Thursday 30th Jan today and if I'm honest had hoped to be brand new by now but woaaah! slow down that ride please.
After coming home from the hospital on Tuesday for my arm appointment (improving, no worries there now thanks, although it still looks alien to me), I felt I had to go lie down on the couch as the dizzies were just piling up. Slept for two hours, out like a light! I awoke to a neighbour visiting, really sweet, and did feel reasonably ok but that was just short-lived. Vertigo I suppose, meddling with my internal ear of course would do that to a person.
All evening I got gradually worse and finally felt I couldn't even turn my head without falling. Turn my eyes even... bleargh, that makes you so sick! I gave up trying and dragged myself to bed by ten pm and was glad to just lay my head in one position. DO NOT MOVE whatever you do Caroline. Jeezo, but that's horrendous.
I was due to go to the UMC to get my stitches out today (Thu) but J vetoed that for a bad joke after all day Wednesday being the same if not worse. It meant leaving the house at 7am this morning to get there in time, and I could barely walk to the door, never mind the bus stop... and then travel? Just not on. Wednesday was really the worst day so far and I heard via email I couldn't change the appointment either, so I emailed them back to say J would call at appt. time on Thursday.
How it works I don't know but, while being reasonably prepared for 'dizzy' and 'tinnitus' right away, I wasn't prepared for it days later. Perhaps I could have/should have been? Nor did I know about the black eye, I think they could have mentioned that as a possibility. Not that it matters, but I would have at least been prepared. I also didn't expect the whole other side of my face to feel like it'd been hit with a sledgehammer. How's that work eh? Felt like I'd had a good kicking! And while actually not in a lot of pain, what there is sort of radiates out, further and further daily, from the wound site - it's now half way across my head. Honestly, not a lot of pain, can't stress that enough (after the wrist break I'm qualified to judge, believe me), but while at the beginning it was behind the ear, it's now at the midline of my skull. If I knew it was 'par for the course' it would be more settling. The numbness over and around my whole left ear and the wound is probably also 'normal' but put in a list would be handy I think.
The stiff and bruised opposite face side has actually now already receded from yesterday but well, yesterday was baaaaad with the dizzies so I was Mrs. Sorry all bloody day. Could barely raise my head. So perhaps they should have that in the list of 'what to expect after CI surgery' too. It really wasn't mentioned. I am glad that I've been able to actually lie on my CI side though... hadn't expected to be able to and had worried about that as I like to change sides. Just to mention a real positive apart from the 'not much pain' :) I'm not all moans!
Another thing I do think they missed a beat on though is the fact of getting vaccinated for Meningitis prior the op. It was really only mentioned in passing (reading) while they do say it's imperative - although very, very rare and not having occurred at all in NL in connection with a CI, so just covering all eventualities I suppose. If it's so important though, it should be taken up as something tackled in the whole trajectory of check ups and visits, or at least properly emphasized that you must arrange this, like now with your GP. Because some folks (ahem) just read over it and think, yeah, will do... and then forget. And I can't say I've not been worrying just a tad about 'oh, hope I've not got... ' Apparently two weeks after the op is fine for the jab too, but only found that out after the fact! And of course I now have to worry about reacting badly to it.
Today is definitely better than yesterday although still feeling kinda spacey. I'm miffed at not having my stitch taken out but it just wasn't possible as, whatever time of day I'd have had the appointment, I'm really not fit for travelling. J called this morning and I now have a new date, next Monday at 1pm - at least a reasonable time of day. The receptionist apparently also asked the doc about my symptoms and while unusual are not unheard of so... all's well.
Tell that to the waltzers in my head!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
First Weekiversary
A week already!
Time flies when you're having fun. I'm not sure the fun part actually applies in this situation but the time has flown, have to admit. Happy at myself for thinking I'd invented the word weekiversary, I checked online and it's listed under 'urban dictionary' damn it.
Been pretty woozy since day three, which I'd forgotten was to be
expected and was putting it down to the drugs (which may or may not have
warped my brain cells) but I think it's more to do with the fact that
it's my ear has been operated on... makes sense.
