Blenheim - Day 2 - Tuesday

I literally crawled out of bed this morning. My leg had totally seized up overnight and I could put no weight on it, nor could I move it by itself - I had to pull my leg forward with my hands to move it.

As I have no balance, I found it very difficult to say upright, and seemed in danger of falling over again so we decided it might be best to visit Blenheim hospital, check out their medical services, good looking doctors etc.. and perhaps get some crutches.

Carol got me as far as she could to the door of A&E, and Nikki helped me in to make sure I didn't fall over. After a terribly long wait of just 5 minutes - yep - you read that right FIVE MINUTES, I was called in to see a nurse. I had filled out the ACC report to read like this..

'Taking Photographs, turned around and unbeknown to me dog was behind like a good sheep dog, stepped on dog, twisted and fell, hurting my leg and my pride. Dog got out of way very very fast'.

The nurse cracked up laughing when she read the report, no only because of he accident, but also because the person she had just seen before me had done the same thing. Seems that tripping over dogs is a dangerous but common pastime in Blenheim.

I was then taken to an A&E bed to be examined by a very good looking young doctor. Carol and Nikki came in as well to make sure I was treated well. Carol fell in love with the doctor immediately because he asked how the dog was. He was so nice, we think we may invite him on our next trip to Blenheim to have a doctor on hand at all times.

On examining me - it was very painful, and after scraping me off the ceiling he decided that perhaps we should get an x-ray to make sure my pelvis wasn't fractured. So I was wheeled around to X-ray noticing they have an audiology department!! Pelvis was fine - so crutches were duly given - however with my balance, and because I could put no weight on my leg, I was a bit drunk looking, so they sent me down to the physio department to make sure crutches were the right thing. I told them a mobility scooter would be the best thing to give me, but I still came away with crutches.

So back into the landrover and over to Raupo Restaurant for lunch. It was very pleasant, overlooking a beautiful river, park and fountains. We then decided that we would spend the aftenroon going to vineyards and winetasting. Perfect pain killer for me so I was happy :)

We went to three - I cannot remember the first one we went to - but I did buy a dessert wine there. We then went to Cloudy Bay. Stunning wine - I bought a Reisling to take to my cousins later in the week. Onto Grove Mill winery. Grove Mill is a wine I have bought in the past and really liked it, but it got too expensive at nearly $30 a bottle, so I stopped buying it. However, their Reisling was on special for $10 a bottle so decided to buy a crate. Had it shipped to Auckland for free (12 bottles plus is free shipping). I'll put it away for a rainy day!

By the time we got home that night I was feeling no pain at all. About 6.30pm Alexandra joined us from Nelson with her son Jimmi-zac for our road trip we were doing the next day. We stayed up fairly late talking and catching up - the last time I had seen Alexandra was when I stayed with her last year in Nelson - that was when I broke my finger. I think the South Island might be dangerous for me.

I only took 3 photos today. That was in the morning on the way to the Hospital. I got Carol to stop at the side of the road near the Satellite or Spy station. I didn't even get out of the car as my leg was too sore - so took these shots from out the window.


Carol was most concerned that we would be arrested for taking photographs of sensitive material.


I assured Carol that it was pretty obvious that it was a Satellite - you can see it for miles, it's not exactly concealed!!!



Looks like a giant Puffball to me :)

Blenheim - Day 1

You may have noticed my absence, but I did take off out of Auckland last week to spend a week down in Blenheim with my friend Carol. She very kindly paid for my airfare down as she needed a drinking buddy, or an excuse to go round all the vineyards. I'm not one to turn down such an opportunity!!!

She also booked us into two garden tours - the famous Garden Marlborough - one evening christmas tour, and the Rapaura Garden Tour. I'll explain more about those later.

When we were doing all the bookings, I happened to have my friend Nikki with me, and she turned green with envy, so we booked Nikki for the week too. So she got a well earned break from her two sons, and I from my two pesky cats! (not quite the same I don't think!!)

Blenheim is in the upper east side of our South Island. Last time I had been there was when I was 15 (just a couple of years ago!!) I have relatives down there so I was able to catch up with them while I was down. However, I was shocked at the changes. Back when I was down (about 1976), Blenheim was main crop farms and sheep. I remember spuds, and corn mainly. Now? It's all grapevine. As far as the eye can see.

So - grab a cuppa and join me on my First day in Blenheim!!! You won't be disappointed - it WAS quite an adventure!!!

