First of all I have to apologise for being so rubbish at keeping this blog updated. There is no excuse, just time really and I know that a few people have been following it and so I do hope that there isn't anyone out there who thinks maybe I haven't updated since my switch on because it isn't going well.
In fact, it is just the opposite and I am loving my CI ! :-)))
So, let me go back to the first few weeks after switch on. It was all very strange and loud for the first few days and I was constantly asking Mike 'what was that noise!?' but bit by bit, things started becoming familiar and making sense and I was soon able to identify if it was a car or a motor bike coming up behind me....or if it was the microwave pinging or the cooker going off. It was great just to hear these sounds that I knew were made but had never actually heard them.....I was starting to hear clocks ticking, birds singing, the dog walking on the kitchen floor....tap, tap, tap with his claws, just lots of new sounds in what I was beginning to realise is a very loud world out there. One day it was raining so hard I was quite shocked at how loud rain was.....another time I was sat in the extension at the back of the house and heard a sound go past the house out the front so shouted through to Mike who was in the office 'what did I just hear?' it was a horse and cart clip clopping past the house.....the processor is so sensitive it was even picking up things from far away, it is amazing.
Those first few weeks after switch on, I was back at the SOECIC 3-4 times for further tuning and each of these appointments was with Devyanee and she worked with me to get all 22 electrodes turned on and at a level that was bearable. Following this, I had a 1 month appointment followed by a 3 month appointment at the beginning of November.
The 3 month appointment involved lots of tests, all the same as I had to do prior to the implant. I had a 'normal' hearing test where you press the button when you hear sounds and this was amazing, my hearing chart looked like a normal persons! the line was right up the top instead of hanging off the bottom of the page with no response!! Then came the test where a man on the TV says 30 sentences and I have to repeat back what I have heard....as I can see him, this is a test for lipreading and sound. Prior to the implant my results were that I got 28% of the words spoken, at my 3 month appointment I got 99.2% !! I was in shock, I only got one word wrong....how pleased was I!??
The next test that followed this was the same sort of thing but the sentences were only spoken out of a speaker, there was nothing to look at so lip reading was not a possibility. This test before my op was 0%, I could never even hear a sound let alone that a voice was speaking, so I was a bit nervous about how well I was going to do in this one. I concentrated hard and was just so happy that I could make out a mans voice and I got 45% of what was said 45% !! can you imagine going from nothing to that, it was such a good feeling....the watery eyes arrived ;-) I was so pleased as it is a difficult test as the sentences are so random...things like 'the ice-cream is pink' followed by 'the mouse ran down the hall', so you don't have a clue what is going to be said next.
Mike had gone in to the audio room with Devyanee and just came out with the biggest grin on his face :-))))
Yesterday it was my 6 month appointment, time flies! So, I knew what to expect, the same tests again but I was unsure as to how well I was going to do......there have been some days in between the two appointments where I feel everything is really improving and other days i'm not so sure, but yesterday was just brilliant again and I got 99.2% again on the test with the TV screen and then 63% !! on the speaker only test! So basically it is like having 63% of my hearing back as it went from 0% to that! Devyanee was so happy for me as she said with my hearing loss history she was expecting it to be around 50% at the 6 month stage, so to hear I have done even better than anticipated was brilliant.
So what an exciting 6 months it had been. I do not regret having the CI for one single second, it is definitely the best piece of technology I have ever come across and it is giving me so much.
Conversations are so much easier now, I do still have to see peoples faces but I can follow a lot better now and keep up....people have even said I am talking differently myself. I can make out random sentences on the radio and certain songs that I recognise from the past. Mike can be in another room on the phone and I can pick up bits & pieces of what is being said, he doesn't need to worry yet though about me hearing everything ;-) He can also call me from another room and I will hear him and sometimes I can shout a question to him and understand the reply....but this is obviously because I have an expectation of what the answer may be.
I am also finding it easier to understand my godchildren Jack & Lucy which is one of the things I was really hoping to get out this whole journey and in these 6 months I have become an Auntie to two beautiful nephews and a beautfiul niece....wow, I can really hear them cry!! ;-)
I just loving my implant and processor so much.
