ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: Goldie on October 08, 2010, 06:15:37 pm
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My worries were worthless! I had my implant done this morning and it went extremely well. Other than having to get up at 4 a.m. to be the first case of the day, all went well. I just had a local, no sedation. Interesting sounds and sensations during the procedure, but it wasn't a problem for me. I was home before noon and had a nice long nap. :) I did take one pain pill on the way home that seemed to settle things down and have had NO pain since! I do have the lovely headwrap for 24 hours and can wash my hair tomorrow. I see the surgeon on Tuesday for follow-up. Nice to share good news!!
Denise D.
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Welcome to the BAHA club Denise! Glad things went so well! ;D
Lisa
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So happy it went so well for you...I am set to go on the 18th so it is great to hear people say it was no big deal! Heal quickly!
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I was implanted yesterday! All went well! I haven't had any pain. (However, I took the pain meds for the first 24 hours just in case. Pain is always better managed if you stay ahead of it). Denise you and I are on the same schedule!
I had twilight (IV sedation). It was a very peaceful experience. They kept my sedation very light. I was awake during the last part of the case, but was so relaxed! I left the hospital about 2 hours after surgery was complete. BAHA surgery is nothing like AN surgery. I was surprised at how easy everything went...the Dr laughed when I told him it was a pleasant experience. But it was when compared to an 11 hour AN surgery!
I just took off my pressure bandage today and will attempt to wash my hair tomorrow. I go back a week from today to have the Dr remove the cap. Until then it will be quite a conversation starter ;D
I am just hoping for an uneventful healing process!
Now I am counting down the days until I can use my processor!
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See! We told ya so. ;) ;D Seriously, like we said in other posts that you had nothing to worry about. You are in good hands of your surgeons. ;D Glad to hear everything went well. Just kick back and rest up. 3 months will be here faster than you think. Have any questions about aftercare, just ask and we'll be here to help. ;)
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it truly is a piece of cake....my doc kept my cap on for a month...but i'm loving my BAHA....Get mine back Oct 22 as it was sent away for upgrades...
Jo
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Congratulations! Let the countdown to GOTCHA DAY begin!
;D
Lori
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Congratulations Denise & Kris!
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Wow busy BAHA week!
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It has been a busy BAHA week - and I predict it's only going to get busier.
Next up are Cheryl and Susan - followed by another Forumite I just referred to my doc for a BAHA; her surgery is scheduled for early November.
Denise and Kris -
I'm happy you both had pleasant experiences. See, we didn't steer you wrong ;D
Please report your Gotcha Days when you get them so someone can put them on the AN calendar.
Best,
Jan
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I would love to know more specifics on the BAHA, if anyone is willing to share more. My doctor said we would talk about it at my 6 month follow up but I am a little skittish about another surgery. I also am not sure if it is worth it. I have kind of gotten used to my hearing loss. Does it really make that much of a difference to your daily life? It is a pain to have to remove it every night for bed and every day to take a shower?
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I would love to know more specifics on the BAHA, if anyone is willing to share more. My doctor said we would talk about it at my 6 month follow up but I am a little skittish about another surgery. I also am not sure if it is worth it. I have kind of gotten used to my hearing loss. Does it really make that much of a difference to your daily life? It is a pain to have to remove it every night for bed and every day to take a shower?
Surgery is a piece of cake for most of us. It can be done under local and it can take about an hour and you'll be home that night. It's almost going to your dentist but longer. No pain in removing the Baha for bed or shower. I even forget I have mine on. You don't want to get used to your hearing loss, it's not worth it being left out. You're entitle to hear like everyone else.
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Angela,
The surgery is really nothing at all. I agree, it is like going for a dental procedure. The recovery is instant....I went out to lunch on my way home from surgery, and I heard that Jan had done the same thing. Taking the BAHA on and off is like snapping a button. There is nothing to it. I wear a night guard for my teeth and taking the BAHA on and off is just as easy, if not easier. I had also accommodated very well to my hearing loss, but the more time that went by, I found that I often just dropped out of conversations in noisy environments and felt I missed a lot. It has only been a couple of weeks now for me, and I just got the upgraded BP 3 today. I do hear a strong noticeable difference and hear sounds in a crisp clean way that I was missing before. Things I think I had just forgotten about. I think this is going to make my life much easier.
~Dale
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Angela, I completely understand your apprehension on having your skull touched again...I had my surgery a year ago September but it took me a full year for me to feel ready for the next step (I am scheduled for Monday). I didn't want anyone touching my head, for the most part I function well with SSD, etc. I have, however, gotten tired of the missing conversation and hearing is a problem for my classroom where I am, all things, a language teacher. I need to hear!\ ::) So just keep yourself informed and you will arrive at the day when you are ready to take the next step or not...I think we can all manage the SSD but as my neuroontolgist said - it is a quality of life issue - at least for me that rang true.
Dale, congrats on your BP3. I will start off with that already upgraded and I am also getting the new implant that is supposed to ossify quicker so that should be interesting to report on.
