Work and Cycling

Why the Question Mark?

The title of this story, "Journey Out of the Muffled Kingdom?", ends with a question mark. I know that not every implant is a success, and I'm doing my best to follow the motto "Keep your hopes high and your expectations low." I really don't know how well I'll do. Even if the device works very well, I won't hear anything with that ear when I take the processor off at night, if it breaks, or when the batteries die. I also know that it will be a long process, and that it will take a while for me to learn to hear again. I'll hear sounds, but may have no idea what they are.

I remember reading a comment from someone with a cochlear implant that she loves to listen to the sound of the ocean, and has gone to the ocean on every vacation since getting the implant. We visited a Florida beach twice over spring break this year. I put my hearing aid in, turned it all of the way up, and stood in the shallow surf, trying to hear the sound of the ocean. I did hear something, just barely, but I'm not sure if it was my imagination or the ocean. I'm looking forward to trying again, once my implant is activated.

It will be interesting to see how much I hear.

Back to Work

After my week off to heal, it was time to head back to work. My coworkers were very supportive and welcoming, making for a very nice first day back. My friend Dan Spracklen is a firefighter, and he stopped in to say "Hi" between squad runs. The pharmacy staff had a bridal shower pot-luck lunch for one of our pharmacists that day, so there was plenty of great food. I went out on my lunch break for a shorter haircut, and the barber carefully took her time, attempting to make the shaved area blend in with the rest of my hair.

One interesting thing about working in a hospital is that quite a few people looked at my head and commented "Wow, that's a nice incision!" Hospital employees are very good at being supportive, and they did a great job making my first week back a good one.

I had the bow (arm) of my glasses reattached on Thursday evening, since I thought that it would no longer hurt. That was a mistake, as it soon became painful where the frame pressed on the incision. At the suggestion of Kim, our pharmacy secretary, I wrapped foam tape around the bow, hoping to move it away from the incision. That worked, but looked pretty silly. Kim and I then decided to bend the frame slightly to relieve the pressure on my ear, and that worked very well.

Am I Unbalanced?

I was worried about developing balance problems, because dizziness is fairly common after cochlear implant surgery. Many people are dizzy for a few days after surgery, while others develop vertigo six months or so after surgery. Wednesday morning I awakened before sunrise, so I decided to test my balance by going for an early morning bicycle ride. Leaving the house at first light, I headed toward the nearby countryside. At the first stop sign, I braked to nearly a complete stop, but was able to remain upright without putting my foot down. That gave me confidence that my balance was still good, and the rest of the ride was very enjoyable. I cycled 13 miles, smiling the entire time. I enjoyed the beautiful wildflowers, quiet roads, and grazing deer.

Saturday morning I joined some friends to cycle the "Ride for Rocky", a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. It was another beautiful day, and we startled several groups of deer along the way. Four of us rode together to Mt Gilead State Park for a delicious meal of shredded chicken sandwiches, celery and peanut butter, cookies, and brownies. Since the weather was so delightful, Dan Spracklen and I took a longer route home, ending up with about 48 miles for the morning. We had a good time cranking up and coasting down a few steep hills.

Onward to Activation!

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Journey out of the muffled kingdom?

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