I developed an unexpected black eye... a real cracker... on
Saturday. Weird to wake up to it. I had stumbled to the bathroom on
waking... what a fright! It's actually fading now already and J. isn't in
hiding any more. A black eye does have such terrible connotations
haha... Well there are more ways to get one so it seems... not least
among those, getting your ear sliced at the back and your skull bored
into. My ear is nice and purple at the back now too. J. can't look, I'm not a bonny sight.
Sunday I slept away and stayed in bed. Couldn't have done much if
I'd even tried but I still ate breakfast and dinner, if just not with
much gusto. I feel a bit... slow motiony? Topsakal said already that
it's no longer the anaesthetic so must be the drugs, combined with
balance centre being knocked off kilter. Prednisolon was finished last
night though, and now only an antibiotic course to finish and
anti-inflammatory to take, plus paracetamol/codeine for pain, which has
been minimal, have to admit.
Having slept so much throughout Sunday, I couldn't sleep at night
so gave up and joined J in his room at about 2am until 4. He made me
soft boiled egg on crackers and saved my life yet again. We watched
telly together for the first time in ages and I actually felt pretty
good when we eventually went to bed. Monday afternoon, all woozy again but first thing today, Tuesday, I
was ok. But that was then and this is now, and I'm flying again... all
very disconcerting being out and about actually.
My broken wrist is definitely improving, but am writing this at the
library as attended the pain clinic today and have still to see the
surgeon about it. Feel a bit of a fraud as pain has definitely subsided, although being on painkillers for the CI may of course be helping
there. I am typing two handed for the first time right now, but it's not
pain free so still work to do there.
Stitches behind my ear will be removed on Thursday, tomorrow...
awful early appointment in Utrecht so hoping to change it but not heard
back yet. Then it's another coupla weeks before getting my bits and bobs
and all switched on, followed by weekly adjustments and speech therapy work
for a whiley.
Have had so many lovely responses on Facebook... unreal really.
Lots of emails, and visitors, and flowers sent... so thoughtful and much
appreciated.
More news soon.
Addendum: It's now actually THURSDAY as I couldn't post this before... computer problems as well as feeling awful... kill me now! Update via next blog.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
HitH Day...
... or, Hole-in-the-Head Day if you will... was yesterday, Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014... but I think I can be excused not actually writing anything then.
So how did it go? Well, I'll tell you. Very smoothly.
Scheduled for 12:15, they wheeled me to the 'holding room' dead on the button. The surgery gown was lying on the table all morning so I'd dressed appropriately earlier. These things are really only for modesty as they ride you around in your bed and they are quite hysterical really. A nice shade of peach, the front is what my mother would have called a pelmet. The back only reaches your waist and buttons at the neck only. Short sleeves for easy access to veins I suppose :)
I sat there for an hour and watched seven of them all go ahead of me one by one. I really wasn't at all nervous and the nurse driving me there even remarked on my humming to myself... 'are you a singer then?'... Hah no! But my girls will tell you I'm always doing it... at the strangest of times. I'm not always aware of it and that's usually when they ask 'is that a real tune then mama?' But this time I was singing a wee song to myself so... not that it will have been recognisable! I just mean, it definitely wasn't nerves. I had to be next though as now had the place to myself.
It was a long hour but I filled the time by making an arse of myself as per. I needed to pee - I'd been before leaving but...! Anyway the lovely male nurse brought me a bedpan. Now your Dutch bedpan differs from your British... it resembles more a deep wide-brimmed frying pan with a lid. But it is equally awkward to perch on and having swung my legs over the side, the bed gaily rolled away from under me! It wasn't on the brake! I persevered and had one leg on the floor while it rolled some more and well... you can imagine. It must have been the curtain billowing out that caught the nurse's attention as he then came running, not happy at his colleague who clearly omitted to brake haha... No accident of any kind happened... just a huge dent to any dignity I had left hahaha. God these guys and girls are saints... heroes. When you've been handed a wet washcloth to wipe, in lieu of toilet paper, by a smiling strange male... well I suppose that's the least of his tasks over a shift eh?
Shortly after that and having the monitor stickers placed around my body, I was wheeled into theatre. I saw no instruments of torture but if I'm honest I didn't look haha... I'm not completely daft! Climbed over onto the table and got positioned nicely so as my head was at the end and I was covered in a cosy heated blanket. Shook hands all around as per, gave name, rank and number to Dr Topsakal and ensured him I knew what was being done and on which ear (previously marked with an arrow on my neck!). All very thorough.
