1 Year Anniversary Surprise Party

Hello all,
Welcome to the one year anniversary of the activation of my implant! Wow, what a difference a year makes. One year ago today, after 5 weeks of being completely deaf after the surgery, I walked out of Jennifer Yeagle's office wondering what I had gotten myself into. All I heard was loud wooshing noises, and high pitched, Donald Duck sounding, barely recognizable voices. I had been prepared for things not sounding normal, but this was way beyond normal. If you read my blog from that day it started by saying that I was going to really need a lot of patience, and I did!But by God's grace, and my families help, things got better. If there are readers out there who are wondering what it will be like those first few days and weeks, I don't want to paint to bleak a picture, but I do want to be honest about how difficult it was. I did wonder on a few occasions if I had made the right decision, but I know now without a shadow of doubt that I did.
Things are so normal for me now I hardly think about it anymore, and when I do it is usually with a slight chuckle thinking about this amazing technology and how one second I can be deaf and the next be hearing at nearly twice the level I was at before the surgery!
So what's next? I will continue to see Jennifer every 6 months or a year to keep things humming along, but otherwise I am on my own now. I'm sure I will continue to monitor new advances as they might pertain to my right, still bad, ear. I'm not ready yet to go bilateral - adding another CI to my right ear. Quite honestly, I have tossed around the idea of writing a book!
I may not keep up this blog as often. But if anyone has any questions, or would like to contact me, please do, I am more than willing to talk, write or anything else that might help someone.
Thank you Tammie (my wife) for being my rock and pushing me to do this. Thank you Jennifer for all your help and patience. Thank you Dr. Santina for doing a great job on the surgery. Thank you Kevin, Jeff, and Tony, for being there when I was down and not sure about the whole thing. Thank you to my colleagues and students who were there for me here at school. Thank you Dee Dee and Megan and others from Cochlear America for helping ease my anxieties - I am trying to pay it forward by advocating for and to others. Thanks Mom! Thanks Danielle! (Nuff said).
I'll leave with this: "Don't count the days, make the day's count!

Hello and happy Friday evening,
I sat down tonight with the intention of writing something regarding the 1 year anniversary of my activation until I realized that I am a week early - my activation was on November 12, 2008! So look for something next Thursday....
In the meantime, I sit here trying to stay healthy. My wife and daughter have had the swine flu the past week and just last night I started to feel a little under the weather. I stayed home from work and have been resting, taking meds, hoping to ward it off. We'll see.
I recieved a very humbling email the other day, from a semi-retired pastor in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. He mentioned that he had worn hearing aids for 30 some years but was having a more difficult time hearing. After talking to a doctor there he is proceeding with the cochlear implant with surgery scheduled for November 19. He said he had read my entire blog and that it had helped him. Praise God, I am so happy and humbled. Good luck Pastor Earl Hagar, I will be praying for you!

Hello,

A rainy, lazy Friday afternoon brings me back to my blog. All afternoon athletic activities have been cancelled. Things have actually been otherwise quite busy, so much so that I have missed a very important date as I continue to chronicle my CI journey.
October 6 - the one year anniversary of my CI surgery! That truly was a momentous day for me and my family. The surgery itself was an easy outpatient operation (see my first few posts), but I remember that day clearly, taking off my hearing aid for the last time, being completely deaf after the surgery, wearing that funny looking cap over my ear, my wife pampering me at home, the awful and loud noise ringing in my ear/head. I remember sitting on the basement couch thinking, well I have a computer chip in my head now, but I don't feel any different! I also remember thanking God for getting me throught the surgery and asking Him to help me through the next several weeks until I was activated.
I remember all these things and more, but it seems like so much longer that just one year ago. Just this morning I was searching for an old email address and came across some email correspondence from some of the many people who communicated with me prior to the surgery, encouraging me, helping me by answering my many questions, etc. People like Dee Dee, Jamie Kinsella, my audiologisst Jennifer, Cathy Plotkin. I started to get a little emotional thinking about it all, and how grateful I am for where I am now.
In just a few weeks, it will be the anniversary of the activation. I think we will be having some kind of "activation" party combined with my birthday. That is sure to be emotional for me too. (I blame my mom for this side of me). I'll be sure to update this afterwards.
In the meantime, things will continue to be busy for me at work I'm sure. In addition to my regular job here at school, I have been doing a little driving of the large charter bus the church owns. I drove it for the church camp, and then just a couple of weeks ago for a high school group that was visiting from Nebraska. That was interesting for me on one day in particular: I drove them to Gettysburg National Battlefied. The park tour guide then got on the bus and we did a 2 hour tour with the guide talking and telling me where to go. Before the CI, I don't think I would have been able to do this as well, but I was at ease driving and listening to his directions without having to swivel my head to hear him. The group leader also talked to me several times as I was driving during the the several different trips we took, again quite comfortably being able to hear her even with the noise of the students talking in the background.
I also go back for my one year check up with Jennifer next week. I don't think I have high expectations for any more improvement than where I already am, but I have been surprised before!
Take care,
Dan