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Monday, 9 August 2010
The Big Switch On!
At last, today was the day to go back to the SOECIC and have my implant switched on and connected to my processor....I was feeling a bit nervous, very excited and slightly emotional about it all, not to mention having had the strangest dreams the past few nights!
So, we arrived nice and early and got talking to a few people while we were waiting, one was a lovely lady who was back for her 1 year follow up and she could do nothing but rave about her CI, so she made me feel very hopeful in that it is a long journey yet but it is definitely worth it all as it all settles down and progresses.
I went in to one of the hearing test rooms with my Mum, Mike and a lady called Mary, who also had a student sitting in with her.....the computer was fired up and the tuning in started. One by one she was setting different levels as to how I found various noises comfortable, this was really strange to have some kind of sound back in that ear, but was quite hard too to know what was too loud or too soft for every day. Anyway, we worked through all 22 electrodes and then she turned it on....all of them together and wow! it was mad......so loud and high pitched beeping and shrieking, so it was all a bit much and was making me wince so it was turned down and some electrodes were turned off for now and it left only 7 switched on!
To start with I did feel disappointed that it was all just beep beep beep, but knew from expectation reviews that everything is gradual and it takes a LOT of getting used to to get these beeps to make any kind of sense and feel normal. So the device was set and I was told that hopefully more should be added on Friday when I go back again and it will have settled down for me. As I type this 7 hours after, all I am hearing still is beeps for different sounds - it is hard work and if i'm honest, it is driving me a bit mad, but I need to stick with it and let my brain do it's thing.
After the tuning session there was rehab with Nicola and that was quite funny, I had to try and pick out different syllables with words she was saying or how many times she was saying a word.....so she was sat there going 'Baa' or 'Baa Baa' or 'Baa Baa Baa' and without looking I had to guess which one she had said....I couldn't hear the actual word but just had to pick up how many she was saying....sounds so simple but as this is going back to totally retraining my brain, I did have to concentrate a lot - I felt like I was at infant school!
Nicola also then moved on to words and I had to point to which one she had said (without looking at her) e.g . Disc, Disco or Discotheque. All of these tests went well and as expected at this stage so I felt happier after that.
Then it was time to head out in to the big wide world....beep beep beep!
I was taking my Mum home in the car as Mike went in to the office straight after and as I was driving, she phoned my Dad and although I clearly couldn't hear words, I could tell she was talking and when.
Then, as I turned the car in to their lane I heard a tick tick (in beep format!) and realised I could hear my indicator! so I was grinning stupidly when we got to the house, it felt daft with something so small but I haven't heard that in years. Then at my parents house my Dad phoned the home phone from his mobile and I heard it ring!! Mad, we all just giggled and grinned and I left there feeling very happy.
I then got home and logged on for work and all afternoon it has been beeps while I type or click my mouse, or the door blows in the wind....all very, very strange as I can't work out what the beeps are unless I know I am doing something but the main thing is that there is sound.
I have been phoning the home phone from my mobile a few times too and I can hear it ringing from the kitchen :-)))
This has been quite a tiring day what with the tuning, rehab and working again for the first time since the op, but all for good reason and hopefully there will be lots of updates to this blog over the next few weeks as I hear various things and get stupidly excited ;-)
So, we arrived nice and early and got talking to a few people while we were waiting, one was a lovely lady who was back for her 1 year follow up and she could do nothing but rave about her CI, so she made me feel very hopeful in that it is a long journey yet but it is definitely worth it all as it all settles down and progresses.
I went in to one of the hearing test rooms with my Mum, Mike and a lady called Mary, who also had a student sitting in with her.....the computer was fired up and the tuning in started. One by one she was setting different levels as to how I found various noises comfortable, this was really strange to have some kind of sound back in that ear, but was quite hard too to know what was too loud or too soft for every day. Anyway, we worked through all 22 electrodes and then she turned it on....all of them together and wow! it was mad......so loud and high pitched beeping and shrieking, so it was all a bit much and was making me wince so it was turned down and some electrodes were turned off for now and it left only 7 switched on!