An intravenous whatjamacallit was put in my right hand (sparing my left as still dodgy) and the aneaesthetic was then ready to be administered. Byebye world! My letters are duly written and will duly be shredded when I get home. If I get hit by the proverbial bus before then they'll still cover me :)
The nurses tell you everything they're doing... really cool! A see-through mouth and nose cap was placed over my face and this blows whatever into you... 'breath normally...' but of course being told that, you take a deep breath. Now anyone will tell you, I don't 'do' drugs... not out of any sense of 'now now' finger-wagging, just... well my body just doesn't seem to tolerate a high of any sort. So unfair! haha But my closest encounter with a hash cookie resulted in an upside-down-on-the-loo-with-knickers-at-ankles-and-a-pishy-floor episode not to be repeated! Probably for the best as me stoned in charge of my bike is not to be imagined... witness the too-much-wine fiasco... but that's another story and I blame P entirely! hahaha.
So anyway... I immediately felt my head going sorta wooly. Oh me no like this! Wooly-headed is kind of my thing in a way hah! but no, not this. I said so too! Then I went completely deaf (kinda ironic! Although my hearing aids had been taken back to the ward from the holding room already, I do still hear a wee, wee bit... witness all the shouting in my ear up to now). I was just about to say 'have gone deaf'... when I woke up! All done and now in recovery! Kind of a trip!
Another male saint... and another pee! No catheter thank goodness but do now need... sigh... it's ME, the walking pisspot! This time I managed to wet my bloody gown! Don't ask! hahaha. This meant a change of course. So why not get the tits out now Caroline eh? Again, least of his worries eh? 'Oh, you shouldn't have done that' he says? He tucked me all in!
But, I'm feeling fine actually. Vaguely lightheaded, wouldn't want to walk yet, slight nip by my ear. Nothing major at all. Topsakal and the crew come to check on me. I'm told that the test to the CI was perfect and no complications arose. Was about 1.5-2 hours in theatre from 13:30 so now with waking included it's 4:30pm. Doc says without me prompting that he would let J know. I get a new pain killer intravenously so when that's done I can get wheeled back to the ward.
About half past five, am back in my room and txt J to come... poor guy hadn't been told yet and had only just called the desk. (Topsakal told me earlier that he'd passed the message to the ward doc who is supposed to call. I told him so he knew that this didn't happen! Is my one and only complaint but quite an important one. They tell you you will be called so J went past his rule of doing what you are told... you know they are busy etc and he's the last one to be a bother - the home-front should be informed!) Anyway, he was now on his way, but it's a 1.5 hour trip with good connections so it was after seven before he got here and visiting is until eight. He'd been frantic with not hearing... always thinks the worst the man! So I was glad to be awake and cheery for him and able to tell him all about things.
I have a nicely bandaged turban on my head covering one ear. We took some photos which I posted to FB and will attach here at some point too. It was well after 10pm before J was home and had walked the dog. A long and stressful day for him... more than me really as I was out of it for a while :)
It's now Thursday and after a not tooo bad night, light out at one a.m.... had to ask for extra painkillers though as the toothache-like pain was getting annoying... I was wakened at 7am as my new roommate has an early op at eight and needed to be ready. I pulled my bandage down over my eyes and managed another hour or more before they woke me for brekkers. Everything is your own choice and it's a large one. Very impressed. Probably wouldn't win a Michelin star but very edible. Evening meals all chosen via this overhead computer/tv.
I've had to be rebandaged as it was all wonky and loose with sleeping in it so also got a photo of my half Mohawk... wondering if I should do the other side? ;) hehehe My whole ear has a running stitch up the back, that's all. Should have arranged a facelift while they were at it eh? I can neither see nor feel much of a bump where the implant is so am curious where the magnet for my Rondo will go... curious and excited. Stitch to be removed by Topsakal in one week, then a further two weeks until Switch On Day!