Hello all who might still be checking this blog!
I know it had been a while since I last posted, but things have been pretty quiet on the CI front this summer. No major CI moments (although I heard the cicada's earlier this summer and the racket they make - and it's not even their seven year cycle or whatever it is when they all come out. Not looking forward to that now, never bothered me before). I have been working some relatively easy part time jobs this summer, staying away from the school. But school is starting up again soon and I wanted to put something in here before then.
I have had the pleasure of talking to several people about my implant on different occasions. The first time was at my nephew's baseball game. I had stopped to talk to a friends mom and noticed a gentleman waiting patiently to talk to me. So when I was done I turned to him and he immediately asked me about my implant. He explained that his mother was losing her hearing and he was intrigued by my device and how normal I seemed with it. I told him as much as I could about it and encouraged him to talk to his mother about it. It's because of conversations like this that I am not as inclined to wear my baseball hat as much, except to protect my bald head from the sun. If someone is intrigued by my very noticeable CI on my very noticeable head, then I am happy to talk to them.
Another time was after we had a family birthday celebration for my daughter by having lunch at Macaroni Grill in Silver Spring, on a Saturday afternoon, at the beginning of this month. Walking back to the car, my wife noticed a woman ahead of us who had a CI. I introduced myself and we, along with her husband, had a nice conversation. Turns out she recieved hers about seven years ago but just recently upgraded to the Nucleas Freedom. She also had her CI done at Johns Hopkins (Dr. Niparko, I believe). It's always nice to talk to people with common interests, like the stranger I saw and approached in Arizona because he had on a Redskins shirt on!
And finally, just a week ago, I was headed to downtown DC with the family to visit the Newseum (see attached video) when someone approached me just before we got on the metro. He was a Vietnam veteran who was suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus. I explained that I did too, but that the CI covered it up for the most part. I gave him my card with the link to this blog, so if you are reading this - Hi!
Well, as far as anniversaries go, which I have been trying to keep track of leading up to the one year mark of the surgery, it was about this time that I made my final decision to go ahead with the surgery. I had talked to Dr. della Santina and my audiologist Jennifer and needed to let them know so they could schedule the surgery and all post-op appointments. I was still hesitant however and was willing to put it off, but my wonderful wife pushed me to go ahead with it. It pays to listen to women sometimes you know?! So I finally took a deep breath, said okay, and began signing the paperwork. October 6 was chosen as the surgery date. Of course, I could still change my mind all the way up to this date, but I was now commited to it, I was not going to turn back. Am I ever glad I didn't!

Hello all,
It's been a little while since my last post. The last several weeks of school are always crazy with so many things going on. I went on a school trip, which I will mention in a minute, my daughter graduated from 8th grade then went on a cruise to Bermuda with her grandparents, and I have been searching for summer work since the school eliminated the transportation department - I was going to drive a bus or the summer camp.
Anyway, I will try to catch up on a few interesting items since my last post.
As I mentioned, I took a group of 7th and 8th grade students on a trip to the Grand Canyon and other parts of Arizona and Nevada. I had done this trip before but this time my daughter got to go. For some reason I thought getting through airport security would be easier. All I had to do was show my card indicating I had a medical reason not to go through the metal detectors and they would just wand me and send me on my way. Actually, they call extra security and I have to do a full body pat down. I also have to unpack all my cochlear gear that should not go through the detectors and give it to them to inspect. So although I usually went to the front of the line, I was still one of the last ones in our group to get through security. Everything else about the trip was fine and we had a really good time. I enjoyed using my ipod on the long flights. (See a previous post about my ipod usage back in December). The Colorado River float trip was probably my favorite part.
This years High School graduation was particularly special. The senior class asked me to speak which I accepted. I have known many of this group since their elementary years as teacher, coach, and advisor. This group also welcomed me back to school after my surgery with open arms. They visited me at home and kept me at ease as I transitioned to my new hearing, and so I will always remember them and be grateful for not shying away from me. (Giving the speech was of course nerve racking but I made it through and recieved many compliments. Despite the CI being more visible I am actually more confident to stand up and speak now!).
Everything else is going well. My wife's parents came up from Florida to take my daughter on the above mentioned cruise. We had not seen them since before the surgery so I had fun showing them everything about the CI. It has been 7 months since I was activated but feels so much longer because I rarely even think about it now except when I still occasionally talk to other people about it. I still also just smile for no reason somethimes though when I put it on in the morning, because it still amazes me that I can slip someting onto the back of my ear and suddenly begin to hear again. What a blessing!
Until later.,...