To start with I did feel disappointed that it was all just beep beep beep, but knew from expectation reviews that everything is gradual and it takes a LOT of getting used to to get these beeps to make any kind of sense and feel normal. So the device was set and I was told that hopefully more should be added on Friday when I go back again and it will have settled down for me. As I type this 7 hours after, all I am hearing still is beeps for different sounds - it is hard work and if i'm honest, it is driving me a bit mad, but I need to stick with it and let my brain do it's thing.
After the tuning session there was rehab with Nicola and that was quite funny, I had to try and pick out different syllables with words she was saying or how many times she was saying a word.....so she was sat there going 'Baa' or 'Baa Baa' or 'Baa Baa Baa' and without looking I had to guess which one she had said....I couldn't hear the actual word but just had to pick up how many she was saying....sounds so simple but as this is going back to totally retraining my brain, I did have to concentrate a lot - I felt like I was at infant school!
Nicola also then moved on to words and I had to point to which one she had said (without looking at her) e.g . Disc, Disco or Discotheque. All of these tests went well and as expected at this stage so I felt happier after that.
Then it was time to head out in to the big wide world....beep beep beep!
I was taking my Mum home in the car as Mike went in to the office straight after and as I was driving, she phoned my Dad and although I clearly couldn't hear words, I could tell she was talking and when.
Then, as I turned the car in to their lane I heard a tick tick (in beep format!) and realised I could hear my indicator! so I was grinning stupidly when we got to the house, it felt daft with something so small but I haven't heard that in years. Then at my parents house my Dad phoned the home phone from his mobile and I heard it ring!! Mad, we all just giggled and grinned and I left there feeling very happy.
I then got home and logged on for work and all afternoon it has been beeps while I type or click my mouse, or the door blows in the wind....all very, very strange as I can't work out what the beeps are unless I know I am doing something but the main thing is that there is sound.
I have been phoning the home phone from my mobile a few times too and I can hear it ringing from the kitchen :-)))
This has been quite a tiring day what with the tuning, rehab and working again for the first time since the op, but all for good reason and hopefully there will be lots of updates to this blog over the next few weeks as I hear various things and get stupidly excited ;-)
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Post-Op & Something from the Apple Shop??
On Wednesday, I was back at the SOECIC for my post-op appointment with my surgeon Mr Hellier.
All went very well, the sutures were removed, as was the dressing inside my ear, it felt lovely having all of that taken off and Mr Hellier was very pleased with how it had all healed up.
But....bless him! he was SO disappointed about me getting the blood clot, he just kept apologising....I am his first 'clot' ever! I know it wasn't anything he did or didn't do, it was just one of those things, so he was very sweet about it all.
I was given the go ahead to wash my hair, gently! I must not rub around the implant or scar area because of the clot, so yesterday morning I was so, so careful doing that.....It did feel lovely afterwards though after 16 days of no washing and dry shampoo!
So, all is going very well from that side of things, it is just the clot now that I have to recover from and take my time with.
After this appointment, I then had an IT training one. I was given my box of goodies and everything inside it was explained to me how it is all going to work.
I was gobsmacked! The case is huge and all shiny and white with a silver 'cochlear' symbol on the side of it - it really does look like we have been to an Apple shop and made a very expensive purchase! It is really heavy too.
Inside were so many boxes containing all of the bits and pieces....the processor itself, batteries, chargers, the remote control, accessories, different coloured covers, earphones, microphone, adaptors for TV.....the list goes on and on - there is a lot to learn !
I was hoping that evening that Mike and I could play hunt the implant in my head by using the magnet on the processor, but I have to keep it away until my 'switch on' as it is all still healing.
All very exciting stuff now and I can't wait until I go back for my first tuning session - this is going to be on Monday 9th August, so not too long to wait now at all :-))))
My leg doesn't feel too bad at all now, so hopefully things are moving in the right direction there. Still have to have twice weekly blood tests, so today i'm off to see the nurse again for the next one....wish me luck!
