ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: dalern on July 31, 2010, 10:32:01 am
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Well, you all warned me about the "sinking" BAHA phenomenon. You were right. My post feels like it is sinking. But thanks to all of you, I understand that it just means my skin is growing up around the post, the post is not sinking into my skull. However, it is doing this in a lopsided manner. It is much closer to the skull on one side than the other. Is that normal? I guess from a technical point of view I can understand that one side is healing and growing faster than the other, but just want to know if any of you have had the same experience? Also want to know at what point you started cleaning around the abutment with a soft brush. Forgot to ask my doctor if I should be doing that yet. Thanks, as always for your valuable input.
~Dale
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Dale -
you are correct, the sinking phenomenon is totally normal.
My abutment is "lopsided" - one side is a little bit closer to my skull than the other side - and that's normal also. It will make more sense once you are able to attach your processor to the abutment. The way the processor "balances" on the abutment once it's placed, makes it work perfectly with the lopsided skin. The processor should be close to the skin, but not touching it. Processors touching skin leads to distorted sound or a processor not working at all.
I don't recall at what point I started to use the brush, but it's to clean the abutment not the skin. In fact, you should take care not to use it on your skin, because aggressive "scrubbing" of the skin can cause irritation and at times can lead to infection. Aggressive is a subjective term here, because with that area of your head being numb from the implant surgery, you may not be conscious that you are being aggresive.
From what I know, some use the brush, some don't. I use mine on occasion - maybe one every week or every two weeks. I don't spend a lot of time cleaning my abutment - just wash it along with my daily shampoo in the shower. I don't use a washcloth or anything, just my fingers.
The brush, when dry, can also be used for cleaning your processor from what I've heard. I haven't ever down this - but I'm somewhat of an exception. Apparently dust can get into the processor and cleaning it with the brush will help it's longevity.
Jan
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Thanks, as always, Jan. I received a package in the mail from Cochlear called an Aftercare Kit. It includes a brochure, DVD, wipes for cleaning the sound processor, different wipes for cleaning the abutment, a battery tester, sound processor brush and abutment cleaning brush. Both brushes are small.....smaller than a toothbrush, but the abutment brush has a longer handle. The sound processor brush looks sort of like an eyebrow brush....very small. The kit also includes a mirror. They must have sent this to me at the same time they sent the processor to my doctor's office, as I know it arrived about the same time. I wonder if this is something new they are doing. Also, it occurred to me that they may do this so that you will buy more from them as needed! I don't even know if any of this is necessary.
BTW, the Dawn soap you and Lori sent is GREAT for the ointment that accumulates around the abutment. No need to scrub, it just lifts the grease. Great idea!
~Dale
PS I have posted so much that I am no longer a "newbie". Is this a milestone?
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Lori is to be thanked for the Dawn suggestion. I don't know if she learned this through her life as a nurse, or her life as a mom, but either way it's a great idea.
I never received an Aftercare Kit from Cochlear, but I have heard of them. They were developed after I got my Divino and since my BP100 was an upgrade, I didn't get one then. Personally I think they heard of Lori's and my Official BAHA Recovery Kits and were afraid of the potential competition :D
I have a few blue "toothbrushes" that say Cochlear, two safety lines (look like fishing line), a jar of drying beads, and some spare batteries that came with my processors. You'll probably get similar items when you get your processor. I don't have a battery tester, but the BP100 beeps twice when your battery has an hour of power left.
Some items should be ordered through Cochlear, but truthfully some can definitely be replaced by things you can find at your local Walmart - and probably for less money. For example, the Cochlear "toothbrush" can easily be replaced by a child's soft toothbrush. I've heard of people using baby wipes to clean their abutment. Batteries can be purchased online, but I just purchase mine (Duracell, size 13) at Walmart or Walgreens.
Necessary is a matter of opinion. As I said earlier, I don't often use my brushes, I've never used my safety line (but I've found out that lots of people do), I've never used my drying beads, but that's a big no-no my friends at Cochlear tell me.
Congratulations on moving out of the newbie category!
