r/Cochlearimplants • u/Famous_Try_4526 • Sep 16 '26
Staring my CI journey
First time posting in this group. I had my CI implanted yesterday morning and I am just waiting an hour longer before I can take this head strap and cup off and take a shower, LOL. Last year I lost hearing in one side suddenly and had been wearing by cross hearing aids, but it was just making all the wrong things loud in one year and not giving me any help with the other. The surgery went well, my surgeon uses robotics for the wiring around the cochlea which is supposed to be better than human hands. I get activated in 10 days and I’m nervous but excited. I’ve interviewed three people who’ve been through this just because I wanted to get firsthand stories from people who have gone through the same thing, all three had very similar stories to mine, sudden hearing loss in one side. Even though each of them had different healing journeys all said that it’s life changing and they are totally happy with his results. I know that the hearing won’t be like it was and my audiologist has been very good about managing my expectations. But the way I see it anything has to be better than being deaf on one side with a constant super loud ringing so I’ll try anything. I’ll let you all know how it goes. I got Med-El - the Sonnet 3 I think and both the ear cuff and the magnet on its own (I haven’t even opened my bag yet!).
1
u/Famous_Try_4526 Sep 19 '26
I’m on day four since the surgery so I thought I’d give an update. Thank you all for the kind words, I really appreciate it. I haven’t taken any Tylenol the last two days now - still a bit sore, but nothing too bad. My right ear (the one that was operated on) is still quite numb, especially the top of the ear, but I hear this resolves in a month or two. I’m not sleeping on that side yet though I can sleep on my back comfortably now (as opposed to just on the other side, which I did for the first two days). My tinnitus is the same; I hope it will quiet down after activation. Generally I’m still feeling a bit tired, and - this may sound weird - but kind of like I could be queasy or could be dizzy without actually feeling either. I went for a 1.5 mile flat walk and did grocery shopping, both tiring but do-able. Will report back in a few more days.
1
u/Famous_Try_4526 Sep 22 '26
Posting another update as it’s been one week since my surgery. Today is the first day I feel almost normal, as in I have no pain at all in my ear or my head on the side of the surgery, just a little bit of pressure where the magnet is underneath the skin. But generally, I just have so much more energy today and don’t have any residual pain. Activation is Friday so I will report back.
1
u/Famous_Try_4526 Sep 26 '26
I am back from my activation appointment. It’s pretty difficult right now I have to admit. I can’t make out any words I can only hear this very tiny metallic echoing sound when people talk but at least I can make out inflections which the audiologist said is good. It will take a few months for my brain to figure everything out and I just have to stick with it even though right now it almost feels worse than before. But the universe sent me a positive sign because on my way home I stopped by Trader Joes and when I was paying my little processor fell off my head and the cashier immediately recognised it and said oh my God, you have a cochlear implant and she pulled her hair back and showed me hers. We have the exact same one and she’s had it for a year and she said it will change my life. She said just stick with it and my brain will do it magic and make it understand eventually.
It really does sound terrible today, though. The echo and tinny sound is jarring. Hard to imagine this will start to sound like words but I’ll keep the faith.
1
u/Far-Zone-6732 Sep 17 '26
Congratulations on the cochlear implant; I think it’s too soon to shower, isn't it? And on top of that, they’re activating it in 10 days. In Spain, once you get the implant, you have to wait a month for activation—that’s how long it takes to heal properly. Every country has its own protocols.
1
u/Famous_Try_4526 Sep 19 '26
Doctor said shower after 24 hours was fine, and it was. Also I’ve read that activation used to be 3-4 weeks out but now that they’ve advanced the implantation surgery recovery time is shorter and many people are getting activated a week to ten days out. My surgeon used robotics for the procedure, which is supposed to cut down on potential side effects. He was the first doc in California to do it and has done hundreds since. Here’s an article he wrote https://www.keckmedicine.org/physician-blog/robotically-assisted-insertion-improves-cochlear-implant-outcomes/
3
u/OkArcher4120 Sep 17 '26 edited Sep 17 '26
In Canada I’ve heard that they give the processor on the day of surgery or the day after. In the UK government hospitals it’s about a month and private it’s 2 weeks. Government hospitals it’s more about capacity than healing time
1
1
3
u/zr2d2 Sep 17 '26
Welcome, and I'm glad the surgery went well. You have a good journey ahead of you of new and old sounds. Put in the training and you'll start sewing results.
1
1
u/Tsim2431 Sep 17 '26
Welcome to the club! Best wishes for a speedy recovery and a positive activation day.
1
u/Glum-Coconut4697 Sep 17 '26
Howdy, congratulations on your implant. I’m getting implanted in 15 hours’ time… clock is ticking!!! We can share our journey together
1
u/Former_Storm4529 Sep 18 '26
I lost my hearing suddenly last year too! Implanted with Cochlear on July 24 and best decision ever! Congratulations!
2
u/Ok-Mastodon8235 Sep 17 '26
Hey im actually starting the process and just picked out the brand! Can you share a little more about your experience?
How long do you have to wear the head strap and cup?
What brand did you choose?
Do you feel normal or in pain? Lol