All went very well, the sutures were removed, as was the dressing inside my ear, it felt lovely having all of that taken off and Mr Hellier was very pleased with how it had all healed up.
But....bless him! he was SO disappointed about me getting the blood clot, he just kept apologising....I am his first 'clot' ever! I know it wasn't anything he did or didn't do, it was just one of those things, so he was very sweet about it all.
I was given the go ahead to wash my hair, gently! I must not rub around the implant or scar area because of the clot, so yesterday morning I was so, so careful doing that.....It did feel lovely afterwards though after 16 days of no washing and dry shampoo!
So, all is going very well from that side of things, it is just the clot now that I have to recover from and take my time with.
After this appointment, I then had an IT training one. I was given my box of goodies and everything inside it was explained to me how it is all going to work.
I was gobsmacked! The case is huge and all shiny and white with a silver 'cochlear' symbol on the side of it - it really does look like we have been to an Apple shop and made a very expensive purchase! It is really heavy too.
Inside were so many boxes containing all of the bits and pieces....the processor itself, batteries, chargers, the remote control, accessories, different coloured covers, earphones, microphone, adaptors for TV.....the list goes on and on - there is a lot to learn !
I was hoping that evening that Mike and I could play hunt the implant in my head by using the magnet on the processor, but I have to keep it away until my 'switch on' as it is all still healing.
All very exciting stuff now and I can't wait until I go back for my first tuning session - this is going to be on Monday 9th August, so not too long to wait now at all :-))))
My leg doesn't feel too bad at all now, so hopefully things are moving in the right direction there. Still have to have twice weekly blood tests, so today i'm off to see the nurse again for the next one....wish me luck!
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Ooops! correction!
Just been advised by Mr J to update my blog - the Warfarin is to control the clot rather than thin my blood......the injections are to thin my blood.
Silly me, the downfalls of being not only deaf, but blonde too ;-)
Silly me, the downfalls of being not only deaf, but blonde too ;-)
Blood Clots & Needles
So......yesterday didn't turn out like I expected!
I'd been feeling a pain in my left calf muscle since Saturday afternoon, kind of like it was pulled or torn but didn't think too much of it, but when it was still sore on Sunday and I got to thinking about how I hadn't actually done anything to aggravate it and then remembered the risks of thrombosis after surgery, then I though it would be best to get Mike to call the Dr's first thing on Monday morning and have it checked out.
So, very impressively, Mike managed to get me in to the Dr's for 9:30 yesterday and after being checked out, my Dr sent me straight to the hospital where I had ultrasound on my legs and they found the clot - drat!
From there, I then was wheel chaired to another part of the hospital for treatment and once there I had 3 test tubes of blood taken for testing and then the most painful injection ever in my stomach to thin the blood. I was then given a whole new load of meds and needles, along with a booklet of info about it all/
Basically, every day now for the next week, a nurse will come to the house to inject me in the stomach and take blood and then later that day I have to take Warfarin to thin my blood - I will have to take this for 3 months and will have loads of visits to the Dr's over the next few months.
I will also have to carry a card with me that lets people know I am taking this, in case something happens and for e.g. I cut myself, my blood won't be clotting as normal.
All a but rubbish really and it feels like a set back as I am not feeling too bad otherwise with my CI and it seems to be improving little by little each day, but now it is even longer that I have to sit still, feet up and do nothing - argh!
But I do know that I am very lucky to have had this checked out and treated and hopefully disperse the clot before it moves and does any damage, which I only know too well can be fatal.
When I got up this morning my leg felt worse and a lot tighter, but after taking my pills for my CI, it felt a little better....the nurse came and saw me and injected me about an hour ago - my poor tum is going to be like a little pin cushion after all this :(
I'd been feeling a pain in my left calf muscle since Saturday afternoon, kind of like it was pulled or torn but didn't think too much of it, but when it was still sore on Sunday and I got to thinking about how I hadn't actually done anything to aggravate it and then remembered the risks of thrombosis after surgery, then I though it would be best to get Mike to call the Dr's first thing on Monday morning and have it checked out.