Jan
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Jan,
The Dawn thing came from my life as a clean freak! :D
As far as the cleaning brushes, I use a kid's toothbrush and some antibacterial soap around the abutment about every few days. I actually find the blue one from Cochlear is a little too soft for me. Dale, I'd ask your doctor what his suggestion is for using the brush at this point. Mine was okay with me gently cleaning the area with a soft brush as soon as my incision was healed. My doctor also said it was okay for me to wash my hair the night after my surgery. A lot of other doctors want you to keep the area dry for a certain amount of time, so it really all depends on the doctor. If you use hair spray or things like that, it's probably a good idea to use baby wipes or a wet washcloth to clean it off the abutment.
My abutment is a bit lopsided too. Actually I don't think it's the abutment itself, but just the scar tissue around it - it's just a little higher on one side than the other, but not by much. As long as it's not up over the metal part, it won't be a problem with the processor.
And Jan, tsk tsk for not using your drying beads! I use mine every night and still have short in one of my microphones from moisture getting in there. Darn humidity here in VA! :D
Lori
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I don't use the brush (provided by Cochlear) at all. I just use a Q-tip and I would dap a little Bacitravcin and just go around the outside of my abutment. I would do it gently and every other day after I wash my hair or shower. I have no problems with my Abutments. ;)
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Jan,
The Dawn thing came from my life as a clean freak! :D
Wait a minute. I always thought you, Kaybo, and I were triplets separated at birth - although we were all born in different years :D
However, if you are a clean freak, I'm not so sure we are related.
I have been chastised by a few people @ Cochlear now about not using the drying beads. They're supposedly a must - although I've never had an issue with moisture in my processor. However, I intend to change my ways one of these days and actually use the beads. You'll notice I said "one of these days" ;) It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
At the Cochlear event I attended many people reported that they ordered a drying "box" from Cochlear (about $80) which is a type of dehumidifer for your processor. They reported great results, but I'm not yet ready to fork over $80 for a little box :)
Maybe I'll buy myself one for my birthday this year.
Jan
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I wonder if Cochlear has gift cards...hmmmm ??? ??? ???
DEFINITELY, Lori got the neat genes for BOTH of us!!
K ;D
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Jan,
Why spend the money on drying box when you got the drying beads in the jar for free? The girl at the Ear Institute told me that drying beads in jar works just as good as the electric drying box and it's cheaper. I notice the differences in sound performance if I do put it in the drying jar daily. I stopped for a week and notice the differences. It's better if you put it in the jar daily whenever you can. Speaking of drying jar, it's time to put one of my Baha in the jar for the night. ;)
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Why spend the money on drying box when you got the drying beads in the jar for free?
I bought a 20+ pound box of "drying beads" in the form of Cat Litter "crystals" !!... I use it for all sorts of things after learning to care for my BAHA
I have a box plastic box with an inch of crystals on the bottom ... I keep my fishing electronics, camera (always wet after a trip), BAHA of course.. , I left my blackberry phone out in the rain ... left it in my drying box... and its back to life ! the crystals are expensive as cat litter... but its paid for itself in saved electronics!! (plus a have 2 cats.... so also emergency cat litter!)
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Joef -
are you serious ???
Ken -
thanks for the input on the drying box. I never asked my audiologist about it, but she'd probably tell me what her colleague told you.
The biggest thing I have to do with the drying - whether it's the beads or the box - is start using it ::)
Kaybo -
glad to hear the neat genes don't run in "our" family ;)
Jan
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Joef -
are you serious
totally !
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Hmmm.
And here I thought you were just pulling my chain ::)
I wonder what the folks @ Cochlear would say about crystal kitty litter. Hope it doesn't damage your processor. As you know, they ain't cheap!
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Joef, I totally agree with using litter or any other type dessicant for drying the processor, although I've only used the jar-o-beads so far for this DEMO. You know those little dessicant packs that come in all sorts of products (e.g. electronics, shoes and boots, pill bottles, etc) .... they would all work for drying the processor. I save them and always drop a few in my boots after use. Maybe I'll drop my BP1000 in my boots too ..... ::)
Also, those cedar blocks and balls and chips should also work .... thereby saving you ..... oh, about 80 bucks!
Dry baby .... dry!
Greg
ps .... Lori, how do you know you have a short in one of the mics?
