I've Got the Blues

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Okay, I am sure that some of you are curious about the CI brand I chose.

First of all, I want to thank everyone again for their input, knowledge, and experience with the CI brand of his/her choice, even if he/she was given one choice from the ENT. The feedback really helped.

Both AB (Advanced Bionics) and CA (Cochlear Americas from Cochlear Corporation) are very good brands. I had to look at all the pros and cons of each.

Man, I can tell you, it was NOT a very easy decision.

I decided that the FM system (Zoomlink) compatibility was important to me, along with the CI company's repuation and integrity (which both have). I thought about rechargeable vs disposible batteries.

I still hadn't made my decision when I found out that our insurance company denied approval for the CI because they were not "proven safe and effective." It was also, the facilitiy told me later, a matter of the fact that the insurance company didn't think a CI could treat Usher syndrome, even though hearing loss is a part of Usher syndrome. Obviously someone didn't do his or her homework on exactly what Usher syndrome is. Sure, the CI would not help the vision problem, but that was not all Usher syndrome was about. Add to the fact that the insurance company we had turns down CIs repeatedly. Maybe they hoped we'd just give up.

Advised to check Let Them Hear Foundation (LTHF), I went to the website and sent an application. Right away I was asked which CI brand was I choosing. Good question. I had to make a decision. I wanted to wait until I was able to see a sample and compare how they felt and how comfortable they were, but I didn't have that option.

This was when I had to look at my list of pros and cons again. I liked the disposible battery option and the FM system set-up, so I decided to go with the Cochlear Freedom. I was sure either brand would be a good choice.

LTHF said that Cochlear Corporation (CC) withdrew their sponsorship and will not help finance appeals, because they (CC) started their own support system. The only way LTHF would help me is if CIs were an exclusion from the insurance plan. They did, however, do pro bono appeals on a limited basis for CC clients. Otherwise, I would be charged a fee.

Then I checked out OMS Insurance Support, a division of Cochlear Corporation. I went to the Cochlear website and sent an email. I had not heard anything for about a month.

The facility wanted me to write a letter to the insurance company asking them what "literature" they based their denial on. What was the internal rule, guideline, or protocol that was relied opon to make the request for a CI a denial? I never did get an answer.

Meanwhile, I asked a blogger friend who said she could give me an email address of someone she knew that was with the Cochlear Corporation. She responded right away and referred me to someone in my area. Then the ball started rolling. OMS made an appeal on my behalf. I got the approval and then had a minor delay because the facility didn't have a copy yet. I sent them a copy of my approval. The rest of the story, as they say, is history.

I have chosen two colors for the BTE (behind the ear) speech processor: Blue and silver. I could only get one battery so I chose blue as the battery color. I am tired of the boring old beige color. So what if it's skin-toned? I want it to STAND OUT!! I do hope no one mistakes it for a bluetooth. I can't believe some thieves try to snatch it off a person's head.

I have no intention to start brand wars. Both brands, the AB and the CA are very good products and many CIers are happy with their choices. It's like, would you want a Chevy or a Ford? An Oldsmobile or a Buick? Dodge or Toyota? You do your homework and look at the features you want and you make a decision.

Update: I'm healing and doing normal activities. The tip of my ear is still numb, but the area around my incision gets less of that tight feeling. Also, I get a kind of a weighted pain, like there's pressure pushing on the tip of the ear (nothing is there, it just feels that way) and it's a dull pain. The incision doesn't itch, but once in a while I'll feel a pinprickling sensation that is supposed to be a part of the healing process. The numbness is only centered around the magnet area with a radius of about two-three inches all around.

I guess you can say I stopped "milking" it as an "invalid" about a week ago. LOL I do walk slower so I don't bang my head on something.

I guess that's it for now.

HUGS