Hello all,
On Friday, May 15, I had the pleasure of attending the Cochlear Networks annual picnic in Columbia, MD. It was fun seeing and talking to several of the people (Dee Dee, Megan, etc.) that were instrumental in my decision to get the cochlear implant, and which brand I ended up choosing (Nucleaus Freedom). I had attended the picnic last year in an attempt to learn more about CI's and to meet others who had them. I left the picnic then feeling a little better about the choices I had to make. I also saw my audiologist Jennifer, and my doctor, Dr. Charles de la Santina, who I had not seen since a brief post-op check up. I am truly blessed with such a wonderful group of network supporters and friends, and my skilled and friendly Johns Hopkins audiologist/doctor team.
I would have stayed longer but I had to hurry back to school for a sports awards ceremony. But it was nice to mark another anniversary as I continue to look back on everything leading up to my implant surgery and activation.

Hello all,
I'm excited that my blog has been accepted into the Wellsphere blogging network, which will post my blogs, which will then reach thousands of other people. My cochlear implant has been a blessing to me and I hope to be able to reach out to as many people as possible to help in any way I can for those thinking about or have already recieved a CI.
My next blog, as I review some of the events that led to getting the cochlear implant, is about the anxiety I felt.
One morning a couple of weeks after the intitial diagnosis, I felt heart palpitations and had our athletic trainer take my blood pressure. It was normal, but the palpitations, and, in the morning before leaving the house - the nausea, continued, so I went to my doctor. He prescribed some anxiety medication - Xanax, at .5mg. This had an immediate effect and it helped me get through the day. I soon found myself planning my day around them though, i.e. how many hours to next dose and what I had to do in the meantime. By the time I had asked my doctor for a third refill bottle, I had done research on xanax and became concerned about it's side effects and especially with it's withdrawal symptoms for those who stop taking it. My doctor said not to worry and upped my prescription to 1.omg! I cut the pills in half and began plotting how and when I was going to stop taking them altogether. I decided I was going to slowly wean myself off by spreading the doses out. Within a few days I had gone 24 hours without taking a dose, then 48, and I started to feel really good that the withdrawal was going so well without any of the typical symptoms. I think back now and wonder if what the doctor gave me with that last refill was a placebo. I don't really want to know because I am happy I no longer am dependant on it. I had been doing a lot of praying during this time, so I prefer to think it was divine intervention anyway.
It would be easy to look back now and wonder what I got myself all worked up about, but I don't want to minimize the very real feelings I had. I was anxious and scared, but I am glad I had a strong support system with my family, friends, and my awesome God, and did not need to depend, eventually, on any meds to help. These prescription meds I am sure are a very good source of help to others who need them, but I have always been wary of anything that could cause any kind of dependance - meds, drugs, tobacco, etc.
Later,

Reunion

25th Reunion

Hello all,
I enjoyed my 25th High School reunion this past weekend. It was fun meeting and talking to my class of '84 friends again. I must say we are a fabulous looking group still!
Reunions for some are scary. I have to admit I was just a little anxious myself. I am always happy to discuss my new implant, but at the same time I don't want to stand out either. In just a few short months I have gotten used to the stares, real or imagined, whether it be standing in line somewhere, or at church, etc, but hey, this is a High School reunion. Not to worry though. Either people were being polite by not saying anything, or they didn't care as we reminisced and talked.
Speaking of which, we had dinner together at a resturaunt and the conversations and laughter was flowing around the room. Unlike in the past in these situations, I had no trouble following along. I am not intimidated at all in these environments now, another huge blessing of the CI.
Take care, friends. Let's do it again in 5 years - if not sooner!

