It's Been Awhile

Spring is showing itself and we are coming out of our winter hibernation a bit. My bionic ear continues to improve with an adjustment now and then and I am glad I had the procedure.   

 Carol has the back yard looking just great.  The RV is set and ready to go and we will be heading out in a week or so to the Dripping Springs area if things go as planned. 

We have begun to get some of our long walks in every few days.  Most in the 2 to 3 mile range.  Cody is our companion.

We have walked the Meyer park greenway trail to Collins park and back as well as the trail along Cypress Creek.  Today we walked the "Cy-Champ" park trail which is only about 1 1/2 miles but brand new and very nice.  It contains an amazing memorial to Fallen Warriors which is well worth a stop.  Really well done. I was impressed.

As you are going NE on Cypresswood, turn right on Cutten and the park is along the right side of Cutten and the memorial is fairly close to the road.  Parking is at the SE end of the park, about 1/2 mile from the Cutten turn. 

The trail is smooth crushed granite and the park is in great shape.  It is an easy 12 min. walk from the parking to the memorial.  Water available along the way.  An excellent way to spend water district tax money.  The memorial is from donations and more impressive then the photos suggest, in my opinion.  Many interesting memorial statements in the stones and bricks around the circumference that you can't see from these.

Year End Note..

In mid December we took the dogs and drove up to Plano TX to spend a few days with our good RV friends Bob and Barb Diehl.  In addition to seeing the amazing Christmas program put on by the Prestonwood chuch, we spent a day at the  Dallas Arboretum.   Carol is still on the board for  Mercer Arboretum and is charge of their education programs, which includes visits to other places of interest. She is planning a 3 day trip to Dallas for next October and the Arboretum there is a major stop so we wanted to check it out.

It so happens that they had the Chihuly Exhibit of his Glass Art on display...  located throughout the Arboretum ... it has been in Dallas for several months before moving on. Most are lighted for a dramatic effect at night.  As usual I took some pictures which you can see by clicking HERE if you choose.

Christmas eve was great as usual.  Daughter Cathy and her fine family joined us for dinner and a fun time opening gifts.  We are thankful to be mobile, healthy and happy for another of many years and wish all of you a blessed and productive 2013.....   in spite of the duplicitous, lying, evil clowns who currently lead and infest our three branches of Federal Government.  Did I mention that I have spent much of 2012 following the economic and political news? 

Have a good one...

December Update

On the 11th of this month I return to Envoy Medical to have the audiologist continue to fine tune the frequencies and amplification of the Esteem device.  It is working as advertised but we will continue to adjust for clarity for the next few months as expected.

We had a great RV trip to Charleston SC to James River County Park where they are celebrating their annual "Festival of Lights".  We were in the area for about a week and the weather couldn't have been nicer.  Most days we walked 2 to 4 miles through the park trails in the evening to see the lights. It was  great getaway before the busy holiday season.   We toured the city, visites Ft. Sumpter, and the many old homes.  I took few pictures but a lot of the lights.  If interested this link should do it...   click HERE

Not Much To Report

I am about 4 weeks into the 8 week time period where I increase the volume on the Esteem device a notch every 3 days or so.  This is to gradually get used to the volume and to find which settings work best for different situations.  All seems to be going as planned.

I am looking forward to have the audiologist set the device for different environments. That should help improve clarity. So far we are just changing amplification.

Activation Update

This is the 4th day since the implant was turned on.  I am on the schedule of gradually increasing the amplification (volume) of it, a notch every couple of days.  I found out I don't need to wait 3 days unless it is uncomfortable... so I am using two. Now on the 3rd step.  I continue to be pleased.

As I fool around with headphones, I have determined that the "implant ear" is now about the same, in terms of hearing voices, that my other ear is without any aid in it.  That is good.  I can expect the Implant Ear will get better with each step up.

The "fidelity" of the Implant Ear, however, is not yet "natural."   A man with a pleasant resonant voice sounds a bit like Barny Fife.. a little tinny or twangy.  That is very similar to what the old hearing aids produced as well.  I am hopeful/optimistic that they will be able to improve on this when I go back in (in 6 weeks or so) for an updated setting.   Right now, the major objective is to fine the most useful upper and lower volume settings. And to let my brain start to filter out the "internal noises" of chewing, swallowing, and my own speech.  They always sound load with each change in the volume.. but I also know that in a short time one doesn't notice them any more than a "normal" person does.

Overall,  is a bit hard to make a good comparison between "now and before" as for the last two months I have had no hearing at all in the Implant Ear.   So, of course, anything is an improvement. There is a BIG benefit to "always having an aid in", even at night.

So, I am feeling pleased about the whole project to this point.

All Went Well

We just now (6:00 PM) got back from my session to have the device "activated".  The MD checked the ear and that was fine.  Then after an hour delay (the first time an appointment did not start right on time) I met with the audiologist and the Esteem "engineer."   It works.  Big sigh. But there is still quite a ways to go, which I was not fully aware of.  They turned it on, and then I went through a battery of audio tests to get it initially programmed.  Now I start a protocol of stepping up the volume through 15 increments, with 3 days at each.  This gets my ear, and me, accustomed to the device as the ear continues to heal.  So this will take 45 days or so.  Then back to the audiologist where they will test again, fine tune the programming, and create 3 alternative programs I can use for different situations.

I entered into this whole adventure with rather modest expectations.  So far they have been met.  I have thought that if the new device works at least as well as the exiting hearing aids I have been wearing (which are a lot better than nothing but still not great) that would still be a big plus in that I will not constantly have to be taking them in and out because of rain, sweat, etc... or Carol having to try to determine if I have them in or not when she wants to say something to me.

So with the experience of just a couple of hours, I think the implant will be noticeably better, due to improved clarity of what I can hear.  It is too early to really tell much because the volume is set so low.. but my best guess now is that I will be very pleased that I have had this done.

More later as things progress....

Nothing New

Nothing really to report.   We are waiting for the "activation date" on Aug 14 when I am scheduled to have the new hearing implant "turned on."  All seems fine.  Coolest July on record for Houston.  Although hot an humid as usual... only mid 90's vs low 100's as usual.  And, rain from time to time.