Day 1 - recovery!

So the day after surgery I didn't really get out of bed. I was still feeling pretty ropey - probably a combination of the general anaesthetic and the surgery. I didn't feel like eating much and mainly dozed throughout the day. I had never really had significant tinnitus before (hearing ringing or buzzing noises in your ears) until now. I had the constant noise that I can only describe as a drilling sound in my head. I'm hoping that disappears.

I kept up alternating the painkillers and tried to keep eating small amounts. This was mainly a day of sleep. I have to admit that I did wonder during this day why I had decided to go through the surgery!

Many people also experience a loss of hearing following the implant surgery as they can no longer wear a hearing aid in this ear. I didn't experience this as I had to stop wearing my hearing aid a couple of months ago to try and prepare my ear for the surgery as I had been having constant infections - and to be honest I didn't get much benefit from it then. I still get benefit from my hearing aid in my right ear so have been able to wear this and keep up conversations as normal with this. I can't imagine what it's like for people who rely on the hearing from the ear that has been implanted and can't use a hearing aid until 'switch-on' - it must be incredibly difficult.