Hello all who might be reading this :)
My last blog ended with me saying "what a difference a year makes!"
As I continue to recap some of the important milestones as they approach (or pass) since I first discussed getting a cochlear implant, I'd like to say it again: what a difference a year makes!
I spent this past weekend at Ocean City for an Athletic Directors conference. When I attended last year, the realization of possibly losing my hearing and and researching this new (to me) device had begun to sink in and I was experiencing some anxiety and (just a little) self pity. Maybe it was something about the waves crashing, but as I walking on the beach at some point with my wife and daughter I just let loose and began to cry. I was really trying to be strong so as not to worry my wife, and especially my daughter, but I could not hold it in. I spent the weekend not being very social, at an event that demands sociability as you meet and mingle with colleagues from around the state. So this past weekend was a complete 180! I had a blast. I took a profesisonal development class, attended a seminar, took several walks around the vendors area, won a couple of small prizes, and still had time to swim in the pool, attend a seafood dinner, and walk on the boardwalk and spend a few hours on the beach with my wife and daughter again. Just one person asked me about the implant which of course I was happy to talk about.
I hope to get to go again next year.
Take care,
Dan

Hello,
It's been a month or so since my last post so I thought I should update it. There is a special reason for doing so anyway.
It was a year ago this weekend that I was diagnosed with additional significant hearing loss. I had been having balance issues and gone through a battery of tests, including a brain MRI, before I went to an ENT who administered a hearing test. He was the one who said I would probably lose the rest of my hearing anywhere between months or a few years, and suggested I look into cochlear implants. When I walked out of his office that day, and for about a week afterwards, I was okay with his diagnosis -taking the attitude that it was just another bump in the road. But then it hit me: I could lose the rest of my hearing! Life had been fine wearing hearing aids for 32 years and now that was all going to change. To deal with this new anxiety I actually had to start taking Xanax, but after a couple of months I started worrying about it's addictivness and went cold turkey on it. Eventually of course I came to grips with this new stage of my life and with a big assist from my wife had the cochear implant done. I'm thinking I will have some kind of 1 year party either for the surgery date or activation date, or both! (Who doesn't like to party?)I will include a blog entry for those later in the fall.
In the meantime, I look back now and can't beleive the stress I went through. I suppose this is normal but I still wish I had not subjected myself to all the worrying and yes, crying. The implant has been a tremendous blessing.
In the coming months, I will try to recap some of the important dates and events that led up to my implantation. What a difference a year makes!
Take care,
Dan

Hi all,

I had my three month check up on Friday so I wanted to update this....
I improved on all the hearing tests, by just a few percentage points, but I don't suppose there won't be any dramatic improvements from here on out. The thing is though, the last few tests were a little more difficult - background noice, lower frequencies, more difficult words and sentences.
My overall hearing level is right around or just below 30 decibels, and the test scores were from the high 80's to 100 percent depending on the test. Coming from where I came from - I'll take it!
The tests and most of the rest of my appointement was handled by a trainee: welcome to my blog Lauren! Jennifer was still there of course.
My processor was mapped again and things are sounding real nice: loud but not uncomfortable, and very clear. I also had the 'whisper' music program installed. I now have four distinct programs: 1= main (noise with autosensitivity); 2=whisper (music with ADRO); 3=focus (for noisy environments; 4= old program (in case something goes wrong with #1 - I can temporarily go back to this).
One other thing for this post: I have been keeping pretty active and my implant has not hindered me in any way. I take it off to play basketball but for raquetball I just put a headband around it and it stays on fine. Same for when I went skiing last week, and sledding today. It's amazing how easy it goes on and how well it stays on.
Take care my friends!

Wow! Great Super Bowl. (Funny commercials too).
I went to a Cochlear American seminar in Columbia, MD, this weekend. Saw my friends Dee Dee, Megan, and Ginger, who were big reasons I chose Cochlear America for my implant and processor. The room was filled with other implant recipients both young and old. I was familiear with most of the information presented but my daughter took notes anyway for me. There were many questions from the audience, along with some complaints. I felt a tinge of guilt listening to them: I just might be the most satisfied customer and am really happy with my implant. I know everyones experiences are different and the circumstances of how they came to get their implant is probably also different.
I will be signing up to be a volunteer with the organization. This blog has been fun and I will continue it, but I feel it is time to try to reach out further to help others who are considering, or already have recieved a cochlear implant. There are two people right now I am trying to convince: Patricia Downs, a friend I meet on Facebook, and Gerry Fuller - my dentist!

Christmas Vacation

New Years Eve Party with daughter & neices friends.

Maryland Terps Game