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.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
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,
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,
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