I had my surgery on 4/21/99 and was turned on 6/3/99. Here is a simple journal
of emails that I sent to friends.
Day 1
I just wanted to give you an update on today, all I can say if it never gets better from
here I would still be happy! It has only been a few hours and I have heard sirens (I think
we all hear sirens first, since the mappings are at hospitals!), the phone ring, clocks
ticking, the modem dial and the tones the phone makes, people voices are clear there are
still some beeps and whistles but the voices are distinct There is that Donald duck sound,
but it is not a strong as I expected. While I am not saying I understand much if anything
without relying on lip-reading and it fluctuates it is still pretty good; this has far
exceeded my expectations for hook up. Everything makes noise! This keyboard is loud! I am
frightened of water (smile). I watched the news and noticed there is a delay with
captioning, I was able to understand a few words before they showed up on the screen. We
did some covered mouth exercises (two syllable words and some sentences) and I got almost
all most of them. The only problem has been that the mike keeps constantly falling
off!! I know this is the start and it will get even better. But what a good start! I think
I had my expectations so low that for all I know this is normal results.
Day 2
I went back to my Audiologist. We added more magnets. Did the second mapping. We also did
more words and sentences (I did pretty well). It was then off to work for the first time
since turn on. My office is loud! I was overwhelmed by all the office noises. Phones
ringing, people laughing and talking (it's Friday!) People at work sound fine; there is
less of a robotic sound. I understand some people better than others, but no one is
unintelligible. People did the covered mouth thing. I just wish they would say
something other than "What am I saying" or "Can you hear me" By the
end of the day I was exhausted from all the noise. I felt guilty but took the implant off
before bedtime. One thing I found was that turning on the implant was less traumatic each
time, the first day I winced every time I had to reconnect it. The magnet is holding ok,
but it is still falling off a bit!
Day 3
I had a bbq and did very well with friends. Everyone was so happy for me! They did the
covered mouth thing (It is a party trick) and when I was able to tell them what they said
- man the reaction I would get! It took alot of effort not to break down. As it got darker
I got nervous but it held up well. For the first time with friends outside after dark I
was not totally lost. There was light though, I felt I could follow the
conversation. The topper of the evening was when a friend was leaving; he was about 20
feet away and in a totally dark area. He asked, "When are you coming over?" I
heard and understood it!