I should start with the plane. I don't know anything about planes - but I'm sure Henry will enlighten me on the name of this one. All I knew was that it was Small. Notice I spelt that with a capital S. Small. As in Tiny. Miniscule.


See? I told you it was small. One seat down each side of the plane. What concerned me was that as we landed and started going down - I was able to look straight out the pilot's window and gulp!!


I was very good though - I did not shut my eyes. Instead I got my camera out and took a few photos as we were coming into land. Firstly - flying over the sounds - that was amazing - looking at all the islands, and the colour of the water was incredible...


I only wish that the windows of the plane was nice clean glass - or better still - no glass at all - just open windows!!! I'd get better pictures!!

This is the Wairau River sweeping down the valley. On the left is the Richmond Ranges, and to the right is the St Arnaud Ranges. Beautiful isn't it?


And this is the valley all divided up into fields of grapevines! As far as the eye can see... I felt like I had been transported to France instead of Blenheim.

Here's one - just before we landed. By now the plane was caught in a cross wind coming up the valley which made for a rather hair-raising landing. I felt like the wind was going to flip the plane at any minute and that we would land upside down. I felt like applauding the pilot on landing.

Carol was there to pick us up with the Landrover to take us out to the Farm. We called into the supermarket on the way to pick up some bubbles. Then out to the Farm. Carol and Gerald moved down to Blenheim about 9 months ago and love it. They are currently renting on a farm block which is huge. They set up their luxury camper trailer for Nikki and I off the deck at the back door. Very luxurious accommodation and very comfortable. Gerald even built a ramp for me to make sure I didn't 'fall' into the trailer with my dicey balance - very very thoughtful of him.

Anyway we had lunch with nice bubbly then Tess the dog decided we should allllll go for a walk. So Carol, Nikki, Myself, Amelia and Logan set off wtih Tess for a walk over the farm. It started well.


Meet Tess 'I want my walk'. aka The dog. Border Collie. Loves the big outdoors. His sole career aspiration is to chase rabbits. And injure me. But we'll get to that later... Meanwhile - we started the walk...


Over the paddock then up this 'road'.


30 was our speed limit. Wasn't sure if that was 30mph, kph or steps per hour.


We had some friends join us briefly. Handsome creatures too.


Looking over to the Richmond ranges - what a view. And yes - that's snow up on the ranges - in November!! Meant we had very cold nights. I could so live there.


See up on the hill where all those trees are? Although I didn't know it at the time - that was where we were heading for.


So we started climbing. That's Nikki and Tess waiting for us - 'Hurry Up'. All my fault - I was busy taking photos. This is the part where in the last winter storm about 20 huge trees came down and blocked all access. I was in America at the time enjoying nice summer temperatures with no storms on the horizon at all.


It's obviously quite dangerous up here at certain times of the year. If you look at the top you can see the start of the grape vines. I guess they shoot birds, rabbits, pigs, trespassers, and anyone that doesn't vote for National!


The vines. This lot almost looks like a war cemetary with all the white boards up. But I think that it's white because it's been newly planted.


Tess waits for no one


This is looking through the vines over to the satellite. The area is known as Spy Valley. It was recently in the news because some idiots decided they didn't like such secrecy, so they cut through the one of the big white plastic domes, caused huge amounts of damage and many wasted dollars. So instead of two big round domes, we now only have one. There's a vineyard named Spy Valley Wines - very good wine too, and its just a bit further down the road. Free winetasting!!


Looking in the other direction - more vines. More mountains. More huge vistas.


Not far now Tess - Just up the top where the trees are. For some reason Tess stayed with me. I think she likes her photo taken.


There's Amelia walking through the vines. I'm not far behind with Tess. Don't know where the others are - they must have got bored with the photography!!


Ahh there they are. We're still climbing. Tess has abandoned me now - she got sick of being the model. No stickability.


Finally, we're at the top. And this is the house on top of the hill. Not sure if it's made from Timbracryl!! However, it's empty, and available to rent for $350NZ per week. (Which is about $170USD per week. It has about 8 bedrooms, I think I counted 4 bathrooms, a lovely swimming pool and a view to die for...


Imagine looking at that view all day? Superb. The second lot of pine trees before the spy sattelite is where we started from. The farmland will most likely be turned into grape eventually. The downside of the house? Well, although it's huge, and has a lot of land around it, and great views - it has a shingle roof that leaks in winter. And it's very cold up there in winter!! But as a summer escape - it would be ideal.

