My second CI was activated yesterday. Because my clinic is a 2-processor one, I was able to get two Marvels, which is AB’s new processor. I ended up getting the Sky processor, which is the kids’ version, because I liked the colors better. I was able to get my two favorite colors, blue and purple. Since each processor only works on a specific ear, the different colors help me to easily tell which is which.

But anyway, activation. Since I was getting two new processors, my audiologist asked me which I wanted to do first, and I chose the newly implanted ear. After figuring out what magnet size I needed (a 4 — I use a 2 on the other side, but I think I may still have a little bit of swelling from the surgery; hopefully I’ll be able to go to a less strong one eventually), I put on the new processor and she started turning on the electrodes. When she was happy with the levels, she set up the left one. For right now I just have one program on that side, the new AutoSense. It’s supposed to adapt based on your environment, but I haven’t really been able to see how that works yet since it’s only been a day and I haven’t really been anywhere but my house and office (which are both quiet).

When the right side was turned on, it sounded pretty much the same as the left side did when it was activated 2 years ago — words sounded like beeps. With the first one, that lasted a couple of weeks, and during that time I was gradually able to pick up more and more words out of the beeps.

With the second one, it’s been much, much faster. It’s only been a day and I’m no longer hearing beeps, and I can understand words. Voices don’t sound normal yet; they sound the way people sound on TV or radio when their voices are deliberately distorted to conceal their identities. But they’re understandable, which is huge for one day after activation, so I don’t mind too much!

After both processors were turned on, we paired them with my iPhone and with the AB Remote app. I can stream from the phone, and adjust the volume and the streaming/mic balance using the app. This is a nice improvement over the Naida Q90 processor I had before; I had to get a special program for streaming on that one so I wouldn’t have to hear the sounds around me while streaming. Now I can adjust that on the fly. The one annoying thing: you can’t adjust the mic balance unless you’re actively streaming, so I had to figure out how to do it while watching a video, since as soon as you leave the video app, the streaming stops and the balance option disappears. You also can’t change any of these settings while in a phone call.

I spent yesterday evening streaming audio books and videos on my iPad. I’m already able to follow them without needing captions or text. I’ve been using just the right processor most of the time so I can give the newly-implanted ear practice, without relying on the left one. So I am very, very happy with how the new CI is working so far!

I did have to call AB today because one of my batteries turned out to be defective. It worked for a little bit but then stopped, even though the charger light is green. It’s not the processor because the other battery works fine with it. I did get disposables, so I can use those until I get the replacement battery from AB. It’s obviously still under warranty one day after activation. And as I said, I’ve been trying not to use the left processor unless I absolutely need to understand someone, just to give my right ear practice.

Had the post-op check today. My surgeon wasn’t available so I saw a different one. He seemed a little concerned that I have more swelling than I should at this point, but he saw no signs of infection, so he said to just keep an eye on it and call the office if I start feeling worse. I have another followup scheduled with my actual surgeon on the 19th.

This surgery is definitely kicking my butt more than my first one did. I had more pain over the weekend, though not enough that I regretted not getting the painkiller prescription filled — Tylenol still did the job. There’s been less pain yesterday and today. I was also tired and spacey all weekend, so I didn’t do much. Feeling a tiny bit lightheaded sometimes when I get up, and it’s still annoying as hell to have only one arm on my glasses. And I still can’t taste anything on the right side, so I’m eating less as meals aren’t as enjoyable.

Brought Ray to the doctor with me to be my ears, since I’ve been struggling more with just the CI than I did with both it and the hearing aid. Having him with me was definitely helpful, so he’ll be coming with me to the next one as well.

Hope this unexpected swelling resolves itself soon, because I suspect that my activation could be delayed if it doesn’t.

I did end up going into the office yesterday, just 2 days after my surgery. Still feeling fine; the right side of my head is tender and I’m getting some twinges of pain, but they’re pretty mild and they go away when I take Tylenol. If I had a more physical job I’d have taken more time off, but sitting at a desk all day is not exactly taxing, so it wasn’t a big deal.

The hearing in my right ear was not very good before (hence the second implant), but now that it’s completely out of commission I’m realizing how much I was actually depending on it. My CI ear was definitely better, but I could hear much better with both it and the hearing aid than with either one on its own. So now I’m hearing only with the CI and it’s definitely more of a struggle; I’m missing more during conversations with only one ear in play. Of course this is only temporary, until my second CI is activated, so I can deal with it for a month (plus whatever ramp-up time the second one requires).

Being completely deaf without my processor on is seriously disconcerting. My right ear wasn’t that great, especially with no hearing aid, but it did still have a little bit of hearing. But now when I take off my processor, there’s absolutely nothing at all.

Having eaten a few more meals since my surgery, I now realize that I can’t taste anything with the right side of my tongue (same side as the new implant). It’s definitely making meals less enjoyable, though I’m getting better at chewing on the other side. I do hope it’ll come back, though.

The other thing that’s been driving me nuts is having only one arm on my glasses. I definitely do not want to put the other one back on yet, because the incision is nowhere near healed and as I said, that side of my head is pretty tender, but my glasses don’t sit right and they get smudged more easily. Again, I keep reminding myself that these are temporary annoyances and I’ll forget all about them when this is over. It was about 2 weeks after my first CI surgery that I was able to put the arm back on my glasses without it being uncomfortable, and that’s not a huge amount of time.

My newly implanted ear is also really numb at the top — can hardly feel it at all when I touch it. The left was a bit numb too, but I don’t think it was quite as bad. But the left feels normal, or nearly so, now, so hopefully that’s another thing that’s temporary.