Update: So yesterday the cochlear implant surgery went well. He only did the right ear because sometimes insurance won't approve two ears and he wanted it to get pushed through ASAP. If insurance approves the second ear...we will do that one, once I get the right one up and functioning and at a later date. I am very sore today like someone punched me in the ear but doing great with medication.

FAQ:
~Can You Hear Now? No, the device won't be activated for two weeks to allow my ear to heal and acclimate to the device.

~Will You Have Bionic Hearing after this? No, most people report sound not sounding the way they remember. It usually sounds mechanical, tinny and like a video game. People have varying amounts of success based on expectations and some never even register voices again. But my Dr. says he's very hopeful due to having JUST lost the hearing, the nerves still remember sound and that I'm young(ish).

~Is Your Vertigo Gone? No, and while having more sensory input (hearing) may help it some, it may never go away due to the fact that vertigo has to do with damage to the inner ear (which the implant does not fix, but bypasses).

~Is Your Tinnitus Gone? No, in fact it's a bit worse. The brain tries to read the information (even when there's no information to read) Now, there is an additional piece of information in my head (the implant). Today it sounds like a diesel engine truck running AND one of those rain/sand stick things. Once the device is turned on and has other sounds to digest, hopefully it will stop registering in this way.

Bottom Line: It is still a work in progress and will be for a while.