Getting Ready

During the next two weeks I’ll be getting ready to take the time off for the surgery and healing period.  It is outpatient so it isn’t likely that I’ll be staying overnight.  I hope I’m scheduled early because I do not love the idea of waking without coffee.  I’ll be fully asleep for the procedure that takes a couple of hours.  When I wake, my head will be bandaged and I’ll probably have some discomfort.  I’ll rest the first few days.  I’ll be fully deaf in the implanted ear while it heals, which takes about 3-4 weeks.  However I’ll have a hearing aid in the other ear.  Thanksgiving for us will be very quiet and laid back.  I’ll probably milk the healing time as much as I can get by with!!

I’ll go to the audiologist to be “activated” when healing is complete. The processer which will fit over my ear will be attached to the under -the- skin implant by a magnet.  I know from my research that the sounds I hear can sound like anything from words to growling.  I will have to re-learn to recognize  sounds through a rehabilitation process using computer software.  That’s why I chose the holiday time when I can stay at home and practice.