Doctor Topsakal has been again as mentioned and explained more. The wire I have is 26mm long instead of the full 32mm (so not a huge difference) but this helps ensure less damage, or at least as little as possible to my remaining hearing level. The further into the cochlea, the more chance... makes sense. I am to get a hearing test with and without my hearing aids (both) tomorrow. All going well I will be sent home and L will collect me - us - and drive us home in style. Am feeling good if a tad lightheaded, but ok. Whole bunch of docs has now been and had me doing exercises to prove I can move my jaw and neck. Oh, that reminds me... J collected my meningitis vaccination yesterday... 76 bucks! I suppose that's nothing in the grand scheme of CI things after all but still... sheesh. I bloody forgot (!!) to get it in advance but am told two weeks after op is good too... so.
Now just waiting on my visitor, P and then J later. Will eat my ample lunch of rye bread and cheese. Appetite not diminished but never sure if that really means anything with me as 'I like my grub' as most folks are fond of telling me! :) More tomorrow... or the next day.
So how did it go? Well, I'll tell you. Very smoothly.
Scheduled for 12:15, they wheeled me to the 'holding room' dead on the button. The surgery gown was lying on the table all morning so I'd dressed appropriately earlier. These things are really only for modesty as they ride you around in your bed and they are quite hysterical really. A nice shade of peach, the front is what my mother would have called a pelmet. The back only reaches your waist and buttons at the neck only. Short sleeves for easy access to veins I suppose :)
I sat there for an hour and watched seven of them all go ahead of me one by one. I really wasn't at all nervous and the nurse driving me there even remarked on my humming to myself... 'are you a singer then?'... Hah no! But my girls will tell you I'm always doing it... at the strangest of times. I'm not always aware of it and that's usually when they ask 'is that a real tune then mama?' But this time I was singing a wee song to myself so... not that it will have been recognisable! I just mean, it definitely wasn't nerves. I had to be next though as now had the place to myself.
It was a long hour but I filled the time by making an arse of myself as per. I needed to pee - I'd been before leaving but...! Anyway the lovely male nurse brought me a bedpan. Now your Dutch bedpan differs from your British... it resembles more a deep wide-brimmed frying pan with a lid. But it is equally awkward to perch on and having swung my legs over the side, the bed gaily rolled away from under me! It wasn't on the brake! I persevered and had one leg on the floor while it rolled some more and well... you can imagine. It must have been the curtain billowing out that caught the nurse's attention as he then came running, not happy at his colleague who clearly omitted to brake haha... No accident of any kind happened... just a huge dent to any dignity I had left hahaha. God these guys and girls are saints... heroes. When you've been handed a wet washcloth to wipe, in lieu of toilet paper, by a smiling strange male... well I suppose that's the least of his tasks over a shift eh?
Shortly after that and having the monitor stickers placed around my body, I was wheeled into theatre. I saw no instruments of torture but if I'm honest I didn't look haha... I'm not completely daft! Climbed over onto the table and got positioned nicely so as my head was at the end and I was covered in a cosy heated blanket. Shook hands all around as per, gave name, rank and number to Dr Topsakal and ensured him I knew what was being done and on which ear (previously marked with an arrow on my neck!). All very thorough.
An intravenous whatjamacallit was put in my right hand (sparing my left as still dodgy) and the aneaesthetic was then ready to be administered. Byebye world! My letters are duly written and will duly be shredded when I get home. If I get hit by the proverbial bus before then they'll still cover me :)
The nurses tell you everything they're doing... really cool! A see-through mouth and nose cap was placed over my face and this blows whatever into you... 'breath normally...' but of course being told that, you take a deep breath. Now anyone will tell you, I don't 'do' drugs... not out of any sense of 'now now' finger-wagging, just... well my body just doesn't seem to tolerate a high of any sort. So unfair! haha But my closest encounter with a hash cookie resulted in an upside-down-on-the-loo-with-knickers-at-ankles-and-a-pishy-floor episode not to be repeated! Probably for the best as me stoned in charge of my bike is not to be imagined... witness the too-much-wine fiasco... but that's another story and I blame P entirely! hahaha.
So anyway... I immediately felt my head going sorta wooly. Oh me no like this! Wooly-headed is kind of my thing in a way hah! but no, not this. I said so too! Then I went completely deaf (kinda ironic! Although my hearing aids had been taken back to the ward from the holding room already, I do still hear a wee, wee bit... witness all the shouting in my ear up to now). I was just about to say 'have gone deaf'... when I woke up! All done and now in recovery! Kind of a trip!