So, very impressively, Mike managed to get me in to the Dr's for 9:30 yesterday and after being checked out, my Dr sent me straight to the hospital where I had ultrasound on my legs and they found the clot - drat!
From there, I then was wheel chaired to another part of the hospital for treatment and once there I had 3 test tubes of blood taken for testing and then the most painful injection ever in my stomach to thin the blood. I was then given a whole new load of meds and needles, along with a booklet of info about it all/
Basically, every day now for the next week, a nurse will come to the house to inject me in the stomach and take blood and then later that day I have to take Warfarin to thin my blood - I will have to take this for 3 months and will have loads of visits to the Dr's over the next few months.
I will also have to carry a card with me that lets people know I am taking this, in case something happens and for e.g. I cut myself, my blood won't be clotting as normal.
All a but rubbish really and it feels like a set back as I am not feeling too bad otherwise with my CI and it seems to be improving little by little each day, but now it is even longer that I have to sit still, feet up and do nothing - argh!
But I do know that I am very lucky to have had this checked out and treated and hopefully disperse the clot before it moves and does any damage, which I only know too well can be fatal.
When I got up this morning my leg felt worse and a lot tighter, but after taking my pills for my CI, it felt a little better....the nurse came and saw me and injected me about an hour ago - my poor tum is going to be like a little pin cushion after all this :(
Sunday, 11 July 2010
The worst part is over!
Back home :-))))) and I am so pleased to be here.
I went in to hospital on Monday and got settled in, had some food and unpacked. Was feeling surprisingly calm if a little emotional after opening some cards and then Mike having to leave me at 8pm as we didn't think he would be allowed back in first thing before I went for my op as it is outside of visiting hours. But, all in all not too bad at all and slept pretty well considering what was about to happen.
Woke up early and still felt strangely calm, was nil by mouth so wasn't allowed anything at all and was then asked to go and have a shower...when I got back, Mike was there which was just brilliant and made me so so so happy.
I got changed in to my lovely surgery gown and here is a pic of me modelling it ;-)
Mr Hellier, my surgeon, came and checked on me and drew an arrow on the left handside of my neck to make sure that the implant was put in the right side
As you can hopefully see, I really did feel so calm about it all.
Then Patrick, a male nurse said it was time to go to Theatre, so I walked down there with Mike, until we got to the point where he wasn't allowed to go any further, it was so hard saying goodbye to him, but I was just so pleased to have seen him again before going in.
I then went through to a waiting area prior to my anesthetic and lay on a bed while lots of questions were asked....it felt a little like a conveyor belt as each person went in, we moved up in the line. Then it was my turn and I was wheeled through to an area just outside of the operating theatre, I remember loads of kids stickers on the ceiling and walls and remember thinking how my godchildren, Jack & Lucy would like them, then it was time for the drip to go in my arm and a needle in my hand for the drugs I would need....then off we go.....I can't remember anything else until four hours later and being woken up in recovery.
Now, this really was the worst part of it all, I felt terrible and just couldn't get back to sleep. I had a blood pressure monitor on my arm that was inflating and squeezing every couple of minutes, plus some thrombosis preventing wraps on my legs that were constantly inflating and squeezing and it was all making me feel really queasy. My head was so sore, the compression bandage was so tight, my throat really hurt, I could taste the anesthetic and I was dying for a drink.....oh, and my ears were ringing like they had never rang before. I was just lying there thinking what have I done!!
But! after an hour and a half I was back at my ward and moved in to my bed where I slept until 4pm and that is when Mike and his Mum arrived. Initially I was pretty groggy, but I sat myself up and the more we were talking to each other the better I felt and within an hour or so, I felt a bit more okay about it all....I could drink again then and also ordered my tea.
My bandage was so tight though that I was already really looking forward to getting that off as I felt like I was just frowning at everyone.
We opened all of our anniversary cards and they stayed with me until visiting time was over at 8pm.
I then had a visit from my lovely friend Liz who is a Sister at the General and she came and saw me after her shift.
After this I still wasn't feeling too sleepy and so read for a while until lights out at 10:30.
