Happy New Year!

As I type there is only a short time before this year ends - and what a year it has been for me too. At least things now seem to be on the up.

I had my 'switch on' on Tuesday - which I was already nervous about as I slipped and fell on ice 10 days ago and got a gash not one inch from the cochlear implant. Never mind my brain - I had concussion - I was more worried about the implant! Anyway, we made it through the snow on the high ground (it was beautiful too.) and it turns out that the implant is fine after my fall, thank goodness, and that all 10 electrodes are working. That's the good news, but I was rather disappointed that I couldn't make any sense of speech at all. All I could hear were constant whistles and beeps at the same frequency for all sounds - even more annoying than tinnitus. The technician wasn't concerned - she says that this is how it starts for some people and that I will come to learn what all these beeps mean. It's much harder work lip-reading and tiring too - but being me - I'll persevere! I go back again next Tuesday for a re-tune and assessment - but it looks like this rehab is going to take a while. The technician says it can take months before I get recognition of speech - I was hoping I would be quicker than that (as some people are).

I must say I AM hearing more today than yesterday - things like paper rustling, the cat miaow, the fire sparking - sounds I've never heard before. It's strange then that I can't hear the hoover - though that is maybe a blessing! I still can't make out conversation and rely heavily on lip-reading although I am starting to hear 's' and 'ch' sounds - again I've never heard these before. So I'm feeling much more positive now.

So a New Year is nearly on us, and new, exciting, beginnings for me. A wonderful new home and discovering new hearing - and this is only the start! Here's wishing you a very Happy New Year and best wishes for 2010 - may it be a good one!

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick message to say Merry Christmas to all my readers - and hope that you have a good one!

We are looking forward to our first Christmas in our new home even though it looks set to be chilly! Very pretty out there though. There is one downside - I slipped on ice and fell backwards two days ago and landed on my head. I am now sporting a one inch gash on my skull just one inch from the Cochlear Implant - never mind damage to the brain (I was concussed) - I'm more worried about technical damage to my implant. Time will tell - ie next Tuesday when I go for the 'switch on' - lets hope the weather won't stop this.

Here are some wintry pics for you of our new home..


and a view of the garden...



Have a very Merry Christmas!

I'm home!

Actually I've been home since Thursday - just haven't really been up to blogging until now. The op seemed to go well, with 10 out of 12 electrodes being implanted. Amazingly, I've not had any pain around the ear at all but I am bothered with nausea and dizziness if I move too quickly. Strangely enough, any pain I've had is stomach cramps from the painkillers that the hospital insisted I take - I'm still bothered with cramps even after stopping the pills over a day ago. An op on the ear resulting in stomach pains - how strange!!

The surgeon managed to persuade me that I should get my better ear implanted...hopefully this will have been the right decision. 'Switch on' is due on 29th December 09 - I can't wait!

We have also settled into our new home - a beautiful place to recuperate. I'm just glad that I managed to get the place sorted before going into hospital and now I can relax - until I knuckle down to the Christmas preparations... At least most of my Christmas Cards are on their way with my new address - I had already prepared for that one.

A new year is nearly on us, and new beginnings for me and us. I'm sure 2010 will be an exciting one for me - and I hope it is the same for all you readers of my blog!