Another male saint... and another pee! No catheter thank goodness but do now need... sigh... it's ME, the walking pisspot! This time I managed to wet my bloody gown! Don't ask! hahaha. This meant a change of course. So why not get the tits out now Caroline eh? Again, least of his worries eh? 'Oh, you shouldn't have done that' he says? He tucked me all in!
But, I'm feeling fine actually. Vaguely lightheaded, wouldn't want to walk yet, slight nip by my ear. Nothing major at all. Topsakal and the crew come to check on me. I'm told that the test to the CI was perfect and no complications arose. Was about 1.5-2 hours in theatre from 13:30 so now with waking included it's 4:30pm. Doc says without me prompting that he would let J know. I get a new pain killer intravenously so when that's done I can get wheeled back to the ward.
About half past five, am back in my room and txt J to come... poor guy hadn't been told yet and had only just called the desk. (Topsakal told me earlier that he'd passed the message to the ward doc who is supposed to call. I told him so he knew that this didn't happen! Is my one and only complaint but quite an important one. They tell you you will be called so J went past his rule of doing what you are told... you know they are busy etc and he's the last one to be a bother - the home-front should be informed!) Anyway, he was now on his way, but it's a 1.5 hour trip with good connections so it was after seven before he got here and visiting is until eight. He'd been frantic with not hearing... always thinks the worst the man! So I was glad to be awake and cheery for him and able to tell him all about things.
I have a nicely bandaged turban on my head covering one ear. We took some photos which I posted to FB and will attach here at some point too. It was well after 10pm before J was home and had walked the dog. A long and stressful day for him... more than me really as I was out of it for a while :)
 |
| A big thumbs up... just back in the room from recovery, and just in time for my tea! :) |
I've had to be rebandaged as it was all wonky and loose with sleeping in it so also got a photo of my half Mohawk... wondering if I should do the other side? ;) hehehe My whole ear has a running stitch up the back, that's all. Should have arranged a facelift while they were at it eh? I can neither see nor feel much of a bump where the implant is so am curious where the magnet for my Rondo will go... curious and excited. Stitch to be removed by Topsakal in one week, then a further two weeks until Switch On Day!
 |
| Bonny it ain't... but being behind my ear, not like it gets seen. |
Doctor Topsakal has been again as mentioned and explained more. The wire I have is 26mm long instead of the full 32mm (so not a huge difference) but this helps ensure less damage, or at least as little as possible to my remaining hearing level. The further into the cochlea, the more chance... makes sense. I am to get a hearing test with and without my hearing aids (both) tomorrow. All going well I will be sent home and L will collect me - us - and drive us home in style. Am feeling good if a tad lightheaded, but ok. Whole bunch of docs has now been and had me doing exercises to prove I can move my jaw and neck. Oh, that reminds me... J collected my meningitis vaccination yesterday... 76 bucks! I suppose that's nothing in the grand scheme of CI things after all but still... sheesh. I bloody forgot (!!) to get it in advance but am told two weeks after op is good too... so.
Now just waiting on my visitor, P and then J later. Will eat my ample lunch of rye bread and cheese. Appetite not diminished but never sure if that really means anything with me as 'I like my grub' as most folks are fond of telling me! :) More tomorrow... or the next day.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Intake day at umc
Drukte van belang hiero! very impressive actually.
Am typing this on the overhead monitor and keyboard. Still one handed and not ideal but better than the tablet ... and don't speak to me about my stupid laptop!
Two bed room but alone so far...perfect! Arrived here at 11:15 and have so far seen: the receptionist, a hostess (leads you to your room!) ward nurse (medical questionnaire), lunch lady (3 times), an intern (more questions and an exam), the ward doc and assistant (repeat of intern), the surgeon, the social worker, the library lady, the anaeathisist, another ward nurse and still to come, the asst. surgeon. All very nice too.
I'm scheduled for my op around noon tomorrow so will no doubt be starving by then... knowing me. With luck I should be awake and compus mentus by around 5pm... surely? J will only come down then as not much cope if I'm just lying slavering into my pillow, or worse, throwing up and talking gibberish. He left here arounf four... all very emotional. Daft in a way as I'm fine and not scared or anything but... well it is full knockout and things do happen. But I will be fine.