Cheryl
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Hi Cheryl,
I apparently also have the new implant, because the Oticon will not fit on my abutment. It's a new and proprietary implant. Pros and cons I guess. However, I will tell you what my surgeon said. He said no matter what Cochlear or any other manufacturer recommends, he will NOT allow the processor to be attached for a full three months. He just does not believe that osseointegration can happen more quickly, and for some people it is even more than 3 months. Just his opinion, of course, but thought I would pass that on. He is pretty much a guru here in Southern California. He does not want to have an implant come out and have to repeat the surgery to insert a new one.
Just FYI,
Dale
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Good luck to you, Cheryl. I hope it goes as smoothly for you as it did for me. I had it one week ago today and am doing great. It's been for the most part painless.
Angela, I thought I would be ready right after my AN surgery to get the BAHA but decided I needed more time to think about it before going under the knife again. I always thought I dealt with being SSD well, especially since it was a gradual progression of hearing loss over the last few years. I came to realize like the others that I was missing out on a lot of conversations and avoiding certain situations. I reached the point this summer when I was willing to get another "hole in my head" to improve my quality of life! ;) You'll know if/when you're ready. I personally wish my three months of waiting were up tomorrow!
Denise D.
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Dale -
I personally haven't asked my doc his feelings about the new shortened waiting period. He's a pretty conservative guy though, so I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he continues to go with the 3 month time-frame.
Kris just had her implant done by him and he's doing Meagan's in early November, so I'll have to see what they say.
Angela -
BAHAs rock! Everyone just about covered your questions, but if there is anything I can answer for you, please don't hesitate to ask me.
I had the surgery with local anesthesia (no sedation) and did go out to lunch and attend my son's volleyball game at the local junior high school afterwards. My son was a little embarassed by my lovely BAHA "hat", but I've always subscribed to the theory that parents need to embarass their kids every now and then ;)
My healing was short and sweet - and I've been extremely happy ;D with my BAHA since the day I snapped it on (June 4, 2008).
Another great BAHA resource - besides this Forum - is the Cochlear Community (www.cochlearcommunity.com) It's a free discussion forum for Cochlear Implant and BAHA wearers and candidates. You'll find a few of us there - including me.
Best,
Jan
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Thank you all so much for the information. I can't tell you how happy I am to have found this group. I love my doctors at UM in Miami, but they really told me nothing about anything other than surgery day. I have felt so out of sorts, confused and alone trying to figure this all out. I am so happy to be hearing from all of you!!!! :D
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I forgot to mention, it is so true what you mentioned - you do drop out of conversations. I find myself doing that more and more and I am glad you pointed that out. After a while you kind of forget you do it. Sometimes I have no choice but to drop out and sometimes I do it on purpose because it feels like too much work to have to pay that much attention to a conversation!
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Jan, my doctor said that he will play it by ear if I get it in 2 months or 3...so I don't think he is totally convinced and as they are so new so he said he would see how it goes re. the 2 months - I think he has been doing the new posts only since 3 weeks ago - I don't think he knows yet if it will be different...I am kinda hoping it is but not expecting too much!
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I saw my doctor for the one week follow up. All he has ever said to me is that it will be a minimum 2 months. He wants to see me back in another 2 weeks to check the progress of my healing. I will ask him about the timeframe at my next appt and report back. Honestly though, I feel that in the grand scheme of things 2 months vs 3 months isn't a big deal. I would rather wait a few more weeks knowing it was fully healed. I don't want it falling out or compromising its performance ;D However, only time will tell as Cochlear receives feedback and clinical data. Either way, the BAHA industry is pushing forward with innovation...a GOOD thing!
PS I washed my hair today for the first time without a cup over the incision...exciting stuff!
Kris
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Kris -
did you go with the Cochlear implant or the Oticon implant?
The Cochlear implant has the new timeframe, the Oticon doesn't.
Jan
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Congrats on the new implants ladies! I can't wait to get mine on the 27th. What is the cap that you guys are talking of? Is that something that covers the screw till it heals?
Thanks,
Susan
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The BAHA implant "equipment" consists of three parts - the titanium rod that's implanted into the skull, the screw that's at the top of the rod, and the abutment that is placed on top of the screw. The abutment is the only piece that resides outside of the head - it rests a tiny bit above the skull. The abutment is also the part that the processor (tiny hearing aid) "snaps" onto.
The cap is a small, round, white piece of plastic that docs generally put on the abutment when the BAHA site is healing. It has a "stem" so it sticks into the abutment. The cap typically holds a small bandage in place for about 1 week post op. At that point the doc removes the bandage and the cap and lets you start putting ointment on the site to help it heal.
Usually this entire cap "set up" is covered by a large mastoid bandage (sometimes with a plastic "cup" over the site) wrapped around your head for 24 hours post op. On the Forum we've been referring to this lovely mastoid bandage/cup combination as a BAHA "hat".
Jan