Tomorrow is the day.
My first activation, we set the soft levels (T) and then did the loud levels (C). The activation went really well, maybe text book perfect or really close. I could hear the moment it was turned on, was extremely clear and worked wonderfully pretty much ever since. Could use the phone and could have a conversation in a noisy restaurant within a couple days which was totally out of the question before.
My second activation, a different Audiologist used the automatic nerve response to see where the max was then we went back to set the T and C levels. I will say that after hearing the auto response levels, I set the C levels to those levels and talk about way to loud and didn't sound right from the start. Probably totally normal though. The computer fan was like a freight train which took a long time to get adjusted to. I'm still not hearing as well as I think I could be but it is getting better, just not as fast as I would like but of course that is how I would feel. 8 weeks post activation, I'm hearing pretty well, maybe as good as I did 8 weeks after the first activation but I'm also not 100% dependent on it either and getting use to only that one input so probably pretty normal.
My most recent adjustment on my new CI was to try a different (slower) speed and that has been really nice, easier to listen to and can understand people somewhat better. I also have a much faster speed and I can hear quite well on that one too. The speed that I have my first CI set at, I am finding that I have trouble hearing at that speed with my new one. My next visit, I may try seeing if we can make a few adjustments to the original speed and see if we can get it to sound better.
You have read similar comments before but learning to adapt to a CI is a road and the length of the road varies from person to person. Best advise, stay with it, I'm sure you will, don't jump off, work with your audiologist right out of the box because this is where the fastest learning takes place, try new things/settings, ask questions, provide examples of situations where you can hear fine and ones where you really find it challenging. Each piece of information helps paint a picture. Sometimes what you try will be directionally the wrong way but each time you will learn something new. In time, it will get better. Try and don't let the Audiologist limit your choices with short appointments. Mine are normally around 1.5 hours and have stretched to 2 hours before. As I've said before, choose a late appointment incase you run long, your not bumping another patient.
I'm pretty sure you will like what you hear. Again in time.
Steve