - " My name is

Gayle Tiana Northcott " (all in Morse code), " Dolly Dolphin " . WHAT, DID I HEAR

SOMETHING!!!??? So I tried it again. YES! I HEARD IT!! Dol-fin in Alvin the

Chipmunk voice, but it was clear. I said it over many times with glee and then

heard Dolly clearly. I also noticed by lowering my voice it was clearer. Boy was

I one happy camper.

I told my audiologist what I heard clearly and my noticing how the words sounded

better when I lower my voice. She told me that my voice was now in normal range

and that I had been talking loud all along.

So now I keep practicing listening to myself and making sure the volume is in

normal range. Four people are now helping me " listen " to the sentences.

I was prepared to hear the environment more louder then when I had the hearing

aid but I had never dreamed that the letter S, SH, CH, would be so darn loud

since I had never heard them in my life. Boy all the words that has the

mentioned letters sure sound like the snake hissing.

On March 11 while I was bending down to take out some potatoes from the drawer

the coil flew away from my head but the BTE still sitting on my ear. I thought

the coil was just dangling but when I started to straighten up I noticed the BTE

wasn't moving with me so I immediately stopped to see what the heck is going on.

Lo and behold the coil not only flew away from my head, it was stuck onto the

side of the fridge. I must remember not to get close to the metal part of the

fridge or anything else that is metal or has magnet otherwise the magnet part of

the coil would love to fly to these items.

I am following the " Ps " that was posted on the list while I am retraining

my brain to " get it " .

The " Ps " are: Patience; Practice; Perseverance; Persistence; Positive Attitude

Also two mottos:

High Hopes and Low Expectations

It's A Journey, Not A Race

And the journey shall continue.....

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