ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: jaylogs on February 24, 2011, 04:18:51 pm
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Well, I am getting my BAHA screwed into my skull tomorrow morning...I feel about the same as I did with my middle fossa over a year ago. I've heard it's a piece of cake so I am going in armed with that knowledge, which is indeed comforting! It just goes to show you how researching these kinds of things can make all the difference. I think I brought it up before, but when I had my AN surgery, we talked to different people that were coming in after me, and you could tell the ones that had not found places like this discussion forum. They had very little info on what was to come, and that in turn made them that much more nervous. Anyways...wish me luck on this one small thing and I'll see you all on the other side! :)
Jay
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Jay ~
I know you'll sail through this procedure just fine. As you noted, your knowledge about the implant makes it much easier. Just for the fun of it: good luck! :)
Jim
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Good luck Jay! BAHA is a piece of cake!
-Tod
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Congratulations on getting your Baha- I was in and out of the procedure room in one hour and had minimal pain after surgery, as many have said, much easier than AN surgery :) I hope Jan and Lori knew you were having this done and you received their special package. Have an easy time tomorrow and let us know how you feel.
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Jay! I just had my demo today and I'm sold! I am also getting the Ponto Pro. I'll wait a bit for insurance and then a few months before they attach the processor, but I think it is great. It's a little weird when you plug your ear and they talk to you on the deaf side. I know you're not SSD, but it sounded like a microphone and not real sound. Once I unplugged my good ear, it seemed a lot more "natural".
Jay, keep us posted on your experience. And, it's not brain surgery. At house Clinic they told me they just tap into the skull and don't go nowhere near the brain:)
You're gonna do great!
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Hello folks...well, I made it through with no problems! I got the nice cup bandage thing going on (Looks like I am wearing half a bra on my head!) They did knock me out a little bit for it, but I was aware of them screwing things in towards the end. I think the worse part of the whole thing was when they took off that self adhesive napkin thing they put around the surgery site. It was attached directly to my face and you know how it goes when tape leaves the face...ouch! And yes, I did get the infamous BAHA post recovery kit from Jan and Lori...you guys rock!!! Thanks to all who've made this such an easy experiment!
Jay
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Congratulations, Jay. Better hearing is just weeks away!
Jim
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Jay,
Sounds like it went over pretty well for you today! It's funny how people refer to that covering as part of a bra. LOL I've seen pictures on facebook posts or on Cochlear America community forum or maybe on here when I was really thinking I was able to get one, does look like bra ;)
Take care of yourself and keep us posted!!! Hope to join you some day!
Denise
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Congratulations, Jay! Glad it went well!
Also glad you got your recovery kit - just in time! ;)
I hope the time until Gotcha Day goes quickly for you!
Lori
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Congrats Jay. I'm hoping to be soon behind you :)
Can you tell me why you chose the Ponto over the BP100? Dr. Friedman (at House) was kind of leaning towards the Ponto Pro, but when I had my evaluation (at House as well), the guy there was leaning more towards the BP100. I'm just curious, as I'm trying to figure out which one I should choose.
I hope your recovery is quick and easy. ;)
Debbie
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Thanks for the well wishes everyone!! Debbie...I guess these things are kind of decided by the individual doctor. If you read up on Jan (leapyeartwins) posts about the BP100 vs Ponto, as well as other peoples, you'lll see there's pro's and cons to both. I never even tried the BP100, to be honest. I am sure I would have like it as well, but the doctor suggested this first, and after researching it here, I decided that was one. So I guess the answer to your question of why I chose one over the other is, I have no answer...:) I hope that makes sense. Both are very good devices, both have good things about them. Cochlear has been making these things for a long time, so the BP100 is proven technology. Ponto is the new kid on the block and as such they might have some new innovations that the other hasn't incorporated into their devices. I know I am really summarizing these things as there are a lot more things to consider, but I felt it was a six in one hand, half a dozen in the other. Anyways, take care everyone, and I'll let ya know how things go as they progress!
Ja
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Glad you're on your way to the hearing world! I like your decision process. Best to go with the tried out trusted one. Sometimes too many frills are never even used.
Recover well and hope it doesn't itch too much!
Mei Mei ;D
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Jay!