Only to be woken at 11pm for anti-biotics, then again at midnight for blood pressure, pulse and temp....then 2:30 for blood pressure etc and at 5:30 too, then 6am for more anti-b's. I think apart from all of this I may have slept okay.
The Weds I was expecting to feel really tired and sleepy but I wasn't too bad at all, I knew I had an x-ray so I think I was keeping myself awake for that. I was collected for this at just after 2:30 and it all happened quite quickly and I was back at the ward by 3:15 where my sister was waiting for me armed with Lucozade, magazines and chocolates :-). Then it was a lovely, steady stream of visitors....Paul, Liz, my Mum & Dad, Mike, Sheila and Kev - I was totally spoilt with lots more cards and presents.
Then a later lights off at 11pm and I was just wanting to go to sleep and wake up knowing i'd becoming home the next day - I couldn't wait.
I woke feeling really tired and after having my pills, the nurse came and took my compression bandage off.....oh, the relief!! I could feel my forehead moving back in to place, it just felt so nice.
I was then told I would be allowed to go home in about an hour after getting a discharge letter and a massive supply of pills for the next week or so.
I texted Mike and by the time I showered carefully from shoulders down, got dressed and packed, he was there and it was time to go.
It felt so strange walking out of the hospital and in to the car, but I was so pleased to be going home.
I was greeted by a sleepy but excitable Dylan and as instructed I made a little fuss of him but not too much and then washed my hands straight away - poor boy must have been wondering what on earth has been going on these last few days.
Mike was just absolutely brilliant and made me sit and not move or do a thing, he has just looked after me brilliantly - an absolute star!
I had lots more cards waiting for me and then had a visit from my bro and sis-in-law, my Mum & Dad plus a friend, Jim came round later on as well.
I wanted to see how my scar looked and how much hair had been shaved off so some pics were taken and I was a bit shocked at the amount of hair....the scar looks very neat though.
So, it is just great to be back home and am feeling a little better as each day goes on. I have been utterly and totally spoilt by all my family, friends, my work and even Mike's work too which was a very lovely surprise - our house is looking like a beautiful flower shop right now.
Will log off for now as this has taken ages to do and i'm really starting to feel tired and want to feel up for my next lot of visitors - my gorgeous godchildren, this afternoon so will finish up here but hopefully back soon with more updates as everything progresses from here.
As I have titled this one, the worst is over and it really does just feel like everything now is just going to get better and better.
I went in to hospital on Monday and got settled in, had some food and unpacked. Was feeling surprisingly calm if a little emotional after opening some cards and then Mike having to leave me at 8pm as we didn't think he would be allowed back in first thing before I went for my op as it is outside of visiting hours. But, all in all not too bad at all and slept pretty well considering what was about to happen.
Woke up early and still felt strangely calm, was nil by mouth so wasn't allowed anything at all and was then asked to go and have a shower...when I got back, Mike was there which was just brilliant and made me so so so happy.
I got changed in to my lovely surgery gown and here is a pic of me modelling it ;-)
Mr Hellier, my surgeon, came and checked on me and drew an arrow on the left handside of my neck to make sure that the implant was put in the right side
As you can hopefully see, I really did feel so calm about it all.
Then Patrick, a male nurse said it was time to go to Theatre, so I walked down there with Mike, until we got to the point where he wasn't allowed to go any further, it was so hard saying goodbye to him, but I was just so pleased to have seen him again before going in.
I then went through to a waiting area prior to my anesthetic and lay on a bed while lots of questions were asked....it felt a little like a conveyor belt as each person went in, we moved up in the line. Then it was my turn and I was wheeled through to an area just outside of the operating theatre, I remember loads of kids stickers on the ceiling and walls and remember thinking how my godchildren, Jack & Lucy would like them, then it was time for the drip to go in my arm and a needle in my hand for the drugs I would need....then off we go.....I can't remember anything else until four hours later and being woken up in recovery.
