Ms_D Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Well, today was the first anniversary of Activation Day for me. I went in for my mapping this afternoon. My audiologist told me that the hearing test results shows that I have improved by about 20% since the last time I came in (back in August). She said I am improving and doing well. She encouraged me to continue improving. :-) Ivana Marinac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Mary Beth Posted February 13, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Happy first birthday to your new ear! Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elbras Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Hi Donna, Happy Anniversary to your new ear! 20% improvement is great news. Elaine Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Sandy Posted February 13, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Hi Donna, Happy Anniversary and happy to hear about your improvements! Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Ivana Marinac Posted February 13, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Excellent! Yay! Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Cara Mia Posted February 13, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 My congrats, Donna! I read your recent posts and I think that your results is inspiring. Have your progress with CI met your initial expectations? I would be grateful to hear how you overcame all psychological issues and get ready to go bilateral. I got my right ear implanted a couple of days ago but already actively considering to go bilateral in the nearest future. I got a lot of inputs on that topic here but would like to hear more about how to get ready for that decision to be done. The most hard thing for me is to imagine how it is to be in a complete silence. And thinking about it I worry not about sensory deprivation itself but getting disabled / dependent in some common situations. Silly, but I even think that y survival kit should contain endless supply of 675 batteries, which is impossible, of course. I tried to use ear plugs to imagine how it is not to hear anything but it didn't work - I heard myself pretty clearly Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Kara of Canada Posted February 14, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 Happy ear birthday!! I find it very inspiring also that people have such good results with their CIs. I am having wonderful results myself at only three months activated. I hope to be bilateral soon. My bad ear is lagging and I wish again for two ears to hear at the same level. My CI ear is becoming quite dominant. Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Adam Posted February 15, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Donna, that is awesome!!!! I am so very happy for you. Please keep us updated on your progress!!! Happy anniversary. Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms_D Posted February 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Thanks everyone. I am even in the process of going through the steps to see if the insurance company will approve my second implant. I do know I have to go back for more hearing test because I did not have my hearing aid with me for them to test my left ear with the hearing aid on. How well I am hearing out of my right ear has already surpass what I had expected - because I didn't want to set my hopes too high. :-) The sky is the limit. :-) I believe that I will only improve as time goes by and next year, at the two year mark, I will not miss many words any the sentences (if any) is my goal! As far as getting ready to go bilateral (if the insurance company approves it), by experiencing how well I can hear out of an ear that I had never heard out of before the surgery - that gives me the confident to dare to go bilateral. When I was preparing to be implanted the first time, well, I wanted to make sure it was done in my deaf ear - just in case it did not work...at least I would still have what little hearing I do have in the left ear. My audiologist told me on Friday that if I am implanted in the right ear, chances are, what little natural hearing I have left in it will be damaged during surgery, but this time....I'm okay with it. I do wonder if my tinnitus will remain in the ear (I've been having permanent tinnitus since elementary school...I think about 5th grade). Nevertheless, I'm up for it. My confidence in the implant gives me all I need in order to be ready to go bilateral. Sure, I asked my audiologist questions. My biggest "hurdle" will simply be affording it. My husband and I have saved up some money, and we will work with the hospital regarding a payment plan. We shall see if I will be able to get the implant. :-) About the batteries - yeah, I know what you mean. I just ordered 300 batteries back in December - so hopefully they will last me a little while. :-D Ivana Marinac and Mary Beth 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Adam Posted February 16, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Donna, I am believing that things will work out for you. I have struggled for many years with tinnitus in both ears. Surprisingly, when my processors are on, I don't even notice it. Sometimes I hear it when processors are off but not all the time. While on, don't really notice it. Each person is different but I posted to give you a little hope. Let us know how you are are doing Adam Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Cara Mia Posted February 16, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Thank you for your answer, Donna. Heard myself while reading some of your lines. It definitely will help me to overcome some of my uncertainties. Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Mary Beth Posted February 16, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Donna, My tinnitus is not noticeable when my processors are on. When they are off, it is noticeable but much quieter than before. Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Adam Posted February 16, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Donna, I have to agree 100% While on, hardly noticeable, off not much worse. Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Ivana Marinac Posted February 16, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 16, 2016 Donna, all your concerns are real but do not underestimate the possibilities of how well your second ear can be rehabilitated if your deaf ear is functioning so well now. Take this also into considerations. Reading your lines I can see that you are ready for next step Cara Mia and Ms_D 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms_D Posted February 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 Thanks everyone! Cara, you're welcome. Hey, by any chance, did any one of you have the surgery done with Cigna health insurance? I'm just curious - I know there are certain insurance company who are well-known to deny the implant, I don't know about Cigna though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Mary Beth Posted February 17, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 No but your CI center should know how easy or difficult it is to get approval from your insurance company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Kara of Canada Posted February 17, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 Awesome Donna!! I felt the very same way about getting my first implant. Now I know how well my first works I won't hesitate fir the second. Pending hospital approval. I go onto the 29. we will discuss it The possibility. I'm excited for it. Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes hadron Posted February 17, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 Hi Donna, I had my CI surgery done with Cigna Insurance. Everything was paid for. No problems. Their CI policy 0190 is explained in a document you can find if you Google "Cigna position criteria_cochlear_and_auditory_brainstem_implants.pdf" The document you find will have a effective date period on it. You may not find the latest document. Just contact Cigna and ask for copy of the latest. There was also a separate document for cochlear implant rehabilitation. I am not sure if it still exists. It covers sessions with a speech therapist and a CI rehabilitation specialist whom would be someone other than your CI audiologist. These documents even include charge numbers your audiologist or rehabitation specialist would use. If you can't find them let me know. Good luck. Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms_D Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Thank you for the information hadron! Kara, I hope all works out for you!! It's definitely an exciting journey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Sandy Posted February 18, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Donna, I didn't have tinnitus until after my implant. It's worse if I'm stressed or drink too much coffee. Also, it's only noticeable when I'm not wearing my processor. Ms_D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Sandy Posted February 18, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Kara, good luck on the 29th. I will be most interested in the results as I will be discussing becoming bilateral with my audiologist when I see her in May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Mary Beth Posted February 18, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 That's exciting Sandy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Kara of Canada Posted February 18, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 I will definitely let you know!! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Sandy Posted February 18, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Thanks, ladies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Adam Posted February 19, 2016 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I actually had my surgeon implant the "good" ear first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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