Glad you're feeling well. I'm sure the "head-bra" is very temporary. It makes me think of Weird Science:) I'm going full steam ahead with my Ponto and Dr Friedman, yes, I swiched doctors and don't regret it for a minute, suggested the same for me. I know it's not Cochlear and it was explained to me that they have the ownership of "Baha", but it's the same thing. Also, the Ponto is supposed to help more in noisy settings. We'll see. It's all weird when you only listen through the device, but I have a lot of hope that I'll be saying "Huh?" a lot less frequently. Plus, you can take it off whenever you want.
Keep us posted on your recovery. Dr Friedman, who is now my new best friend, said he'd put me under general if I want.
Best wishes for you and improved hearing!
Amy
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Jay -
Congrats on becoming another member of the "BAHA club".
I'm glad your surgery went smoothly. I'm also glad that you liked your Official BAHA Recovery Kit. Many thanks to Lori who managed to get it out when I was knee-deep in moving boxes ;D I'm actually still knee deep in moving boxes, but that's another story.
When's your Gotcha Day?
Jan
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Thank you again Jan!! :) I am not sure when my gotcha day is, I think I'll find out when I go in on the 7th for my first follow up. Newmommy, I had to laugh at that "Weird Science" reference, that was one of my favorite movies! I had forgotten about that one! So, the surgery site is still leaking a bit. I washed my hair for the first time today (with of course a cup over the abutment). I feel almost human! ;D I can't wait until the 7th now so I can get this thing off me...but like it has been said a dozen times, this is so much more manageable than my AN surgery! I hope you all have a great week! Take care!
Jay
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Congrats, Jay! I'm just over a month now with my Ponto Pro "hooked up" and it's going great. I no longer need to worry that I'm walking on someone's right side, and it's a treat to sit down at a table and not worry about my placement with the others. It's not perfect (they never said it would be), but it really is a huge step towards feeling normal. I do still struggle in noisy settings, but it's nothing like it was before the BAHA.
As for some of the other comments about Ponto Pro versus the BP100, my audiologist at Mayo said the requests from her patients are about 50-50. She personally felt she had fewer return with problems with the Ponto Pro, but the previous audiologist I met with didn't indicate anything like that. I also am having no problems with feedback, which I've read with some of the BP100 users. I'm happy with my choice, but I know others are just as happy with the BP100. Whatever works for you!
Denise D.
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I was able to try both units out and talked with both audiologists at length. They gave me the pluses and minuses as they saw them. As with any advice, it is typically limited to their own experiences. I chose the Ponto Pro and look forward to April 1.
Tod
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Sounds like the Ponto is a nice choice after reading your experiences in noisy places which is my problem and then the experience of the distributor having fewer returns. I usually tend to go for the older model but from what you are all saying it sounds like a good bet.
Congratualtions to you all!
Mei Mei
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Good to hear about your new BAHA, Jay. ;)
I also got the Ponto, and really like it.
Are you putting any antibiotic ointment around the abutment area??? May want to ask, since there is a little drainage.
The wait begins...
Maureen
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Good to hear about your new BAHA, Jay. ;)
That was cute Moe! No, I haven't put anything on it, as there is like a protective cap over the whole thing (which I assume will get removed at my first follow up appointment on Monday). There's a small hole in the center of this cap that allows for drainage, and oh yeah, it drains and drains. I keep joking that's my brain spilling out, so if I have a "duh" moment, blame it on that! :)
Jay
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Duh moment...I like that term. I get loopy when I take strong meds for my headaches and now I can use that as an opposite to the Aha Moment.
Just saw this link on the BAHA on medline and thought you might want to watch it. They are very informative: (If you get quezzy, don't watch)
http://www.orlive.com/hartfordhospital/videos/baha-bone-anchored-hearing-treatment-procedure2?view=displayPageNLM
Mei Mei
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Mei Mei, wow...thanks for that link...just watched it! My incision site isn't nearly as big as the one in this video, but I am sure everything else they did is the same...thanks again, i'll share this with everyone so I can have more people feel sorry for me that I had to go through all this! LOL
Jay
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You're welcome, Jay. If it helps, I feel sorry for you, too. The movie said it all. I wish I could get a BAHA, but I'm still dealing with the issues of the headaches and cutting the nerves or taking out the mesh.
Just think, you'll be in the hearing world very soon. Can't wait for your messages after turn on day.
Hugs to the pain and suffering!
Mei Mei :o