As happened with the first implant, I had a lot of trouble getting to sleep last night, though I eventually did (which was an improvement from last time). Still, I stayed home and took it easy today, especially since I had to leave the ear cup on for 24 hours. It was so uncomfortable that by the end I was counting the minutes until I could take it off…I’m convinced that the little pain I was feeling today was due to the pressure from the cup.

But, the 24-hour mark finally came and I took the thing off. That alone felt great, but even better was being able to to shower and wash my hair, which was all crunchy and gross. I felt 1000% better after that.

My sense of taste continues to be weird, but it’s only been a day so I guess I can’t expect it to have resolved itself already. I also tried testing our smoke alarm while not wearing my processor, and unfortunately I couldn’t hear it at all, which is a little depressing since I don’t sleep with my processor. Of course Ray will wake me if an alarm goes off, and he’s also rigged our home automation to turn on the lights, so the only time we should really need to worry is on those very rare occasions when I travel without him. I think the last time that happened was in 2018 when I went to a work-related conference, so yeah, it doesn’t happen often…and there are deaf-accessible hotel rooms which will turn on lights in the event of an alarm, as well.

Called to make my activation appointment today, and it turns out I should have called earlier — I planned to make an earlier appointment to get the new processor for my first implanted ear, but the audiologist is booked solid. Still need to figure out when to do that, but I do have my activation appointment for the new implant on July 28th.

I had been planning to work from home the rest of this week, but I may go into the office tomorrow, as I feel fine.

Today I got CI #2. My surgery time was supposed to be 1:30pm with an arrival time of 11:30am. This was a mixed blessing: while I did get to sleep in a bit, I was not allowed to eat or drink, so by the time I got there I was starting to get pretty hungry.

Anyway, we got to the hospital and checked in at the surgical center. Ray had to help me by being my ears and either answering their questions or repeating them to me (because I understand him better than anyone) — between the masks, the bad acoustics, background noise, and the Plexiglas barrier, understanding wasn’t easy. But with Ray’s help, I managed.

So after 10-15 minutes we were called back (thankfully they did let him in; we weren’t sure they would due to COVID). They wanted me to pee in a cup to prove I wasn’t pregnant, but I’m like, “You told me I couldn’t eat or drink; I really don’t think I have anything at all in my bladder now.” I was allowed to sign a waiver instead.

Back in the prep area, I put on the gown and socks, and had to ask for underwear and a pad as well — by some weird quirk of scheduling, I managed to have my period for both of my CI surgeries. But the nurses didn’t bat an eye; I’m sure they’ve seen and heard everything.

Then several nurses came in, one at a time, all asking me basically the same questions, like what procedure was I there for, any medication allergies, that kind of thing. Ray had to help me some more there, thanks to background noise and the fact that women’s voices are harder for me. But we got through it. They marked my right ear with a Sharpie to make sure they’d operate on the correct one, took my vital signs, and inserted an IV line (not yet hooked up to anything) in my left hand.

Then it was just a whole lot of waiting, and more waiting. The anesthesiologist came in to talk to me for a few minutes, to go over what would happen and verify that I don’t have any bad reactions to anesthesia. The surgeon also came in to give me the standard warning about possible side effects (they work very close to the facial nerves, so things like facial paralysis and loss of taste are a possibility, though they’re rare) and ask if I had questions. I mentioned how last time I was unable to sleep the night after the surgery and he’d told me it was the steroids they gave me, so he said they’d give me less of that this time. And then it was more waiting.

At a little after 2, I gave Ray my glasses and they wheeled me off to the OR. They let me keep my left CI processor on so I could hear them. Just before they wheeled me out, they gave me a shot in my IV to “relax” me, so I was already starting to fade a little by the time we got to the OR. I scooted from the gurney to the OR bed when directed, then they put a plastic mask over my mouth and nose, and took off my CI processor. Unlike previous times, I didn’t even know when they gave me the anesthesia (usually it stings going into my hand from the IV).

And then I woke up in Recovery. It was 4:40pm, so the surgery took about two and a half hours. A nurse came over to see how I was doing and I asked for water since I was incredibly thirsty. I drank two cupfuls and then they brought me over to another small cubicle where there was a chair. I got up and went to sit, and they brought Ray back in and gave me my clothes. I dressed and sat down again, and they removed the IV line and confirmed that I was feeling okay. They validated Ray’s parking ticket and told him to bring the car around to the front entrance. I was brought there in a wheelchair and we went home.

I was feeling some mild pain so I took some Tylenol and it’s better now. Ray went out to get us dinner; by that point I wasn’t really hungry but ate anyway since I needed the fuel. I did drink 5 more big glasses of water, though. No dizziness, no taste issues or other problems. The ear cup is uncomfortable and my hair is crunchy, but I feel pretty normal aside from that. They gave me a Z-pack (antibiotics) so Ray went to get that filled. They also gave me a painkiller prescription, but the paperwork was such a hassle (thank you, opioid epidemic!) that he didn’t bother with that one, especially since last time I only took one of them in the hopes it might help me sleep that first night (it didn’t). If I have worse pain than before, he’ll get it filled, but hopefully there will be no need.

And so now it’s just the healing. I’ll make an appointment for a couple of weeks from now to get AB’s new Marvel processor for my left ear (the one already implanted) — my clinic gives 2 processors so you have an extra as a backup but I plan to use both and keep my current pair as backups instead. So I’ll get the one for the left ear first, then have a regular activation appointment for the newly implanted right side.

So, surgery #2 is done. Post-op checkup appointment is in a week.

Edited to add: I was not entirely correct above when I said “no taste issues”. I can taste things, but not near the tip of my tongue, and that area is also a tiny bit numb. I’ve read enough to know that this is a possible side-effect of CI surgery, and that for most people the taste does come back eventually, though exact times vary. Obviously I will mention this to the doctor, but if it does end up being permanent, it’s something I can live with since, as I said, I can still taste things, just not with my entire tongue.