YESTERDAY'S INNOCULATION & MY CAT SCAN

Yesterday evening, my left arm where I got the shot became swollen and quite painful. It was difficult sleeping. Today, it seems to be improving. but it is still swollen and hurts a bit. This morning I made an appointment to get my required CAT Scan on June 1st. I am not looking forward to it as I am claustrophobic. I guess I'll think about sunning myself on the beach in Mauii when the time comes.

MY FIRST VISIT WITH THE CI SURGEON

Hi everyone. Today I visited with Dr. Jennifer Maw at Kaiser, Santa Clara. The visit went real well, and I like Dr Maw. In addition to her exam and question to me about my health, she answered all my queries. Among the things I found out are: -My surgery will be sometime in August. Dr Maw must put in paperwork first, and I should know in a week or so. - Dr Maw has done about 60 CI surgeries, including a Nucleus Freedom. ; -She uses dissolvable stitches. - I do not have to spend overnight after surgery ; -She suggests waiting at least 5 days before driving; -She put me in for a CAT Scan, and I should find out when very shortly. -The incision is about 6cm(2 1/4 - 2 1/2 inches) I also went for my vaccination while I was there. We finally kicked around the subject of "which ear", and she felt that the right ear(my original choice) was the way to go. That has always been by worse ear, so I assume she does not necessarily think I would do better quicker withe the left. Finally, she thought I would do very well with the surgery. Another step in the journey accomplished. Thanks to you all, I knew the questions to ask, and my visit with Dr Maw was relaxed and informative.

Hello everyone! This is my first entry at this new address. The entries below I know are a bit disjointed, but they were imported from AOL which I now do not use. They are readable though. On tuesday, I meet with the CI surgeon. I can hardly wait!


IRV STARR'S COCHLEAR IMPLANT JOURNEY

DESCRIPTION OF MY QUEST FOR A CI, AND MY THOUGHTS ON THE WAY





Recent Entries
4/24/05
Personal Information
4/23/05
My Old Hearing Aids
4/19/05
My CI Audio Evaluation.
4/12/05
One week to go!!
3/28/05
untitled
3/28/05
Got Disconnected



Sunday, April 24, 2005
1:21:10 PM EDT Feeling Happy
Personal InformationIt just occurred to me that anyone reading this has no information about me personally. I am a male, 69 years old, and a widowerer. Yes, the JUDY, in my screen name is for my late dear wife who passed away in January, 2004. I am a native Brooklyn, New Yorker who has lived in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Boston, and Bloomingdale, New Jersey prior to moving out to California after a short time in Korea as a Consultant. Most of my work life has been as an Engineer and Project Manager in the Electrical Power Generation industry. After Korea when I moved to California, I changed careers and worked in the retail window covering business(blinds, shades, shutters, etc.) as a sales consultant and store Manager. Right now, I am looking forward to my CI so I can hear well enough to go back into retail sales.Written by
Saturday, April 23, 2005
1:15:00 AM EDT Feeling Hopeful
My Old Hearing AidsNow that I've given back the loaner digital hearing aid, I am using the in the ear ones I have used for 2 or 3 years(non-digital). It seems they are worse than a couple of months ago when I last used them. Maybe my brain got too used to the digitals which were much more powerful(higher volume). The clarity is still as bad, but the volume seems quite a bit lower. If all goes well with my CI journey, I can tolerate them for a little while. By the way, last Tuesday the Audie gave me lip reading tests---with the digitals and without any assistive devices, I consider myself a lousy lip reader, but I did quite well with the digitals(still unclear). I would say I understood about 85% of what she said. Without anything, MAYBE I got 20 to25%. I am still anxious to meet with the surgeon and ask her all the questions I have been saving up for a year now.Written by
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Tuesday, April 19, 2005
8:28:29 PM EDT Feeling Happy
My CI Audio Evaluation.Well, I met with the CI audie at Kaiser, Santa Clara today as advertised. She did all the usual "torture chamber" tests and some others, and said I did badly enough to audiologically qualify for a CI. HOORAY AGAIN!!!! Even prior to my visit, she made an appointment for me on May 24th with the new CI surgeon. The doctor will review my medical stuff, hopefully set me up for a CAT scan and a meningitis inoculation, and answer my questions(I have many thanks to the CI Internet groups I belong to). The audie asked me which brand I wanted(Kaiser now does both Cochlear and AB), and I said the Cochlear Freedom. In May she is going to learn how to map them. She agreed it is a good choice, but was really neutral on the subject. I also told her I wanted 2 BTE processors. We went over a lot of other things about CI's, most of which I knew. I think the audie was impressed by how much homework I have done. The only remaining question is which ear. It seems now both ears are about the same---bad. She did say that sometimes the ear that was more recently better does respond quicker with a CI. I will discuss it with the surgeon and make my decision after we speak. All and all, I would consider it one of the happiest days I have had as of late! My journey has begun!!!Written by
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Tuesday, April 12, 2005
7:53:47 PM EDT Feeling Anxious
One week to go!!Ine more week until I start my CI evaluation. I am looking forward to it with cautious optimism. I am still wearing my loaner digital BTE hearing aids, but on the 19th, I return them and it's back to the in the ear ones. I can hear envronmental sounds loudly now, but speech is still unclear. I wonder what it will be like with the regular hearing aids again? I'll find out, wont I.Written by )
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Monday, March 28, 2005
6:52:10 PM EST Feeling Hopeful I am currently at the top of the "To Be Evaluated" list at Kaiser Peermanente, Santa Clara after about an 8 month wait. My first evaluation appointment is on April 19th. I have already tried 2 Digital Hearing Aids(a Kaiser requirement) without any improvement. Written by )
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6:46:53 PM EST Feeling Angry
Got DisconnectedAs my hearing got worse, clarity, not loudness became my problem. So at this time, 2 hearing aids later, I am hoping for a CI. Written by )
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