I have had so many well wishers commenting on FB... very heartening!
Yesterday morning I was up at stupid o'clock (4:30) as had been tossing and turning for a while already. Of course about this op and my hearing in general. I thought to write some in here but instead I blew up my laptop and lost a whole year's files... photos, jobs, writings, emails, installed programmes, updates, the lot. After NOT topping myself I ate a bit breakfast and went back to bed by which time it was 7:30. Late up (later than usual) I took a long bath, the longer to avoid facing my laptop disaster and the rest of the day was spent fulminating at my desk trying to fix things (HaHa). What I had wanted to blog about was this...
What DO I really hear?
Seems a silly question but I have often noticed that I attribute a sound in my head, to a particular movement. I'm not sure if I can make myself clear without sounding like a lunatic. For example: In the bath, I can't wear my hearing aids of course. But I do hear sounds that actually... I don't think I do. If I rub my hand along the tub it makes a squeaky wet sound... doesn't it? But wonder if actually I only FEEL it through my fingers? My feet sliding up and down the bottom of the bath... swish swish? Now that's such a quiet sound... maybe I just feel it? Because if I look away...nope. I know I'm making a sound so 'fill it in'. Not looking, I don't think I do hear it!
I've thought about this for some time now but have never spoken about it. Like, if I see a dog running, I hear feet on the grass, puffing noises, that sort of thing. Sounds I can't really be hearing. My aids do pick up a lot but I know I'm not hearing this type of thing. I do hear the wind in the trees... I think? Haha, now I have myself wondering... but yeah I do.
So now I'm excited to know how things are going to sound with the CI. Tomorrow is HITHday (hole-in-the-head day) then I have three weeks of one hearing aid only until SOday (switch-on day), then it's all systems go! I am to get a short wire version and a Med El Rondo, which is just what I fancied after reading up on it. Hope I sleep well tonight but am sure to catch up tomorrow aternoon! Just had the nurse in to give me a jab in my stomach for combatting thrombosis so will close this now. Woohoo... here I go.
Am typing this on the overhead monitor and keyboard. Still one handed and not ideal but better than the tablet ... and don't speak to me about my stupid laptop!
Two bed room but alone so far...perfect! Arrived here at 11:15 and have so far seen: the receptionist, a hostess (leads you to your room!) ward nurse (medical questionnaire), lunch lady (3 times), an intern (more questions and an exam), the ward doc and assistant (repeat of intern), the surgeon, the social worker, the library lady, the anaeathisist, another ward nurse and still to come, the asst. surgeon. All very nice too.
I'm scheduled for my op around noon tomorrow so will no doubt be starving by then... knowing me. With luck I should be awake and compus mentus by around 5pm... surely? J will only come down then as not much cope if I'm just lying slavering into my pillow, or worse, throwing up and talking gibberish. He left here arounf four... all very emotional. Daft in a way as I'm fine and not scared or anything but... well it is full knockout and things do happen. But I will be fine.
I have had so many well wishers commenting on FB... very heartening!
Yesterday morning I was up at stupid o'clock (4:30) as had been tossing and turning for a while already. Of course about this op and my hearing in general. I thought to write some in here but instead I blew up my laptop and lost a whole year's files... photos, jobs, writings, emails, installed programmes, updates, the lot. After NOT topping myself I ate a bit breakfast and went back to bed by which time it was 7:30. Late up (later than usual) I took a long bath, the longer to avoid facing my laptop disaster and the rest of the day was spent fulminating at my desk trying to fix things (HaHa). What I had wanted to blog about was this...
What DO I really hear?
Seems a silly question but I have often noticed that I attribute a sound in my head, to a particular movement. I'm not sure if I can make myself clear without sounding like a lunatic. For example: In the bath, I can't wear my hearing aids of course. But I do hear sounds that actually... I don't think I do. If I rub my hand along the tub it makes a squeaky wet sound... doesn't it? But wonder if actually I only FEEL it through my fingers? My feet sliding up and down the bottom of the bath... swish swish? Now that's such a quiet sound... maybe I just feel it? Because if I look away...nope. I know I'm making a sound so 'fill it in'. Not looking, I don't think I do hear it!