As the place was empty, we helped ourselves to lemons, limes and flowers..


Here are the theives. I recorded the evidence in my camera. Note that rascal behind the Lime tree? That's Logan!! He's very cute - has the most winning smile in the whole world. He'll go far. He's just like his Dad, but much better looking!!! Logan that is.


And this gorgeous young lady is Amelia. She's 11 going on 31. Has the sweetest temperament and smile. She's the spitting image of her mother. I'm not going to say who is better looking here, as I want to visit them again soon and need a place to stay.

Unfortunately, that was the last photo I took that day because... Just after taking that photo, while I was taking it, Tess decided to 'get in behind' without me knowing it. She was right up against my leg, but not touching me, and was lying down having a rest from all our walking. After taking the photo, I turned around, stepped on Tess, and did this kind of twist, falling forwards, hurting myself and my camera a bit. I lay on the ground for about 5 minutes too much in pain to get up. Eventually I was pulled up, but found it very painful to walk. Amelia and Logan went down the shortcut (straight down the hillside), and got Gerald to come and pick me up in the Truck (ambulance).

Tess is fine, she moved so quick. Very unthoughtful of her - as if I had fallen on Tess, I would be uninjured. Tess would probably have the broken hip!!

After getting back to the farm, the pain hit and the leg seized up - I couldn't put any weight on it. First day of a holiday Gah!! Oh well - it's not going to stop me from doing anything!!!!

Will write up Day two in a few days!!

Another Implant Update...

Well - we've finally found the problem to why my impalnt has been going backwards, not forwards. About two weeks ago I asked the Implant Team for an x-ray to see if the electrodes were still in the same place. I remember reading some time ago of someone having this problem, and so wondered if I had this as well. My specialist sent me the form and I had the x-ray two weeks ago.

On Friday I was back at the implant centre and a further 5 electrodes were switched off, due to them being uncomfortable, painful and not enough volume. I have 8 electrodes functioning, 6 very well, 2 still a bit iffy.

On getting home, I emailed my doctor that information and asked him if he had any feedback from the x-ray. He emailed back and said that the electrodes had indeed come out of the cochlear by a couple of millimeters, and this is why I'm having so many problems. I am now awaiting an appointment to see what will happen next, but I would say that I will no dubt have some revision surgery to replace the electrodes back into the cochlear.

I feel so much happier now that I know what is happening, although not so happy that further surgery is required, but I would rather get the electrodes working and be hearing better, than to keep struggling with what I have.

I'm off to Blenheim - the Upper north of our South Island for a week, to the Marlborough Garden Festival, to take lots of photos - I'll be back in a week and hopefully have an appointment with my surgeon the week I get back.

Watch this space...

Latest Update with My Implant

Sound has been getting more and more painful, and I feel movement again, so on Friday it was back to the Implant team to get my electrodes adjusted again. Rather than the electrodes being switched off, they were able to turn the upper six right down. Which doesn't leave me a very good dynamic range as most of those upper six comfort levels were actually on very soft or just hearing.

I'm so upset about this. Spent Friday afternoon and Saturday in tears, but am gradually accepting it now. What's especially hard is that at switch-on it was all so promising. With all electrodes inserted working and 94% open set sentences in quiet without lipreading in my first week. From there I had only hoped to improve. Instead I keep going backwards. That too would be okay if only it would stop going backwards so I can then work with what I have and go forwards again. Already - just a few days later, I have started to get pain from sounds again.

I can accept that this implant will never be as good as my old one. I knew that right from the word go. But I'm also not about to give up and become a hermit. My extravert personality will not allow me to do that. Instead I want some answers. Answers that I wasn't getting from anywhere else, so I headed to Google, and entered Facial Nerve Stimulation and Cochlear Implants. This is what I learnt from reputable sites such as pubmed and other research sites.

1). Deactivation of electrodes is not normal, nor is it common. This is taken over all implants, over all three brands. I can understand that as most of my electrodes were in good order with the last implant I had before it failed. I think two were turned off because of an electrical problem about half way through it's live after about 7 years.

2). Once five electrodes have been switched off, then the implant should be considered as an 'impending failure' (I certainly hope not in my case)

3). Facial nerve stimulation (FNS) is a known adverse affect in cochlear implants. It is more common with people with cochlear damage or scarring - such as otoschlerosis of the ear, or reimplantation. (This makes sense to me).

