YES!!

I have a surgery date!!!! December 27th! I am so ready! :-)

Maybe Not?

I don't understand why this has to be so difficult! All it takes is one fax. My counselor said she would do it Monday. I emailed her Tuesday morning to see if it was done and she replies "I plan to do it today!" Still nothing. I don't understand why she keeps lying to me. If it is going to be 6 months from now say so. Don't tell me everyday for the next 6 months it will be tomorrow!

Maybe?

Well, here it is weeks after meeting my surgeon and I still do not have a surgery date. Hopefully this will change next week... hopefully. I made the drive to my counselors office today. Another unscheduled visit. She was there and I got into see her right away. It took her a bit to find my file. We then discussed that nothing had been done (whatever that means) and she said she would contact the CI center to see what they needed. I was doubtful when I left there but late today I got an email from her. She said that she had just got off the phone with them and has the codes they need. She will have it processed on Monday and fax it to them. I had also emailed the CI center when I got home with my counselors name and phone number so maybe it was them that called. Doesn't matter really, I covered both bases and it got done. I will not wait until Wednesday as she suggested in her email. Tuesday morning I will be emailing the CI center to see if they got it. Wish me luck! I sure need all I can get!

BOO!

The emotional roller coaster I am on sucks! I'm trying hard to be nice here but I can't think of a nicer word that actually describes it. The past couple of days I have been encouraged and really feeling good for a change. I try hard to take care of things myself. It's really hard to do when your only means of communication is email and the receiver doesn't respond.

I was a bit disappointed at the results of my appointment with my surgeon last week. I had hoped to get a surgery date. That was not to be but I still kept trying to get things done. This MRI is suppose to be the only thing standing in my way. It is scheduled for Friday morning. I have to travel 100 miles one way each time so I was trying to get to see the scheduler (for surgery) while I was there.

I went to their website so I could email them. I am really thankful that they will communicate with me this way. Of course you have to register first. In order to register you have to be able to use a phone. LOL So on to plan "B".... or is it "W" OR "X" by now? I emailed a person that has the same doctor and lo and behold, she gave me the scheduler's email address! I immediately emailed her so I was hoping today she would have answered and even possibly set something up by email. She did respond but this is what she had to say...

"WE will need to obtain authorization from Vocational Rehab first. I am also trying to work with AB to see how we can get a device for you if they do not deal with your insurance. This is all going to take some time!  I will keep you up to date and you are more than welcome to check in with me."

Hmm.. the only "!" in the whole email is with this sentence, "This is all going to take some time!". How depressing! It just never ends.....

Good News.... Bad News

I will start off with the bad and get it over with. I did NOT get a surgery date on the 26th. Very disappointed about that. The good news is I am thrilled with my new CI team! They are all wonderful. First I went in to see Dr. Bartles. I had a very hard time understanding him as he tends to talk fast. He is prepared for us deaf folks and captioned what he said on his computer so I could read what he was saying. I love this man!

He looked over all my tests and said that they sent him the report of my CAT scan but no pictures. He wants pictures but prefers a MRI. Also there was no record of a HINT test (hearing in noise test) and although I have gotten approval, this test is required. He knew we had driven a long way to come in and tried to get both test done that day but it was just not meant to be.

I did get the HINT test taken care of and this was a surprise for me. I didn't expect to hear anything but I did!! That means I still have things working in there which is a great sign... to me anyway. My audiologist was wonderful. I absolutely love her too. We spent lots of time talking about all the different implants and which one I had chose. Then she explained how often I would be coming to see her.

I am scheduled for the MRI next Friday and I have emailed the surgery scheduler to see if it is possible to see her on Friday as well after my MRI. I am not sure yet if I will be able to see her but I hope to be able to and actually have a surgery date next Friday! More updates to come...

Getting Closer!

I did go to the BEA meeting and I am so glad I did! I got to meet several people that I have talked to online that either have a CI or are waiting for one like I am. I think I was the only one there that is completely deaf though. It was an outing I really needed.

The day before the meeting, I got together with a friend and went to the beach. Yes. I. Did. It was a beautiful day, overcast, mid 80's and a nice breeze. Perfect! My tinnitus was rather loud than day so I put my mind to work and pretended the roar of tinnitus was actually the sound of the waves! Yea, I have a pretty good imagination. LOL

Three more days! Oops... make that four. I tend to rush things sometime but it is Wednesday that I go meet my surgeon! In four more days it will all become a reality. I will have a surgery date!

One Week And A Half Before I Meet My Surgeon!

The following is a post I made in a group I am in and I feel it is worth repeating...

 "This has been a very tough battle for me the past couple of years. I would never have made it this far without my family and friends. This has all but taken my life from me and I so much want it back! I am getting closer and I can't begin to express how excited I am! Thanks to all of you for being here for me."

Tomorrow I am heading to Orlando for the BEA meeting. This should be an exciting meeting since it is the first one since the recall was lifted AND we have new technology coming out soon. There should be lots of good info as well as meeting several others I have talked to online that are in the same situation. I am nervous of course because I still don't deal well being around people but I know they ALL understand. Keep telling yourself that Cris...