It was a last minute phone call, but when they call you for something important like a pre-op, you have to squeeze it into your calendar.

Accessories: 

The devices meeting came first.

One thing I wanted to mention the Audiology Department at Sunnybrook – for the amount of hearing loss they expect of their qualified candidates, the Audiology department wasn’t necessarily accessible for those with hearing loss.

Today, I was to meet with Lindsay. I was watching everyone who came out to call names… at one point I heard some sounds that roughly resembled the mispronunciation of my last name. I waited for a repeated shout of my name, yet the lady never called again and walked away with no one with her. This was not the first time at this clinic, so I was becoming frustrated… not to mention, I never hear anyone behind the desk reception desk either.

I slowly approached the office (right near the front) and it did have the name “Lindsay” on it. I knocked. I said: “Were you calling *I say my name*?”. She said yes, so we began.

Choosing the best processor for the job.

This was a fun meeting. I was choosing my processor, my accessories, batteries, and the discovery of the waterproofing case… (I could swim and hear at the same time!!… I have no recollection of ever doing this in my adult life!!).

I wrote ahead and requested the Cochlear brand, as I was being fitted with a Resound Enzo in my right ear. Resound and Cochlear have a relationship, devices are the same or similar, and streaming can be paired between the hearing aid and the CI.

Today I chose the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor, however, I was absolutely in awe of the Kanso. It looked like an egg! It was like a little egg nesting in my hair! I held onto it and placing it in my hair like it was the one I was going to choose……

In the end, certain features only available with the Nucleus 7 and the lack of battery life in the Kanso is what steered my decision. When I order a new device in 5 years time, I will go smaller and more discreet device – for sure!

Pre-Op:

Ironically, the pre-op waiting system is completely accessible,… except for the lady in the front window. (It was hard to hear the lady through the glass).

You are given a number, and your number appears on a TV screen in the waiting room indicating which room you’re supposed to go to.

In the pre-op, I spoke with both the anesthesiologist and the nurse. With the anesthesiologist, I answered only a few questions.

Any allergies? (Yup)
Are your kidneys dying? (Nope)
Do you have a good heart? (Yup)…
APPROVED.

The nurse is really the person who drove the conversation, as she focused heavily on all of my medications, my supplements, as well as my wellbeing. She walked me through the papers, the process… flagged any concerns and answered all of my questions.

The surgery date has been secured for the 29th of November. It has begun!