4) For reasons unknown, once one electrode starts the FNS and is switched off, it can spread through the electrode array. No one knows why. (This is what is happening with me).

5). I also read of a case study of a 60 yo man. He had a Cochlear Implant, and had 17 electrodes inserted (same a me). He had Otoschlerois of the ear so had some cochlear damage or scarring needing a bit of work to get the implant in the first place (I have some scarring due to the first implant). Initially like me he did really well with the 17 electrodes, but started getting Facial Nerve Stimulation needing electrodes to be switched off. It travelled down the electrode array (like mine) He ended up with 12 electrodes, but only 12% speech understanding without lipreading. (I have much more so far which is good). It was decided to reimplant him (heaven forbid - I don't want this), in the same ear, and after six months, no more FNS and he was back up to 96% scores. (I do want this though).

6). The pain that goes with FNS, I couldn't find much on Google for that - so I still have questions.

I'm Scared though. Very scared. My biggest fear is that the team will say 'there's nothing more we can do for you'. A very real fear as I don't have spare ears. I only have ONE.

Anyway - I'll end with a paragraph of one article I found...

'The most common reason for an electrode to require de-activation was found to be facial nerve stimulation, with poor sound quality and pain also being very common. Other reasons included absence of auditory stimulation, vibration, reduced dynamic range, throat sensations, absence of loudness growth or dizziness. The occurrence of these reasons along the electrode array was examined, more basal electrodes being found to be non-functional as a result of having a small dynamic range or poor sound quality. Pain and vibration were found to occur throughout the array and the more apical electrodes were found to be non-functional as a result of facial nerve stimulation. It is suggested that the electrodes at the basal end of the array are likely to be extra-cochlear or are at the site of the most cochlear damage, whereas the more apical electrodes lie in closer proximity to the facial nerve.'

Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) - Deaf Unfriendly

I'm incensed. I'm spitting tacks.

On Monday I got a standard letter from the BNZ Bank.

• It offered me a Gold Card with a $7500 credit limit.
• If I didn't want a Gold Card I was then pre-approved with an increase in credit limit with my existing Visa Card.
• If I wanted to accept the gold card, then phone an 0800 number.
• If I want the pre-approved credit limit - do nothing
• If I wanted to decline the pre-approved credit limit - then ring an 0800 number.

I got onto the BNZ website and in an email, told them I was profoundly deaf, couldn't hear on the phone, but DIDN'T want the increase of credit limit.

Their answer - they couldn't verify my account over the internet so therefore I would have to go into the branch with photo identification to stop the credit limit increase. Well - last time I looked my phone doesn't have a webcam and they wouldn't be able to photo-verify me via phone either.

Why should I have to waste time and money (petrol) to go into the bank to stop something I NEVER requested in the place. Will they give me a credit or petrol voucher? I doubt it.

Shouldn't the letter say if you WANT the increase in credit limit then phone the 0800 number? Rather than the other way around.

And why on earth, in this time of Financial Crisis are the banks offering to put more people into bigger debt? I already know many people with huge credit card debt struggling to pay it off and make ends meet? Then to offer those people MORE? It's insane.

To date - The Bank Of New Zealand will not stop the increase of credit limit on my card despite my pleas to do so. I've requested the contact details of a senior manager in the BNZ to try and sort this out. I don't see why it should be on me to waste my time.

Shame on you BNZ. On the top of the letter your catchphrase was 'Better Off'. If I or anyone else accepted your increase in credit card limits, only the bank would be better off with your high high interest rates on credit cards.

Deaf unfriendly bank - deaf people beware.

October Implant Update

I've been having more problems with my implant. When I was switched on in early April, it showed such promise. I had 17 out of 22 electrodes working. My test scores for listening without lipreading were 94%, which was so exciting, as back then - as I would get used to the new sounds, it would improve. How wrong I was.

Nearly very month, I've had an electrode switched off. What would happen is that I would be remapped. Then a week or two after a remap, I would notice twitching sensations in various parts of my head. In my temple, or the back of my nose, or in the back of my throat. When this was tested, I would hear very little from it, and even scaling back the volume didn't stop the twitching sensations. So one by one the were turned off. I got down to 14 electrodes.

