I have a bit more information to share, but not a whole lot. Carolyn and I have both gotten the flu and COVID booster vaccinations and will receive our RSV shots this coming week. I have learned that the vaccine for the pneumonia shot is in the same ‘family’ of vaccines as the shot for meningitis. I am current on my pneumonia shots, having had two this year, so have laid that concern aside.
I’m scheduled to serve as our church pianist on Sunday, November 5th, just prior to my surgery. November 5th is the day we ‘fall back’ to Standard Time; it is also communion Sunday and All Saints Day. It will be an emotional day for me, since it’s uncertain when, or even whether, I’ll be able to return to the piano after my CI is activated. I have every confidence that my recovery will be quick and full, and that I’ll be playing piano fairly soon and that I’ll be able to return to the bass section in our church choir ‘in relatively short order,’ hopefully in a matter of weeks.
This week, I received a letter from Hearts for Hearing informing me of my appointment schedule for activation and the first two follow-up mapping sessions. Activation Day is December 5th, precisely four weeks following surgery. The first follow-up is a week later, December 12th, and the second follow-up is four weeks after Activation Day, on January 9th. Basically, I’ll be ‘out of commission’ from November 14th at least through December 5th – and likely for a period of time after that. If memory serves, I will also have appointments at three months, at six months, and at one year – so probably March 5th, June 4th, and December 10th (if they keep it on the first Tuesday of the month).
I made a second call to Dr. Berryhill’s nurse and left another message concerning the schedule for my CT scan. She’s not returned my call and I will not call again. To use a common sports analogy, the ball is in her court. I’ve lobbed the ball – twice – and she’s missed both of them. I can only hope that the procedure will be scheduled fairly soon, so that all of these dates don’t have to be delayed.