I've thought about this for some time now but have never spoken about it. Like, if I see a dog running, I hear feet on the grass, puffing noises, that sort of thing. Sounds I can't really be hearing. My aids do pick up a lot but I know I'm not hearing this type of thing. I do hear the wind in the trees... I think? Haha, now I have myself wondering... but yeah I do.
So now I'm excited to know how things are going to sound with the CI. Tomorrow is HITHday (hole-in-the-head day) then I have three weeks of one hearing aid only until SOday (switch-on day), then it's all systems go! I am to get a short wire version and a Med El Rondo, which is just what I fancied after reading up on it. Hope I sleep well tonight but am sure to catch up tomorrow aternoon! Just had the nurse in to give me a jab in my stomach for combatting thrombosis so will close this now. Woohoo... here I go.
Monday, January 13, 2014
PoS - Preoperative Screening
We had to be at UMC for 09:00 for the first appointment, which was actually with the social worker to 'gauge my expectations...'. Yer akchul pre-op was for 10:30. It in any case meant getting up at 06:30 to travel down to Utrecht from Almere by public transport (not our best time of day and sure to be crowded too!) so J had the brainwave (I suppose it wasn't that hard to think of) of staying somewhere overnight instead. He duly booked us a nice wee place (Apollo Hotel) for the Sunday night. Sorted. Nice easy train trip down (he earlier to watch the game in the room undisturbed... didn't happen but that's another story), me later, in time for dinner out.
He had happened to mention about 'his wife needing a quiet room as pre-op...' and we were given a lovely tray of fresh fruit and fruit juice in our room at the back, with a 'good luck on your op' note attached. Very attentive! Can't say I slept well despite not hearing a thing (which I of course never do as no HAs in, so not sure if perhaps the quiet room was for sir anyway?) I was afraid to sleep in and kept checking my phone for the time hehehe. Up and showered before seven thirty which gave us plenty of time to stuff our faces at breakfast. Never wrong.
Of course we were early for appointments! But we were also taken early for the first discussion with the social workers. I think really this is just put in place to ensure both them and us that expectations are within limits... and to cover themselves ('we told you not to think that...'). I think my expectations are pretty realistic, if I do say so myself. I do of course expect eventual *improvement* (or what would be the point) but:
Here's where I'd like to interject with acknowledgement of the fact that it was J kept me going and persevering when I was about to stop even trying for a CI. I just really thought I could do without the probing from the social worker about my 'attitude' to being hard of hearing. She seemed to continually know the buttons to press that dissolved me into tears... when I hadn't previously realised a problem! I hadn't been going to go for the last visit with her which was the one in which I somehow convinced her (again, thanks to J) that I would change my attitude (working on it!) and I was indeed a good candidate for a CI. The one that then got me into the trajectory good and proper. The strange thing is, J was the one that hadn't wanted me to get one at all!... 'no holes bored in my head, thank you!'... so his turnaround, really helped mine!
Anyway, next was the pre-op checks. That was all fairly simple... bit of a health questionnaire and a check through current (and not so current but still listed) drug use that is mostly recent and various painkillers for my arm hehehe... so that was ok and only took ten minutes. Another short wait to see the (or rather, an) anaesthetist who took blood pressure (120/67), listened to my heart (hunkydory) and asked a coupla scary things like 'are you fit?' ... I ain't no Sporty Spice, that's for sure :-/ ... But all seems do-able so... I'm there... dude!
We had actually discussed earlier that I would probably be vaccinated against meningitis at the pre-op. I'd read about it being necessary so just assumed... Hmmm, well that was stupid as I hadn't read it carefully enough... "now that's new" I hear you say? (HAH!) You need to get your GP to do this in advance, and it's now too late! We totally forgot to even ask when there, and J had to phone and inquire, but apparently getting vaccinated 2 weeks *after* the operation suffices too. Risk is very minimal. Phew, panic over. I do think though, they should perhaps emphasize the necessity a tad more?... It either is or it isn't, and if it is... just mentioning it in passing, even in their booklet, is not all that handy... I don't think. But yeah, my fault for not paying enough attention.