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Greg,
When I put my BAHA on the all over microphones (Ok, I don't know what the one that's not the directional one is called), any noise causes it to make a loud zapping sound. No one else can hear it, but I sure can! Yeeeoooowwwcccchhhh! I was in the grocery store one day and a lady walked up next to me and said something causing the ZAP and she must have thought I was a total nut case the way I jumped and yelled "OW!". :D Well, maybe she thought that before my little outburst..who knows.
When I went to see my new neurotologist, I told him about the problem and he said that sometimes the microphones will short out if it gets moisture in it. I always keep the BAHA in the little jar, but it is very humid here, so I'm assuming that had something to do with it. Unfortunately, the day I was there, the BAHA lady was out of the office, so I have to deal with it until my appointment next month. I just keep it on directional, which works better for me anyway, due to how far back my abutment is.
Lori
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Just wanted to report that I am now a "convert".
For the past several days I've been putting my Divino in the jar of drying beads each night when I go to bed.
I'm not sure I'll continue this practice once I return home from my business trip - it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks (and I'm definitely an old dog) - but we'll see.
Jan
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Hey Jan, It takes practice to get used to putting the Baha in the drying jar. I already made a habit of doing it every day. ;)
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Good job, Jan! NOW, maybe Cochlear will feature you in a commercial! ;)
Lori
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Who knows, you may be right.
They recently had a job opening in their Colorado office for a BAHA person, which I would have loved to accept. But I'm not yet ready to relocate my kids. Maybe once they finish high school.
It would be great to turn my volunteering passion into a job that would pay my bills ;D
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OK, I'm relatively new to this but nobody mentioned drying beads or boxes.....are these only for Cochlear BAHA units? No-one said to do anything to my Ponto except clean the mics with the brush.
Unlike many of you and many on the UK site, I had absolutelky almost no problem with my incision or the abutement, but we threw out the tooth-brush when it pulled loose a stitch. Since then I wased daily in the shower and my bride cleaned the site maybe two times per week with Q-tips and peroxide. Now that is all healed, we use a little alcohol to clean the abutement.
I do find it interesting that seemingly all of us have an abutement that seems slanted, I though I was the only one.
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Unlike many of you and many on the UK site, I had absolutelky almost no problem with my incision or the abutement
Most of us here haven't had problems with our incisions or abutments, so I don't know where you got this idea ???
Drying beads are essential for keeping moisture out of the microphone(s) of the processor, which prolongs the life of your processor. If nothing else, you should take your battery out of your unit when it's not in use and remove the cover (or open the battery door) - again, the moisture issue.
The abutment is "slanted" for a purpose. There needs to be a certain amount of air between the skull and a processor so that it functions properly and sound isn't compromised. Docs slant the abutment intentionally.
Jan
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Maybe drying beads are needed just for BP100's. I was told to open my unit and remove the battery at night but told nothing about drying beads.
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Maybe drying beads are needed just for BP100's. I was told to open my unit and remove the battery at night but told nothing about drying beads.
Not so true, It's for all Baha units. Maybe, Oticon didn't tell you needed to dry out your Ponto.
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Drying beads and drying boxes (kind of like little dehumidifiers) are for all types of hearing devices - including BAHA processors as well as conventional hearing aids. Some believe in them, some don't.
I didn't use my drying beads for 2+ years, but have since been told the importance of them - by numerous people (wearers and audiologists alike).
You can find out more about drying systems on the web - here is one link http://www.dryandstore.com/index.cgi?BISKIT=4210301527&CONTEXT=cat&cat=37
I decided for the amount of money I (and my insurance company) have invested in my processors, something as easy as placing them in a jar or box to increase their lifespan is a no-brainer. It's easy to do and it's worth the small amount of time it takes.
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OK, now I need someone to tell me if my healing is still normal. Not only do I have bumps but the area around the abutment, just underneath where the post sticks out, no longer feels like my skull. If feels like there is a sharp piece of metal sticking there. None of my stitches have dissolved as they were supposed to. They have sat there on the surface until I nudged them out. But now, the are just under the abutment feels like metal, not bone. Anyone else experience that?
~Dale
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Dale -
this isn't a situation I'm familiar with from my own experience, nor have I ever heard of it.