We decided to try the CIS speech strategy - a higher stimulation rate and often used for partial insertions. This uses 12 electrodes only and for the last 2 or 3 weeks I've been using this. It seemed quite promising as I was getting a better sound - less nasally than it was, but still there, but still not enough clarity for the phone or TV.

Then last week I noticed that a bird sits and chirps outside my window from about 3 to 5pm every day. And I noticed that ever time it chirped, I got a painful sensation from it. So I knew immediately that i was going to lose yet another electrode.

I asked for another appointment, and also asked if I could have an x-ray to make sure no elecgtrodes have somehow moved out of the cochlear. Highly unlikely but for peace of mind, needed doing. I'm still waiting for the results.

My appointment was today. Sure enough - another electrode was twitching in my temple and has been turned off. I live in hope that this will get rid of the painful bird chirps, as I don't think guns in urban areas go down very well! (I've told my cats but they've turned a deaf ear!!)

We wondered about going back to SPEAK - the lower stimulation rate speech strategy at 250hz which I had for 16 years with my old implant before it failed. We wondered if I was simply not coping with the high stimulation rate. So - a new map with the SPEAK strategy was done. It's on Monopolar, and I have a total of 13 electrodes. (It would have been 14 if I hadn't lost that other one today).

Because that electrode still twitched even on the lower stimulation rate, then I suspect it's not the actual stimulation rate that is causing it. We shall see.

A recap on stimulation rates - SPEAK is 250 hz, ACE is 900 hz, and CIS is 1100. with this new implant I was originally switched on with ACE, and recentl went to CIS. Now Im back with SPEAK.

Going back to SPEAK is like being switched on all over again, like I was 16 years ago in 1993. The sound is awful. My voice souds like it's in harmony, but very out of tune harmony. Like my voice has separated somehow and is two voices in one. People sound like they're talking in buckets, very dalek sounding like from Dr Who or robotic sounds. I had this when I was originally switched on in 1993, however it righted itself ver quickly - within 24 hours. It will be interesting to see how long it tkes me to get used to it this time round.

The good thing about SPEAK for me, with the higher stimultion ACE & CIS, the first six electrodes (low tones) were perfect - ver beautiful sound. The next six were very quiet, and they simply wouldn't go up much in volume at all. Basically the top six electrodes sounded totally crap. With SPEAK, all 13 electrodes are now the same loudness, and it's much more even sound quality. It's also tripled m battery lifed from 33 to 91 hours.

I am just so frustrated though. Sometimes I feel like sticking the processor in the drawer and giving up. I've come so close to that several times. A shrug of my shoulder, and I think 'oh well - my CI days are over'. Then a few hours will pass, or I'll get a good sleep, and I realise that no, it's too early to give up yet, especially while i have some sound If it was good at switchon, there must be a way to improve it again somehow.

So once again, I'm on DAY One of a new implant. This time with a new speech strategy to learn sound all over again.

Watch this space...

Another Deaf Unfriendly Company

I ordered some photos from my favourite photographic place the other day. Their service is second to none, and the quality of images wonderful. They also don't mind communnicating via email when needed, and their deliveries are on time and quick. Wonderful company.

Shame I can't say the same thing about the courier company that delivers their products. Not for the first time the images I ordered simply didn't arrive. The tracking number thaat they had given me showed up nothing on my end.

A quick call to the photo company, ascertained the goods were delivered by the courier company on Wednesday at 5pm. Not to here they weren't. Unfortunately, it's not the first time this courier company has delivered to the wrong address - same street name, but different suburb, and despite putting the postcode and suburb clearly marked, they still deliver it to the incorrect address. I don't think courier drivers can read.

The photo company were wonderful as usual, have totally reprinted my order and put it on same day courier so I should have them tonight - their name is Frogprints and everyone should use them whenever they have images they need printing. They use archival quality photographic paper and often have great sales. They also have lots of other services and products, not just photographic printing.

Frogprints will be contacting the courier company and asking to recover their costs of the reprint. However, I logged onto the courier company website so I could make a complaint. Would you believe, the courier company are so deaf unfriendly, that the only way you can contact them is physically going into a branch, or phoning an 0800 number? There was no email contact whatsoever. How bad is that?

I've emailed frogprints and asked them to pass on my discontent on being so deaf unfriendly as well as the incorrect delivery. The company concerned? New Zealand Couriers . For a big company like that, you would expect they could do better, in both delivering the goods, and delivering cutsomer service.