Now, this really was the worst part of it all, I felt terrible and just couldn't get back to sleep. I had a blood pressure monitor on my arm that was inflating and squeezing every couple of minutes, plus some thrombosis preventing wraps on my legs that were constantly inflating and squeezing and it was all making me feel really queasy. My head was so sore, the compression bandage was so tight, my throat really hurt, I could taste the anesthetic and I was dying for a drink.....oh, and my ears were ringing like they had never rang before. I was just lying there thinking what have I done!!
But! after an hour and a half I was back at my ward and moved in to my bed where I slept until 4pm and that is when Mike and his Mum arrived. Initially I was pretty groggy, but I sat myself up and the more we were talking to each other the better I felt and within an hour or so, I felt a bit more okay about it all....I could drink again then and also ordered my tea.
My bandage was so tight though that I was already really looking forward to getting that off as I felt like I was just frowning at everyone.
We opened all of our anniversary cards and they stayed with me until visiting time was over at 8pm.
I then had a visit from my lovely friend Liz who is a Sister at the General and she came and saw me after her shift.
After this I still wasn't feeling too sleepy and so read for a while until lights out at 10:30.
Only to be woken at 11pm for anti-biotics, then again at midnight for blood pressure, pulse and temp....then 2:30 for blood pressure etc and at 5:30 too, then 6am for more anti-b's. I think apart from all of this I may have slept okay.
The Weds I was expecting to feel really tired and sleepy but I wasn't too bad at all, I knew I had an x-ray so I think I was keeping myself awake for that. I was collected for this at just after 2:30 and it all happened quite quickly and I was back at the ward by 3:15 where my sister was waiting for me armed with Lucozade, magazines and chocolates :-). Then it was a lovely, steady stream of visitors....Paul, Liz, my Mum & Dad, Mike, Sheila and Kev - I was totally spoilt with lots more cards and presents.
Then a later lights off at 11pm and I was just wanting to go to sleep and wake up knowing i'd becoming home the next day - I couldn't wait.
I woke feeling really tired and after having my pills, the nurse came and took my compression bandage off.....oh, the relief!! I could feel my forehead moving back in to place, it just felt so nice.
I was then told I would be allowed to go home in about an hour after getting a discharge letter and a massive supply of pills for the next week or so.
I texted Mike and by the time I showered carefully from shoulders down, got dressed and packed, he was there and it was time to go.
It felt so strange walking out of the hospital and in to the car, but I was so pleased to be going home.
I was greeted by a sleepy but excitable Dylan and as instructed I made a little fuss of him but not too much and then washed my hands straight away - poor boy must have been wondering what on earth has been going on these last few days.
Mike was just absolutely brilliant and made me sit and not move or do a thing, he has just looked after me brilliantly - an absolute star!
I had lots more cards waiting for me and then had a visit from my bro and sis-in-law, my Mum & Dad plus a friend, Jim came round later on as well.
I wanted to see how my scar looked and how much hair had been shaved off so some pics were taken and I was a bit shocked at the amount of hair....the scar looks very neat though.
So, it is just great to be back home and am feeling a little better as each day goes on. I have been utterly and totally spoilt by all my family, friends, my work and even Mike's work too which was a very lovely surprise - our house is looking like a beautiful flower shop right now.
Will log off for now as this has taken ages to do and i'm really starting to feel tired and want to feel up for my next lot of visitors - my gorgeous godchildren, this afternoon so will finish up here but hopefully back soon with more updates as everything progresses from here.
As I have titled this one, the worst is over and it really does just feel like everything now is just going to get better and better.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
The day before
I haven't been very good at updating this recently - i've been meaning to for a couple of weeks now, but one thing or another keeps getting in the way.
But.......as tomorrow is the day I go in to hospital for my op on Tuesday, I thought it was about time I did.
So, about a month ago I was given a provisional date of the 6th of July, which is a date very familiar to me, it is our wedding anniversary. But nothing was definite, or at least until all the paperwork came through 2 weeks ago confirming the date and advising that I would be going in to hospital the day before....so all very romantic - hospital food for me and dinner for two for Mike and the dog!
But it is all very exciting if a bit scary!