My skull, although originally numb from both my AN and BAHA surgeries, has never felt like anything other than my skull.
I don't have a feeling that a sharp piece of metal - or even a dull piece of metal - is sticking out.
I can't recall if my stitches dissolved - or if the doc removed them - but I didn't have an issues with that either. And the area just under my abutment feels like the rest of my skull - not any different.
I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'd definitely consult with the doctor who did your implant.
Good luck and please, keep us posted.
Jan
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None of my stitches have dissolved as they were supposed to.
I took out mine ... it was a few weeks after the surgery... it was getting itchy... I felt a little piece and pulled on it.. a big long peice came out !!
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joef -
did you charge your doctor for this "procedure"? ;)
Sorry, Dale, couldn't resist the hijack.
Jan
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My skull never felt like anything other than my skull either. It was numb for a while (insert numbskull joke here) and then I got some sensation back. It's not quite the normal sensation that it used to be, but I can feel it.
I have the same problem with the stitches that are supposed to dissolve too. My body just doesn't absorb them so they wind up working their way out eventually. I had my husband pull mine out because they do get itchy.
Dale, it's probably nothing to worry about, but it wouldn't hurt to mention it to your doctor to see what he says.
Lori
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I read somewhere that they have changed the shape of the abutment to keep the skin from growing over it. I wonder if thats not what Dale is feeling. I don't know what the new shape is or how it is supposed to work.
Paul
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Good thought, Paul. I will fill you all in after I talk to the doctor or nurse practitioner. I appreciate all the input.
Joef, I pulled my stitches out too. Jan, I SHOULD have billed my doctor. Think it's too late? ???
~Dale
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Good suggestion by Paul, definitely ask your doctor or audiologist.
I didn't know that the abutments had changed yet. There was talk that one of the companies - either Cochlear or Oticon - was going to change to make it a little harder for patients to switch from company to company. Although changing abutments is just a quick office procedure involving a screw driver. When Entific was bought out by Cochlear, Cochlear changed abutments for some reason.
Dale, you can try to bill the doctor - turning the tables might be fun and could potentially save you some money ;) Let me know if it works. I won't hold my breath :D
Jan
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Ok, so here is an update. I saw one of the resident's today, and the nurse practitioner, as my doctor is away. I do not have a piece of metal sticking out under the abutment. It was a very sharp, very hard scab. She cleaned it out. The lumps and bumps I feel and see on my skull around the abutment are normal. They are basically where the suture lines were and will eventually flatten out some more. The indentations I have from my craniotomy in 1991 never went away, so I am not holding my breath about this either. They said my site looks really good. I did find out a few other things. My surgeon, despite the new possibility of a shorter wait time for "gotcha day", will not consider anything less than three months. I was told that he finds it hard to believe that any change in the implant would really provide safe osseointegration. No matter what is recommended by Cochlear, he will stick with a longer wait period. Also, UCSD no longer can provide Oticon as an option to Baha patients because UCSD is not contracted with them for this procedure. They had offered me the option, but since the end of June, things have changed and it is not an option. If someone really wanted to Oticon, Dr. Harris might be able to do it at one of the other local hospitals where he is on staff. I also asked about upgrading to the BP3 since my BP100 box has not even been open. The audiologist said she would check, but no guarantees. In addition, she said that all BAHA surgeries as of September 1 (at UCSD) will be getting the BP3. She said it is basically the same with some upgrades. So....that is my updated info.
~Dale
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Dale -
I'm glad to hear your site is healing well and that everything is normal. A big relief ;D
Interesting info on UCSD not implanting Oticon BAHAs - thanks for sharing that information.
I posted some new info. last evening on my Cochlear BP3 thread. If you didn't already read it, in a nutshell, the BP3 is basically an upgraded BP100 - not a completely different processor.
Jan
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Dale ~
In my moderator role, I've followed this thread, even though I'm not a BAHA wearer . I just wanted to offer you my congratulations on coming through the implant process O.K. and sharing your information. I'm sure your posts have been helpful to those considering obtaining a BAHA and wondering what happens during the process. The specific info on the brands and iterations of the BAHA units available is also quite useful, so thanks, again. :)
Jim