Next trip to Utrecht is next week already, for my intake on 21st Jan, day before the op on Wednesday 22nd. I can't quite decide whether to imprint that date on my mind as 'implant day' or would 'switch on day' (three weeks later) be better? Or perhaps even 'hear good day'... possibly months down the line? I think the 22nd is easiest and covers everything so perhaps I'll stick with that. It's a day worth celebrating I'm sure! Aside from it being the day I get a hole bored in my head of course! Maybe I'll call it 'hole in the head day'... aye, I like that, wee bit more fun than 'implant day' after all. It's all very exciting... I'm really curious to know how it will all work out. I'm keeping those expectations within limits though, honest :)
He had happened to mention about 'his wife needing a quiet room as pre-op...' and we were given a lovely tray of fresh fruit and fruit juice in our room at the back, with a 'good luck on your op' note attached. Very attentive! Can't say I slept well despite not hearing a thing (which I of course never do as no HAs in, so not sure if perhaps the quiet room was for sir anyway?) I was afraid to sleep in and kept checking my phone for the time hehehe. Up and showered before seven thirty which gave us plenty of time to stuff our faces at breakfast. Never wrong.
Of course we were early for appointments! But we were also taken early for the first discussion with the social workers. I think really this is just put in place to ensure both them and us that expectations are within limits... and to cover themselves ('we told you not to think that...'). I think my expectations are pretty realistic, if I do say so myself. I do of course expect eventual *improvement* (or what would be the point) but:
- I know not to expect this immediately, and
- I know I have to practice a lot (together with J) until improvement is obvious.
- I know the initial sound will not be much use and
- I know it takes time for your brain to adjust... mine perhaps longer than others hehehe (no, I don't really think that J).
- I know there will be some discomfort, and frustration... dizzyness, possible tinnitus problems too.
Here's where I'd like to interject with acknowledgement of the fact that it was J kept me going and persevering when I was about to stop even trying for a CI. I just really thought I could do without the probing from the social worker about my 'attitude' to being hard of hearing. She seemed to continually know the buttons to press that dissolved me into tears... when I hadn't previously realised a problem! I hadn't been going to go for the last visit with her which was the one in which I somehow convinced her (again, thanks to J) that I would change my attitude (working on it!) and I was indeed a good candidate for a CI. The one that then got me into the trajectory good and proper. The strange thing is, J was the one that hadn't wanted me to get one at all!... 'no holes bored in my head, thank you!'... so his turnaround, really helped mine!
Anyway, next was the pre-op checks. That was all fairly simple... bit of a health questionnaire and a check through current (and not so current but still listed) drug use that is mostly recent and various painkillers for my arm hehehe... so that was ok and only took ten minutes. Another short wait to see the (or rather, an) anaesthetist who took blood pressure (120/67), listened to my heart (hunkydory) and asked a coupla scary things like 'are you fit?' ... I ain't no Sporty Spice, that's for sure :-/ ... But all seems do-able so... I'm there... dude!
We had actually discussed earlier that I would probably be vaccinated against meningitis at the pre-op. I'd read about it being necessary so just assumed... Hmmm, well that was stupid as I hadn't read it carefully enough... "now that's new" I hear you say? (HAH!) You need to get your GP to do this in advance, and it's now too late! We totally forgot to even ask when there, and J had to phone and inquire, but apparently getting vaccinated 2 weeks *after* the operation suffices too. Risk is very minimal. Phew, panic over. I do think though, they should perhaps emphasize the necessity a tad more?... It either is or it isn't, and if it is... just mentioning it in passing, even in their booklet, is not all that handy... I don't think. But yeah, my fault for not paying enough attention.
Next trip to Utrecht is next week already, for my intake on 21st Jan, day before the op on Wednesday 22nd. I can't quite decide whether to imprint that date on my mind as 'implant day' or would 'switch on day' (three weeks later) be better? Or perhaps even 'hear good day'... possibly months down the line? I think the 22nd is easiest and covers everything so perhaps I'll stick with that. It's a day worth celebrating I'm sure! Aside from it being the day I get a hole bored in my head of course! Maybe I'll call it 'hole in the head day'... aye, I like that, wee bit more fun than 'implant day' after all. It's all very exciting... I'm really curious to know how it will all work out. I'm keeping those expectations within limits though, honest :)
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