Since our last appointment as a group, myself, Paul and Kim have been keeping in touch and updating each other of our progress. Paul was given a date of 30th June but Kim was still yet to hear....and then a week ago Friday she was told a slot had come up at the QA for her for the 2nd July, so the 3 of us are all being implanted within a week, but all at different hospitals and with different surgeons, Paul was at the Nuffield and I am at Southampton General.
Have had a couple of updates from Paul and he is recovering well and has had his compression bandage removed which he said felt lovely.....he has been feeling very tired though.
Kim, I am waiting to hear, but I did go and visit her at the QA on Thursday when she arrived and she did seem nice and calm about it all and like me, just wants to get the op over with and start recovering.
Wednesday the 30th was also the day of my pre-op and Will Hellier is my surgeon which I was very happy about, not only have I known him over the years as my ENT consultant, but he is a very talented man and has carried out many CI operations - if you Google him you can see what an amazing career he has had so far. He also has nice steady hands :-)))
There were a few things discussed that left me feeling pretty down after Wednesdays visit - first of all that I would be in hospital until Thursday rather than Weds as first told, secondly that our holiday to the Lakes should be cancelled ......was hoping it was going to be okay to still head up there and recuperate, but Mr Hellier really didn't recommend it and then thirdly, due to the risk of infection, I am to try not to touch Dylan, my dog, as much as possible when I first come home. I think that is going to be near impossible on his part and mine.
But....as people keep saying and I keep reminding myself, all for good reason.
So - big day tomorrow and right now, I am not feeling too nervous. We have had a pretty busy week-end and loads of people have all been very lovely and wished me well.
Mike is cooking a yummy dinner for me tonight which I am looking forward to loads before my diet of hospital food starts!
I've been told to do absolutely nothing for 2 weeks and then try a few things gradually so will be back to update how it all went as soon as I am up and about again. :-)
But.......as tomorrow is the day I go in to hospital for my op on Tuesday, I thought it was about time I did.
So, about a month ago I was given a provisional date of the 6th of July, which is a date very familiar to me, it is our wedding anniversary. But nothing was definite, or at least until all the paperwork came through 2 weeks ago confirming the date and advising that I would be going in to hospital the day before....so all very romantic - hospital food for me and dinner for two for Mike and the dog!
But it is all very exciting if a bit scary!
Since our last appointment as a group, myself, Paul and Kim have been keeping in touch and updating each other of our progress. Paul was given a date of 30th June but Kim was still yet to hear....and then a week ago Friday she was told a slot had come up at the QA for her for the 2nd July, so the 3 of us are all being implanted within a week, but all at different hospitals and with different surgeons, Paul was at the Nuffield and I am at Southampton General.
Have had a couple of updates from Paul and he is recovering well and has had his compression bandage removed which he said felt lovely.....he has been feeling very tired though.
Kim, I am waiting to hear, but I did go and visit her at the QA on Thursday when she arrived and she did seem nice and calm about it all and like me, just wants to get the op over with and start recovering.
Wednesday the 30th was also the day of my pre-op and Will Hellier is my surgeon which I was very happy about, not only have I known him over the years as my ENT consultant, but he is a very talented man and has carried out many CI operations - if you Google him you can see what an amazing career he has had so far. He also has nice steady hands :-)))
There were a few things discussed that left me feeling pretty down after Wednesdays visit - first of all that I would be in hospital until Thursday rather than Weds as first told, secondly that our holiday to the Lakes should be cancelled ......was hoping it was going to be okay to still head up there and recuperate, but Mr Hellier really didn't recommend it and then thirdly, due to the risk of infection, I am to try not to touch Dylan, my dog, as much as possible when I first come home. I think that is going to be near impossible on his part and mine.
But....as people keep saying and I keep reminding myself, all for good reason.
So - big day tomorrow and right now, I am not feeling too nervous. We have had a pretty busy week-end and loads of people have all been very lovely and wished me well.
Mike is cooking a yummy dinner for me tonight which I am looking forward to loads before my diet of hospital food starts!
I've been told to do absolutely nothing for 2 weeks and then try a few things gradually so will be back to update how it all went as soon as I am up and about again. :-)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
