Todays line…
Sam Spritzer Williamsville NY 0:23:22 0:07:31 42 39/M
The 23:22 is almost a full minute better than last year’s time so I guess I am happy with that especially since training has been nothing more than a trot on the treadmill. The course is roughly a little more than 2 laps around the grounds of the Buffalo Botanical Gardens. The hardest part of the races is the slight uphill in back of the course. Twice, we had to go up just before the 1 mile mark and again at the 2.3 mile mark. It was cold but sunny and the course was generally dry. There were snow flurries but not enough to affect the race.
As for the CI moment, while I was driving to the race, I was breathing in deeply like I had to clear my nose and I heard myself. How cool is that? So, I played with alternating between the left side and right. It is interesting how I was able to hear my breathing from the left side but not the right. I guess that lends credence that one side of the brain interprets sound differently from the other side. And I do notice from a musical perspective, that one side favors different instruments from the other.
Right now, I am wearing the left side only to give it a chance to work on its own. Other than the familiar environmental sounds, I am noticing a 1 second high pitch echo at the end of each sound. Its more interesting than annoying Another thing I am noticing – I have both Hi-Res S and Hi-Res P; the former fires sequentially and the latter in pairs. I am found that sound in the left ear is more fuller in Hi-Res S. This is in contrast to the right ear where I seem to hear better with Hi-Res P. Unfortunately, I can only use Hi-Res S in my right ear since the P strategy causes the twitching.
My next mapping session is Wednesday the 20th. Tammy, the representative from Advanced Bionics is planning on being there. Hopefully, we can solve the twitching problem of the right ear. All things considered, I have to say that I am quite pleased and happy with the results.
Sám, I had that echo after every sound too. It lasted about a week, perhaps, then went away. Came back at the next map but went away really quickly that time. The brain’s really amazing to be able to adapt like that!!
You don’t get another map for a month? Wow…you’ll totally be ready by then!!!
WHOOPS…correction. Thanks for catching that. It’s Wednesday the 20th!
I am curious what kind of twitching you’re experiencing.
I’m scheduled for CI surgery 2/29 — Advanced Bionics. I’m a bit concerned by the fairly widespread reports of twitching by AB users many of whom report having had to have two of the 16 electrodes turned off. I guess it’s not supposed to be a big deal doing that, but it’s still seems somewhat unfortunate.
The twitching that I was experiencing was related to a particular strategy called Hi-Res P which is where the electrodes are fired in pairs. Because of the close proximity and sensitivity of the facial nerves, I was getting over-stimulated. Once I switched to a more softer strategy known as HiRes S, the twitching went away. This was on one side…my right ear.
Since being activated in my left ear, I have not experienced any twitching with either strategy. You should discuss any concerns with your surgeon. Good luck!